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THE 



HISTORY 



OF 



Henry ^St Clair Counties, 



MISSOURI 



CONTAINING 



A HISTORY OF THESE COUNTIES, THEIR CITIES, TOWNS, ETC., ETC., 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THEIR CITIZENS, GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS, HIS- 
TORY OF MISSOURI, MAP OF HENRY AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES, ETC. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



ST. JOSEPH, MO.: 

NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMPANY, 

1883. 



:HbH£ 



Kitered accorJiag to Act of Congress, ia the year 1S83, by 

O. P. WILLIAMS & CO., 

in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C^ 



ST JOSEPH, MO.: 
St. Joseph Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc. 

1883. 



PREFACE. 



The History of Henry and St. Clair Counties has been written in 
many respects under trying circumstances. There has not been a lack 
of material, but the work of collecting and compiling the same into one 
homogeneous record, has been attended by many obstacles and per- 
plexities. 

In presenting to the citizens of Henry and St. Clair Counties this 
history, it is with the full knowledge that there must necessarily be some 
errors found within its pages; otherwise it would be different from any 
work yet compiled by human hands, absolute perfection having never 
been reached either in the historical or any other field of earthly labor. 
Nevertheless the publishers hope to have attained a very large measure 
of exactness in the compilation and arrangement of the almost innu- 
merable incidents which are herein treated. These incidents have been 
gleaned from the memory and notes of the old settlers; and though an 
error here and there may seemingly occur, the reader must not hastily 
conclude that the history is in fault, but rather test his opinion with that 
of others familiar with the facts. 

It has been a work of arduous labor and delicate responsibility to 
give a careful perusal to many old volumes and newspaper files, those 
daily records of bygone years. The old pioneer who has cheerfully 
narrated with clearness many.importent events, has been utterly unable 
to give the date which is so essential in a historical work. The county 
records and the files of the oldest newspapers have furnished much mat- 
ter of inestimable value. How well the task of writing this volume has 
been performed the intelligent reader must judge. 



IV 



PREFACE. 



To name all persons to whom the publishers are indebted for the 
facts herein contained, would be an undertaking of too great a magni- 
tude; for there is scarely a citizen of any prominence in the two coun- 
ties who has not in some way contributed to the compilation of this 
work. The editors and attaches of all the papers, the county officials 
besides hosts of business men and private citizens have done all in their 
power to advance the interests of this enterprise and contribute to the 
fullness and exactness of this History. It only remains for us to tender 
the people of Henry and St. Clair Counties our obligations for the cour- 
tesy extended to us and our representatives during the preparation of 
these annals. In the belief that our book will meet with a generous 
appreciation it is submitted to the public. 

THE PUBLISHERS. 








«»4CONTENTS.r^<-<-=^ 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 



CHAPTER I. 

LOUISIANA PURCHASE- 
Brief Historical Sketch . 



Page. 



CHAPTER II. 

DESCRIPTIVE AND GEOGRAPHICAL— 
Name — Extent — Surface — Rivers — 
Timber — Climate — Prairies — Soils — 
Population by Counties 14 

CHAPTER HI. 

GEOLOGY OF MISSOURI- 

Classification of Rocks— Quarternary 
Formation — Tertiary — Cretaceous — 
Carboniferous — Devonian — Silurian 
— Azoic — Economic Geology — Coal 
— Iron — Lead — Copper- Zinc— Build- 
ing Stone — Marble — Gypsum — Lime 
Paints — Springs — Water Power . . 20 

CHAPTER IV. 

TITLE AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS— 
Title to Missouri Lands — Right of 
Discovery — Title of France and Spain 
— Cession to the United States — Ter- 
ritorial Changes — Treaties with In- 
dians — First Settlement — Ste. Gene- 
vieve and New Bourbon — St. Louis — 
When Incorporated — Potosi — St. 
Charles — Portage Des Sioux — New 
Madrid — St. Francois County — Perry 
— Mississippi — Loutre Island — 
'*Boone's Lick" — Cote Sans Dessein 
— Howard County--Some First Things 
— Counties — When Organized ... 26 

CHAPTER V. 

TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION— 

Organization 1812 — Council — House 
of Representatives — Wm. Clark First 
Territorial Governor — Edward Hemp- 
stead First Delegate — Spanish Grants 
— First General Assembly — Proceed- 
ings — Secon d Assembly — Proceedings 
— Population of Territory — Vote of 
Territory — Rufus Easton — Absent 
members — Third Assembly- Proceed- 32 
ings — Application for Admission . . 



CHAPTER VI. 



Page. 



MISSOURI ADMITTED INTO THEUNION— 
Application of Missouri to be Admit- 
ted Into the Union — Agitation of the 
Slavery Question-*'Missouri Compro- 
mise" — Constitutional Convention of 
1820 — Constitution Presented to Con- 
gress — Further Resistance to Admis- 
sion — Mr. Clay and his Committee 
Make Report — Second Compromise — 
Missouri Admitted 35 

CHAPTER VII. 

MISSOURI AS A STATE— 

First Election for Governor and Other 
State Officers — Senators and Repre- 
sentatives to General Assembly-Sher- 
iffs and Coroners — United States Sena- 
tors — Representatives in Congress-Su- 
preme Court Judges— Counties Organ- 
ized — Capital Moved to St. Charles — 
Official Record of Territorial and 
State Officers 40 



CHAPTER VIII. 

EARLY MILITARY RECORD— 

Black Hawk War — Mormon Difficul- 
ties — Florida War — Mexican War. . 



46 



CHAPTER IX. 

CIVIL WAR IN MISSOURI— 

Fort Sumpter Fired Upon — Call for 
75,000 Men — Gov. Jackson Refuses to 
Furnish a Man — U.S. Arsenal at Lib- 
erty Seized — Proclamation of Gov. 
Jackson — General Order No. 7 — Leg- 
islature Convenes — Camp Jackson 
Organized — Sterling Price Appointed 
Major General — Frost's Letter to 
Lyon — Lyon's Letter to Frost — Sur- 
render of Camp Jackson — Proclama- 
tion of Gen. Harney — Conference 
Between Price and Plarney — Harney 
Superceded by Lyon — Second Confer- 
ence — Governor Jackson Burns the 
Bridges Behind Him — Proclamation 
of Gov. Jackson — Gen. Blair Takes 
Possession of Jefferson City — Procla- 
mation of Lyon — Lyon at Springfield 



VI 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 
..State Offices Declared Vacant.. 
Gen. Fremont Assumes Command . . 
I'roclamation of Lieut. Gov. Rey- 
nolds. .Proclamation of Jeff. Thomp- 
son and Gov. Jackson. .Death of Gen. 
Lyon. .Succeeded by Slurgis.. Procla- 
mation of McCuUough and Gamble 
..Martial Law Declared .. Second 
Proclamation of Jeff. Thompson.. 
President Modifies Fremont's Order. . 
Fremont Relieved by Hunter. .Proc- 
lamation of Price. .Hunter's Order 
of Assessment . . Hunter Declares 
Martial Law . . Order Relating to 
Newspapers. .Halleck Succeeds Hun- 
ter. .Halleck's Order Si . .Similar Or- 
der by Halleck . . Boone County 
Standard Confiscated. . Execution of 
Prisoners at Macon and Palmyra., 
Gen. Ewing's Order No. li..Gen. 
Rosecrans Takes Command. .Massa- 
cre at Centralia. .Death of Bill An- 
derson. .Gen. Dodge Succeeds Gen. 
Rosecrans — List of Battles .... 51 

CHAPTER X. 
AGRICULTURE AND MATERIAL WEALTH— 
Missouri as an Agricultural State.. 
The Different Crops .. Live Stock., 
Horses and Mules.. Milch Cows.. 
Oxen and Other Cattle. .Sheep.. Hogs 
. .Comparisons. .Missouri Adapted to 
Live Stock . . Cotton . . Broom Corn 
and Other Products. .Fruits. .Berries 1 



Page. 

. .Grapes. .Railroads. .First Neigh of 
the "Iron Horse" in Missouri.. 
Names of Railroads. .Manufactures. . 
Great Bridge ac St. Louis 60 

CHAPTER XL 

EDUCATION— 

Public School System. .Public School 
System of Missouri. .Lincoln Insti- 
tute. .Officers of Public School Sys- 
tem . . Certificates of Teachers . . Uni- 
versity of Missouri .. Schools. .Col- 
leges. .Institutions of Learning. .Lo- 
cation.. Libraries. .Newspapers and 
Periodicals . . Number of School 
Children. .Amount Expended. .Value 
of Grounds and Buildings. ." The 
Press " 66 

CHAPTER XH. 

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS- 

Baptist Church. .Its History. .Congre- 
gational. .When Founded.. Its His- 
tory. .Christian Church.. Its History 
. .Cumberland Presbyterian Church. . 
Its History . . Methodist Episcopal 
Church ..Its History .. Presbyterian 
Church . . Its History . . Protestant 
Episcopal Church . . Its History . . 
United Presbyterian Church . . Its 
History. .Unitarian Church. .Its His- 
tory.. Roman Catholic Church.. Its 
History 73 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE VALLEYS OF THE OSAGE AND 
GRAND RIVERS — 

Geological Formation. .Two Ancient 
Misses.. Home of the Indians.. The 
Pioneer. .Soil. .From 1S20 to 1830.. 
Lillard. .Lafayette County.. Its Set- 
tlement and County Site., Davis and 
Tebo Townships. .Jackson and Clay 
. .The First Cabin. . 1 831 . .The First 
Plowing. . 1832. .Born Then . ... 79 

CHAPTER II. 

WHEN THEY CAME AND FROM WHERE 
THEY CAME— 

The Pioneers. .The First Marriage. . 
Wolves and Caution. .1833 and 1834 
..Springfield Township. .First Clerk 
and Constable. . 1S35 to 1840.. Slight 
Retrospect. .Trials and Tribulations 
..Cabins and Comforts. .Going to 
Mill.. Market Prices. .Pioneer Wo- 
men. .I'ioneer Life . . Wages . . The 
Nest Egg of a Farm.. Fifty Cents a 
Day and Found. .Rail Splitting. . . 90 

CHAPTER HI. 

EARLY ELECTION AND EVENTS-PIO- 
NEERS AND POETRY- 
Elections. ." Eighteen Forty ". .Presi- 



dential Campaign. .Songs and "A Lit- 
tle More Cider, Too". .Democratic 
Defeat.. A Change,. The Quiet of 
Early Days, Covering Little More 
Than a Decade. .Women Pioneers.. 
Privations, Labor and Heroic Forti- 
tude.. Names of the Early Settlers.. 
From the Cradle to the Grave.. Pio- 
neer Life in Verse 103 

CHAPTER IV. 

MEXICAN WAR AND THE LAND OF 
GOLD- DEATH AND LUCRE- 
Mexico . . War . . Volunteers . . Their 
Return.. The Land of Gold. The 
Rush for the Promised Land. .Suffer- 
ings and Death., Fever in Henry 
County. .Some Got Wealth and Many 
Poverty. .Those who Went and Those 
who Died. .The Names of Those who 
Returned, .Items of General Interest 
..Legal Documents .. Marriages .. 
Wills . . Deeds . , Slaves . . Widow's 
Dower 121 

CHAPTER V. 

OFFICIAL HISTORY — CULLINGS FROM 
THE COUNTY COURT RECORDS— 
When Rives Became a County.. Act 



CONTENTS. 



Vll 



Page. 
•of Organization. .Date December 13, 
1834. .County Seat Commissions.. 
Rives County Boundary . . County 
Court and County Judges. .Municipal 
Divisions. .St. Clair Township. .First 
Sheriff, Treasurer, etc... County Seat 
Commissioner, .New Court House.. 
Sale of Town Lots in Clinton. .Valu- 
ation and Assessment. .First School 
District .. 1837 .. Several Items of 
laterest . . Sale of School Lands. . . 131 

CHAPTER VI. 

RIVES DISGRACED AND HENRY 

CROWNED— LET US HAVE A LAW 
SUIT— 

Failed to Materialize — County Fair.. 
What it Cost.. Cedar Township.. 
More Townships . . Deepwater . . St. 
Clair and Henry.. Rives to Henry.. 
Some Reflections. .Dram Shop.. Pro- 
posing a Suit. .Valuation and Elec- 
tion, .Half Sheet of Foolscap — The 
First Bridge. .Osage River Associa- 
tion . . $626.95 . . To Repair Court 
House, §1,500. .No Probate Court. . 
Progress 143 

CHAPTER VII. 

JAILS— ELECTION — FINANCES — TOWN- 
SHIPS— 

A Needed Institution. .Financial and 
Otherwise. .Resolution of Thanks.. 
Patent Office and Agricultural Re- 
ports. .Election of 1858, the First of 
Record . . P^eceipts and Expenditures 
..Nine Voting Precincts in i860.. 
Township Boundaries, August, i860. . 
The Great Change. .Financial De- 
pression . . Exhibit . , Delinquents of 
1861 to I S64. .Taxation. . Levy, Col- 
lections and Delinquencies, from 1865 
to 1S.70.. Items 153 

CHAPTER VIII. 

ENVESTIGATION AND EXONERATION— 
AND MORE TAXATION— 
Wanted an Investigation. .Result, Ex- 
oneration. .Everything Lovely. . Reg- 
istration and Registrars. .The County 
Court. .The Four Districts and Their 
Boundaries . Taxation and Collec- 
tions . . County Expenditures . . The 
Repeal. .Districts i and 2. .Judge 
Gantt, County Agent. .Sale of S400,- 
000 Railroad Stock. .Sinking Fund. . 
Assessment and Levy. .A Donation. . 
Swamp Land Claims. .Some Items.. 164 

CHAPTER IX. 

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS — RAILROAD AS- 
SESSMENT—COUNTY VALUATION— 

Ihe Tax Levy. .Collections of 1879 
..Same in 1880. .New County Jail. . 
Its Cost .The Year 1882,. Railroad 
Assessment and Rejection. .Material 
Wealth . . Assessed Valuation from 



Page. 

1870 to 1SS3 of Henry County. .Jan- 
uary I, 1S82, 55,392,270. .January i, 
1883, 171 

CHAPTER X. 

SOIL— CLIMATE — AGRICULTURAL AND 
MINERAL RESOURCES OF HENRY 
COUNTY— 

Introductuctory . . Location . . Capital 
and Labor. .Water and Timber. .Ag- 
riculture. .Cereals and Grapes. .Field 
of Corn and Oats. .Sheep. .1865. . 
Stock. .Remarks of L. C. Marvin.. 
Better Horses.. 1867 to 1880.. Ship- 
ments of 1877.. The Census Crop.. 
Returnsof 1881-2. .Of Horses, Sheep, 
Cattle, Hogs and Mules, and Grand 
Total ■ 176 

CHAPTER XI. 

FRUITS AND BERRIES — GRAPES AND 
WINES-COAL AND STONE— 

Fruit all Grown Here. .Berries Every- 
where. .Grapes. .The Best Varieties. . 
Coal, Stone and Iron, Agricultural 
Society. .When Organized . . 1839 . . 
1858 . . 1869 . . A Premium List . . 
Death, but No Resurrection . . Far- 
mer's Club.. Henry County Medical 
Society . . When it Died . . List of 
Members. .Veterinary Club. .Elected 
Officers.. Dead 187 

CHAPTER Xn. 

SCHOOLS-THEIR GROWTH AND FINAN- 
CIAL EXHIBIT— 

The First School.. Sale of School 
Land in 1836 to 183S..N0 Prairie 
Lands Wanted . . The First State 
School Fund Apportionment. .Appor- 
tionment of 1850-4. .Numbering the 
School Distrscts. .Township Funds of 
1858 and i860 From 1S66 to 1S70. . 
State School Money.. 1880, and the 
Total County Fund. .Receipts and 
Expenditures for 1881 . .Report of the 
Clinton Graded School for 1S81.. 
Amount Apportioned for May, 1882. . 
The State 197 

CHAPTER XIII. 

MURDERS, ASSASINATIONS AND ROB- 
BERIES- 

The Bludgeon for King, the Knife 
for Harper, the Pistol for Williamson 
and Robin, the Shot Gun for Miller 
and Edmondson, the Hammer or 
Hatchet for Clark, and a Shot in the 
Dark for Ezell. .Stand Still and Hold 
Up Your Hands were the Cheering 
Words which met D. B. Lambert and 
Arrested a Game of Croquet. .Crimes 
in Henry County and their Punish- 
ment. .The Gallows, the Penitentiary 
and the Reaper, " Death." 208 



vni 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



" SATAN FINDS WORK FOR IDLE HANDS 
TO DO "— 

The Work of Fiends.. Self Defense 
is not Murder.. It was the Game of 
"Dead Open and Shut". .And they 
Lost Every Time. .Pistols vs. Croquet 
Mallets. .Pistols the Winner. .A Crazy 
Woman's Crime. .Killing Ezell, not 
for a Crime, but Because He Wouldn't 
Stay Arrested. ." Tell my Sister that 
I Leave Her all My Property, I am 
Dying ". .Verdict, Jury Could Not 
Agree.. The End 221 

CHAPTER XV. 

THE COUNTY'S SERVANTS— ELECTIONS 
OF 1880 AND 18S2— 

The County Officers, from Alpha to 
Omega. .The Year and the Day. .Rep- 
resentatives, State Senators and Con- 
gressmen. Election of iSSo.. Elec- 
tion of 1882. .Congressional Districts 
..Senatorial District Memoranda.. 
Political. .Henry County Democratic 
..What Difference Does it Make.. 
Circuit Court Items. .Slander, Divorce 
and Perjury. .The First Grand Jury . 234 

CHAPTER XVI. 

POPULATION, DEVASTATION AND EX- 
ULTATION— 

Population of Henry County. .Popu- 
lation of Towns. .The United States 
and the State of Missouri. .The Grass- 
hopper Plague. .Destruction of Crops 
. .Relief. .Meadow County Scheme. . 
The Bantam Crowed, but Crowed in 
Vain.. The Clinton Scare.. Swamp 
Land History. .From A to Izzard and 
a Postscript. .Sales from $7.00 to 25 
Cents Per Acre. .Receipts and Losses 
. , Poor Farm . , When Purchased . . Its 
Cost . . Where Located . . Descriptions, 
Etc . 252 

CHAPTER XVII. 

RAILROAD HISTORY- 

Its First Inception. .Pacific Railroad 
Subscription $50,000.. How ^5,000 
was Paid. .Stopping Further Payment 
..;? 1 50,000 T. & N. Railroad.. The 
Subscription . . ;^250,ooo Bonds. . 
Some More Stock. .Getting to the 
Meat. .Clinton & Memphis Railroad 
. .A Protest. .And Still Another Pro- 
test. .What Became of the ^50,000 if 
Practicable. .It Wasn't Practicable.. 
" A D d Barren Ideality" .... 262 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

ONE MILLION DOLLARS SQUANDERED— 
$400,000 OF STOCK SOLD FOR 
$86,585.71- 

The Railroad Bull Goring the County 
Ox. .Law Suits, Judgments and Man- 
damus , . Judge Gantt Appointed 



Page. 
County Agent.. H. W. Salmon Ver- 
bally Appointed. .The Sale. .The Pur- 
chase of Bonds, Judgments and Cou- 
pons.. And Yet After all a million 
Dollars and over Squandered. .Tax 
Levy . . Compromise . . Exchange of 
Bonds. .Reduction of Debt,. Final 
Cost 273 

CHAPTER XIX. 

INVESTIGATION— A REPORT— A CONFES- 
SION- 

A Record of Crime, Bri'oery, Midnight 
Delivery of Bonds . . H ow it was Done 
. . Accounts Rendered . . Investigation 
..The Report. .Where the Money 
Went to. .Excepting $180,000. .The 
Engineer's Confession 287 

CHAPTER XX. 

THE CIVIL WAR— 

The Storm Cloud, a Good Deal of 
Sorrow, etc. . 1861 Historic, .Meeting 
at Clinton, , What was Sent to the 
Governor . . Democratic Meeting . . 
Resolutions Passed. .Newspaper Com- 
ments. .Union Meetings, .The Result 
..The Gospel of Hate. .Federal 
Forces. .The Gray Predominates.. 
Some Local Matters. .The Bridging 
of the Bloody Chasm. .All is Peace. . 
The Blue and the Gray. .The Heroes 
who Died 307 

CHAPTER XXI. 

CLINTON TOWNSHIP— 

Township and City. .Its Early Boun- 
daries. .Where it Lies.. The Metes 
and Bounds of 1873.. Area ^""^ Pop- 
ulation. .Its Streams and Fountains. . 
Timber and Prairies. .Pioneers and 
Who Came Later. .Schools and Pio- 
neer Preaching. .New Arrivals. .Its 
First Physician .. Progress and Trans- 
portation , , Township Officers . . The 
Next Chapter, " The Model City." . . 31S 

CHAPTER XXII. 

THE "MODEL CITY" OF THE PRAIRIES— 
Something of the Model Town. .The 
Beauty of its Surroundings. .When 
and Where Located. .Streets, etc.. 
Date of Entry of the Town Site, 1837 
..Post Office and Postmaster. .Deed 
. .Hotel and Saloon. .When Incorpo- 
rated, 185S. .Its Growth in Twentv- 
one Years. .The New Boundary, 1866 
..The Iron Horse .Population of 
Clinton by Decades, .While a Town 
. .Then a City of the Fourth Class. . 
A Financial Exhibit. .Election nf 
18S0 and I SS2. .Another Financial 
Showing.. The Small Pox Scare.. 
Something Authentic. .Its Future . . 322 



CONTENTS. 



IX 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



Page. 



SCHOOLS— CHURCHES-LODGES— DEATH 
OF GARFIELD— 

Clinton Public Schools. .Retrospect. . 
Lincoln School. . Academy . .Cost of 
Buildings .. Number of Pupils.. 
Churches and their Organizations.. 
Number of Members. .Cost of Church 
Buildings. .Societies. .A. F. and A. M. 
..I. O. O. F.. Knights Templar.. 
Royal Arch Chapter. .A. O. U. W. , 
Death of President Garfield .... 335 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE BAR, PRESS, BANKS AND BUSINESS— 
The Early Bar.. Clinton Bar.. The 
Press.. Who Owned Them.. Banks 
and Banking.. The Business Inter- 
ests of Clinton,. The Directory of 
iS74..The Directory of 1883.. Man- 
ufactures. .Flour, Carriage and Wagon 
and Cigar.. Items of Interest which 
call to Mind Several Things, .An In- 
teresting Chapter of Biographies and 
Business.. A Combination of Brains 
and Artistic Skill, , Incidents and Ac- 
cidents 347 

CHAPTER XXV. 

WINDSOR TOWNSHIP— 

Within the Realms of Civilization.. 
Its Area.. First Settlers. .Death by 
Lightning,. Progress, .Darkness to 
Light. .Organization, .Worth Remem- 
bering, .Coal Fields, .Big Coal Banks 
. .Stone Quarries, , Healing Waters. . 
Transportation. .An Old Landmark 
Gone. .Tennessee Baker., The First 
Brick Residence in Henry County , . 
Its destruction by Fire 374 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

CITY OF WINDSOR— 

When It was Founded. ,By Whom. . 
Naming the Town and Postofifice. . A 
Few Years Later. In 1870,, The In- 
corporation of Windsor Town., Elec- 
tion in 1873.. Town Officials from 
1873 to 1878.. City of Windsor., 
Fourth Class, , Election of Mayor and 
Aldermen, October 15, 1878.. City 
Officers from 1878 to 1883. .Financial 
. .Churches. .Laurel Oak Cemetery . 
Lodges and Societies, .Postmaster? of 
Windsor. Old Settlers Reunion and 
Picnic , . Newspapers . . Public School 
. .Business Interests . Savings Bank, , 
Manufactories, .Items, .General Notes 
..Bird's Eye View 383 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

DEEPWATER TOWNSHIP— 

When Settled,. Its Early Pioneers.. 
Its Territory. .Deepwater Organized, , 
Arrivals . . Postoffice, .Germantown, , 
When Settled ,. How it Grew,, Its 
Population, .Its Rank,, Its Boundary 



Page. 

Under the New Law. .Its First Elec- 
tionof Officers. .Who They Were, .The 
City of Montrose. .Its First Incorpora- 
tion as a Town.. The Fires of 1872 
and 1875.. After the Fire. .Financial 
..Some Town Officers .. How the 
Marshal Got Rich.. City of Montrose 
..First Mayor .. Churches ,. School 
and Lodges ,. Business. .Shipping. , 
William Tyree, the Old Pioneer . . 405 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

TEBO, SHAWNEE AND FIELDS' CREEK 
TOWNSHIPS- 

Tebo. . Historic. .Pioneers of 1830 to 
1835. .The North Carolina Colony. . 
Population and Boundary. .The Old 
Settlers of Tebo. .Calhoun. .Bounded 
in 1836. .Ambitious. .Its First Set- 
tlers, Stores, Etc. .Incorporation of 
Calhoun.. The Great Fire,. Hand- 
some Location.. Postmasters ,. Busi- 
ness .. Professions ., Shawnee. .The 
Garden Spot of Henry County. . About 
1831 — The Name. .Shawnee Mound 
..Churches, School and Business.. 
Huntingdale. .When Founded. .Pres- 
ent Business. .The Churches* of the 
Township. .Lodges. .Its Boundary. , 
Field's Creek. .Its Metes and Bounds 
,,Area in Acres. .Its Streams, Prai- 
ries and Wood Lands. .Early Pioneers 
..The First Store.... One of the 
North Carolina Colony . Other Settlers 
..Churches, Schools and Societies,, 
Its Population in 1880 420 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

BOGARD, BIG CREEK, HONEY CREEK 
AND WHITE OAK TOWNSHIPS— 
Bogard . , The Northwest . , Organ- 
ized 1857 and 1873,, It Has 30,155 
95-100 Acres of Land.. Asa Hen- 
dricks Its First Settler. .Mrs. Mary 
Taylor, First Child Born in the Town- 
ship . . Lakes . . Urich . . Location. , 
Settlement and Business , . Schools 
and Churches. . Political . . Population 
. .Big Creek. .Townships 44 and 43, 
range 27 — 26,880 Acres. .Its Streams 
and Woodlands. .Its Original Bound- 
ary.. Early Settlers, 183 1.. A Grand 
Old Township .. Norris Forks.. 
Churches, Schools and Lodges.. 
Honey Creek. .Boundary. .Small Set- 
tlement . . Population . , Slow of Growth 
..Its Pioneers. .Schools. .Want of 
Progress. .White Oak.. The Smallest 
Township, , Good Land and Water 
Plenty . . Settled in 1838 . . Coal. . 
Cyclone. .Schools, .Population . . . 439 

CHARTER XXX. 

WALKER, DAVIS AND PRES. BLEVINS 
TOWNSHIPS— 

Walker . . When Born . . Its Area . . 
When Settled.. Dr. Amasa Jones. 



CONTENTS. 



Page, 
Some Family History. .First School 
and Church .. Items. .Churches. .In 
Memoriam. .Rev. A. Spiague. .Davis 
..When Located .Area and Popula- 
tion. .Streams, Prairies and Wood- 
land. .Schools and Societies. .LaDue 
..Its Birth. .Business in 1872.. 
Church. .School. .Business of 1883.. 
Davis Township First Settlers. .Her 
Growth aud Prosperity . . " Pres. 
Elevens". .A Discovery. .New Town- 
ship. .It Will Ndw Be Known. .Gov. 
Blevins. .His Powers, Etc 450 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

OSAGE, FAIRVIEW AND BEAR CREEK 
TOWNSHIPS— 

Osage.. The Great Southeast. .Who 
Settled It. .Osage Township in 1858 
. .Consville. .Its Twin Sister. .Metes 
and Bounds in 1858 and 1873.. Corn 
and Stock . . Population . . Fire at 
Brownington . . Churches . . School. . 
Business.. Fairview. .Central Location 
..Its Streams. .Woodland .. Famous 
Ten Mile Prairie .. Originally. .The 
Organization of 1873. .Old Settlers. . 
Its Coal Fields. .Railroad Facilities. . 
Schools and Churches. .Bear Creek. . 
Metes, Bounds and Area. .Water and 



Page. 
Timber. .Game. .When Organized.. 
School . . Old Settlers . . Progress . . Its 
Future 462 

CHAPIER XXXII. 

LEESVILLE, SPRINGFIELD, DEER CREEK 
AND BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIPS— 

Leesville. .A Township of 1873.. Its 
Bounds. .Pioneers of 1835 to 1840.. 
Coal and Stone. .Centennial 1876.. 
Pioneer History. .Old Time Imple- 
ments.. The First Church. .Schools, 
Etc . . Town of Leesville . . When 
Founded and by Whom. .Centennial 
Address. .1876 to 1883. .Lodges. . 
Colesburg. .Items . . Springfield. .Be- 
fore It Was a County. .The Metes 
and Bounds of i860 and 1873.. Its 
Early Settlers. .Mt. Olivet Church.. 
Schools . . Population . . Coal . . Stone . . 
Deer Creek.. First Settled. .The 
New County Seat. .Goff's. .Stores. . 
Postoffice. .The Field of Coal. .Popu- 
lation, School and Churches. .Lewis 
Station. .First Building. .Business. . 
Shipping. .Postmasters. .Bethlehem. . 
Organization . . Area. .Fine Farms. . 
Early Settlers. .Its Churches. .Their 
Progress. .Items of Interest. .Onward 
. .Schools. .Its Boundary 471 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



Clinton Township 490 

Windsor Township 553 

Deep Water Township 605 

Tebo Township 626 

Shawnee Township 660 

Fields' Creek Township 675 

Bogard Township 690 

Big Creek Township 698 

Honey Creek Township 712 



White Oak Township 714 

Davis Township . 728 

Osage Township 74^ 

Fairview Township 755 

Bear Creek Township 764 

Leesville Township 773 

Bethlehem Township 783 

Deer Creek Township 794 

Springfield Township 808 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE VALLEY OF THE OSAGE— THE DAWN OF 
CIVILIZATION. 

Southwest Missouri. .The Vanguard of 
Progress. .From 1830 to 1840. .House 
and Home Comforts. .The Days Given 
to Celebration. .Farming Tools. .The 
Bull Plows. .Mills and Trading Points 
. . Hunting and Trapping . . The 
Honey Bee and the Bee Tree. .Indian 
Sign of the coming of the Palefaces. 821 

CHAPTER II. 

PIONEERS AND PROGRESS. 

The Pioneers. .The First Settler . Ja- 
cob Cooncc.His Neighbors .. Large 
Animals. .The Applegates. .The First 



Senator. .Joseph Montgomery. .Taber 
and Her Settlers The Land of the 
Forest King. . Monegaw Springs.. 
Early Political History . .From 1835 
to J841 . . Weaubleau and Monegaw. . 
Roads. ..Indian Raid.. All Other 
Points. ..Various Things. .Items ot 
Interest 831 

CHAPTER III. 

AN OLD SETTLEMENT— WILD BEAST OF THE 

MOUNTAINS. 

A Pioneer Colony. .Old Settler's Story 
. .A Rocky Mountain Lion and Griz- 
zley Bear Combined on the Rampage 
. .The Hunt . .Where Miss Mat Was. . 
Facing Danger. .Rock House Cave. . 
The Monster Coming.. He Came.. 



CONTENTS. 



XI 



Page. 
The Sad and Mournful March Home 
Pioneers from 1S32 to 1S40. . Pioneers 
Now Living . Petition. .Pioneer Wo- 
men. .Conclusion 842 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE BIRTH OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY--CULL- 
INGS FROM THE COURT RECORDS. 

Independence. .Act of Organization, 
February 15, iS4i..The Boundary of 
1845. .County Seat Fight. .Two Sides 
to a Story. .Deeds of the Lands Do- 
nated for the Location of a County 
Seat , . Circuit Court . . Survey . . Roads 
and Bridges. .Assessed Valuation, 
1845 to 1 854.. A Yearly Estimate.. 
Taxation and Cash on Hand .... 855 

CHAPTER V. 

A COMBINATION OF SOLID FACTS MAKES 
CONTINUOUS HISTORY. 

Election Arrangements . . Statistical 
and Otherwise. .Swamp Land Re 
marks . . Brain Wages . . Montgomery's 
Great Effort. .Osceola. .Jim Lane.. 
Township. .The Boundaries of 1867 
. .Names. .Once More Divided, .As 
It Was to 1872 868 

CHAPTER VI. 

A CHAPTER WHICH REFERS TO THE 
POCKET, AND EXHIBITS SOME 
FIGURES - 

Taxation. . 1861 . . 1871. .Voting Pop- 
ulation . Hickory County's Failure. . 
Poor Farm . . Money Matters . . Changes 
..New County Warrants .. About a 
new Township. .Land Valuation in 
1875 • County Revenue . . Agricul- 
tural and Mechanical Association.. 
Stealing of the Back Tax Book.. 
County Seat Removal . . Delinquent 
List 879 

CHAPTER VII. 

ST. CLAIR COUNTY — ITS PHYSICAL 
FEATURES AND RESOURCES— 
Boundary and Wealth. .Area and 
Water Supply. .Physical Features.. 
The Indians' Elysium. .Sac River. . 
Farm and Stock. .A Retrospect. .Min- 
eral Wealth. .Silver. .Some Reflec- 
tions on the Silver Excitement . Pure 
Galena.. Iron and Coal Fields Im- 
mense . . Gold, Silver, Copper and 
Nickel 888 

CHAPTER VIII. 

AGRICULTURAL AND STOCK STATIS- 
TICS- 

Agriculture and Stock. .Grazing Lands 
..Its Yield. .Fruits. .Progress in all 
Things . . Comparison Made . . Census 
of 1876. .Population. .Stock .. Pro- 
ducts . The Yield of 1 880.. Stock 
Returns of 1880-82. .Assessment and 
Assessed Valuation 8q8 



CHAPTER IX. 



Page. 



RAILROADS VS. NO RAILROADS. 

The Clinton & Memphis Branch.. 
Subscription, $250,000. .The Order 
in Full. .Satisfied and Bonds Deliv- 
ered. .Returning Reason.. An Ac- 
count Rendered by no Vouchers Pro- 
duced. .Taxation and Railroad Fund 
. . Investigation . . The Report . . Steal- 
ing in Bulk. .Stealing in Detail.. 
The LaDue Swindle on Contracts. . 
No Levy but Plenty of Suits. .$90,- 
000 and the Attorneys in the Cases . 903 

CHAPTER X. 

EVIDENCES OF FRAUD AND THE LEGAL 
FIGHT— 

The Charge and the Evidence.. 
Johnson and Mead Exonerated. .Who 
is Responsible. .Some Letters. .A few 
Resolutions . . The People Express 
their Views. .The Bondholders Pro- 
pose and the People Dispose. .Man- 
damus vs. Reason. .The Vote on the 
20 cent Compromise. .Some Bonds 
Purchased. .The Last Call 914 

CHAPTER XI. 

MEN'S PASSIONS HAVING FULL SWAY- 
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES— 
The Pistol. .Shot Down in Cold Blood 
. .The Murder of his Victim. .Death 
of Hughes. .The Killing of John D. 
Baucom..John Berry Declared Not 
Guilty. .Murder and Suicide. .Colonel 
Charles Sims and Wife. .Jealousy 
and Insanity. .The Noted Train Rob- 
bers and Outlaws . . The Younger 
Brothers. .The Great Battle and Death 
of John Younger. . Local Detectives 
a Failure. .The Vigilants . Fate of F. 
J. France 925 

CHAPTER XII. 

COUNTY OFFICIALS AND COUNTY POL- 
ITICS— 

County Seat Commissioners. .Justices 
of the Peace 1840 and 184 1. .County 
OflScials from County Justices to Cir- 
cuit Judges. .Resolutions of Respect 
. . Political . .The Vote from 1870 to 
1876, and Compared. .Senatorial. . 
The Election of 1882.. The Status of 
Parties 939 

CHAPTER XIII. 
ODDS AND ENDS— 

The Gold Fever. .Captain Waldo's 
Company. .What Became of Them., 
Patrons of Husbandry. .Rise and 
Decline . . Number of Granges. .A 
few Remarks.. The Milling Interest 
Mills, When and Where Built . . Some 
Suggestions. .The Grasshopper. .The 
Loss and the Relief. . Roscoe Ex- 
presses Thanks. .First Deed of Rec- 
ord. .Swamp Lands. .Population . . 953 



XI 1 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Page. 



WAR RECORD— PRESS-EARLY BAR— 

964 

CHAPTER XV. 



OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP— SOME ASTOUND- 
ING FACTS PLAINLY STATED- 
Population . . Stock . . Vineyards . . 
Metes and Bounds. .The Pioneer, and 
When he Came. .Town of Osceola, , 
Its Rise, Progress and Destruction.. 
The new City of Osceola. .What she 
was, and is, and will be .... . 



975 



CHAPTER XVI. 



APPLETON TOWNSHIP— 

Its Bounds. .Water, Timber and Area 
. .Population. .Production .. Pioneers 
and Progress . . Appleton City . , Arling- 
ton. .Incorporated. .Its First Settlers 
..Appleton City on January i, 1883 
. .Manufacturers. .Its Railroad Ship- 
ments, .District Fair 1000 

CHAPTER XVII. 

MONEGAW AND CHALK LEVEL TOWN- 
SHIPS- 

Monegaw. .Metes and Bounds. .Topo- 
graphical . . Pioneer Days . . Settled and 
by Whom. .Johnson City. .Churches 
. .Ohio Postoffice. .Schools and Pop- 
ulation. .Chalk Level .. Boundary., 
Population and Production .. Church 
..Chalk Level Village., Monegaw 
Springs, .Osage Bluff and Caves . .1019 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

BUTLER, JACKSON AND POLK TOWN- 
SHIPS— 

Butler Township. .The First Break. . 
One of Seven. .Topography and Area 
. Production and Population. .Water 
and Timber. .Settled and by Whom. . 
George W. Penn .. Lowry City.. 
Churches, Schools, Lodges and Busi- 
ness.. Jiackson Township .. Minefal 
not Agricultural. .Metes and Bounds 



Page. 

. .White Sulphur Springs. .Churches, 
Postoffices and Schools. .Polk Town- 
ship. . Border Township . . Bounds . . A 
Singular Spring . . Pioneer. Water, 
Timber and Some Rock. .Population 
. .Production. .Churches and Schools 
..Its General Features 1031 

CHAPTER XIX. 

DALLAS, COLLINS, DOYAL AND WASHING- 
TON TOWNSHIPS. 

Dallas Township. .When, Where, and 
How Much.. They Came. .Settled. . 
Among Other Things. .The Old Log 
Church. .King's Prairie. .Political and 
Otherwise. .Collins Township, and a 
Volume of Facts.. The Name.. 1830 
to 1 840.. The Loom.. The Good 
Word..Doyal Township. .Was the 
Creation of 1872.. The Advance 
Guard.. Coon Creek. .Its Early Arri- 
vals. .Population and Area. .Doyai's 
Bounds . . Her Churches and Schools . . 
Election of 1874. .Washington Town- 
ship, One of the Original Six. .Metes 
and Bounds.. The Sac River and 
Brush Creek. .The Advent of Jacob 
Coonce..Game and Other Settlers. 
Its Schools, etc., in Memorial. . . . 1045 

CHAPTER XX. 



ROSCOE, TABER AND 
SHIPS. 



SPEEDWELL TOWN- 



Roscoe Township. .What it Was in 
1872.. When Settled. .Religion and 
Education. .The Village of Roscoe. . 
When Incorpoiated. . 1870 to 18S0. . 
Gazette. .Business. .Speedwell Town- 
ship. .Population, Area and Bounds. . 
Pioneers and Hunters. .Water, Tim- 
ber, Stock and Cereals. .Famous Hun- 
ters. .Tiffin. .Its Settlement, Schools 
etc. .Taber Township. .When Settled 
and by Whom. .Village of Taberville 
..Its Destruction. Alter the War.. 
Head of Navigation. .Churches and 
School.. Addition and Park. . . . 1059 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



Osceola Township 1076 

Appleton Township 1 103 

Monegaw Township 1126 

Chalk Level Township 1142 

Jackson Townsjiip 1151 

Polk Township 1158 

Dallas Township 1166 



Collins Township 1171 

Butler Township II79 

Doyal Township 1189 

Washington Township 1 196 

Roscoe Township 1198 

Speedwell Township 1206 

Taber Township 121 1 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Clinton Public School Buildirg 336 

Residence of C, C. Morse 404 

Portrait of A. C. Legg 647 



History of Missouri. 



CHAPTER I. 
LOUISIANA PURCHASE. 

BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH, 

The purchase of the vast territory west of the Mississippi River, by 
the United States, extending through Oregon to the Pacific coast and 
south to the dominions of Mexico, constitutes the most important event 
that ever occurred in the history of this nation. 

It gave to our republic additional room for that expansion and stu- 
pendous growth, to which it has since attained, in all that makes it 
strong and enduring, and forms the seat of an empire, from which will 
radiate an influence for good unequaled in the annals of time. In 1763, 
one hundred and eighteen years ago, the immense region of country, 
known at that time as Louisiana, was ceded to Spain by France. By a 
secret article, in the treaty of St. Ildefonso, concluded in 1800, Spain 
ceded it back to France. Napoleon, at that time, coveted the island ot 
St. Dom.ingo, not only because of the value of its products, but more 
especially because its location in the Gulf of Mexico would, in a military 
point of view, afford him a fine field, whence he could the more effect- 
ively guard his newly acquired possessions. Hence he desired this 
cession by Spain should be kept a profound secret until he succeeded in 
reducing St. Domingo to submission. In this undertaking, however, 
his hopes were blasted, and so great was his disappointment that he 
apparently became indifferent to the advantages to be derived to France 
from his purchase of Louisiana. 

In 1803 he sent out Laussat as prefect of the colony, Af'ho gave the 
people of Louisiana the first intimation that they had had, that they had 
once more become the subjects of France. This was the occasion of 
great rejoicing among the inhabitants, who were Frenchmen in their 
origin, habits, manners and customs. 



10 HISTORY OF ]MISSOURI. 

Mr. Jefferson, then President of the United States, on being informed 
of the retrocession, immediately dispatched instructions to Robert Liv- 
ingston, the American Minister at Paris, to make known to Napoleon 
that the occupancy of New Orleans, by his government, would not only 
endanger the friendly relations existing between the two nations, but, 
perhaps, oblige the United States to make common cause with England, 
his bitterest and most dreaded enemy, as the possession of the city by 
France would give her command of the Mississippi, which was the only 
outlet for the produce of the Western States, and give her also control 
of the Gulf of Mexico, so necessary to the protection of American com- 
merce. Mr. Jefferson was so fully impressed with the idea that the 
occupancy of New Orleans by PVance, would bring about a conflict of 
interests between the two nations, wbkh would finally culminate in an 
open rupture, that he urged Mr. Livingston to not only insist upon the 
free navigation of the Mississippi, but to negotiate for the purchase of 
the city and the surrounding country. 

The question of this negotiation was of so grave a character to the 
United States that the President appointed Mr. Monroe, with full power, 
to act in conjunction with Mr. Livingston. Ever equal to all emergencies, 
and prompt in the cabinet, as well as in the field. Napoleon came to the 
conclusion that, as he could not well defend his occupancy of New 
Orleans, he would dispose of it, on the best terms possible. Before, 
however, taking final action in the matter, he summoned two of his min- 
isters, and addressed them as follows : 

"I am fully sensible of the value of Louisiana, and it was my wish 
to repair the error of the French diplomatists who abandoned it in 1763. 
I have scarcely recovered it before I run the risk of losing it ; but if I 
am obliged to give it up, it shall hereafter cost more to those who force 
me to part with it, than to those to whom I shall yield it. The English 
have despoiled France of all her northern possessions in America, and 
now they covet those of the south. I am determined that they shall not 
have the Mississippi. Although Louisiana is but a trifle compared to 
their vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the 
vexation they have manifested on seeing it return to the power of 
France, I am certain that their first object will be to gain possession of 
it. They will probably commence the war in that quarter. They have 
twenty vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, and our affairs in St. Domingo are 
daily getting worse since the death of LeClerc. The conquest of Lou- 
isiana might be easily made, and I have not a moment to lose in getting 
it out of their reach. I am not sure but that they have already begun an 
attack upon it. Such a measure would be in accordance with their 
habits; and in their place I should not wait. I am inclined, in order to 
deprive them of all prospect of ever possessing it, to cede it to the 
United States. Indeed, I can hardly say that I cede it, for I do not yet 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. U 

possess it ; and if I wait but a short time my enemies may leave me 
nothing- but an empty title to grant to the republic I wish to conciliate. 
I consider the whole colony as lost, and I believe that in the hands of 
this rising power it will be more useful to the political and even com- 
mercial interests of France than if I should attempt to retain it. Let 
me have both your opinions on the subject." 

One of his ministers approved of the contemplated cession, but the 
other opposed it. The matter was long and earnestly discussed by them, 
before the conference was ended. The next day Napoleon sent for the 
minister who had agreed with him, and said to him ; "The season for 
deliberation is over. I have determined to renounce Louisiana. I shall 
give up not only New Orleans, but the whole colony, without reserva- 
tion. That I do not undervalue Louisiana, I have sufficientl}^ proved, as 
the object of my first treaty with Spain was to recover it. But though I 
regret parting with it, I am convinced it would be folly to persist in try 
ing to keep it. I commission you, therefore, to negotiate this affair with 
the envoys of the United States. Do not wait the arrival of Mr. Monroe, 
but go this very day and confer with Mr. Livingston. Remember, how- 
ever, that I need ample funds for carrying on the war, and I do not wish 
to commence it by levying new taxes. For the last century France and 
Spain have incurred g^reat expense in the improvement of Louisiana, for 
which her trade has never indemnified them. Large sums have been 
advanced to different companies, which have never been returned to the 
treasury. It is fair that I should require repayment for these. Were T 
to regulate my demands by the importance of this territory to the United 
States, they would be unbounded ; but, being obliged to part with it, I 
shall be moderate in my terms. Still, remember, I must have fifty mil ■ 
lions of francs, and I will not consent to take less. I would rather make 
some desperate effort to preserve this fine country." 

That day the negotiations commenced. Mr. Monroe reached Paris 
on the I2th of April, and the two representatives of the United States 
after holding a private interview, announced that they were ready to 
treat for the entire territory. On the 30th of April, 1803, eighteen days 
afterward, the treaty was signed, and on the 21st of October, of the same 
year, Congress ratified the treaty. The United States were to pay 
$11,250,000, and her citizens to be compensated for some illegal captures 
to the amount ot $3,750,000, making in the aggregate the sum of 
$15,000,000, while it was agreed that the vessels and merchandise of 
France and Spain should be admitted into all the ports of Louisiana free 
6f duty for twelve years. Bonaparte stipulated in favor of Louisiana, 
that it should be, as soon as possible, incorporated into the Union, and 
that its inhabitants should enjoy the same rights, privileges and immuni- 
ties as other citizens of the United States, and the clause giving to them 



12 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

these benefits, was drawn up by Bonaparte, who presented it to the 
plenipotentiaries with these words : "Make it known to the people of 
Louisiana, that we regret to part with them ; that we have stipulated for 
all the advantages they could desire ; and that France, in giving' them 
up, has insured to them the greatest of all. They could never have 
prospered under any European government as they will when they 
become independent. But while they enjoy the privileges of liberty let 
them remember that they are French, and preserve for their mother 
country that affection which a common origin inspires." 

Complete satisfaction was given to both parties in the terms of the 
treaty. Mr. Livingston said : " I consider that from this day the United 
States takes rank with the first powers of Europe, and now she has 
entirely escaped from the power of England," and Bonaparte expressed 
a similar sentiment when he said : " By this cession of territory I have 
secured the power of the United States, and given to England a maritime 
rival, who, at some future time, will humble her pride." These were 
prophetic words, for within a few years afterward the British met with a 
signal defeat, on the plains of the very territory of which the great Cor- 
sican had been speaking. 

From 1800, the date of the cession made by Spain, to 1803, when it 
was purchased by the United States, no change had been made by the 
French authorities in the jurisprudence of the Upper and Low r Louis- 
iana, and during this period the Spanish laws remained in full force as 
the laws of the entire province ; a fact which is of interest to those who 
would understand the legal history and some of the present laws of 
Missouri. 

On December 20, 1803, Generals Wilkinson and Claiborne, who were 
jointly commissioned to take possession of the territory for the United 
States, arrived in the city of New Orleans at the head of the American 
forces. Laussat, who had taken possession but tv/enty days previously 
as prefect of the colony, gave up his command, and the star-spangled 
banner supplanted the tri-colored flag of France. The agent of France, 
to take possession of Upper Louisiana from the Spanish authorities, was 
Amos Stoddard, captain of artillery in the United States service. He 
was placed in possession of St. Louis on the 9th of March, 1804, by 
Charles Dehault Delassus, the Spanish commandant, and on the follow- 
ing day he transferred it to the United States. The authority of the 
United States in Missouri dates from this day. 

From that moment the interests of the people of the Mississippi 
Valley became identified. They were troubled no more with the uncer- 
tainties of free navigation. The great river, along whose banks they 
had planted their towns and villages, now afforded them a safe and easy 
outlet to the markets of the world. Under the protecting aegis of a 
government, republican in form, and having free access to an almost 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 13 

boundless domain, embracing in its broad area the diversified climates of 
the globe, and possessing a soil unsurpassed for fertility, beauty of 
scenery and wealth of minerals, they had every incentive to push on 
their enterprises and build up the land wherein their lot had been cast. 
In the purchase of Louisiana, it was known that a great empire had 
been secured as a heritage to the people of our country, for all time to 
come, but of its grandeur, its possibilities, its inexhaustible resources 
and the important relations it would sustain to the nation and the world, 
were never dreamed of by even Mr. Jefferson and his adroit and accom- 
plished diplomatists. 

The most ardent imagination never conceived of the progress, 
which would mark the history of the "Great West." ' The adventurous 
pioneer, who fifty years ago pitched his tent upon its broad prairies, or 
threaded the dark labyrinths of its lonely forests, little thought that a 
mighty tide of physical and intellectual strength would so rapidly flow 
on in his footsteps, to populate, build up and enrich the domain which 
he had conquered. 

Year after year, civilization has advanced further and further, until 
at length the mountains, the plains, the hills and the valleys, and even 
the rocks and the caverns, resound with the noise and din of busy 
millions. 

'• I beheld the westward marches 

Of the unknown crowded nations. 

All the land was full of people. 

Restless, struggling, toiling, striving, 

Spea4cing many tongues, yet feeling 

But one heart-beat in their bosoms. 

In the woodland rang their axes, 

Smoked their towns in all the valleys ; 

Over all the lakes and rivers 

Rushed their great canoes of thunder." 

In 1804 Congress, by an act, passed in April of the same year, 
divided Louisiana into two parts, the " Territory of Orleans," and the 
" District of Louisiana," known as " Upper Louisiana." This district 
included all that portion of the old province, north of" Hope Encamp- 
ment," on the Lower Mississippi, and embraced the present State of 
Missouri, and all the western region of country to the Pacific Ocean, and 
all below the forty-ninth degree of north latitude not claimed by Spain. 

As a matter of convenience, on March 26, 1804, Missouri was placed 
within the jurisdiction of the government of the Territory of Indiana, 
and its government put in motion by General William H. Harrison, 
then governor of Indiana. In this he was assisted by Judges Griffin 
Vanderberg and Davis, who established in St. Louis what were called 
Courts of Common Pleas. The Dist~ict of Louisiana was regularly 
organized into the Territory of Louisiana by Congress, March 3, 1805, 



14 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

and President Jefferson appointed General James Wilkinson governor, 
and Frederick Bates secretary. The Legislature of the Territory was 
formed by Governor Wilkinson and Judges R. J. Meigs and John B. C. 
Lucas. In 1807, Governor Wilkinson was succeeded by Captain Meri- 
wether Lewis, who had become famous by reason of his having made 
the expedition with Clark. Governor Lewis committed suicide in 1809, 
and President Madison appointed General Benjamin Howard, of Lex- 
ington, Kentucky, to fill his place. General Howard resigned October 
25, 1810, to enter the war of 1812, and died in St. Louis, in 1814. Cap- 
tain William Clark, of Lewis and Clark's expedition, was appointed 
governor in 1810, to succeed General Howard, and remained in office 
until the admission of the state into the Union. 

The portions of Missouri which were settled, for the purpose of local 
government, were divided into four districts. Cape Girardeau was the 
first, and embraced the territory between Tywappity Bottom and Apple 
Creek. St. Genevieve, the second, embraced the territory from Apple 
Creek to the Meramec River. St. Louis, the third, embraced the terri- 
tory between the Meramec and Missouri Rivers. St. Charles, the fourth, 
included the settled territory between the Missouri and Mississippi 
Rivers. The total population of these districts at that time was 8,670, 
including slaves. The population of the district of Louisiana, when 
ceded to the United States, was 10,120. 



CHAPTER II. 
DESCRIPTIVE AND GEOGRAPHICAL. 

NAME— FXTENT— •SURFACE— RIVERS— TIMBER— CLIMATE— PRAIRIES— SOILS-POPULATION 
BY CUUiNTlES. 

NAME. 

The name Missouri, is derived from the Indian tongue, and signifies 
muddy. 

EXTENT. 

Missouri is bounded on the north by Iowa (from which it is separated 
for about thirty miles on the northeast by the DesMoines River) and ois 
the east by the Mississippi River, which divides it from Illinois, Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee, and on the west by the Indian territory, and by 
the states of Kansas and Nebraska. The state lies (with the exception 
of a small projection between the St. Franci"s and the Mississippi Rivers, 
which extends to 36°), between 36° 30' and 40° 36' north latitude, and 
betweeH 12° 2' and 18° 51' west longitude from Washington 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. J 5 

The extreme width of the state east and west is about 348 miles ; 
its width on its northern boundary, measured from its northwest corner 
along the Iowa line to its intersection with the DesMoines River, is about 
210 miles; its width on its southern boundary is about 288 miles. Its 
average width is about 235 miles. 

The length of the state north and south, not including the narrow 
strip between the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers, is about 282 miles. 
It is about 450 miles from its extreme northwest corner to its southeast 
corner, and from the northeast corner to the southwest corner it is about 
230 miles. These limits embrace an area of 65.350 square miles, or 
41,824,000 acres, being nearly as large as England, and the states of 
Vermont and New Hampshire. 

SURFACE. 

North of the Missouri the state is level or undulating, while the por- 
tion south of that river (the larger portion of the state) exhibits a greater 
variety of surface. In the southeastern part is an extensive marsh, 
reaching beyond the state into Arkansas. The remainder of this portion 
between the Mississippi and Osage Rivers, is rolling and gradually rising 
into a hilly and mountainous district, forming the outski'rts of the Ozark 
Mountains. 

Beyond the Osage River, at some distance, commences a vast 
expanse of prairie land, which stretches away towards the Rocky Mount- 
ains. The ridges forming the Ozark chain extend in a northeast and 
southwest direction, separating the waters that flow northeast into the 
Missouri from those that flow southeast into the Mississippi River. 

RIVERS. 

No state in the Union enjoys better facilities for navigation than 
IMissouri. By means of the Mississippi River, which stretches along her 
entire eastern boundary, she can hold commercial intercourse with the 
most northern territory^nd state in the Union ; with the whole valley of 
the Ohio ; with many of the Atlantic States, and with the Gulf of Mexico, 

"Ay, gather Europe's royal rivers all — 
The snow swelled Neva, with an empire's weight 
On her broad breast, she yet may overwhelm } 
Dark Danube, harrying, as by foe pursued, 
Through shaggy forests and by palase walls, 
To hide its terrors in a sea of gloom ; 
The castled Rhine, whose vine crowned waters flow. 
The fount of fable and the source of song ; 
The rushing Rhone, in whose cerulean depths 
The loving sky seems wedded with the wave; 
The yellow Tiber, chok'd with Roman spoils, 
A dying miser shrinking 'neath his gold; 
The Seine, where fashion glasses the fairest forms; 
And Thames that bears the riches of the v/or!d ; 



l6 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

Gather their waters in one ocean mass, 
Our Mississippi rolling proudly on, 
Would sweep them from its path, or swallow up, 
' Like Aaron's rod, these streams of fame and song." 

By the Missouri River she can extend her commerce to the Rocky 
Mountains, and receive in return the products which will come in the 
course of time, by its multitude of tributaries. 

The Missouri River coasts the northwest line of the state for about 
250 miles, following its windings, and then flows through the state, a 
little south of east, to its junction with the Mississippi. The Missouri 
River receives a number of tributaries within the limits of the state, the 
principal of which are the Nodaway, Platte, Loutre and Chariton from 
the north, and the Blue, Sniabar, Grand, Osage and Gasconade from the 
south. The principal tributaries of the Mississippi within the state are 
the Salt River, north, and the Meramec River, south, of the Missouri. 

The St. Francis and White Rivers, with their branches, drain the 
southeastern part of the state and pass into Arkansas. The Osage is 
navigable for steamboats for more than 275 miles. There are a vast 
number of smaller streams, such as creeks, branches and rivers, which 
water the state in all directions. 

TIMBER. 

Not more towering in their sublimity were the cedars of ancient 
Lebanon, nor more precious in their utility were the almug trees of 
Ophir, than the native forests of Missouri. The river bottoms are cov- 
ered with a luxuriant growth of oak, ash, elm, hickory, Cottonwood, linn, 
white and black walnut, and in fact all the varieties found in the Atlantic 
and Eastern States. In the more barren districts may be seen the white 
and pin oak, and in many places a dense growth of pine. The crab 
apple, pawpaw and persimmon are abundant, as also the hazel and pecan. 

CLIMATE. 

The climate of Missouri is, in general, pleasant and salubrious. 
Like that of North America, it is changeable and subject to sudden and 
sometimes extreme changes of heat and cold ; but it is decidedly milder, 
taking the whole year through, than that of the same latitudes. east of 
the mountains. While the summers are not more oppressive than they 
are in the corresponding latitudes on and near the Atlantic Coast, the 
winters are shorter, and very much milder, except during the month of 
February, and it has many days of pleasant sunshine. 

PRAIRIES. 

Missouri is a prairie state, especially that portion of it north and 
northwest of the Missouri River. These prairies, along the water 
courses, abound with the thickest and most luxurious belts of timber, 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 1/ 

while the " rolling " prairies occupy the higher portions of the country, 
the desci. it generally to the forest or bottom lands being over stony 
declivities. Many of these prairies, however, exhibit a graceful, waving 
surface, swelling and sinking with an easy slope and a full, rounded out- 
line, equally avoiding the unmeaning, horizontal surface and the inter- 
ruption of abrupt or angular elevations. 

These prairies often embrace extensive tracts of land, and m one or 
two instances they cover an area of fifty thousand acres. During the 
spring and summer they are carpeted with a velvet of green and gaily 
bedecked with flowers of various forms and hues, making a most fasci- 
nating panorama of ever changing color and loveliness. To fully appre- 
ciate their great beauty and magnitude they must be seen. 

SOIL. 

The soil of Missouri is good, and of great agricultural capabili<"^es, 
but the most fertile portions of the state are the river bottoms, which 
are a rich alluvium, mixed in many cases with sand, the producing qual- 
ities of which are not excelled by the prolific valley of the famous Nile. 

South of the Missouri River there is a greater variety of soil, but 
much of it is fertile, and even in the mountains and mineral districts 
there are rich valleys, and about the sources of the White, Eleven 
Points, Current and Big Black Rivers the soil, though unproductive, 
furnishes a valuable growth of yellow pine. 

The marshy lands in the southeastern part of the state will, by a 
system of drainage, be one of the most fertile districts in the state. 

POPULATION BY COUNTIES IN 187O, 18/6, 1880. 

Adair ., , 

Andrew , 

Atchison 

Audrain , 

Barry 

Barton 

Bates 

Benton 

Bollinger , 

Boone , - 

Buchanan ..._j 

Butler 

Caldwell 

Callaway 

Camden j.... 

Cape Girardeau , 

Carroll 

Carter 

Cass 



IS70. 


1S76. 


18S0. 


11,449 


13774 


15,190 


15.137 


14,992 


16,318 


8,440 


10,925 


14.565 


12,307 


15,157 


19.739 


10,373 


11,146 


14,424 


5.0S7 


6,900 


10332 


15.960 


17,484 


25,382 


11,322 


11,027 


12,398 


8,162 


8,884 


11,132 


20,765 


31.923 


25,424 


35,109 


38,165 


49,824 


4,298 


4,363 


6,011 


11,390 


12 200 


13.654 


19,202 


25,257 


23,670 


6,ioS 


7,027 


7,269 


17.558 


17,891 


20998 


17:445 


21,518 


23.300 


1,455 


1,549 


2,168 


19,296 


18,069 


22,431 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 



Cedar . . . . 
Charfton . . 

Christian . . 
Clark .... 
Clinton . . . 
Cole .... 
Cooper . . . 
Cralwford . . 
Dade . . . . 
Dallas . . . 
Daviiss . , . 
DeKalb . . . 
Dent .... 
Douglas . . . 
Dunkin . . . 
Franklin . , 
Gas'conade . . 
Gentry . . . 
Greene . ... 
Grundy . . . 
Harrison . . 
Henry . . . 
Hickory . . . 
Holt .... 
Howard . . . 

Howell . . . 

T ''- 

Iron , . „ . 

Jackson . . . 
Jasper . . . 
Jefferson . . 
Johnson . . . 
Knox . . . 
Laclede . . , 
Lafayette . . 
Lawrence . . 
Lewis ... 
Lincoln . . , 
Linn . . . . 
Livingston . 
McDonald . , 
Macon . . . 
Madison . . 
Maries . . , 
Marion . . . 
Mercer . . . 
Miller . . . 
Mississippi . 
Moniteau . . 
Monroe . . 
Montgomeiy 
Morgan . . . 
New Madrid 
Newton . . 



9.474 


9,912 


10,747 


19,136 


23,294 


25,224 


6.707 


7,936 


9,632 


13,667 


14,549 


15,631 


14,063 


13,698 


16,073 


10,292 


14,122 


15.519 


20,692 


21,356 


21,622 


7,982 


9,391 


10,763 


8,683 


11,089 


12,557 


8,383 


8,073 


9,272 


14,410 


16,557 


19,174 


9.858 


11,159 


13,343 


6,357 


7,401 . 


10,647 


3,91s 


6,461 


7,753 


5,982 


6,255 


9,604 


30,098 


26,924 


26,536 


10,093 


11,160 


11.153 


11,607 


12,673 


17,188 


21,549 


24,693 


28,817 


10,567 


13.071 


15,201 


14,63s 


18,530 


20,318 


17,401 


18,465 


23,914 


6452 


5,870 


7,388 


11,652 


13.245 


15,510 


17,233 


17,815 


18,428 


4,218 


6.756 


8,814 


6,278 


6,623 


8,183 


5S-04I 


54,045 


82,328 


14,928 


29,384 


32,021 


15.380 


16,186 


i«,736 


24,648 


23,646 


28,177 


10,974 


12,67s 


13,047 


9.380 


9,84s 


11,524 


22,624 


22,204 


25,761 


13,067 


13,054 


17.585 


I5,"4 


16,360 


15.925 


15,960 


16,858 


17,443 


15 906 


18,110 


20,016 


16,730 


18,074 


20,205 


5,226 


6,072 


7,816 


23,230 


25,028 


26,223 


5.849 


8,750 


8,866 


5,916 


6,481 


7,304 


23,780 


22,794 


24,837 


",557 


13.393 


14,674 


6,616 


8.529 


9,807 


4,982 


7,498 


i),270 


13.375 


13,084 


14,349 


17,149 


17,751 


19,075 


10,405 


14,418 


16,250 


8,434 


9.529 


10,134 


6,357 


6,673 


7,694 


I»2,82I 


16,875 


18,948 



Hl'SrORY OF MISSOURI. ig 



Nodaway . . , , 

Oregon 

Osage . 4 . . . 

Ozark 

Pemiscot .... 

Perry 

Pettis 

Phelps 

Pike 

Platte ..... 

Polk 

Pulaski 

Putnam . . . . . 

Ralls 

Randolph . . . 

Ray 

Reynolds . . . . 

Ripley 

St. Charles . . . 
St. Clair .... 
St. Francois . . 
Ste. Genevieve . 
St. Louis* . . . . 

Saline 

Schuyler . . . . 
Scotland .... 

Scott 

Shannon . . . . 

Shelby 

Stoddard .... 

Stone 

Sullivan .... 

Taney 

Texas 

Vern.on . . . . . 

Warren 

Washington . . . 

Wayne 

Webster .... 

Worth 

Wright .... 
City of St. Louis 



14.751 


23,196 


29,560- 


3,287 


4,469 


5 79^ 


10,793 


11,200 


11,824. 


3,363 


4,579 


5,618. 


2,059 


2,573 


4,299- 


9,877 


11,189 


11,895 


18,706 


23,167 


27,285 


10,506 


9,919 


12,565 


23,076 


22,828 


26,716- 


17,352 


15,948 


17372 


14,445 


13.467 


15,745 


4,714 


6,157 


7,250 


11,217 


12,641 


13.556 


10,510 


9,997 


11,838 


15,908 


19,173 


22,75E 


iSjoo 


18,394 


20,196 


3,756 


4,716 


5.722 


3.175 


3.913 


5.377 


21,304 


21,821 


23,060 


6,742 


11,242 


14,126 


9,742 


11,621 


13,822 


8,384 


9,409 


10309 


351.189 


. . . 


31.888 


21,672 


27,087 


29,912 


8,820 •' 


9,881 


10,470 


10,670 


12,030 


12,507 


7,3»7 


7,312 


. 8,587 


2,339 


3236 


3441 


10,119 


13,243 


14,024 


8,535 


10,888 


13,432 


3,253 


3,544 


4,405 


11,907 


14,039 


16,569 


4,407 


6,124 


5,605 


9,618 


10,287 


12,207 


11,247 


14,413 


19,370 


9,673 


10,321 


10,806 


II 719 


13,100 


12,895 


6,o6S 


7,006 


9,097 


10,434 


10,684 


12,175 


5,004 


7,164 


8,208 


5,684 


6,124 


9,733 


. . . 


. . . 


350,522 



1,721,295 1,547,030 2,i68,{ 

Males 1,127,424 

Females ^ 1,041,380 

Native J,957,'564 

Foreign * 211,240 

White 2,023,568 

Color^df 145.236 



*St. Louis City and county* separated in 1877. Population for 1876 not given, 
f Including 9.2 Chinese, 2 half Chinese, smd 96 Indians and half-breeds. 



2a HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

CHAPTER III. 
GEOLOGY OF MISSOURI. 

CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS-QUATERNARY FORMATION-TERTIARV-CRETACEOUS-CAR- 
BONIFEROUS-UEVONIAN— SILURIAN— AZOIC— ECONOMIC GEOLOGY— COAL-IRON- 
LEAD— COPPER — ZINC — BUILDING STONE — MARBLE — GYPSUM — LIME— PAINTS- 
SPRINGS— WATER POWER. 

The stratified rocks of Missouri, as classified and treated of by Pro- 
fessor G. C. Swallow, belong to the following divisions ; I. Ouatenary ; 
11. Tertiary; III. Cretaceous; IV. Carboniferous; V. Devonian; VI. 
Silurian; VII. Azoic. 

The Quaternary formations are the most recent and the most val- 
uable to man ; valuable, because they can be more readily utilized. 

The Quaternary formation in Missouri, embraces the Alluvium, 30 
feet thick ; Bottom Prairie, 30 feet thick ; Bluff, 200 feet thick ; and Drift, 
155 feet thick. The latest deposits are those which constitute the Allu- 
vium, and includes the soils, pebbles and sand, clays, vegetable mold, 
bog, iron ore, marls, etc. 

The Alluvium deposits cover an area, within the limits of Missouri, 
of more than four million acres of land, which are not surpassed for fer- 
tility by any region of country on the globe. 

The Bluff Prairie formation is confined to the lowlands, which are 
washed by the two great rivers which course our eastern and western 
boundaries, and while it is only about half as extensive as the Alluvial, 
it is equally as rich and productive. 

"The Bluff formation," says Professor Swallow, "rests upon the 
ridges and river bluffs, and descends along their slopes to the lowest 
valleys, the formation capping all the bluffs of the Missouri from Fort 
Union to its mouth, and those of the Mississippi from Dubuque to the 
mouth of the Ohio. It forms the upper stratum beneath the soil of all 
the high lands, both timber and prairies, of all the counties north of the 
Osage and Missouri, and also St. Louis, and the Mississippi counties on 
the south. 

Its greatest developmmt is in the counties on the Missouri River, 
from the Iowa line to Boonville. In some localities it is 200 feet thick. 
At St. Joseph it is 140; at Boonville 100; and at St. Louis, in St. 
George's quarry, and the Big Mound, it is about 50 feet; while its great- 
est observed thickness in Marion County was only 30 feet." 

The Drift formation is that which lies beneath the Bluff formation, 
having, as Professor Swallow informs us, three distinct deposits, to wit: 
"Altered Drift, which are strata of sand and pebbles, seen in the banks 
of the Missouri, in the northwestern portion of the state. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 21 

The Boulder formation is a heterogeneous stratum of sand, gravel 
and boulder, and water-worn fragments of the older rocks. 

Boulder Clay is a bed of bluish or brown sandy clay, through which 
pebbles are scattered in greater or less abundance. In some localities in 
northern Missouri, this formation assumes a pure white, pipe-clay color." 

The Tertiary formation is made up of clays, shales, iron ores, sand- 
stone, and sands, scattered along the bluffs, and edges of the bottoms, 
reaching from Commerce, Scott County, to Stoddard, and south to the 
Chalk Bluffs in Arkansas. 

The Cretaceous formation lies beneath the Tertiary, and is composed 
of variegated sandstone, bluish-brown sandy slate, whitish-brown im- 
pure sandstone, fine white clay, mingled with spotted flint, purple, red 
and blue clays, all being in the aggregate, 158 feet in thickness. There 
are no fossils in these rocks, and nothing by which their age may be 
told. 

The Carboniferous system includes the Upper Carboniferous or coal 
measures, and the Lower Carboniferous or Mountain Limestone. The 
coal measures are made up of numerous strata of sandstones, limestones, 
shales, clays, marls, spathic iron ores and coals. 

The Carboniferous formation, including coal measures and the beds 
of iron, embrace an area in Missouri of 27,000 square miles. The varie- 
ties of coal found in the state are the common bituminous and cannel 
coals, and they exist in quantities inexhaustible. The fact that these 
coal measures are full of fossils, which are always confined to the coal 
measures, enables the geologist to point them out, and the coal beds 
contained in them. 

The rocks of the Lower Carboniferous formation are varied in color, 
and are quarried in many different parts of the state, being extensively 
utilized for building and other purposes. 

Among the Lower Carboniferous rocks is found the Upper Archi- 
medes Limestone, 200 feet ; Ferruginous Sandstone, 105 feet ; Middle 
Archimedes. 50 feet ; St. Louis Limestone, 250 feet; Oolitic Limestone, 
25 feet; Lower Archimedes Limestone, 350 feet; and Encrinital Lime- 
stone, 500 feet. These limestones generally contain fossils. 

The Ferruginous Limestone is soft when quarried, but becomes hard 
and durable after exposure. It contains large quantities of iron, and is 
found skirting the eastern coal measures from the mouth of the Des 
Moines to McDonald County. 

The St. Louis Limestone is of various hues and tints, and very hard. 
It is found in Clark, Lewis and St. Louis Counties. 

The Lower Archimedes Limestone includes partly the lead-bearing 
rocks of Southwest Missouri. 

The Encrinital Limestone is the most extensive of the divisions of 
Carboniferous Limestone, and is made up of brown, buff, gray and white. 



22 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

In these strata are found the remains of corals and mollusks. This 
formation extends from Marion County to Greene County. The Devo- 
nian system contains: Chemung Group, Hamilton Group, Onondaga 
Limestone and Ori^kany Sandstone. The rocks of the Devonian system 
are found in Marion, Ralls, Pike, Callaway, Saline and Ste. Genevieve 
Counties. 

The Chemung Group has three formations, Chouteau Limestone, 85 
feet ; Vermicular Sandstone and shales, 75 feet; Lithographic Limestone, 
125 feet. 

The Chouteau Limestone is in two divisions, when fully developed, 
and when first quarried is soft. It is not only good for building purposes 
but makes an excellent cement. 

The Vermicular Sandstone and shales are usually buff or yellowish 
brown, perforated with pores. 

The Lithographic Limestone is a pure, fine, compact, evenly textured 
limestone. Its color varies from light drab to buff and blue. It is called 
"pot-metal," because under the hammer it gives a sharp, ringing sound 
It has but few fossils. 

The Hamilton Group is made up of some forty feet of blue shales, 
and 170 feet of Crystaline Limestone. 

Onondaga Limestone is usually a coarse, gray or buff crystaline, 
thick-bedded and cherry limestone. No formation in Missouri presents 
such variable and widely different lithological characters as the Onondaga. 

The Oriskany Sandstone is a light gray limestone. 

Of the Upper Silurian series there are the following formations : 
Lower Helderburg, 350 feet; Niagara Group, 200 feet; Cape Girardeau 
Limestone, 60 feet. 

The Lower Helderburg is made up of buff, gray and reddish cherry 
and argillaceous limestone. 

Niagara Group. The upper part of this group consists of red, yel- 
low and ash-colored shales, with compact limestones, variegated with 
bands and nodules of chert. 

The Cape Girardeau Limestone, on the Mississispi River, near Cape 
Girardeau, is a compact, bluish-gray, brittle limestone, with smooth frac- 
tures in layers from two to six inches in thickness, with argillaceous 
partings. These strata contain a great many fossils. 

The Lower Silurian has the following ten formations, to wit: Hud- 
son River Group, 220 feet ; Trenton Limestone, 360 feet; Black River 
and Bird's Eye Limestone, 175 feet ; first Magnesian Limestone, 200 feet ; 
Saccharoidal Sandstone, 125 feet ; second Magnesian Limestone, 250 
feet ; second Sandstone, 115 feet; third Magnesian Limestone, 350 feet ; 
third Sandstone, 60 feet ; fourth Magnesian Limestone, 350 feet. 

Hudson River Group. There are three formations which Professor 
Swallow refers to in this group. These formations are found in the bluff 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 23 

above and below Louisiana, on the Grassy, a few miles northwest of 
Louisiana, and in Ralls, Pike, Cape Girardeau and Ste. Genevieve 
Counties. 

Trenton Limestone. The upper part of this formation is made up of 
thick beds of hard, compact, bluish-gray and drab limestone, variegated 
with irregular cavities, filled with greenish materials. 

The beds are exposed between Hannibal and New London, north of 
Salt River, and near Glencoe, St. Louis County, and are 75 feet thick. 

Black River and Bird's Eye Limestone is the same color as the Tren- 
ton Limestone. 

The First Magnesian Limestone cap the picturesque bluffs of the 
Osage in Benton and neighboring counties. 

The Saccharoidal Sandstone has a wide range in the state. In a 
bluff about two miles from Warsaw, is a very striking change of thickness 
of this formation. 

Second Magnesian Limestone, in lithological character, is like the first. 

The Second Sandstone, usually of yellowish brown,- sometimes 
becomes ^ pure white, fine-grained, solt sandstone, as on Cedar Creek, 
in Washington and Franklin Counties. 

The Third Magnesian Limestone is exposed in the high and pictur- 
esque bluffs of the Niangua, in the neighborhood of Bry's Spring. 

The Third Sandstone is white and has a formation in moving water. 

The Fourth Magnesian Limestone is seen on the Niangua and Osage 
Rivers. 

The Azoic rocks lie below the Silurian and form a series of silicious 
and other slates, which contain no remains of organic life. 

ECONOMIC GEOLOGY. 

Coal. — Missouri is particularly rich in minerals. Indeed, no state in 
the Union surpasses her in this respect. In some unknown age of the 
past — long before the existence of man, nature, by a wise process, made 
a bountiful provision for the time, when in the order of things it should 
be necessary for civilized man to take possession of these broad, rich 
prairies. As an equivalent for lack of forests she quietly stored away 
beneath the soil those wonderful carboniferous treasures for the use of 
man. 

Geological surveys have developed the fact that the coal deposits in 
the state are almost unnumbered, embracing all varieties of the best bit- 
uminous coal. The southeast boundary of the state has been ascertained 
to be one continuous coal field, stretching from the mouth of the Des 
Moines River, through Clark, Lewis, Scotland, Adair, Macon, Shelby, 
Monroe, Audrain, Callaway, Boone, Cooper, Pettis, Benton, Henry, St. 
Clair, Bates, Vernon, Cedar, Dade, Barton and Jasper, into the Indian 
Territory, and the counties on the northwest of this line contain more or 



24 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

less coal. Coal rocks exist in Ralls, Montgomery, Warren, St. Charles, 
Moniteau, Cole, Morgan, Crawford and Lincoln, and during the past few 
years all along the lines of all the railroads in North Missouri, and along 
the western end of the Missouri Pacific, and on the Missouri River 
between Kansas City and Sioux City, has systematic mining opened up 
hundreds of mines in different localities. The area of our coal beds on 
the line of the southwestern boundary of the state alone embrace more 
than 26,000 square miles of regular coal measures. This will give of 
workable coal, if the average be one foot, 26,800,000,000 tons. The esti- 
mates from the developments already made in the different portions of 
the state will give 134,000,000,000 tons. 

The economical value of this coal to the state, its influence in 
domestic life, in navigation, commerce and manufactures, is beyond the 
imagination of man to conceive. Suffice it to say, that in the possession 
of her developed and undeveloped coal mines, Missouri has a motive 
power which in its influence for good in the civilization of man is more 
than the gold of California. 

Iron. — Prominent among the minerals which increase the power and 
prosperity of a nation is iron. Of this ore Missouri has an inexhaustible 
quantity, and, like her coal fields, it has been developed in many portions 
of the state, and of the best and pur^^t quality. It is found in great 
abundance in the counties of Cooper, St. Clair, Green, Henry, Franklin, 
Benton, Dallas, Camden, Stone, Madison, Iron, Washington, Perry, St. 
Francois, Reynolds, Stoddard, Scott, Dent, and others. The greatest 
deposit of iron is found in the Iron Mountain, which is two hundred feet 
high, and covers an area of five hundred acres, and produces a metal 
which is shown by analysis to contain from 65 to 69 per cent, of metallic 
iron. 

The ore of Shepherd Mountain contains from 64 to ^y per cent, of 
metallic iron. The ore of Pilot Knob contains from 53 to 60 per cent. 

Rich beds of iron are also found at the Big Bogy Mountain, and at 
Russell Mountain. This ore has iu its nude state a variety of colors, 
from the red, dark red, black, brown, to a light bluish gray. The red 
ores are found in 21 or more counties of the state, and are of great com- 
mercial value. The brown hematite iron ores extend over a greater 
range of country than all the others combined ; embracing about 100 
counties, and have been ascertained to exist in these in large quantities. 

Lead. — Long before any permanent settlements Vere made in Mis- 
souri by the whites, lead was mined within the limits of the state, at 
two or three points on the Mississippi. At this time more than five hun- 
dred mines are opened, and many of them are being successfully worked. 
These deposits of lead cover an area, so far as developed, of more than 
7,000 square miles. Mines have been opened in Jefferson, Washington, 
St. Francois, Madison, Wayne, Carter, Reynolds, Crawford, Ste. Gene- 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 2$ 

vieve. Perry, Cole, Cape Girardeau, Camden, Morgan land some other 
counties. 

Copper and Zinc. — Several varieties of copper ore are found in Mis- 
souri. The copper mines ot Shannon, Madison and Franklin Counties,, 
have been known for years, and some of these have been successfully 
worked, and are now yielding good results. 

Deposits of copper have been discovered in Dent, Crawford, Benton, 
Maries, Green, Lawrence, Dade, Taney, Dallas, Phelps, Reynolds and 
Wright Counties. 

Zinc is abundant in nearly all the lead mines in the southwestern 
part of the state, and since the completion of the Atlantic and Pacific 
Railroad, a market has been furnished for this ore, which will be con- 
verted into valuable merchandise. 

Building Stone and Marble. — There is no scarcity of good building 
stone in Missouri. Limestone, sandstone and granite exist in all shades 
of buff, blue, red and brown, and are of great beauty as building material. 

There are many marble beds in the state, some of which furnish 
very beautiful and excellent marble. It is found in Marion, Cooper, St. 
Louis and other counties. 

One of the most desirable of the Missouri marbles is in the third 
Magnesian Limestone, on the Niangua. It is fine grained, crystalline, 
silico-magnesian limestone, light drab, slightly tinged with peach blos- 
som, and clouded by deep flesh-colored shades. In ornamental archi- 
tecture it is rarely surpassed. 

Gypsum and Lime. — Though no extensive beds of gypsum have been 
discovered in Missouri, there are vast beds of the pure white crystalline 
variety on the line of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, on Kansas River, and 
on Gypsum Creek. It exists also in several other localities accessible 
by both rail and boat. 

All of the limestone formations in the state, from the coal measures 
to the Fourth Magnesian, have more or less strata of very nearly pure 
carbonate of pure lime. 

Clays and Paints. — t^lays are found in nearly all parts of the state 
suitable for making bricks. Potters' clay and fire clay are worked in 
many localities. 

There are several beds of purple shales in the coal measures which 
possess the properties requisite for paints used in outside work. Yellow 
and red ochres are found in considerable quantities on the Missouri 
River. Some of these paints have been thoroughly tested and found 
fire-proof and durable. 

SPRINGS AND WATER POWER. 

No state is, perhaps, better supplied with cold springs of pure water 
than Missouri. Out of the bottoms there is scarcely a section of land 



26 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

but has one or more perennial springs of good water. Even where there 
are no springs, good water can be obtained by digging from twenty to 
forty feet. Salt springs are abundant in the central part of the state, 
and discharge their brine in Cooper, Saline, Howard and adjoining coun- 
ties. Considerable salt was made in Cooper and Howard counties at an 
early day. 

Sulphur springs are also numerous throughout the state. The Cho- 
teau Springs in Cooper, the Monagaw Springs in St. Clair, the Elk 
Springs in Pike, and the Cheltenham Springs in St. Louis County, have 
acquired considerable reputation as salubrious waters, and have become 
popular places of resort. Many other counties have good sulphur 
springs. 

Among the Chalybeate springs the Sweet Springs on the Black- 
water, and the Chalybeate Spring in the University campus are, perhaps, 
the most popular of the kind in the state. There are, however, other 
springs impregnated with some of the salts of iron. 

Petroleum springs are found in Carroll, Ray, Randolph, Cass, Lafay- 
ette, Bates, Vernon and other counties. The variety called lubricating 
oil is the more common. 

The water power of the state is excellent. Large springs are par- 
ticularly abundant on the Meramec, Gasconade, Bourbeuse, Osage, Nian- 
gua. Spring, White, Sugar and other streams. Besides these, there are 
hundreds of springs sufficiently large to drive mills and factories, and the 
day is not far distant when these crystal fountains will be utilized, and a 
thousand saws will buzz to their dashing music. 



CHAPTER IV. 

TITLE AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS- 



TITLE TO MISSOURI LANDS-RIGHT OF DISCOVERY-TITLE OF FRANCE AND SPAIN- 
CESSION TO THE UNITED STATES— TERRITORIAL CHANGES -TREATIES WITH 
INDIANS— FIRST SETTLEMENT— STE. GENEVIEVE AND NEW BOURBON— ST. LOUIS- 
WHEN INCORPORATED— POTOSI— ST. CHARLES— PORTAGE DES SIOUX-NEW MADRID 
—ST. FRANCOIS COUNTY— PERRY— MISSISSIPPI— LOUTRE ISLANDS— " BOONE'S LICK " 
—COTE SANS DESSEIN— HOWARD COUNTY-SOME FIRST THINGS— COUNTIES-WHEN 
ORGANIZED. 

The title to the soil of Missouri was, of course, primarily vested in 
the original occupants who inhabited the country prior to its discovery 
by the whites. But the Indians, being savages, possessed but few rights 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 2/ 

that civilized nations considered themselves bound to respect, so when 
they found this country in the possession of such a people, they claimed 
it in the name of the King of France by the right of discovery. It 
Remained under the jurisdiction of France until 1763. 

Prior to the year 1763, the entire continent of North America was 
divided between France, England, Spain and Russia. France held all 
that portion that now constitutes our national domain west of the Mis- 
sissippi River, except Texas and the territory which we have obtained 
from Mexico and Russia. The vast region, while under the jurisdiction 
of France, was known as the " Province of Louisiana," and embraced the 
present State of Missouri. At the close of the " Old French War," in 
1763, France gave up her share of the continent, and Spain came into 
the possession of the territory west of the Mississippi River, while Great 
Britain retained Canada and the regions northward, having obtained 
that territory by conquest in the war with France. For thirty-seven 
years the territory now embraced within the limits of Missouri, remained 
as a part of the possession of Spain, and then went back to France by 
the treaty of St. Ildefonso, October 1st, 1800. On the 30th of April, 
1803, France ceded it to the United States in consideration of receiving 
$11,250,000 and the liquidation of certain claims held by citizens of the 
United States against France, which amounted to the further sum of 
$3,750,000, making a total of $15,000,000. It will thus be seen that France 
has twice, and Spain once, held sovereignty over the territory embracing 
Missouri, but the financial needs of Napoleon afforded our government 
an opportunity to add another empire to its domain. 

On the 31st of October, 1803, an act of Congress was approved, 
authorizing the President to take possession of the newly acquired ter- 
ritory, and provided for it a temporary government, and another act, 
approved March 26, 1804, authorized the division of the "Louisiana Pur- 
chase," as it was then called, into two separate territories. All that 
portion south of the 33d parallel of north latitude was called the "Terri- 
tory of Orleans," and that north of the said parallel was known as the 
"District of Louisiana," and was placed under the jurisdiction of what 
was then known as " Indiana Territory." 

By virtue of an act of Congress, approved March 3, 1805, the "Dis- 
trict of Louisiana" was organized as the "Territory of Louisiana," with 
a territorial government of its own, which went into operation July 4th, 
of the same year, and it so remained until 1812. In this year the " Ter- 
ritory of Orleans" became the State of Louisiana, and the "Territory of 
Louisiana" was organized as the "Territory of Missouri." 

This change took place under an act of Congress, approved June 4, 
1812. In 1819, a portion of this territory was organized as "Arkansas 
Territory," and in 1812, the State ot Missouri was admitted, being a part 
of the former " Territory of Missouri." 



28 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

In 1836, the "Platte Purchase," then being a part of the Indian Ter- 
ritory, and now composing the counties of Atchison, Andrew, Buchanan, 
Holt, Nodaway and Platte, was made by treaty with the Indians, and 
added to the state. It will be seen then that the soil of Missouri 
belonged 

First — To France with other territory. 

Second — In 176S, with other territory it was ceded to Spain. 

Third — October i, 1800, it was ceded with other territory from Spain 
back to France. 

Fourth — April 30, 1803, it was ceded with other territory by France 
to the United States. 

Fifth — October 31, 1803, a temporary government was authorized by 
Congress for the newly acquired territory. 

Sixth — October i, 1804, it was included in the "District of Louisi- 
ana," and placed under the territorial government of Indiana. 

Seventh — July 4, 1805, it was included as a part of the "Territory 
of Louisiana," then organized with a separate territorial government. 

Eighth — June 4, 18 12, it was embraced in what was then made the 
" Territory of Missouri." 

Ninth — August 10, 1821, it was admitted into the Union as a state. 

Tenth — In 1836, the " Platte Purchase" was made, adding more ter- 
rii- . . to the state. 

The cession by France, April 30, 1803, vested the title in the United 
States, subject to the claims of the Indians, which it was very justly the 
policy of the government to recognize. Before the government of the 
United States could vest clear title to the soil in the grantee it was 
necessary to extinguish the Indian title by purchase. This was done 
accordingly by treaties made with the Indians at different times. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The name of the first white man who set foot on the territory now 
embraced in the State of Missouri is not known, nor is it known at what 
precise period the first settlements were made. It is, however, gener- 
ally agreed that they were made at Ste. Genevieve and New Bourbon, 
tradition fixing the date of these settlements in the autumn of 1735. 
These towns were settled by the French from Kaskaskia and St. Philip, 
in Illinois. 

St. Louis was founded by Pierre Laclede Liguest, on the 15th of 
February, 1764. He was a native of France, and was one of the members 
of the company of Laclede Liguest, Antonio Maxant & Co., to whom a 
royal charter had been granted, confirming the privilege of an exclu- 
sive trade with the Indians of the Missouri as far north as St. Peter's 
River. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 29 

While in search of a trading- post he ascended the Mississippi as far 
as the mouth of the Missouri, and finally returned to the present town 
site of St. Louis. After the village had been laid off he named it St. 
Louis, in honor of Louis XV, of France. 

The colony thrived rapidly by accessions from Kaskaskia and other 
towns on the east side of the Mississippi, and its trade was largely 
increased by many of the Indian tribes, who removed a portion of their 
peltry trade from the same towns to St. Louis. It was incorporated as 
a town on the Qth^ day of November, 1809, by the Court of Common 
Pleas of the District of St. Louis, the town trustees being Auguste Chou- 
teau, Edward Hempstead, Jean F. Cabanne, William C. Carr and William 
Christy, and incorporated as a city, December 9, 1822. The selection 
of the town site on which St. Louis stands was highly judicious, the spot 
not only being healthful and having the advantages of water transpor- 
tation unsurpassed, but surrounded by a beautiful region of country, rich 
in soil and mineral resources. St. Louis has grown to be the fifth city 
in population in the Union, and is to-day, the great center of internal 
commerce of the Missouri, the Mississippi, and their tributaries, and, 
with its railroad facilities, it is destined to be the greatest inland city of 
the American continent. 

The next settlement was made at Potosi, in Washington County, in 
1765, by Francis Breton, who, while chasing a bear, discovered the mine 
near the present town of Potosi, where he afterward located. 

One of the most prominent pioneers who settled at Potosi, was Moses 
Austin, of Virginia, who, in 1773, received by grant from the Spanish 
government, a league of land now known as the "Austin Survey." The 
grant was made on the condition that Mr. Austin would establish a lead 
mine at Potosi and work it. He built a palatial residence, for that day, 
on the brow of the hill in the little village, which was, for many 5'ears, 
known as "Durharn Hall." At this point the first shot-tower and sheet- 
lead manufactory were erected. 

Five year5 after the founding of St. Louis, the first settlement made 
in Northern" Missouri was made at or near St. Charles, in St. Charles 
County, in 1769. The name given to it, and which it retained till 1784, 
was Les Petites Cotes, signifying Little Hills. The town site was located 
by Blanchette, a Frenchman, surnamed LeChasseur, who built the first 
tort in the town and established there a military post. 

Soon after the establishment of the military post at St. Charles, the 
old French village of Portage des Sionx was located on the Mississippi, 
just below the mouth of the Illinois River, and at about the same time a 
Kickapod village was commenced at Clear Weather Lake. The present 
town site of New Madrid, in New Madrid County, was settled in 1781, 
by French Canadians, it then being occupied by Delaware Indians. The 
place now known as Big River Mills, St. Francois County, was settled in 



30 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

1796, Andrew Baker, John Alley, Francis Starater and John Andrews each 
locating claims. The following year a settlement was made in the same 
county, just below the present town of Farmington, by the Rev. William 
Murphy, a Baptist minister from East Tennessee. In 1796, settlements 
were made in Perry County by emigrants from Kentucky and Pennsyl- 
vania ; the latter locating in the rich bottom lands of Bois Brule, the 
former generally settling in the " Barrens," and along the waters of 
Saline Creek. 

Bird's Point, in Mississippi County, opposite Cairo, Illinois, was set- 
tled August 6, 1800, by John Johnson, by virtue of a land grant from the 
commandant under the Spanish Government. Norfolk and Charleston, 
in the same county, were settled respectively in 1800 and 1801. Warren 
County was settled in 1801. Loutre Island, below the present town of 
Herman, in the Missouri River, was settled by a few American families 
in 1807. This little company of pioneers suffered graatlyfrom the floods, 
as well as from the incursions of thieving and blood-thirsty Indians, and 
many incidents of a thrilling character could be related of trials and 
struggles had we the time and space. 

In 1807, Nathan and Daniel Boone, sons of the great hunter and pio- 
neer, in company with three others, went from St. Louis to " Boone's 
Lick," in Howard County, where they manufactured salt, and formed the 
nucleus of a small settlement. 

Cote Sans Desseiji, now called Bakersville, on the Missouri River, in 
Callaway County, was settled by the French in 1801. This little town 
was considered at that time as the " Far West" of the new world. Dur- 
ing the war of 18 12, at this place many hard-fought battles occurred 
between the whites and Indians, wherein woman's fortitude and courage 
greatly assisted in the defense of the settlement. 

In 18 10, a colony of Kentuckians, numbering one hundred and fifty 
families, immigrated to Howard County, and settled in the Missouri 
River bottom, near the present town of Franklin. 

Such, in brief, is the history of some of the early settlements of Mis- 
souri, covering a period of more than half a century. 

These settlements were made on the water courses ; usually along 
the banks of the two great streams, whose navigation afforded them 
transportation for their marketable commodities and communication 
with the civilized portion of the country. 

They npt only encountered the gloomy forests, settling as they did, 
by the river's brink, but the hostile incursion of savage Indians, by whom 
they were for many years surrounded. 

The expedients of these brave men who first broke ground in the 
territory have been succeeded by the permanent and tasteful improve- 
ments of their descendants. Upon the spots where they toiled, dared 
and died, are seen the comfortable farm, the beautiful village and thrifty 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 31 

city. Churches and school houses greet the eye on every hand ; rail- 
roads diverge in very direction, and indeed, all the appliances of a higher 
civilization are profusely strewn over the smiling surface of the state. 

Culture's hand 
Has scattered verdure o'er the land ; 
And smiles and fragrance rule serene. 
Where barren wild usurped the scene. 

SOME FIRST THINGS. 

The first marriage that took place in Missouri was April 20, 1766, in 
St. Louis. 

The first baptism was performed in May, 1776, in St. Louis. 

The first house of worship (Catholic) was erected in 1775, at St. 
Louis. 

The first ferry established in 1805, on the Mississippi River, at St. 
Louis. 

The first newspaper established in St. Louis (Missouri Gazette) in 
1808. 

The first post office was established in 1804, in St. Louis — Rufus 
Easton, postmaster. 

The first Protestant church erected at Ste. Genevieve, in 1806 — 
Baptist. 

The first bank established '(Bank of St. Louis) in 1814. 

The first market house opened in 1811, in St. Louis. 

The first steamboat on the Upper Mississippi was the General Pike, 
Captain Jacob Reid ; landed at St. Louis, 18 17. 

The first board of trustees for public schools appointed in 18 17, St. 
Louis. 

The first college built (St. Louis College) in 18 17. 

The first steamboat that came up the Missouri River as high as 
Franklin was the Independence, in 1819; Cap^tain Nelson, master. 

The first cou^-t house erected in 1823, in St. Louis. 

The first cholera appeared in St. Louis in 1832. 

The first railroad convention^held in St. Louis, April 20, 1836. 

The first telegraph lines reached East St. Louis, December 20, 1847. 

The first great fir-e occurred in St. Louis, 1849. 



32 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

CHAPTER V. 
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION. 

ORGANIZATION, 1812-COUNCIL— HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES— WILLIAM CLAUK-FIRST 
TERRITORIAL GOVERNOR — EDWARD HEMPSTEAD, FIRST DELEGA IE-SPANISH 
GRANTS— FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY-PROCEEDINGS— SECOND ASSEMBLY— PRO- 
CEEDINGS-POPULATION OF TERRITORX-VOTE OF TERRITORY-RUFUS EASTON— 
ABSENT MEMBERS-THIRD ASSEMBLY-PROCEEDINGS-APPLICATION FOR ADMIS- 
SION. 

Congress organized Missouri as a territory, July 4, 1812, with a Gov- 
ernor and General Assembly. The Governor, Legislative Council and 
House of Representatives exercised the legislative power of the territory, 
the Governor's vetoing power being absolute. 

The Legislative Council was composed of nine members, whose 
tenure of office lasted five years. Eighteen citizens were nominated by 
the House of Representatives to the President of the United States, from 
whom he selected, with the approval of the Senate, nine Councillors to 
compose the Legislative Council. 

The House of Representatives consisted of members chosen every 
two years by the people, the basis of representation being one member 
for every five hundred white males. The first House of Representatives 
consisted of thirteen members, and, by act of Congress, the whole num- 
ber of Representatives could not exceed twenty-five. 

The judicial power of the territory was vested in the Superior and 
Inferior Courts, and in the Justices of the Peace ; the Superior Court 
having three judges, whose term of office continued four years, having 
original and appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal cases. 

The territory could send one delegat-e to Congress, Governor Clark 
issued a proclamation, October l, 18 12, required by Congress, reorgan- 
izing the districts of St, Charles, St, Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girar- 
deau and New Madrid into five counties, and fixed the second Monday 
in November following for the election of a delegate to Congress, and 
the members of the Territorial House of Representatives, 

William Clark, of the expedition of Lewis and Clark, was the first 
Territorial Governor, appointed by the President, who began his duties 
in 1813. 

Edward Hempstead, RufusEaston, Samuel Hammond and Matthew 
L}'on were candidates in November for delegates to Congress. 

Edward Hempstead was elected, being the first Territorial Delegate 
to Congress from Missouri. He served one term, declining a second, 
and was instrumental in having Congress to pass the act of June 13, 1812, 
which he introduced, confirming the title to lands which were claimed 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 33 

by the people by virtue of Spanish grants. The same act confirmed to 
the people " for the support of schools," the title to village lots, out-lots 
or common field-lots, which were held and enjoyed by them at the time 
of the cession of 1803. 

Under the act of June 4, 1812, the first General Assembly held its 
session in the house of Joseph Robidoux, on the 7th of December, 1812. 
The names of the members of the House were : 

St. Charles. — John Pitman and Robert Spencer. 

St. Louis. — David Music, Bernard G. Farrar, William C. Carr and 
Richard Clark. 

Ste. Genevieve. — George Bullet, Richard S. Thomas and Isaac Mc- 
Gready. 

Cape Girardeau. — George F. Bollinger and Spencer Byrd. 

New Madrid. — John Shrader and Samuel Phillips. 

John B. C. Lucas, one of the Territorial Judges, administered the oath 
of office, William C. Carr was elected Speaker and Andrew Scott, Clerk. 

The House of Representatives proceeded to nominate eighteen per- 
sons from whom the President of the United States, with the Senate, was 
to select nine for the Council. From this number the President chose 
the following : 

St. Charles. — James Flaugherty ahd Benjamin Emmons. 

St. Louis. — August Choteau, Sr., and Samuel Hammond. 

Ste. Genevieve. — John Scott and James Maxwell. 

Cape Girardeau. — William Neely and Joseph Cavenor, 

New Madrid. — Joseph Hunter. 

The Legislative Council, thus chosen by the President and Senate, 
was announced by Frederick Bates, Secretary and Acting Governor of 
the Territory, by proclamation, June 3, 1813, and fixing the first Monday 
in July following as the time for the meeting of the Legislature. 

In the meantime the duties of the executive office were assumed by 
William Clark. The Legislature accordingly met as required by the 
Acting Governor's proclamation, in July, but its proceedings were never 
officially published. Consequently but little is known in reference to 
the workings of the first Territorial Legislature of Missouri. 

From the imperfect account published in the Missouri Gazette, of 
that day, a paper which had been in existence since 1808, it is found 
that laws were passed regulating and establishing weights and measures ; 
creating the office of sheriff; providing the manner for taking the census ; 
permanently fixing the seats of justice, and an act to compensate its 
own members. At this session laws were also passed defining crimes 
and penalties; laws in reference to forcible entry and detainer; estab- 
lishing Courts of Common Pleas ; incorporating the Bank of St. Louis, 
and organizing a part of Ste. Genevieve County into the county of 
Washington. 



34 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

The next session of the Legislature convened in St. Louis, Decem- 
ber 6, 1813. George Bullet, of Ste. Genevieve County, was speaker elect, 
Andrew Scott, clerk, and William Sullivan, doorkeeper. Since the 
adjournment of the former Legislature several vacancies had occurred, 
and new members had been elected to fill their places. Among these 
was Israel McGready, from the county of Washington. 

The president of the Legislative Council was Samuel Hammond. 
No journal of the Council was officially published, but the proceedings of 
the House are found in the Gazette. 

At this session of the Legislature many wise and useful laws were 
passed, having reference to the temporal as well as the moral and spirit- 
ual welfare of the people. Laws were enacted for the suppression of 
vice and immorality on the Sabbath day ; for the improvement of public 
roads and highways ; creating the offices of auditor, treasurer and county 
surveyor ; regulating the fiscal affairs of the Territory, and fixing the 
boundary lines of New Madrid, Cape Girardeau, Washington and St. 
Charles Counties. The Legislature adjourned on the 19th of January, 
18 14, sine die. 

The population of the Territory, as shown by the United States 
census in iSio.was 20,845. The census taken by the Legislature in 1814 
gave the Territory a population of 25,000. This enumeration shows the 
county of St. Louis contained the greatest number of inhabitants, and 
the new county of Arkansas the least — the latter having 827, and the 
former, 3,149. 

The candidates for delegate to Congress were Rufus Easton, Samuel 
Hammond, Alexander McNair and Thomas F. Riddick. Rufus Easton 
and Samuel Hammond had been candidates at the preceding election. 
In all the counties, excepting Arkansas, the votes aggregated 2,599, o^ 
which number Mr. Easton received 965, Mr. Hammond 746, Mr. McNair 
853, and Mr. Riddick (who had withdrawn previous to the election) 35. 
Mr. Easton was elected. 

The census of 1814, showing a large increase in the population of the 
Territory, an apportionment was made increasing the number of Repre- 
sentatives in the Territorial Legislature to twenty-two. The General 
Assembly began its session in St. Louis, December 5, 18 14. There were 
present on the first day twenty representatives. James Caldwell, of Ste. 
Genevieve County, was elected speaker, and Andrew Scott, who had been 
clerk of the preceding assembly, was chosen clerk. The president of 
the Council was William Neely, of Cape Girardeau County. 

It appears that James Maxwell, the absent member of the Council, 
and Seth Emmons, member elect of the House of Representatives, were 
dead. The county of Lawrence was organized at this session, from the 
western part of New Madrid County, and the corporate powers of St. 
Louis were enlarged. In 1815, the Territorial Legislature again began its 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 35 

session. Only a partial report of its proceedings are given in the 
Gazette. The county of Howard was then organized from St. Louis and 
St. Charles Counties, and included all that part of the state lying north 
of the Osage and south of the di-viding ridge between the Mississippi and 
Missouri Rivers. 

The next session of the Territorial Legislature commenced its ses- 
sion in December, 1816. During the sitting of this Legislature many 
important acts were passed. It was then that the " Bank of Missouri " 
was chartered and went into operation. In the fall of 1817, the " Bank of 
St. Louis " and the " Bank of Missouri " were issuing bills. An act was 
passed chartering lottery companies, chartering the academy at Potosi, 
and incorporating a board of trustees for superintending the schools in 
the town of St. Louis. Laws were also passed to encourage the "killing 
of wolves, panthers and wild-cats." 

The Territorial Legislature met again in December, 18 18, and among 
other things, organized the counties of Pike, Cooper, Jefferson, Franklin, 
Wayne, Lincoln, Madison, Montgomery, and three counties in the south- 
ern part of Arkansas. In 18 19, the Territory of Arkansas was formed 
into a separate government of its own. 

The people of the Territory of Missouri had been, for some time, 
anxious that their territory should assume the duties and responsibilities 
of a sovereign state. Since 1812, the date of the organization of the 
territory, the population had rapidly increased, many counties had been 
established, its commerce had grown into importance, its agricultural 
and mineral resources were being developed, and believing that its 
admission into the Union as a state would give fresh impetus to all these 
interests and hasten its settlement, the Territoral Legislature of 1818-19, 
accordingly made application to Congress for the passage of an act 
authorizing the people of Missouri to organize a state government. 



CHAPTER VI. 

APPLICATION OF MISSOURI TO BE ADMITTED INTO THE UNION-AGITATION OF THE 
SLAVERY QUESTION— "MISSOURI COMPROMISE "-CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 
OF 1820— CONSTITUTION PRESENTED TO CONGRESS— FURTHER RESISTANCE TO 
ADMISSION— MR, CLAY AND HIS COMMITTEE MAKE REPORT— SECOND COMPROMISE 
-MISSOURI ADMITTED. 

With the application of the Territorial Legislature of Missouri for 
her admission into the Union commenced the real agitation of the 
slavery question in the United States. 



36 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

Not only was our National Legislature the theater of angry discus- 
sion, but everywhere throughout the length and breadth of the Republic 
the "Missouri Question " was the all-absorbing theme. The political 
skies threatened, 

" In forked flashes, a commnnding tempest," 

which was liable to burst upon the nation at any moment. Through 
such a crisis our country seemed destined to pass. The question as to 
the admission of Missouri was to be the beginning of this crisis, which 
distracted the public counsels of the nation for more than forty years 
afterward, 

Missouri asked to be admitted into the great family of states. 
" Lower Louisiana," her twin sister territory, had knocked at the door of 
the Union eight years previously, and was admitted, as stipulated by 
Napoleon, to all the rights, privileges and immunities of a state, and in 
accordance with the stipulations of the same treaty, Missouri now sought 
to be clothed with the same rights, privileges and immunities. 

As what is known in the history of the United States as the " Mis- 
souri Compromise," of 1820, takes rank among the most prominent 
measures that had up to that day engaged the attention of our National 
Legislature, we shall enter somewhat into its details, being connected as 
they are with the annals of the state. 

February 75, i8ig. — After the House had resolved itself into a com- 
mittee of the whole on the bill to authorize the admission of Missouri 
into the Union, and after the question of her admission had been dis- 
cussed for some time, Mr. Tallmadge, of New York, moved to amend 
the bill by adding to it the following proviso : 

*' And Provided, That the further introduction of slaverj' or involun- 
tary servitude be prohibited, except for the punishment of crime, whereof 
the party shall have been duly convicted, and that all children born 
within the said state, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall 
be free at the age of twenty-five years." 

As might have been expected, this proviso precipitated the angry 
discussion which lasted for nearly three years, finally culminating in the 
Missouri Compromise. All phases of the slavery question were presented, 
not only in its moral and social aspects, but as a great constitutional 
question, affecting Missouri and the admission of future states. The pro- 
viso, when submitted to a vote, was adopted — 79 to 6y, and so reported 
to the House. 

Hon. John Scott, who was at that time a delegate from the Territory 
of Missouri, was not permitted to vote, but as such delegate, he had the 
privilege of participating in the debates which followed. On the i6th 
day of February the proviso was taken up and discussed. After several 
speeches had been made, among them one by Mr. Scott and one by the 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. " 37 

author of the proviso, Mr. Tallmadge, the amendment or proviso was 
divided into two parts, and voted upon. The first part of it, which 
included all to the word " convicted," was adopted — 87 to ']^. The 
remaining part was then voted upon, and also adopted, by 82 to 78. By 
a vote of 97 to 56 the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. 

The Senate Committee, to whom the bill was referred, reported the 
same to the Senate on the loth of February, when that body voted first 
upon a motion to strike out of the proviso all after the word " convicted," 
which was carried by a vote of 32 to 7. It then voted to strike out the 
first entire clause, which prevailed — 22 to 16, thereby defeating the 
proviso. , 

The House declined to concur in the action of the Senate, and the 
bill was again returned to that body, which in turn refused to recede from 
its position. The bill was lost, and Congress adjourned. This was most 
unfortunate for the country. The people having been wrought up to 
fever heat over the agitation of the question in the national councils, 
now became intensely excited. The press added fuel to the flame, and 
the progress of events seemed rapidly tending to the downfall of our 
nationality. 

A long interval of nine months was to ensue before the meeting ol 
Congress. That body indicated by its vote upon the " Missouri ques- 
tion " that the two great sections of the country were politically divided 
upon the subject of slavery. The restrictive clause, which it was sought 
to impose upon Missouri as a condition of her admission, would in all 
probability be one of the conditions of the admission of the Territory of 
Arkansas. The public mind was in a state of great doubt and uncer- 
tainty up to the meeting of Congress, which took place on the 6th of 
December, 18 19. The memorial of the Legislative Council and House 
of Representatives of the Missouri Territory, ^Draying for admission into 
the Union, was presented to the Senate by Mr. Smith, of South Carolina. 
It was referred to the Judiciary Committee. 

Some three weeks having passed without any action thereon by the 
Senate, the bill was taken up and discussed by the House until the 19th 
of February, when the bill from the Senate for the admission of Maine 
was considered. The bill for the admission of Maine included the " Mis- 
souri question" by an amendment, which reads as follows: 

''And be it further enacted. That in all territory ceded by France to 
the United States, under the name of Louisiana, which lies north of 
thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes, north latitude, (excepting such 
part thereof as is) included within the limits of the state, contemplated 
by this act, slavery and involuntary servitude, otherwise than in the 
punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been convicted, shall 
be and is hereby forever prohibited : Provided always, That any person 
escaping into the same, from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed^ 



3S HISTORY OV MISSOURI. 

in any state or territory of the United States, such fugitive may be law- 
fully reclaimed and conveyed to the person claiming his or her labor or 
service as aforesaid." 

The Senate adopted this amendment, which formed the basis of the 
"Missouri Compromise," modified afterward by striking out the words, 
" excepting ojily such part thereof." 

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 24 to 20. On the 2d day of 
March, the House took up the bill and amendments for consideration, 
and by a vote of 134 to 42, concurred in the Senate amendment, and the 
bill, being passed by the two Houses, constituted section 8, of "An Act 
to authorize the people of the Missouri Territory to form a Constitution 
and State Government, and for the admission of such state into the 
Union on an equal footing with the original states, and to prohibit 
slavery in certain territory." 

This act was approved March 6, 1820. Missouri then contained 
fifteen organized counties. By act of Congress the people of said state 
were authorized to hold an election on the first Monday, and two suc- 
ceeding days thereafter in May, 1820, to select representatives to a state 
convention. This convention met in St. Louis on the I2th of June, fol- 
lowing the election in May, and concluded its labors on the 19th of July, 
1820. David Barton was its president, and William G. Pettis, secretary. 
There were forty-one members of this convention, men of ability and 
statesmanship, as the admirable constitution which they framed amply 
testifies. Their names and the counties represented by them are as 
follows : 

Cape Girardcaii. — Stephen Byrd, James Evans, Richard S. Thomas, 
Alexander Buckner and Joseph McFerron. 

Cooper.— ^oh^xt P. Clark, Robert Wallace, William Lillard. 

Frankli7t. — John G. Heath. 

Howard. — Nicholas S. Burkhart, Duff Green, John Ray, Jonathan 
S. Findley, Benjamin H. Reeves. 

Jeffersoji. — Daniel Hammond. 

Lincoln. — Malcolm Henry. 

Montgomery. — Jonathan Ramsey, James Talbott. 

Madison. — Nathaniel Cook. 

Nezv Madrid. — Robert S. Dawson, Christopher G. Houts. 

Pike. — Stephen Cleaver, 

St. Charles. — Benjamin Emmons, Nathan Boone, Hiram H. Baber. 

Ste. Genevieve. — John D. Cook, Henry Dodge, John Scott, R. T. Brown. 

St. Louis. — David Barton, Edward Bates, Alexander McNair, Wil- 
liam Rector, John C. Sullivan, Pierre Chouteau, Jr., Bernard Pratte, 
Thomas F. Riddick. 

Washington. — John Rice Jones, Samuel Perry, John Hutchings. 

Wayne. — Elijah Bettis. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 39 

On the 13th of November, 1820, Congress met again, and on the i6th 
of the same month Mr. Scott, the delegate from Missouri, presented to 
the House the constitution as framed by the convention. The same was 
referred to a select committee, who made thereon a favorable report. 

The admission of the state, however, was resisted, because it was 
claimed that its constitution sanctioned slavery, and authorized the 
Legislature to pass laws preventing free negroes and mulatoes from set- 
tling in the state. The report of the committee to whom was referred 
the Constitution of Missouri, was accompanied by a preamble and reso- 
lutions, offered by Mr. Lowndes, of South Carolina. The preamble and 
resolutions were stricken out. 

The application of the state for admission shared the same fate in 
the Senate. The question was referred to a select committee, who, on 
the 29th of November, reported in favor of admitting the state. The 
debate which followed continued for two weeks, and finally Mr. Eaton, 
of Tennessee, offered an amendment to the resolution, as follows : 

'^Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be so construed as 
to give the assent of Congress to any provision in the Constitution of 
Missouri, if any such there be, which contravenes that clause in the Con- 
stitution of the United States, which declares that the citizens of each 
state shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in 
the several states." 

The resolution, as amended was adopted. The resolution and pro- 
viso were again taken up and discussed at great length, when the com- 
mittee agreed to report the resolution to the House. 

The question on agreeing to the amendment, as reported from the 
committee of the whole, was lost in the House. A similar resolution 
afterward passed the Senate, but was again rejected in the House. Then 
it was that the great statesman and pure patriot, Henry Clay, of Ken- 
tucky, feeling that the hour had come when angry discussion should 
cease; 

" With grave 
A'^pect he rose, and in his rising seem'd 
A pillar of state ; deep on his front engraven 
Deliberation sat and public care ; 
And princely counsel in his face yet shone 
Majestic "***** 

proposed that the question of Missouri's admission be referred to a com- 
mittee consisting of twenty-three persons (a number equal to the number 
of states then composing the L^nion) to be appointed to act in conjunc- 
tion with a committee of the Senate to consider and report whether Mis- 
souri should be admitted, etc. 

The motion prevailed, the committee was appointed and Mr. Clay 
made its chairman. The Senate selected seven Qi its members to act 



40 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

with the committee of twenty-three, and the 26th of February the fol- 
lowing report was made by that committee : 

Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled : That Missouri shall be 
admitted into the Union, on an equal footing with the original states, in 
all respects whatever, upon the fundamental condition that the fourth 
clause of the twenty-sixth section of the third article of the Constitution 
submitted on the part of said state to Congress, shall never be construed 
to authorize the passage of any law, and that no law shall be passed in 
conformity thereto, 6y which any citizen of either of the states in this 
Union shall be excluded from the enjoyment of any of the privileges and 
immunities to which such citizen is entitled under the Constitution of the 
United States ; Provided, That the Legislature of said state, by a solemn 
public act, shall declare the assent of the said state to the said funda- 
mental condition, and shall transmit to the President of the United 
States, on or before the fourth Monday in November next, an authentic 
copy of the said act ; upon the receipt whereof, the President, by procla- 
mation, shall announce the fact; whereupon, and without any further 
proceeding on the part of Congress, the admission of the said state into 
the Union shall be considered complete." 

This resolution, after a brief debate, was adopted in the House, and 
passed the Senate on the 28th of February, 1821. 

At a special session of the Legislature held in St. Charles, in June 
following, a solemn public act was adopted, giving its assent to the con- 
ditions of admission, as expressed in the resolution of Mr. Clay. August 
10, 1821, President Monroe announced by proclamation the admission of 
Missouri into the Union to be complete. 



CHAPTER VII. 
MISSOURI AS A STATE. 

FIRST ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE OFFICERS— SENATORS AND REP- 
RESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY— SHERIFFS AND CORONERS— UNITED 
STATES SENATORS— REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS-SUPREME COURT JUDGES- 
COUNTIES ORGANIZED— CAPITAL MOVED TO ST. CHARLES-OFFICIAL RECORD OF 
TERRITORIAL AND STATE OFFICERS. 

By the Constitution adopted by the Convention on the rgth of July, 
1820, the General Assembly was required to meet in St. Louis on the 
third Monday in September of that year, and an election was ordered to 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 4^ 

be held on the 28th of August for the election of a Governor and other 
state offices, Senators and Representatives to the General Assembly, 
Sheriffs and Coroners, United States Senators and Representatives in 
Congress. 

It will be seen that Missouri had not as yet been admitted as a 
state, but in anticipation of that event and according to the provisions 
of the constitution the election was held, and the General Assembly 
convened, 

William Clark (who had been Governor of the territory) and Alex- 
ander McNair were candidates for Governor. McNair received 6,576 
votes, Clark 2,556, total vote of the state 9,132. There were three can- 
didates for Lieutenant Governor, to wit : William H. Ashley, Nathaniel 
Cook and Henry Elliot. Ashley received 3,907 votes, Cook 3,212, Elliot 
931. A Representative was to be elected for the residue of the Six- 
teenth Congress and one for the Seventeenth. John Scott, who was at 
the time territorial delegate, was elected to both Congresses without 
opposition. 

The General Assembly elected in August met on the 19th Septem- 
ber, 1820, and organized by electing James Caldwell, of Ste. Genevieve, 
Speaker, and John McArthur, Clerk ; William A.Ashley, Lieutenant 
Governor, President of the Senate ; Silas Bent, President pro tern. 

Matthias McKirk, John D. Cook and John R. Jones were appointed 
Supreme Judges, each to hold office until sixty-five years of age. 

Joshua Barton was appointed Secretary of State ; Peter Didier, State 
Treasurer ; Edward Bates, Atorney General, and William Christie, 
Auditor of Public Accounts. 

David Barton and Thomas H. Benton were elected by the General 
Assembly to the United States Senate. 

At this session of the Legislature the counties of Boone, Callaway, 
Chariton, Cole, Gasconade, Lillard, Percy, Ralls, Ray and Saline were 
organized. 

We should like to give in detail the meetings and proceedings of 
the different Legislatures which followed, the elections for Governors 
and other state officers, the elections for Congressmen and United States 
Senators, but for want of space we can only present in a condensed form 
the official record of the territorial and state officers. 

OFFICIAL RECORD — TERRITORIAL OFFICERS. 

Goveryiors. — Frederick Bates, Secretary and Acting Governor, 
1812-13; William Clark, 1813-20. 

OFFICERS OF STATE GOVERNMENT. 

Governors. — Alexander McNair, 1820-24 ; Frederick Bates, 1824-21; ; 
Abraham J. Williams vice Bates, 1825 ; John Miller vice Bates, 1826-28; 



42 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

John Miller, 182S-32; Daniel Dunklin, 1832-36, resigned, appointed Sur- 
veyor General United States; Lilburn W. Boggs vice Dunklin, 1836; 
Lilburn W. Boggs, 1836-40; Thomas Reynolds, 1840, died 1844; M. M. 
Marmaduke vice Reynolds — John C. Edwards, 1844-48 ; Austin A. King, 
1848-52; Sterling Price, 1852-56; Trusten Polk, 1856-57, resigned ; 
Hancock Jackson vice Polk, 1857; Robert M. Stewart vice Polk, 1857-60; 
C. F. Jackson, 1S60, office vacated by ordinance; Hamilton R. Gamble 
vice Jackson, Governor Gamble died 1864; Williard P. Hall, 1864, vice 
Gamble; Thomas C. Fletcher, 1864-68; Joseph W. McClurg. 1868-70; 

B. Gratz Brown, 1870-72; Silas Woodson, 1872-74; Charles H, Hardin, 
[874-76; John S. Phelps, 1876-80; Thomas T. Crittenden, 1880, and is 
now Governor. 

Lieutenant-Governors. — William H. Ashley, 1820-24; Benjamin A 
Reeves, 1824-28; Daniel Dunklin, 1828-32; Lilburn W. Boggs, 1832-36; 
Franklin Cannon, 1836-40; M. M. Marmaduke, 1840-44; James Young, 
1844-48-60; Thomas C. Reynolds, 1860-61 ; Williard P. Hall, 1861-64; 
George Smith, 1864-68 ; Edward O. Stannard, 1868-70; Joseph J. Gravely, 
1870-72; Charles P. Johnson, 1872-74; Norman J.Coleman. 1874-76; 
Henry C. Brockmeyer, 1876-80; Robert Campbell, 1880, and is the pres- 
ent incumbent. 

Secretaries of State. — Joshua Barton, 1820-21 ; William G. Pettis, 
1821-24; Hamilton R. Gamble, 1824-26; Spencer Pettis, 1826-28; P. H. 
McBride, 1829-30; John C. Edwards, 1830, term expired 1835, re-ap- 
pointed 1837, resigned 1837; Peter G. Glover, 1837-39; James L. Miner, 
1839-45; F. H. Martin, 1845-49; Ephraim B, Ewing, 1849-52; John M. 
Richardson, 1852-56; Benjamin F. Massey, 1856-60, re-elected i860, for 
four years; Mordecai Oliver, 1861-64; Francis Rodman, 1864-68, re- 
elected 1868, for two years ; Eugene F. Weigel, 1870-72, re-elected 1872, 
for two years ; Michael K. McGrath, 1874, and is the present incumbent 

State Treasiirers. — Peter Didier, 1820-21 ; Nathaniel Simonds, 1821- 
28 ; James Earickson, 1829-33; John Walker, 1833-38 ; Abraham McClel- 
lan, 1838-43 ; Peter G. Glover, 1843-51 ; A. W. Morrison, 1851-60; George 

C. Bingham, 1862-64; William Bishop, 1864-68; William Q. Dallmeyer. 
1868-70; Samuel Hays, 1872; Harvey W. Salmon, 1872-74; Joseph W. 
Mercer, 1874-76; Elijah Gates, 1876-80; Phillip E. Chappel, 1880, and 
present incumbent. 

Attorneys General. — Edward Bates, 1820-21 ; Rufus Easton, 1821-26 ; 
Robert W.Wells, 1826-36; William B. Napton, 1836-39; S. M.Bay, 
1839-45; B. F. Stringfellow, 1845-49; William A. Roberts, 1849-51; 
James B. Gardenhire, 1851-56; Ephraim W. Ewing, 1856-59; James P. 
Knott, 1859-61 ; Aikman Welsh, 1861-64; Thomas T. Crittenden, 1864; 
Robert F. Wingate, 1864-68 ; Horace P. Johnson, 1868-70; A. J. Baker, 
1870-72 ; Henry Clay Ewing, 1872-74 ; John A. Hockaday, 1874-76 ; 
Jackson L. Smith, 1876-80 ; Mclntire, 1880, and present incumbent. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 43 

Auditors of Public Accounts. — William Christie, 1820-21 ; William 
V. Rector, 1821-23 I Elias Barcroft, 1823-33 ; Henry Shurlds, 1833-35 \ 
Peter G. Glover, 1835-37 ; Hiram H. Baber, 1837-45 ; William Monroe, 
1845 ; J. R. McDermon, 1845-48 ; George W. Miller, 1848-49; Wilson 
Brown, 1849-52 : William H. Buffington, 1852-60 ; William S. Moseley, 
1860-64 ; Alonzo Thompson, 1864-68 ; Daniel M. Draper, 1868-72 ; George 
B. Clark, 1872-74 ; Thomas Holladay, 1874-80 ; John Walker, 1880, and 
present incumbent. 

Judges of Supreme Court. — Matthias McKirk, 1822-41 ; John D. 
Cooke, 1822-23 ; John R. Jones, 1822-24 ; Rufus Pettibone, 1823-25 ; 
George Tompkins, 1824-45 ; Robert Walsh, 1825-37 ; John C. Edwards, 
1837-39; William Scott, appointed 1841, till meeting of General Assem- 
bly, in place of M. McKirk, resigned, re-appointed 1843 ; P. H. McBride, 
1845 ; William B. Napton, 1849-52 ; John F. Ryland, 1849-51 ; John H. 
Birch, 1849-51 ; William Scott, John F. Ryland and Hamilton R, Gamble 
elected by the people 185 1, for six years ; Gamble resigned 1854 ; Abiel 
Leonard elected to fill vacancy of Gamble ; William B. Napton (vacated 
by failure to file oath), William Scott and John C. Richardson (resigned) 
elected August, 1857, for six years ; E. B. Ewing, 1859, to fill Richard- 
son's resignation ; Barton Bates appointed 1862 ; W. V. N. Bay appointed 
1862 ; John D. S. Dryden, appointed 1862 ; Barton Bates, 1863-65 ; W. 
V. N. Bay, elected 1863 ; John D. S. Dryden, elected 1863 ; David Wag- 
ner, appointed 1865 ; Wallace L. Lovelace, appointed 1865 ; Nathaniel 
Holmes, appointed 1865 ; Thomas J. C. Flagg, appointed 1866; James 
Baker, appointed 1868; David Wagner, elected 1868-70; Philemon 
Bliss, 1868-70 ; Warren Currier, 1868-71 ; Washington Adams, appointed 
1871 to fill Currier's place, who resigned ; Ephraim B. Ewing, elected 
1872; Thomas A. Sherwood, elected 1872; W. B. Napton, appointed 
1873, in place of Ewing, deceased ; Edward A. Seins. appointed 1874, in 
place of Adams, resigned ; Warwick Hough, elected 1874; William B. 
Napton, elected 1874-80: John E. Henry, 1876-86 ; Robert Ray suc- 
ceeded William B. Napton in i88o-; Elijah H. Norton, appointed in 1876 
— elected in 1878. 

United States Senators. — T. H. Benton, 1820-50; D. Barton, 1820- 
30 ; Alexander Buckner, 1830-33 ; L. F. Linn, 1833-43 ; D. R. Atchison, 
1843-55 ; H. S. Gey6r, 1851-57 ; James M. Green, 1857-61 ; T. Polk, 1857- 
63 ; Waldo P. Johnson, 1861 ; Robert Wilson, 1861 ; B. Gratz Brown, 
1863, for unexpired term of Johnson ; J. B. Henderson, 1863-69 ; Charles 
D. Drake, 1867-70; Carl Schurz, 1869-75 ; D. F. Jewett, 1870, in place of 
Drake, resigned ; F. P. Blair, 1871-77 ; L. V. Bogy, 1873 ; F. M. Cock- 
rell, 1875-81, re-elected 1881 ; George C. Vest, 1879. 

Representatives to Congress — John Scott, 1820-26; Ed. Bates, 1826- 
^8 ; Spencer Pettis, 1828-31 ; William H. Ashley, 1831-36 ; John Bull, 
1832-34; Albert G. Harrison, 1834-39; John Miller, 1836-43; John Jameson, 



44 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

1839-44, re-elected 1846 for two years ; John C. Edwards, 1840-42 ; James 
M. Hughes, 1842-44 ; James H. Relfe, 1842-46 ; James B, BowHn, 1842- 
50; Gustavus M. Boner, 1842-44; Sterling Price, 1844-46; William Mc- 
Daniel, 1846 ; Leonard H. Sims, 1844-46 ; John S. Phelps, 1844-60 ; James 
S. Green, 1846-50, re-elected 1856, resigned ; Willard P. Hall, 1846-53; 
William V. N. Bay, 1848-61 ; John F. Darby, 1850-53 ; Gilchrist Porter, 
1850-57 ; John G. Miller, 1850-56; Alfred W.Lamb, 1852-54 ; Thomas 
H. Benton, 1852-54 ; Mordecai Oliver, 1852-57 ; James J. Lindley, 1852- 
56; Samuel Caruthers, 1852-58 ; Thomas P. Akers, 1855, to fill unexpired 
term of J, G. Miller ; Francis P. Blair, Jr., 1856, re-elected i860, resigned ; 
Thomas L. Anderson, 1856-1866; James Craig, 1856-60; Samuel H. 
Woodson, 1856-60 ; John B. Clark, Sr., 1857-61 ; J. Richard Barrett, i860 ; 
John W. Noel, 1858-63 ; James S. Rollins, 1860-64; Elijah H. Norton, 
1860-63 ; John W. Reid, 1860-61 ; William A. Hall, 1862-64 ; Thomas L. 
Price, 1862, in place of Reid, expelled ; Henry T. Blow, 1862-66 ; Sem- 
pronius T. Boyd, elected in 1862, and again in 1868, for two years ; Joseph 
W. McClurg, 1862-66 ; Austin A. King, 1862-64 ; Benjamin F. Loan, 
1862-69 ; John G. Scott, 1863, in place of Noel, deceased: John Hogan, 
1864-66 ; Thomas F. Noel, 1864-67 ; John R. Kelsoe, 1864-66 ; Robert T. 
Van Horn, 1864-71 ; John F. Benjamin, 1864-71 ; George W. Anderson, 
1864-69 ; William A. Pile, 1866-68 ; C. A. Newcomb, 1866-68 ; Joseph E. 
Gravely, 1866-68 ; James R. McCormack, 1866-73 ; John H, Stover, 1867, 
in place of McClurg, resigned ; Erastus Wells, 1868-82 ; G. A. Finklin- 
burg, 1868-71; Samuel S. Burdett, 1868-71; Joel F. Asper, 1868-70; 
David P. Dyer, 1868-70 ; Harrison E. Havens, 1870-75 ; Isaac C. Parker, 
1870-75 ; James G. Blair, 1870-72 : Andrew King, 1870-72 ; Edwin O. 
Stannard, 1872-74; William H. Stone, 1872-78; Robert A. Hatcher, 
elected 1872; Richard P. Bland, 1872; Thomas Crittenden, 1872-74; Ira 
B. Hyde, 1872-74 ; John B. Clark, 1872-78 ; John M. Glover, 1872 ; Aylett 
H. Buckner, 1872 ; Edward C. Kerr, 1874-78 ; Charles H. Morgan, 1874; 
John S. Phelps, 1874 ; B. J. Franklin, 1874 ; David Rea, 1874 ; Rezin A. 
DeBoet, 1874; Anthony Ittner, 1876; Nathaniel Cole, 1876; Robert A. 
Hatcher, 1876-78 ; R. P. Bland, 1876-78 ; A. H. Buckner, 1876-78 ; J. B. 
Clark, Jr., 1876-78 ; T. T. Crittenden, 1876-78 ; B. J. Franklin, 1876-78 ; 
John M. Glover, 1876-78 ; Robert A. Hatcher, 1876-78 ; Charles H. Mor- 
gan, 1876-78 ; L. S. Metcalfe. 1876-78 ; H. M. Pollard, 1876-78 ; David 
Rea, 1876-78 ; S. L. Sawyer, 1878-80; N. Ford, 1878-82 ; G. E. Rothwell, 
1878-82; John B. Clark, Jr., 1878-82; W. H. Hatch, 1878-82; A. H. 
Buckner, 1878-82 ; M. L. Clardy, 1878-82; R. G. Frost, 1878-82 ; L. H. 
Davis. 1878-82 ; R. P. Bland, 1878-82 ; J. R. Waddill, 1878-80 ; T. Allen, 
1880-82 ; R. Hazeltine, 1880-82 ; T. M. Rice, 1880-82 ; R. T. Van Horn, 
1880-82. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 



45 



COUNTIES — WHEN ORGANIZED. 



Adair . January 29, 1841 

Andrew January 29, 1841 

Atchison January 14, 1845 

Audrain December 17, 1836 

Barry January 5, 1835 

Barton December 12, 1835 

Bates January 29, 1841 

Benton January 3, 1835 

Bollinger March i, 1851 

Boone November 16, 1820 

Buchanan ........ February 10, 1839 

Butler February 27, 1849 

Caldwell December 26, 1836 

Callaway November 25, 1820 

Camden January 29, 1841 

Cape Girardeau October i, 1812 

Carroll January 3, 1833 

Carter March 10, 1859 

Cass September 14, 1835 

Cedar February 14, 1845 

Chariton November 16, 1820 

Christian March 8, i860 

Clark December 15, 1818 

Clay January 2, 1822 

Clinton January 15, 1833 

Cole November 16, 1820 

Cooper December 17, 1818 

Crawford ........ January 23, 1829 

Dade January 29, 1 84 1 

Dallas December 10, 1844 

Daviess December 29, 1836 

DeKalb February 25, 1845 

Dent February 10, 185 1 

Douglas October 19, 1857 

Dunklin February 14, 1845 

Franklin December 11, 1818 

Gasconade November 25, 1820 

Gentry February 12, 1841 

Greene January 2, 1833 

Grundy January 2, 1843 

Harrison February 14, 1845 

Henry December 13, 1834 

Hickory February 14, 1845 

Holt February 15, 1841 

Howard January 23, 1816 

Howell March 2, 1857 

Iron February 17, 1857 

Jackson December 15, 1826 

Jasper January 29, 1 84 1 

Jefferson ....... December 8, 181 8 

Johnson December 13, 1834 



Knox February 14, 

Laclede February 24, 

Lafayette November 16, 

Lawrence February 25, 

Lewis January 2, 

Lincoln December 14, 

Linn January 7, 

Livingston ........ January 6, 

McDonald March 3, 

Macon January 6, 

Madison December 14, 

Maries March 2, 

Marion December 23, 

Mercer February 14, 

Miller February 6, 

Mississippi February 14, 

Moniteau February 14, 

Monroe . . , January 6, 

Montgomery December 14, 

Morgan January 5, 

New Madrid October I, 

Newton December 31, 

Nodaway February 14, 

Oregon February 14, 

Osage January 29, 

Ozark January 29, 

Pemiscot February 19, 

Perry November 16, 

Pettis January 26, 

Phelps November 13, 

Pike December 14, 

Platte December 3 1 , 

Polk March 13, 

Pulaski December 15, 

Putnam February 28, 

Ralls November 16, 

Randolph January 22, 

Ray November 16, 

Reynolds February 25, 

Ripley January 5, 

St. Charles October i , 

St, Clair January 29, 

St. Francois December 19, 

Ste. Genevieve October i, 

St. Louis October I, 

Saline November 25, 

Schuyler February 14, 

Scotland January 29, 

Scott December 28, 

Shannon January 29, 

Shelby January 2, 



84s 
849 
820 

845 
833 
818 

837 
837 
849 
837 
818 

855 
826 

845 
837 
845 
845 
831 
818 

833 
812 

838 
84s 
845 
841 
841 
861 
820 
833 
857 
818 
838 

835 
818 

845 
820 
829 
820 
845 
833 
812 

841 
821 
812 
812 
820 

845 
841 
821 
841 
835 



46 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 
COUNTIES — WHEN ORGANIZED. — Continued. 



Stoddard January 2, 1835 

Stone February 10, 185 1 

Sullivan February 16, 1845 

Taney January 16, 1837 

Texas February 14, 1835 

Vernon February 17, 1851 



Warren January 5, 1833 

Washington August 21, 1813 

Wayne December il, 1818 

Webster March 3, 1855 

Worth February 8, 1861 

Wright January 29, 184 ^ 



CHAPTER VIII. 



EARLY MILITARY RECORD. 



BLACK HAWK WAR-MORMON DIFFICULTIES-FLORIDA WAR-MEXICAN WAR. 

On the 14th day of May, 1832, a bloody engagement took place 
between the regular forces of the United States and a part of the Sacs, 
Foxes and Winnebago Indians, commanded by Black Hawk and Keo- 
kuk, near Dixon's Ferry, in Illinois. 

The Governor (John Miller) of Missouri, fearing these savages would 
invade the soil of his state, ordered Major General Richard Gentry to 
raise one thousand volunteers for the defense of the frontier. Five com- 
panies were at once raised in Boone County, and in Callaway, Montgom- 
ery, St. Charles, Lincoln, Pike, Marion, Ralls, Clay and Monroe other 
companies were raised. 

Two of these companies, commanded respectively by Captain John 
Jaimison, of Callaway, and Captain David M. Hickman, of Boone County, 
were mustered into service in July for thirty days, and put under com- 
mand of Major Thomas W. Conyers. 

This detachment, accompanied by General Gentry, arrived at Fort 
Pike on the 15th of July, 1832. Finding that the Indians had not crossed 
the Mississippi into Missouri, General Gentry returned to Columbia, leav- 
ing the fort in charge of Major Conyers, Thirty days having expired, 
the command under Major Conyers was relieved by two other compa- 
nies under Captain Sinclair Kirtley, of Boone, and Patrick Ewing, of 
Callaway. This detachment was marched to Fort Pike by Colonel Aus- 
tin A. King, who conducted the two companies under Major Conyers 
home. Major Conyers was left in charge of the fort, where he remained 
until September following, at which time the Indian troubles, so far as 
Missouri was concerned, having all subsided, the frontier forces were 
mustered out of service. 

Black Hawk continued the war in Iowa and Illinois, and was finally 
defeated and captured in 1833. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 47 

MORMON DIFFICULTIES, 

• In 1832, Joseph Smith, the leader of the Mormons, and the chosen 
prophet and apostle, as he claimed, of the Most High, came with many- 
followers to Jackson County, Missouri, where they located and entered 
several thousand acres of land. 

The object of his coming so far west — upon the very outskirts of 
civilization at that time — was to more securely establish his church, and 
the more effectively to instruct his followers in its peculiar tenets and 
practices. 

Upon the present town site of Independence the Mormons located 
their " Zion," and gave it the name of " The New Jerusalem." They pub- 
lished here the Evening Star, and made themselves generally obnoxious 
to the Gentiles, who were then in the minority, by their denunciatory 
articles through their paper, their clannishness and their polygamous 
practices. 

Dreading the demoralizing influence of a paper which seemed to be 
inspired only with hatred and malice toward them, the Gentiles threw 
the press and type into the Missouri River, tarred and feathered one of 
their bishops, and otherwise gave the Mormons and their leaders to 
understand that they must conduct themselves in an entirely different 
manner if they wished to let alone. 

After the destruction of their paper and press, they became furiously 
incensed, and sought many opportunities for retaliation. Matters con- 
tinued in an uncertain condition until the 31st of October, 1833, when a 
deadly conflict occurred near Westport, in which two Gentiles and one 
Mormon were killed. 

On the 2d of November following the Mormons were overpowered, 
and compelled to lay down their arms and agree to leave the country 
with their families by January ist, on the condition that the owner would 
be paid for his printing press. 

Leaving Jackson County, they crossed the Missouri and located in 
Clay, Carroll, Caldwell and other counties, and selected in Caldwell 
County a town site, which they called " Far West," and where they 
entered more land for their future homes. 

Through the influence of their missionaries, who were exerting 
themselves in the east and in different portions of Europe, converts had 
constantly flocked to their standard, and "Far West," and other Mormon 
settlements rapidly prospered. 

In 1837, they commenced the erection of a magnificent temple, but 
never finished it. As their settlements increased in numbers they 
became bolder in their practices and deeds of lawlessness. 

During the summer of 1838, two of their leaders settled in the town 
of DeWitt, on the Missouri River, having purchased the land from an. 



48 HISTORY OF Missoura. 

Illinois merchant. DeWitt was in Carroll County, and a good point 
from which to forward goods and immigrants to their town— Far West. 

Upon its being ascertained that these parties were Mormon leaders, 
the Gentiles called a public meeting, which was addressed by some of 
the prominent citizens of the county. Nothing, however, was done at 
this meeting, but at a subsequent meeting, which was held a few days 
afterward, a committee of citizens was appointed to notify Colonel 
Hinkle (one of the Mormon leaders at DeWitt) what they intended to do. 

Colonel Hinkle. upon being notified by this committee, became 
indignant, and threatened extermination to all who should attempt to 
molest him or the Saints. 

In anticipation of trouble, and believing that the Gentiles would 
attempt to force them from DeWitt, Mormon recruits flocked to the town 
from every direction, and pitched their tents in and around the town in 
great numbers. 

The Gentiles, nothing daunted, planned an attack upon this encamp- 
ment, to take place on the 2ist day of September, 1838, and, accordingly, 
one hundred and fifty men bivouacked near the town on that day. A 
conflict ensued, but nothing serious occurred. 

The Mormons evacuated their works and fled to some log houses, 
where they could the more successfully resist the Gentiles, who had in 
the meantime returned to their camp to await reinforcements. Troops 
from Howard, Ray and other counties came to their assistance, and 
increased their number to five hundred men. 

Congreve Jackson was chosen Brigadier General ; Ebenezer Price, 
Colonel ; Singleton Vaughn, Lieutenant Colonel, and Sarchel Woods, 
Major. After some days of discipHne, this brigade prepared for an 
assault, but before the attack was commenced, Judge James Earickson 
and William F. Dunnica, influential citizens of Howard County, asked 
permission of General Jackson to let them try and adjust the difficulties 
without any bloodshed. 

It was finally agreed that Judge Earickson should propose to the 
Mormons that, if they would pay for all the cattle they had killed belong- 
inc to the citizens, and load their wagons during the night and be ready 
to move by ten o'clock next morning, and make no further attempt to 
settle in Howard County, the citizens would purchase at first cost their 
lots in DeWitt and one or two adjoining tracts of land. 

Colonel Hinkle,the leader of the Mormons, at first refused all attempts 
to settle the difficulties in this way, but finally agreed to the proposition. 

In accordance therewith, the Mormons, without further delay, loaded 
up their wagons for the town of Far West, in Caldwell County. Whether 
the terms of the agreement were ever carried out on the part of the cit- 
izens, is not known. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 49 

The Mormons had doubtless suffered much and in many ways — the 
result of their own acts — but their trials and sufferings were not at an 
end. 

In 1838, the discord between the citizens and Mormons became so 
great that Governor Boggs issued a proclamation ordering Major General 
David R. Atchison to call the militia of his division to enforce the laws. 
He called out a part of the First Brigade of the Missouri State Militia, 
under command of General A. W. Doniphan, who proceeded to the seat 
of war. General John B. Clark, of Howard County, was placed in com- 
mand of the militia. 

The Mormon forces numbered about 1,000 men, and were led by G. 
W. Hinkle. The first engagement occurred at Crooked River, where 
one Mormon was killed. The principal fight took place at Haughn's 
Mills, where eighteen Mormons were killed and the balance captured, 
some of them being killed after they had surrendered. Only one militia- 
man was wounded. 

In the month of October, 1838, Joe Smith surrendered the town of 
Far West to General Doniphan, agreeing to his conditions, viz : That 
they should deliver up their arms, surrender their prominent leaders for 
trial, and the remainder of the Mormons should, with their families, 
leave the state. Indictments were found against a number of these 
leaders, including Joe Smith, who, while being taken to Boone County 
for trial, made his escape, and was afterward, in 1844, killed at Carthage, 
Illinois, with his brother Hyrum. 

FLORIDA WAR 

In September, 1837, the Secretary of War issued a requisition on 
Governor Boggs, of Missouri, for six hundred volunteers, for service in 
Florida against the Seminole Indians, with whom the Creek Nation had 
made common cause under Osceola. 

The first regiment was chiefly raised in Boone County by Colonel 
Richard Gentry, of which he was elected colonel ; John W. Price, of 
Howard County, lieutenant colonel ; Harrison H. Hughes, also of How- 
ard, major. Four companies of the second regiment were raised and 
attached to the first. Two of these companies were composed of Dela- 
ware and Osage Indians. 

October 6, 1837, Colonel Gentry's regiment left Columbia for the 
seat of war, stopping on the way at Jefferson barracks, where they were 
mustered into service. 

Arriving at Jackson barracks. New Orleans, they were from thence 
transported in brigs across the Gulf to Tampa Bay, Florida. General 
Zachary Taylor, who then commanded in Florida, ordered Colonel Gen- 
try to march to Okee-cho-bee Lake, one hundred and thirty-five miles 
inland by the route traveled. Having reached the Kissimmee River, 



50 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

seventy miles distant, a bloody battle ensued in which Colonel Gentry 
was killed. The Missourians, though losing their gallant leader, con- 
tinued the fight until the Indians were totally routed, leaving many of 
their dead and wounded on the field. There being no further service 
required of the Missourians, they returned to their homes in 1838. 

MEXICAN WAR. 

Soon after Mexico declared war against the United States, on the 
8th and 9th of May, 1846, the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la 
Palma were fought. Great excitement prevailed throughout the country. 
In none of her sister states, however, did the fires of patriotism burn 
more intensely than in Missouri. Not waiting for the call for volunteers, 
the "St. Louis Legion" hastened to the field of conflict. The Legion 
was commanded by Colonel A. R. Easton. During the month of May, 
1846, Governor Edwards, of Missouri, called for volunteers to join the 
"Army of the West," an expedition to the Santa Fe, under command of 
General Stephen W. Kearny. 

Fort Leavenworth was the appointed rendezvous for the volunteers. 
By the i8th of June, the full complement of companies to compose the 
First regiment had arrived from Jackson, Lafayette, Clay, Saline, Frank- 
lin, Cole, Howard and Callaway Counties. Of this regiment, A. W. Don- 
iphan was made colonel; C. F. Ruff, lieutenant colonel, and William 
Gilpin, major. The battalion of light artillery from St. Louis, was com- 
manded by Captains R. A. Weightman and A. W. Fischer, with Major 
M, L. Clark as field of^cer ; battalions of infantry from Platte and Cole 
Counties, commanded by Captains Murphy and W. Z. Augney, respect- 
ively, and the " Laclede Rangers," from St. Louis, by Captain Thomas B. 
Hudson, aggregating, all told, from Missouri, 1,658 men. In the summer 
of 1846, Hon. Sterling Price resigned his seat in Congress, and raised one 
mounted regiment, one mounted extra battalion, and one extra battalion 
of Mormon infantry to reinforce the "Army of the West." Mr. Price was 
made colonel, and D. D. Mitchell, lieutenant colonel. 

In Auguet, 1847, Governor Edwards made another requisition for one 
thousand men, to consist of infantry. The regiment was raised at once. 
John Dougherty, of Clay County, was chosen colonel, but before the 
regiment marched the President countermanded the order. 

A company of mounted volunteers was raised in Ralls County, com- 
manded by Captain William T. Lalfland. Conspicuous among the 
engagements in which the Missouri volunteers participated in Mexico 
were the battles of Brazito. Sacramento, Canada, El Embudo. Taos, and 
Santa Cruz de Rosales. The forces from Missouri were mustered out in 
1848, and will ever be remembered in the history of the Mexican war, for 

"A thousand glorious actions that might claim 
Triumphant laurels, and immortal fame." 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. $^ 



CHAPTER IX.. 

CIVIL WAR IN MISSOURI. 

% 

SUMTER FIRED UPON-CALL FOR 75,000 MEN— GOVERNOR JACKSON REFUSES TO 
FURNISH A MAN-UNITED STATES ARSENAL AT LIBERTY, MISSOURI, SEIZED - 
PROCLAMATION OF GOVERNOR JACKSON— GENERAL ORDER NO. 7-LEGISLATURE 
CONVENES-CAMP JACKSON ORGANIZED— STERLING PRICE APPOINTED MAJOR 
GENERAL— FROST'S LETTER TO LYON— LYON'S LETTER TO FROST— SURRENDER 
OF CAMP JACKSON — PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL HARNEY — CONFERENCE 
BETWEEN PRICE AND HARNEY— HARNEY SUPERSEDED BY LYON— SECOND CON- 
FERENCE—GOVERNOR JACKSON BURNS THE BRIDGES BEHIND HIM— PROCLAMA- 
TION OF GOVERNOR JACKSON-GENERAL BLAIR TAKES POSSESSION OF JEFFERSON 
CITY— PROCLAMATION OF LYON— LYON AT SPRINGFIELD-STATE OFFICES DECLARED 
VACANT— GENERAL FREMONT ASSUMES COMMAND— PROCLAMATION OF LIEUTEN- 
ANT GOVERNOR REYNOLDS— PROCLAMATION OF JEFF. THOMPSON AND GOVERNOR 
JACKSON— DEATH OF GENERAL LYON— SUCCEEDED BY STURGIS -PROCLAMATION 
OF M'CULLOCH AND GAMBLE— MARTIAL LAW DECLARED— SECOND PROCLAMATION 
OF JEFF. THOMPSON — PRESIDENT MODIFIES FREMONT'S ORDER — FREMONT 
RELIEVED BY HUNTER-PROCLAMATION OF PRICE— HUNTER'S ORDER OF ASSESS- 
MENT-HUNTER DECLARES MARTIAL LAW-ORDER RELATING TO NEWSPAPERS— 
HALLECK SUCCEEDS HUNTER— HALLECK'S ORDER 81— SIMILAR ORDER BY HAL- 
LECK-BOONE COUNTY STANDARD CONFISCATED— EXECUTION OF PRISONERS AT 
MACON AND PALMYRA-GENERAL EWING'S ORDER NO. ii-GENERAL ROSECRANS 
TAKES COMMAND— MASSACRE AT CENTRALIA— DEATH OF BILL ANDERSON— GEN- 
ERAL DODGE SUCCEEDS GENERAL ROSECRANS— LIST OF BATTLES. 

•' Lastly stood war — 
With visage grim, stern looks, and blackly hued, 
****** 

Ah ! why will kings forget that they are men ? 
And men that they are brethren ? Why delight 
In human sacrifice ? Why burst the ties 
Of nature, that should knit their souls together 
In one bond of amity and love? " 

Fort Sumter was fired upon April 12, 1861. On April 15th, President 
Lincoln issued a proclamation, calling for 75,000 men, from the militia 
of the several states, to suppress combinations in the Southern States 
therein named. Simultaneously therewith the secretary of war sent a 
telegram to all the governors of the states, excepting those mentioned 
in the proclamation, requesting them to detail a certain number ot 
militia to serve for three months, Missouri's quota being four regiments. 

In response to this telegram Governor Jackson sent the following 
answer: 

Executive Department of Missouri, 
Jefferson City, April 17, 1861. 
To the Hon. Simon Cameron, 

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. : 

Sir: Your dispatch of the 15th inst., making a call on Missouri 
for four regiments of men for immediate service, has been received. 
There can be, I apprehend, no doubt but these men are intended to form 
a part of the President's army to make war upon the people of the 



52 HISTORY OF MISSOURI- 

seceded states. Your requisition, in my judgment, is illegal, unconsti- 
tutional, and cannot be complied with. Not one man will the State of 
Missouri furnish to carry on such an unholy war. 

C. F. JACKSON, 

Governor of Missouri. 

April 21, 1861. United States Arsenal at Liberty was seized by 
order of Governor Jackson. 

April 22, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation convening 
the Legislature of Missouri in May following, in extra session, to take 
into consideration the momentuous issues which were presented, and the 
attitude to be assumed by the state in the impending struggle. 

On the 22d of April, 1861, the Adjutant General of Missouri issued 
the following military order: 

Headquarters Adjutant General's Office, Mo., 
Jefferson City, April 22, 1861. 
{Ge7ieral Order No. 7.) 

L To attain a greater degree of efficiency and perfection in organi- 
sation and discipline, the commanding officers of the several military 
.districts in this state, having four or more legally organized companies 
therein, whose armories are within fifteen miles of each other, will assem- 
ble their respective commands at some place to be by them severally 
designated, on the 3d of May, and to go into an encampment for a period 
of six days as provided by law. Captains of companies not organized 
into battalions, will report the strength of their companies immediately 
to these headquarters, and await further orders. 

IL The quartermaster general will procure and issue to quarter- 
masters of districts, for these commands not now provided for, all neces- 
sary tents and camp equipage, to enable the commanding officers thereof 
to carry the foregoing orders into effect. 

in. The Light Battery now attached to the Southwest Battalion, 
and one company of mounted riflemen, including all officers and soldiers 
belonging to the First District, will proceed forthwith to St. Louis and 
report to General D. M. Frost for duty. The remaining companies of 
said battalion will be disbanded for the purpose of assisting in the organ- 
ization of companies, upon that frontier. The details of the execution of 
•the foregoing are intrusted to Lieutenant Colonel John S. Bowen, com- 
manding the battalion. 

IV. The strength, organization and equipment of the several com- 
panies in the districts will be reported at once to these headquarters, 
.and district inspectors will furnish all information which may be service- 
able in ascertaining the condition of state forces. 
By order of the Governor. 

WARWICK HOUGH, 

Adjutant General of Missouri. 

May 2, 1861. The legislature, convened in extra session. Many 
acts were passed among which was one to authorize the governor to 
purchase or lease David Ballentine's foundry, at Boonville, for the man- 
ufacture of arms and munitions of war ; to authorize the governor to 



HISTORY OF illSSOURI. 53 

appoint one major general ; to authorize the governor, when in his opin- 
ion the security and welfare of the state required it, to take possession 
of the railroad and telegraph lines of the state ; to provide for the organ- 
ization, government and support of the military forces ; to borrow one 
million of dollars to arm and equip the militia of the state to repel inva- 
sion and protect the lives and property of the people. An act was also 
passed creating a " Military Fund," to consist of all the money then in 
the treasury or that might thereafter be received from the one-tenth of 
one per cent, on the hundred dollars, levied by act of November, 1857, 
to complete certain railroads ; also the proceeds of a tax of fifteen cents 
on the hundred dollars of the assessed value of the taxable property of 
the several counties in the state, and the proceeds of the two mill tax, 
which had been theretofore appropriated for educational purposes. 

May 3, 1861. "Camp Jackson" was organized. 

May 10, 1861. Sterling Price appointed major general of state 
guard. 

May 10, 1861. General Frost, commanding "Camp Jackson,'' 
addressed General N. Lyon, as follows : 

Headquarters Camp Jackson, Missouri Militia, 

May 10, 1861. 

Captain N. Lyon, Comrnanding United States Troops in and about St. 

Louis Arsenal. 

Sir : I am constantly in receipt of information that you contem- 
plate an attack upon my camp, whilst I understand that you are impressed 
with the idea that an attack upon the arsenal and United States troops 
is intended on the part of the militia of Missouri. I am greatly at a loss 
to know what could justify you in attacking citizens of the United States, 
who are in lawful performance of their duties, devolving upon them under 
the constitution in organizing and instructing the militia of the state in 
obedience to her laws, and, therefore, have been disposed to doubt the 
correctness of the information I have received. 

I would be glad to know from you personally whether there is any 
truth in the statements that are constantly pouring into my ears. So 
far as regards any hostility being intended toward the United States, or 
its property or representatives by any portion of my command, or, as far 
as I can learn (and I think I am fully informed) of any other part of the 
state forces, I can positively say that the idea has never been enter- 
tained. On the contrary, prior to your taking command of the arsenal, 
I proffered to Mayor Bell, then in command of the very few troops con- 
stituting its guard, the services of myself and all my command, and, if 
necessary, the whole power of the state, to protect the United States in 
the full possession of all her property. Upon General Harney taking 
command of this department, I made the same proffer of services to him, 
and authorized his Adjutant General, Captain Williams, to communicate 
the fact that such had been done to the War Department. I have had 
no occasion since to change any of the views I entertained at the time, 
neither of my own volition nor through the orders of my constitutional 
commander. 



54 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

I trust that after this explicit statement that we may be able, by 
fully understanding each other, to keep far from our borders the misfor- 
tunes which so unhappily affect our common country. 

This communication will be handed you by Colonel Bowen, my 
chief of staff, who will be able to explain anything not fully set forth in 
the foregoing. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, vour obedient servant, 

BRIGADIER 'GENERAL D. M. FROST, 

Cojnmanding Camp Jackson, M. V. M. 

May 10, 1861. General Lyon sent the following to General Frost: 

Headquarters United States Troops, 
St. Louis, Mo., May 10, 1861. 

General D. M. Frost, Commanding Camp Jackson: 

Sir : Your command is regarded as evidently hostile toward the 
Government of the United States. 

It is, for the most part, made up of those secessionists who have 
openly avowed their hostility to the general government, and have been 
plotting at the seizure of its property and the overthrow of its authority. 
You are openly in communication with the so-called Southern Confed- 
eracy, which is now at war with the United States, and you are receiving 
at your camp, from the said Confederacy and under its flag, large sup- 
plies of the material of war, most of which is known to be the property 
of the United States. These extraordinary preparations plainly indicate 
none other than the well-known purpose of the governor of this state, 
under whose orders you are acting, and whose communication to the 
legislature has just been responded to by that body in the most unpar- 
alleled legislation, having in direct view hostilities to the general gov- 
ernment and co-operation with its enemies. 

In view of these considerations, and of your failure to disperse in 
obedience to the proclamation of the President, and of the imminent 
necessities of state policy and warfare, and the obligations imposed upon 
me by instructions from Washington, it is my duty to demand, and I do 
hereby demand of you an immediate surrender of your command, with 
no other conditions than that all persons surrendering under this com- 
mand shall be humanely and kindly treated. Believing myself prepared 
to enforce this demand, one-half hour's time before doing so will be 
allowed for your compliance therewith. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

N. LYON, 
Captain Second Infantry, Commanding Troops. 

May 10, 1861. Camp Jackson surrendered and prisoners all released 
excepting Captain Emmet McDonald, who refused to subscribe the parole. 

May 12, 1861. Brigadier General William S. Harney issued a proc- 
lamation to the people of Missouri, saying, "he would carefully abstain 
from the exercise of any unnecessary powers," and only use " the military 
force stationed in this district in the last resort to preserve peace." 

May 14, 1861. General Harney issued a second proclamation. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 55 

May 21, 1861. General Harney held a conference with General 
Sterling Price, of the Missouri State Guards. 

May 31, 1861. General Harney superseded by General Lyon. 

June II, 1861. A second conference was held between the national 
and state authorities in St. Louis, which resulted in nothing. 

June II, 1861. Governor Jackson left St. Louis for Jefferson City, 
burning the railroad bridges behind him, and cutting telegraph wires. 

June 12, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation calling 
into active service 50,000 militia, " to repel invasion, protect life, prop- 
erty, etc." 

June 15, 1861. Colonel F. P. Blair took possession of the state capi- 
tal. Governor Jackson, General Price and other officers having left on the 
13th of June for Boonville. 

June 17, 1861. Battle of Boonville took place between the forces of 
General Lyon and Colonel John S. Marmaduke. 

June 18, 1861. General Lyon issued a proclamation to the people 
of Missouri. 

July 5, 1 86 1. Battle at Carthage between the forces of General Sigel 
and Governor Jackson. 

July 6, 1861. General Lyon reached Springfield. 

July 22, i86i. State convention met and declared the offices of 
Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State vacated. 

July 26, 1861. General John C. Fremont assumed command of the 
Western Department, with headquarters in St. Louis. 

July 31, 1861. Lieutenant Governor Thomas C. Reynolds issued a 
proclamation at New Madrid. 

August I, 1861. General Jeff. Thompson issued a proclamation at 
Bloomfield. 

August 2, 1861. Battle of Dug Springs, between Captain Steele's 

forces and General Rains. 

August 5, 1861. Governor Jackson issued a proclamation at New 
Madrid. 

August 5, 1861. Battle of Athens. 

August 10, 1861. Battle of Wilson's Creek, between the forces 
under General Lyon and General McCulloch. In this engagement Gen- 
eral Lyon was killed. General Sturgis succeeded General Lyon. 

August 12, 1861. McCulloch issued a proclamation, and soon left 
Missouri. 

August 20, 1861. General Price issued a proclamation. 

August 24, 1861. Governor Gamble issued a proclamation calling 
for 32,000 men for six months, to protect the property and lives of the 
citizens of the state. 

August 30, 1861. General Fremont declared martial law, and 
declared that the slaves of all persons who should thereafter take an 
active part with the enemies ot the government should be free. 



56 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

September 2, 1861. General Jeff. Thompson issued a proclamation 
in response to Fremont's proclamation. 

September 7, 1861. Battle at Drywood Creek. 

September 11, 1861. President Lincoln modified the clause in Gen- 
eral Fremont's declaration of martial law, in reference to the confiscation 
of property and liberation of slaves. 

September 12, 1861. General Price begins the attack at Springfield 
on Colonel Mulligan's forces. 

September 20, 1861. Colonel Mulligan with 2,640 men surrendered. 

October 25, 1861. Second battle at Springfield. 

November 2, 1861. General Fremont succeeded by General David 
Hunter, 

November 7, 1861. General Grant attacked Belmont. 

November 9, 1861. General Hunter succeeded by General Halleck, 
who took command on the 19th of the same month, with headquarters 
in St. Louis. 

November 27, 1861. General Price issued proclamation calling for 
50,000 men, at Neosho, Missouri. 

December 12, 1861. General Hunter issued his order of assessment 
upon certain wealthy citizens in St. Louis, for feeding and clothing Union 
refugees. 

December 23-25, 1861. Declared martial law in St. Louis and the 
country adjacent, and covering all the railroad lines. 

March 6, 1862. Battle at Pea Ridge between the forces under Gen- 
eral Curtis and Van Dorn. 

January 8, 1862. Provost Marshal Farrar, of St. Louis, issued the 
following order in reference to newspapers : 

Office of the Provost Marshal, 
General Department of Missouri, 
St. Louis, January 8, 1862. 
{General Order No. 10.) 

It is hereby ordered that from and after this date the publishers of 
newspapers in the State of Missouri (St. Louis city papers excepted) 
furnish to this office, immediately upon publication, one copy of each 
issue, for inspection. A failure to comply with this order will render the 
newspaper liable to suppression. 

Local Provost Marshals will furnish the proprietors with copies of 
this order, and attend to its immediate enforcement. 

BERNARD G. FARRAR, 
Provost Marshal Ge?isral. 

January 26, 1862. General Halleck issued order (No. 18) which for- 
bade, among other things, the display of secession flags in the hands of 
women or on carriages, in the vicinitj^ of the military prison in McDow- 
ell's College, the carriages to be confiscated and the offending women to 
be arrested. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 5» 

February 4, 1S62. General Halleck issued another order similar to 
Order No. 18, to railway companies, and to the professors and directors 
of the State University at Columbia, forbidding the funds of the institu- 
tion to be used "to teach treason or to instruct traitors." 

February 20, 1862. Special Order No. 120, convened a military com- 
mission, which sat in Columbia, March following, and tried Edmund J. 
Ellis, of Columbia, editor and proprietor of the Boone County Standard, 
for the publication of information for the benefit of the enemy, and 
encouraging resistance to the United States Government. Ellis was 
found guilty, was banished during the war from Missouri, and his print- 
ing materials confiscated and sold. 

April, 1862. General Halleck left for Corinth, Mississippi, leaving 
General Schofield in command. 

June, 1862. Battle at Cherry Grove between the forces under Col- 
onel Joseph C. Porter and Colonel H. S. Lipscomb. 

June, 1862. Battle at Pierce's Mill between the forces under Major 
John Y. Clopper and Colonel Porter. 

July 22, 1862. Battle at Florida, 

July 28, 1862. Battle at Moore's Mill. 

August 6, 1862. Battle near Kirksville. 

August ir, 1862. Battle at Independence. ^ 

August 16, 1862. Battle at Lone Jack. 

September 13, 1862. Battle at Newtonia. 

September 25, 1862. Ten Confederate prisoners were executed at 
Macon by order of General Merrill. 

October 18, 1862. Ten Confederate prisoners executed at Palmyra 
by order of General McNeill. 

January 8, 1863. Battle at Springfield between the forces of General 
Marmaduke and General E. B. Brown. 

April 26, 1863. Battle at Cape Girardeau. 

August — , 1863. General Jeff. Thompson captured at Pocahontas, 
Arkansas, with his staff. 

August 25, 1863. General Thomas Ewing issued his celebrated 
Order No. 11, at Kansas City, Missouri, which is as follows : 

Headquarters District of the Border, 
Kansas City, Mo., August 25, 1863. 

{General Order No. 11.) 

First. — All persons living in Cass, Jackson and Bates Counties, Mis- 
souri, and in that part of Vernon included in this district, except those 
living within one mile of the limits of Independence, Hickman's Mills, 
Pleasant Hill and Harrisonville, and except those in that part of Kaw 
Township, Jackson County, north of Brush Creek and west of the Big 
Blue, embracing Kansas City and Westport, are hereby ordered to remove 
from their present places of residence within fifteen days from the date 
hereof. 



58 HISTORY OF MISSOURI, 

Those who, within that time, establish their loyalty to the satisfac- 
tion of the commanding officer of the military station nearest their 
present places of residence, will receive from him certificates stating the 
fact of their loyalty, and the names of the witnesses by whom it can be 
shown. All who receive such certificate will be permitted to remove to 
any military station in this district, or to any part of the State of Kansas, 
except the counties on the eastern borders of the state. All others shall 
remove out of this district. Officers commanding companies and detach- 
ments serving in the counties named, will see that this paragraph is 
promptly obeyed. 

SecoTid. — All grain and hay in the field, or under shelter, in the dis- 
trict from which the inhabitants are required to remove, within reach of 
military stations, after the 9th day of September next, will be taken to 
such stations and turned over to the proper officer there, and report of 
the amount so turned over made to district headquarters, specifying the 
names of all loyal owners and the amount of such produce taken from 
them. All grain and hay found in such district after the 9th day of Sep- 
tember next, not convenient to such stations, will be destroyed. 

Third. — The provisions of General Order No. 10, from these head- 
quarters, will at once be vigorously executed by officers commanding in 
the parts of the district, and at stations not subject to the operations of 
paragraph First of this Order — and especially in the towns of Independ- 
ence, Westport and Kansas City. 

Fourth. — Paragraph 3, General Order No. 10, is revoked as to all who 
have borne arms against the government in the district since August 
20, 1863. 

By order of Brigadier General Ewing. 

H. HANNAHS, Adjutant. 

October 12-13, 1863. Battle of Arrow Creek. 

January, 1864. General Rosecrans takes command of the depart- 
ment. 

September, 1864, Battle at Pilot Knob, Harrison and Little Mor- 
ceau River. 

September 27, 1864. Massacre at Centralia, by Captain William 
Anderson. 

October 5, 1864. Battle at Prince's Ford and James Gordon's farm. 

October 15, 1864. Battle at Glasgow. 

October 20, 1864. Battle at Little Blue Creek. 

October 27, 1864. Captain Anderson killed. 

December — , 1864. General Rosecrans relieved, and General Dodge 
appointed to succeed him. 

Nothing occurred specially, of a military character, in the state, 
after December, 1864. We have in the main, given the facts as they 
occurred, without comment or entering into details. Many of the minor 
incidents and skirmishes of the war have been omitted because of our 
limited space. 

It is utterly impossible, at this date, to give the names and dates of 
all the battles fought in Missouri during the civil war. It will be found. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 59 

however, that the list given below, whicn has been arranged for conven- 
ience, contains the prominent battles and skirmishes which took place 
within the state : 

Potosi, May 14, 1 86 1. 
Boonville, June 17, iS6r. 
Carthage, July 5, i86r. 
Monroe Station, July 10, 1861. 
Overton's Run, July 17, 1861. 
Dug Spring, August 2, 1861. 
Wilson's Creek, August 9, 1861. 
Athens, August 5, 1861. 
Moreton, August 20, i86r. 
Bennett's Mills, September — , 1861. 
Drywood Creek, September 7, 1861. 
Norfolk, September 10, 1861. 
Lexington, September 12-20, 1861. 
Blue Mills Landing, September 17, 1861. 
Glasgow Mistake, September 20, 1861. 
Osceola, September 25, 1861. 
Shanghai, October 13, 1861. 
Lebanon, October 13, 1861. 
Linn Creek, October 15, i86r. 
Big River Bridge, October 15, 1861. 
Fredericktown, October 21, 1861. 
Springfield, October 25, 1861. 
Belmont, November 7, 1861. 
Piketon, November 8, 1861. 
Little Blue, November 10, i86r. 
Clark's Station, November 11, 1861. 
Zion Church, December 28, 1861. 
Silver Creek, January 15, 1862. 
New Madrid, February 28, 1862. 
Pea Ridge, March 6, 1862. 
Neosho, April 22, 1862, 
Rose Hill, July 10, 1862. 
Chariton River, July 30, 1862. 
Cherry Grove, June — , 1862. 
Pierce's Mill, June — , 1862. 
Florida, July 22, 1862. 
Moore's Mill, July 28, 1862. 
Kirksville, August 6, 1862. 
Compton's Ferry, August 8, 1862 
Yellow Creek, August 13, 1862. 



60 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

Independence, August ii, 1862. 
Lone Jack, August 16, 1862. 
Newtonia, September 13, 1862. 
Springfield^ January 8, 1863. 
Cape Girardeau, April 29, 1863. 
Arrow Rock, October 12 and 13, 1863. 
Pilot Knob, September — , 1864. 
Harrison, September — , 1864. 
Moreau River, October 7, 1864. 
Prince's Ford, October 5, 1864. 
Glasgow, October 15, 1864. 
Little Blue Creek, October 20, 1864. 
Albany, October 27, 1864. 
Near Rocheport, September 23, 1864 
Centralia, September 27, 1864. 



CHAPTER X. 
AGRICULTURE AND MATERIAL WEALTH. 

MISSOURI AS AN AGRICULTURAL STATE— THE DIFFERENT CROPS— LIVE STOCK— HORSES 
—MULES— MILCH COWS— OXEN AND OTHER CATTLE— SHEEP— HOGS— COMPARISONS 
—MISSOURI ADAPTED TO LIVE STOCK— COTTON— BROOM CORN AND OTHER PRO- 
DUCTS— FRUITS— BERRIES— GRAPES— RAILROADS— FIRST NEIGH OF THE "IRON 
HORSE" IN MISSOURI— NAMES OF RAILROADS— MANUFACTURES— GREAT BRIDGE 
AT ST. LOUIS. 

Agriculture is the greatest among all the arts of man, as it is the 
first in supplying his necessities. It favors and strenthens population ; 
it creates and maintains manufactures ; gives employment to navigation, 
and furnishes materials to commerce. It animates every species of indus- 
try, and opens to nations the safest channels of wealth. It is the strongest 
bond of well regulated society, the surest basis of internal peace, and the 
natural associate of correct morals. Among all the occupations and 
professions of life there is none more honorable, none more independent 
and none more conducive to health and happiness. 

*' In ancient times the sacred plow employ'd 
The kings, and awful fathers of mankind ; 
And some, with whom compared, your insect tribes 
Are but the beings of a summer's day, 
Have held the scale of empire, ruled the stor 
Of mighty war with unwearied hand, 
Disdaining little delicacies, seized 
The plow and greatly independent lived." 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 6l 

As an agricultural region, Missouri is not surpassed by any state 
in the Union. It is indeed the farmer's kingdom, where he always reaps 
an abundant harvest. The soil, in many portions of the state, has an 
open, flexible structure, quickly absorbs the most excessive rains, and 
retains moisture with great tenacity. This being the case it is not so 
easily affected by drouth. The prairies are covered with sweet, luxuri- 
ant grass, equally good tor grazing and hay ; grass not surpassed by the 
Kentucky blue grass — the best of clover and timothy in growing and 
fattening cattle. This grass is now as full of life-giving nutriment as it 
was when cropped by the buffalo, the elk, the antelope and the deer, and 
costs the herdsman nothing. 

No state or territory has a more complete or rapid system of natural 
drainage, or a more abundant supply of pure, fresh water, than Missouri. 
Both man and beast may slake their thirst from a thousand perennial 
fountains, which gush in limpid streams from the hillsides and wend 
their way through verdant valleys and along smiling prairies, varying 
in size as they onward flow, from the diminutive brooklet to the giant 
river. 

Here nature has generously bestowed her attractions of climate, soil 
and scenery to please and gratify man while earning his bread in the 
sweat of his brow. Being thus munificently endowed, Missouri offers 
superior inducements to the farmer, and bids him enter her broad domain 
and avail himself of her varied resources. 

We present here a table showing the product of each principal crop 
in Missouri for 1878 : 

Indian Corn 93,062,000 bushels. 

Wheat 20,196,000 

Rye . . . , 732,000 

Oats 19,584,000 

Buckwheat 46,400 

Potatoes 5,415,000 

Tobacco 23,023,000 pounds. 

Hay 1,620,000 tons. 

There were 3,522,000 acres in corn ; wheat, 1,836,000; rye, 48,800; 
oats, 640,000 ; buckwheat, 2,900 ; potatoes, 72,200 ; tobacco, 29,900 ; hay, 
850,000. Value of each crop: corn, $24,196,224; wheat, $i3,53i»32o; 
rye, $300,120; oats, $3,325,120; buckwheat, $24,128; potatoes, $2,057,- 
700; tobacco, $1,151,150; hay, $10,416,600. 

Average cash value of crops per acre, $7.69 ; average yield of corn 
per acre, 26 bushels; wheat, 11 bushels. 

Next in importance to the corn crop in value is the live stock. The 
following table shows the number of horses, mules and milch cows in 
the different states for 1879 : 



62 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 



STATES. HORSES 

Maine 81,700 

New Hampshire 57, 100 

Vermont 77>400 

Massachusetts 131,000 

Rhode Island 16,200 

Connecticut 53.5°° 

New York 898,000 

New Jersey 11450° 

Pennsylvania '. 614,500 

Delaware I9,90" 

Maryland 108,600 

Virginia . 208,700 

North Carolina 144.200 

South Carolina 59-6oo 

Georgia 119,200 

Florida 22,400 

Alabama 112,800 

Mississippi 97,200 

Louisiana 79 3°° 

Texas 618,000 

Arkansas 180,500 

Tennessee 329,7°° 

West Virginia 122,200 

Kentucky 386,900 

Ohio 772,700 

Michigan 333 800 

Indiana 688,800 

Illinois 1,100,000 

Wisconsin 3^4 4°° 

Minnesota 247,300 

Iowa 77°,70o 

Missouri 627,300 

Kansas 265,000 

Nebraska 157,200 

California 173,0°° 

Oregon 109 700 

Nevada, Colorado and Territories 250 000 

It will be seen from the above table that Missouri is the Ji/^/i state 
in the number of horses ; Ji/i/i in number of milch cows, and the leading 
state in number of mules, having 11,700 more than Texas, which pro- 
duces the next largest number. Of oxen and cattle Missouri produced 
in 1879, 1,632,000, which was more than any other state produced except- 
ing Texas, which had 4,800,000. In 1879, Missouri raised 2,8 17,600 hogs, 
which was more than any other state produced excepting Iowa. The 
number of sheep was 1,296,400. The number of hogs packed in 1879 t>y 
the different states is as follows : 



MULES. 


MILCH COWS, 


. . . 


169,100 


. . • 


98,100 


. . • 


217,800 


. . . 


160,700 


. . . 


22,000 


. . . 


116,500 


7.1,800 


1,446,200 


14,400 


152,200 


24,900 


828,400 


4,000 


23,200 


11,300 


100,500 


30,600 


236,200 


74000 


232,300 


51,500 


»3i,300 


97,200 


273,100 


11,900 


70,000 


111,700 


215,200 


100 000 


1 88 000 


80,700 


110,900 


180,200 


544.500 


89. 300 


187,700 


99700 


245,700 


2,400 


130,500 


117,800 


237,200 


26,700 


714,100 


4300 


416,900 


61,200 


439,200 


138 000 


702,40c 


8,700 


477,30° 


7,000 


278,900 


43,40° 


676,200 


191,900 


516,200 


50,000 


321,900 


13,600 


127,600 


25,700 


459,600 


3.5°° 


112,400 


25,700 


423,600 



STATES. NO. 

Ohio 932,878 

Indiana 622,321 

Illinois 3,214,896 

Iowa 569,763 



STATKS. NO. 

Missouri 965,839 

Wisconsin 472,108 

Kentucky 212,412 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 63 

Average weight per head for each state : 

STATES. POUNDS. STATES. POUNDS. 

Ohio 210.47 Missouri , 213 32 

Indiana 193 So Wisconsin 220 81 

Illinois 225.71 Kentucky 210 11 

Iowa 211.98 

From the above, it will be seen that Missouri annually packs more 
hogs than any other state, except Illinois, and that she ranks third in 
the average weight. 

We see no reason why Missouri should not be the foremost stock- 
raising state in the Union. In addition to the enormous yield of oorn 
and oats upon which the stock is largely dependent, the climate is well 
adapted to their growth and health. Water is not only inexhaustible, 
but everywhere convenient. The ranges for stock are boundless, afford- 
ing for nine months of the year excellent pasturage of nutritious wild 
grasses, which grow in great luxuriance upon her thousand prairies. 

Cotton is grown successfully in many counties of the southeastern 
portions of the state, especially in Stoddard, Scott, Pemiscott, Butler, 
New Madrid, Lawrence and Mississippi. 

Sweet potatoes are produced in abundance and are not only sure 
but profitable. 

Broom corn, sorghum, castor beans, white beane, peas and hops, 
thrive well, and all kinds of garden vegetables are produced in great 
abundance and are found in the markets during all seasons of the year. 
Fruits of every variety, including the apple, pear, peach, cherries, apricots 
and nectarines are cultivated with great success, as are also the straw- 
berry, gooseberry, currant, raspberry and blackberry. 

The grape has not been produced with that success that was at first 
anticipated, yet the yield of wine for the year 1879, "^^'^s nearly half a 
million gallons. Grapes do well in Kansas, and we see no reason why 
they should not be as surely and profitably grown in a similar climate 
and soil in Missouri, and particularly in many of the counties north and 
east of the Missouri River. 

RAILROADS. 

Twenty-nine years ago the neigh of the "iron horse" was heard for 
the first time within the broad domain of Missouri. His coming pre- 
saged the dawn of a brighter and grander era in the history of the state. 
Her fertile prairies and more prolific valleys would soon be of easy access 
to the oncoming tide of immigration, and the ores and minerals of her 
hills and mountains would be developed and utilized in her manufactur- 
ing and industrial enterprises. 

Additional facilities would be opened to the marts of trade and 
commerce ; transportation from the interior of the state would be secured; 



64 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

a fresh impetus would be given to the growth of her towns and cities, 
and new hopes and inspirations would be imparted to all her people. 

Since 1852, the initial period of railroad building in Missouri, between 
four and five thousand miles of track have been laid ; additional roads 
are liow being constructed and many others in contemplation. The 
state is already supplied with railroads which thread her surface in all 
directions, bringing her remotest districts into close connection with St. 
Louis, that great center of western railroads and inland commerce. 
These roads have a capital stock aggregating more than one hundred 
millions of dollars, and a funded debt of about the same amount. 

The lines of railroads which are operated in this state are the fol- 
lowing : 

Missouri Pacific, chartered May 10, 1850 ; the St. Louis, Iron Mount- 
ain & Southern Railroad, which is a consolidation of the Arkansas 
Branch ; the Cairo, Arkansas & Texas Railroad ; the Cairo & Fulton 
Railroad ; the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern Railway ; the St. 
Louis & San Francisco Railway ; the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Rail- 
road ; the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad ; the Missouri, Kansas & 
Texas Railroad ; the Illinois, Missouri & Texas Railroad ; the Kansas 
City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad ; the Keokuk & Kansas City 
Railway Company ; the St. Louis, Salem & Little Rock Railroad Com- 
pany ; the Missouri & Western ; the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern ; 
the St. Louis, Hannibal & Keokuk Railroad ; the Missouri, Iowa & 
Nebraska Railway ; the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad ; the Chi- 
cago, Rock Island Pacific Railway ; the Burlington & Southwestern 
Railroad ; the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and the St. Joseph 
& DesMoines. 

MANUFACTURES. 

The natural resources of Missouri especially fit her for a great man- 
ufacturing state. She is rich in soil ; rich in all the elements which sup- 
ply the furnace, the machine shop and the planing mill ; rich in the 
multitude and variety of her gigantic forests ; rich in her marble, stone 
and granite quarries ; rich in her mines of iron, coal, lead and zinc; rich 
in strong arms and willing hands to apply the force ; rich in water power 
and river navigation ; and rich in her numerous and well built railroads, 
whose numberless engines thunder along their multiplied trackways. 

Missouri contains over fourteen thousand manufacturing establish- 
ments, 1,965 of which are using steam and give employment to 80,000 
hands. The capital employed is about $100,000,000, the material annu- 
ally used and worked up amounts to over $150,000,000, and the value of 
the products put upon the markets $250,000,000, while the wages paid 
are more than $40,000,000. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 6$ 

The leading manufacturing counties of the state are St. Louis, Jack- 
son, Buchanan, St. Charles, Marion, Franklin, Green, Lafayette, Platte, 
Cape Girardeau and Boone. Three-fourths, however, of the manufactur- 
ing is done in St. Louis, which is now about the second manufacturing 
city in the Union. Flouring mills produce annually about $38,194,000; 
carpentering, $18,763,000; meatpacking, $16,769,000; tobacco, $12,496,- 
000; iron and castings, $12,000,000; liquors, $11,245,000; clothing, 
$10,022,000; lumber, $8,652,000; bagging and bags, $6,914,000, and 
many other smaller industries in proportion. 

GREAT BRIDGE AT ST. LOUIS. 

Of the many public improvements which do honor to the state and 
reflect great credit upon the genius of their projectors, we have space 
only to mention the great bridge at St. Louis. 

This truly wonderful structure is built of tubular steel, the total 
length of which, with its approaches, is 6,277 feet, at a cost of nearly 
$8,000,000. The. bridge spans the Mississippi from the Illinois to the 
Missouri shore, and has separate railroad tracks, roadways and foot 
paths. In durability, architectural beauty and practical utility, there is, 
perhaps, no similar piece of workmanship that approximates it. 

The structure of Darius upon the Bosphorus ; of Xerxes upon the 
Hellespont ; of Caesar upon the Rhine, and Trajan upon the Danube, 
famous in ancient history, were built for military purposes, that over 
them might pass invading armies with their munitions of war, to destroy 
commerce, to lay in waste the provinces, and to slaughter the people. 

But the erection of this was for a higher and nobler purpose. Over 
it are coming the trade and merchandise of the opulent East, and thence 
are passing the untold riches of the West. Over it are crowding legions 
of men, armed not with the weapons of war, but the implements of peace 
and industry ; men who are skilled in all the arts of agriculture, of man- 
ufacture and of mining ; men who will hasten the day when St. Louis 
shall rank in population and importance second to no city on the conti- 
nent, and when Missouri shall proudly fill the measure of greatness to 
which she is naturally so justly entitled. 



66 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

CHAPTER XI. 
EDUCATION. 



PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM-PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OF MISSOURI-LINCOLN INSTITUTE— 
OFFICERS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM— CERTIFICATES OF TEACHERS-UNIVERSITY 
OF MISSOURI— SCHOOLS — COLLEGES — INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING- LOCATION— 
LIBRARIES— NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS-NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHILDREN- 
AMOUNT EXPENDED— VALUE OF GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS—" THE PRESS." 



The first constitution of Missouri provided that "one school or more 
shall be established in each township, as soon as practicable and neces- 
sary, where the poor shall be taught gratis." 

It will be seen that even at that early day (1820) the framers of the 
constitution made provision for at least a primary education for the 
poorest and the humblest, taking it for granted that those who were 
able would avail themselves of educational advantages which v/ere not 
gratuitous. 

The establishment of the public school system in its essential feat- 
ures was not periected until 1839, during the administration of Governor 
Boggs, and since that period the system has slowly grown into favor, 
not only in Missouri, but throughout the United States. The idea of a 
free or public school for all classes was not at first a popular one, espe- 
cially among those who had the means to patronize private institutions 
of learning. In upholdi-ng and maintaining public schools, the oppo- 
nents of the system felt that they were not only compromising their 
own standing among their more wealthy neighbors, but that they were 
to some extent bringing opprobrium upon their children. Entertaining 
such prejudices they naturally thought that the training received in 
public schools could not be otherwise than defective, hence many years 
of probation passed before the popular mind was prepared to appreciate 
the benefits and blessings which spring from these institutions. 

Every year only adds to their popularity, and commends them the 
more earnestly to the fostering care of our state and national legislatures, 
and to the esteem and favor of all classes of our people. 

We can hardly conceive of two grander and more potent promoters 
of civilization than the free school and the free press. They would 
indeed seem to constitute all that was necessary to the attainment of 
the happiness and intellectual growth of the republic, and all that was 
necessary to broaden, to liberalize and to instruct. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 67 

"'Tis education forms the common mind ; 

For noble youth there is nothing so meet 
As learning is, to know the good from ill ; 
To know the tongues, and perfectly indite, 
And of the laws to have a perfect skill, 
Things to reform as right and justice will, 
For honor is ordained for no cause 
But to see right maintained by the laws." 

All the States of the Union have in practical operation the public 
school system, governed in the main by similar laws, and not differing 
materially in the manner and methods by which they are taught, but 
none have a wiser, a more liberal and comprehensive machinery of 
instruction than Missouri. Her school laws since 1839, have undergone 
many changes, and always for the better, keeping pace with the most 
enlightened and advanced theories of the most experienced educators of 
the land. But not until 1875, when the new constitution was adopted, 
did the present admirable system of public instruction go into effect. 

Provisions were made not only for white, but for children of African 
descent, and are a part of the organic law, not subject to the caprices of 
unfriendly legislatures, or the whims of political parties. The Lincoln 
Institute, located at Jefferson City, for the education of colored teachers, 
receives an annual appropriation from the General Assembly. 

For the support of the public schools, in addition to the annual 
income derived from the public school fund, which is set apart by law, 
not less than twenty-five per cent, of the state revenue, exclusive of the 
interest and sinking fund, is annually applied to this purpose. 

The officers having in charge the public school interests are the 
State Board of Education, the State Superintendent, County Superin- 
tendent, County Clerk and Treasarer, Board of Directors, City and 
Town School Board and teacher. The State Board of Education is com- 
posed of the State Superintendent, the Governor, Secretary of State and 
the Attorney General, the executive officer of this board being the State 
Superintendent, who is chosen by the people every four years. His duties 
are numerous. He renders decisions concerning the local application 
of school law; keeps a record of all the school funds, and annually dis- 
tributes the same to the counties ; supervises the work of county school 
officers ; delivers lectures ; visits schools ; distributes educational inform- 
ation ; grants certificates of higher qualifications, and makes an annual 
report to the General Assembly of the condition of the schools. 

The County Superintendents are also elected by the people for two 
years. Their work is to examine teachers, to distribute blanks and 
make reports. County clerks receive estimates from the local directors 
and extend them upon the tax books. In addition to this they keep the 
general records of the county and township school funds, and return an 



68 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

annual report of the financial condition of the schools of their county to 
the State Superintendent. School taxes are gathered with other taxes 
by the county collector. The custodian of the school funds belonging 
to the schools of the counties is the county treasurer, except in counties 
adopting the township organization, in which case the township trustee 
discharges these duties. 

Districts organized under the special law for cities and towns are 
governed by a board of six directors, two of whom are selected annually 
on the second Saturday in September, and hold their office for three 
years. 

One director is elected to serve for three years in each school dis- 
trict at the annual meeting. These directors may levy a tax not exceed- 
ing forty per cent, on the one hundred dollars valuation, provided such 
annual rates for school purposes may be increased in districts formed of 
cities and towns, to an amount not to exceed one dollar on the hundred 
dollars valuation ; and in other districts to an amount not to exceed 
sixty-five cents on the one hundred dollars valuation, on the condition 
that a majority of the voters who are tax payers, voting at an election 
held to decide the question, vote for said increase. For the purpose of 
erecting public buildings in school districts, the rates of taxation thus 
limited, may be increased when the rate of such increase and the pur- 
pose for which it is intended shall have been submitted to a vote of the 
people, and two-thirds of the qualified voters of such school district vot- 
ing at such election shall vote therefor. 

Local directors may direct the management of the school in respect 
to the choice of teachers and other details, but in the discharge of all 
important business, such as the erection of a school house or the exten- 
sion of a term of school beyond the constitutional period, they simply 
execute the will of the people. The clerk of this board may be a director. 
He keeps a record of the names of all the children and youth in the dis- 
trict between the ages of five and twenty-one ; records all business pro- 
ceedings of the district, and reports to the annual meeting, to the County 
Clerk and County Superintendents. 

Teachers must hold a certificate from the State Superintendent or 
County Commissioner of the county where they teach. State certificates 
are granted upon personal written examinations in the common branches, 
together with the natural sciences and higher mathematics. The holder 
of such certificate may teach in any of the public schools of the state 
without further examination. Certificates granted by County Commis- 
siorers are of two classes, with two grades in each class. Those issued 
for a longer term than one year belong to the first class, and are suscep- 
tible of two grades, differing both as to length of time and attainments. 
Those issued for one year may represent two grades, marked by qualifi- 
cation alone. The township school fund arises Irom a grant of land by 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 69 

the general government, consisting of section sixteen in each Congress- 
ional township. The annual income of the township fund is appropriated 
to the-,- 'ious townships, according to their respective proprietary claims. 
The support from the permanent funds is supplemented by direct taxa- 
tion laid upon the taxable property of each district. The greatest limit 
of taxation for the current expenses is one per cent.; the tax permitted 
for school house building cannot exceed the same amount. 

Among the institutions of learning, and ranking, perhaps, the first 
In importance, is the State University, located at Columbia, Boone 
County. When the state was admitted into the Union, Congress granted 
to it one entire township of land (46,080 acres) for the support of a 
"Seminary of Learning." The lands secured for this purpose are among 
the best and most valuable in the state. These lands were put upon the 
market in 1832, and brought $75,000, which amount was invested in the 
stock of the old Bank of the State of Missouri, where it remained and 
increased by accumulation to the sum of $100,000. In 1839, by an act 
of the General Assmbly, five commissioners were appointed to select a 
site for the State University, the site to contain at least fifty acres of 
land in a compact form, within two miles of the county seat of Cole, 
Cooper, Howard, Boone, Callaway or Saline. Bids were let among the 
counties named, and the county of Boone having subscribed the sum of 
$117,921, some $18,000 more than any other county, the State University 
was located in that county, and on the 4th of July, 1840, the corner stone 
was laid with imposing ceremonies. 

The present annual income of the university is nearly $^|5jOOO. 
There are still unsold about 200,000 acres of land from the grant of 
1862. The donations to the institutions connected therewith amount to 
nearly $400,000. This university, with its different departments, is 
opened to both male and female, and both sexes enjoy alike its rights 
and privileges. Among the professional schools, which form a part of 
:he university, are the Normal, or College of Instruction in Teaching ; 
the Agricultural and Mechanical College ; the School of Mines and Met- 
allurgy ; the College of Law ; the Medical College, and Department of 
Analytical and Applied Chemistry. Other departments are contem- 
plated and will be added as necessity requires. 

The following will show the names and locations of the s^' ^ols and 
institutions of the state as reoorted by the Commissioner of -education 
in 1865 : 

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES. 

Christian University Canton. 

St. Vincent's College Cape Girardeau. 

University of Missouri Columbia 

Central College Fayette. 



70 HISTORY CF MISSOURI. 

Westminster College Fulton. 

Lewis College Glasgow. 

Pritchett School Institute Glasgow. 

Lincoln College Greenwood 

Hannibal College Hannibal 

Woodland College Independence. 

Thayer College Kidder. 

Lagrange College LaGrange. 

William Jewell College Liberty. 

Baptist College Louisiana. 

St. Joseph College St. Joseph. 

College of Christian Brothers St. Louis. 

St. Louis University St. Louis. 

Washington University St. Louis. 

Drury College Springfield. 

Central Wesleyan College Warrenton. 

FOR SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION OF WOMEN. 

Young Ladies' Institute St. Joseph. 

Christian College Columbia. 

Stephens' College Columbia. 

Howard College Fayette. 

Independence Female College Independence. 

Central Female College Lexington, 

Clay Seminary Liberty. 

Ingleside Female College Palmyra. 

Linden Wood College for Young Ladies St. Charles. 

Mary Institute (Washington University) St. Louis. 

St. Louis Seminary St. Louis. 

Ursuline Academy St. Louis. 

Convent of the Sacred Heart St. Joseph. 

FOR SECONDARY INSTRUCTION. 

Arcadia College Arcadia. 

St. Vincent's Academy Cape Girardeau. 

Chillicothe Academy Chillicothe. 

Grand River College Edinburgh. 

Marionville College Institute Marionville. 

Palmyra Seminary Palmyra. 

St. Paul's College Palmyra. 

Van Rensselaer Academy Rensselaer. 

Shelby High School Shelbyville. 

Stewartsville Male and Female Seminary Stewartsville. 

SCHOOLS OF SCIENCE. 

Mo. Agricultural and Mechanical College (University of Mo.) .Columbia. 

Schools of Mines and Metallurgy (University of Missouri) Rolla. 

Polytechnic Institute (Washington University) St. Louis. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 7I 

SCHOOLS OF THEOLOGY. 

St. Vincent's College (Theological Department) Cape Girardeau. 

Westminster College (Theological School) Fulton. 

Vardeman School of Theology (William Jewell College) Liberty. 

Concordia College St. Louis. 

SCHOOLS OF LAW. 

Law School of the University of Missouri Columbia. 

Law School of the Washington University St. Louis. 

SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE. 

Medical College, University of Missouri Columbia. 

Kansas City College of Physicians and Surgeons Kansas City. 

St. Joseph Medical College St. Joseph. 

Missouri Medical College St. Louis, 

Northwestern Medical College St. Joseph. 

St. Louis Medical College St. Louis. 

Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri St. Louis. 

Mo. School of Midwifery and Diseases of Women and Children . St. Louis. 

Missouri Central College St. Louis. 

St. Louis College of Pharmacy St. Louis. 

LARGEST PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 

NAME. LOCATION. VOLUMES. 

St. Vincent's College Cape Girardeau. . . . 5'500 

Southeast Missouri State Normal Scool Cape Girardeau. . . . 1,225 

University of Missouri Columbia 10,000 

Athenian Society Columbia i ,200 

Union Literary Society Columbia , -. i ,200 

Law College Columbia i ,000 

Westminster College Fulton 5,000 

Lewis College Glasgow 3,000 

Mercantile Library Hannibal 2,219 

Library Association Independence 1,100 

Fruitland Normal Institute Jackson 1,000 

State Library Jefferson City 13,000 

Fetterman's Circulating Library Kansas City 1,300 

Law Library Kansas City 3,000 

Whittemore's Circulating Library .Kansas City 1,000 

North Missouri State Normal School Kirksville 1,050 

William Jewell College Liberty 4,000 

St. Paul's College Palmyra 2,000 

Missouri Schools of Mines and Metallurgy .... Rolla 2,478 

St. Charles Catholic Library St. Charles 1,716 

Carl Fuelling's Library St. Joseph 6,000 

Law Library St. Joseph . . : 2,000 

Public School Library St. Joseph 2,500 



^2 HISTORY OF MlSSUUKl. 

Woolworth & Colt's Circulating Library St. Joseph 4,000 

Academy of Science St. Louis 2,744 

Academy of Visitation St. Louis 4,000 

College of the Christian Brothers St. Louis 22,000 

Deutsche Institute St. Louis i ,000 

German Evang. Lutheran, Concordia College . St. Louis 4,800 

Law Library Association St. Louis 8,000 

Missouri Medical College St. Louis 1,000 

Mrs. Cuthbert's Seminary (Young Ladies) .... St. Louis i ,500 

Odd Fellows' Library St. Louis 4,000 

Public School Library St. Louis 40.097 

St. Louis Medical College St. Louis 1,100 

St. Louis Mercantile Library St. Louis 45,000 

St. Louis Seminary St. Louis 2,000 

St. Louis Turn Verein , St. Louis 2,000 

St. Louis University St. Louis 17,000 

St. Louis University Libraries St. Louis 8,000 

Ursuline Academy St. Louis 2,000 

Washington University St. Louis 4,500 

St. Louis Law School St. Louis 3,000 

Young Men's Sodality St. Louis 1.327 

Library Association Sedalia 1,500 

Public School Library Sedalia i ,01 5 

Drury College Springfield 2,000 

IN 1880. 

Newspapers and periodicals 481 

CHARITIES. 

State Asylum for Deaf and Dumb Fulton. 

St. Bridget's Institution for Deaf and Dumb St. Louis. 

Institurion for the Education of the Blind St. Louis. 

State Asylum for Insane Fulton. 

State Asylum for Insane St. Joseph. 

NORMAL SCHOOLS. 

Normal Institute Bolivar. 

Southeast Missouri State Normal School Cape Girardeau. 

Normal School (University of Missouri) Columbia. 

Fruitland Normal Institute Jackson. 

Lincoln Institute (for colored) Jefferson City. 

City Normal School St. Louis. 

Missouri State Normal School Warrensburg. 

State Normal School Oregon. 

IN 1 87 8. 

Estimated value of school p:opcrty $1,321,399 

Total receipts for public schools 4,207,617 

Total expenditures 2,406,139 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 73 

NUMBER OF TEACHERS. 

Male teachers, 6,239 ; average monthly pay $36.36 

Female teachers, 5,060 ; average monthly pay 21 .09 

NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS. 

The fact that Missouri supports and maintains four hundred and 
seventy-one newspapers and periodicals shows that her inhabitants are 
not only a reading and reflecting people, but that they appreciate "The 
Press," and its wonderful influence as an educator. The poet has well 
said : 

But mightiest of the mighty means. 
On which the arm of progress leans, 
Man's noblest mission to advance, 
His woes assuage, his weal enhance. 
His rights enforce, his wrongs redress— 
Mightiest of mighty is the Press. 



CHAPTER XII. 
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. 

BAPTIST CHURCH— ITS HISTORY-CONGREGATIONAL-WHEN FOUNDED-ITS HISTORY- 
CHRISTIAN CHURCH— ITS HISTORY-CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH— ITS 
HISTORY — METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH — ITS HISTORY —PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH— ITS HISTORY— PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH— ITS HISTORY— UNITED 
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — ITS HISTORY-UNITARIAN CHURCH-ITS HISTORY- 
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH— ITS HISTORY. 

The first representatives of religious thought and training who pene- 
trated the Missouri and Mississippi Valleys were Pere Marquette, La Salle 
and others of Catholic persuasion, who performed missionary labor among 
the Indians. A century afterward came the Protestants. At that early 
period 

••A thurch in every grove that spread 
Its living roof above their heads," 

constituted for a time, their only house of worship, and yet to them 

*' No temple built with hands could vie 
In glory with its majesty." 

In the course of time the seeds of Protestantism were scattered along 
the shores of the two great rivers which form the eastern and western 
boundaries ot the state, and still a little later they were sown upon hef 
hillsides and broad prairies, where they have since bloomed and bios* 
somed as the rose. 



74 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The earliest anti-Catholic religious denomination of which there is 
any record, was organized in Cape Girardeau County in 1806, through 
the efforts of Rev. David Green, a Baptist, and a native of Virginia. In 
18 16, the first association of Missouri Baptists was formed, which was 
composed of seven churches, all of which were located in the southeast- 
ern part of the state. In 18 17, a second association of churches was 
formed, called the Missouri Association, the name being afterwards 
changed to St. Louis Association. In 1834, a general convention of all 
the churches ol this denomination was held in Howard County, for the 
purpose of effecting a central organization, at which time was commenced 
what is now known as the " General Association of Missouri Baptists." 

To this body is committed the state mission work, denominational 
education, foreign missions and the circulation of religious literature. 
The Baptist Church has under its control a number of schools and col- 
leges, the most important of which is William Jewell College, located at 
Liberty, Clay County. As shown by the annual report for 1875, there 
were in Missouri at that date, sixty-one associations, one thousand four 
hundred churches, eight hundred and twenty-four ministers and eighty- 
nine thousand six hundred and fifty church members. 

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 

The Congregationalists inaugurated their missionary labors in the 
state in 18 14. Rev. Samuel J. Mills, of Torringford, Connecticut, and 
Rev. Daniel Smith, of Bennington, Vermont, were sent west by the Mas- 
sachusetts Congregational Home Missionary Society during that year 
and in November, 18 14, they preached the first regular Protestant ser- 
mons in St. Louis. Rev. Salmon Giddings, sent out under the auspices 
of the Connecticut Congre'gational Missionary Society, organized the 
first Protestant Church in the city, consisting of ten members, consti- 
tuted Presbyterian. The churches organized by Mr. Giddings were all 
Presbyterian in their order. 

No exclusively Congregational Church was founded until 1852, when 
the First Trinitarian Congregational Church of St. Louis was organized. 
The next church of this denomination was organized at Hannibal in 
1859. Then followed a Welsh church, in New Cambria, in 1864, and 
after the close of the war fifteen churches of the same order were formed 
in different parts of the state. In 1866, Pilgrim Church, St. Louis, was 
organized. The General Conference of Churches of Missouri was formed 
in 1865, which was changed in 1868, to General Association. In 1866, 
Hannibal, Kidder and St. Louis District Associations were formed, and 
following these were the Kansas City and Springfield District Associa- 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 75 

tions. This denomination in 1875 had 70 churches, 41 ministers, 3,363 
church members, and had also several schools and colleges and one 
monthly newspaper. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

The earliest churches of this denomination were organized in Cal- 
laway, Boone and Howard Counties, some time previous to 1829. The 
first church was formed in St. Louis in 1836, by Elder R. B. Fife. The 
first state Sunday School convention of the Christian Church was held 
in Mexico, in 1876. Besides a number of private institutions this 
denomination has three state institutions, all of which have an able corps 
of professors, and have a good attendance of pupils. It has one religious 
paper, published in St. Louis, The Christian, which is a weekly publica- 
tion and well patronized. The membership of this church now numbers 
nearly one hundred thousand in the state and is increasing rapidly. It 
has more than five hundred organized churches, the greater portion of 
which are north of the Missouri River. 

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

In the spring of 1820, the first Presbytery of this denomination west 
of the Mississippi, was organized in Pike County. This Presbytery 
included all the territory of Missouri, Western Illinois and Arkansas, 
and numbered only four ministers, two of whom resided at the time in 
Missouri. There are now in the state twelve Presbyteries, three Synods, 
nearly three hundred ministers and over twenty thousand members. 
The Board of Missions is located at St. Louis. They have a number of 
High Schools and two monthly papers published at St. Louis 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH; 

In 1806, Rev. John Travis, a young Methodist minister, was sent out 
to the Western Conference, which then embraced the Mississippi Valley, 
from Green County, Tennessee. During that year Mr, Travis organized 
a number of small churches. At the close of his conference year he 
reported the result of his labors to the Western Conference, which was 
held at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1807, and showed an aggregate of one hun- 
dred and six members and two circuits, one called Missouri and the 
other Meramec. In 1808, two circuits had been formed, and at each suc- 
ceeding year the number of circuits and members constantly increased, 
until 18 12, when what was called the Western Conference was divided 
into the Ohio and Tennessee Conferences, Missouri falling into the Ten- 
nessee Conference. In 18 16, there was another division when the Mis- 
souri Annual Conference was formed. In 18 10, there were four traveling 



76 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

preachers, and in 1820, fifteen traveling preachers, with over two thousand 
members. In 1836, the territory of the Missouri Conference was again 
divided when the Missouri Conference included only the state. In 1840, 
there were seventy-two traveling preachers, 177 local ministers and 13,992 
church members. Between 1840 and 1850, the church was divided by the 
organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In 1850, the 
membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church was over 25,000, and 
during the succeeding ten years the church prospered rapidly. In 1875, 
the Methodist Episcopal Church reported 274 church edifices and 34,156 
members ; the Methodist Episcopal Church South reported 443 church 
edifices and 49,588 members. This denomination has under its control 
several schools and colleges and two weekly newspapers. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Presbyterian church dates the beginning of their missionary 
efforts in the state as far back as 18 14, but the first Presbyterian Church 
was not organized until 1816, at Bellevue settlement, eight miles from 
St. Louis. The next churches were formed in 1816 and 1817, at Bon- 
homme, Pike County. The first Presbyterian Church was organized in 
St. Louis in 18 17, by Rev. Sa.mon Gidding. The first Presbytery was 
organized in 18 17, by the Synod of Tennessee, with four ministers and 
four churches. The first Presbyterian house of worship (which was the 
first Protestant) was commenced in 1819, and completed in 1826. In 
1820, a mission was formed among the Osage Indians. In 1831, the 
Presbytery was divided into three: Missouri, St. Louis and St. Charles. 
These were erected with a synod, comprising eighteen ministers and 
twenty-three churches. 

The church was divided in 1838, throughout the United States. In 
i860, the rolls of the Old and New School Synods together showed 109 
ministers and 146 churches. In 1866, the Old School Synod was divided 
on political questions springing out of the war — a part forming the Old 
School or Independent Synod of Missouri, who are connected with the 
General Assembly South. In 1870, the Old and New School Presbyte- 
rians united, since which time this Synod has steadily increased until it 
now numbers more than 12,000 members, with more than 220 churches 
and 150 ministers. 

This Synod is composed of six Presbyteries, and has under its con- 
trol one or two institutions of learning and one or two newspapers. 
That part of the original Synod which withdrew from the General 
Assembly remained an independent body until 1874, when it united with 
the Southern Presbyterian Church. The Synod in 1875, numbered 80 
ministers, 140 churches and 9,000 members. It has under its control 
everal male and female institutions of a high order. The St. Louis 
Vesbyterian, a weekly paper, is the recognized organ of the Synod. 



HISTORY OF MISSOURI. "JJ 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

The missionary enterprises of this church began in the state in 
1818, when a parish was organized in the city of St. Louis. In 1828, an 
agent of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society visited the city, 
who reported the condition of things so favorably that Rev. Thomas 
Horrell was sent out as a missionary, and in 1825, he began his labors in 
St. Louis. A church edifice was completed in 1830. In 1S36, there were 
five clergymen of this denomination in Missouri, who had organized 
congregations in Boonville, Fayette, St. Charles, Hannibal and other 
places. In 1840, the clergy and laity met in convention, a diocese was 
formed, a constitution and canons adopted, and in 1844, a Bishop was 
chosen, he being the Rev. Cicero S. Hawks. 

Through the efforts of Bishop Kemper, Kemper College was founded 
near St. Louis, but was afterward given up on account of pecuniary 
troubles. In 1847, the Clark Mission began, and in 1849, the Orphans' 
Home, a charitable institution, was founded. In 1865, St. Luke's Hos- 
pital was established. In 1875, there were in the city of St. Louis, twelve 
parishes and missions and twelve clergymen. This denomination has 
several schools and colleges and one newspaper. 

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

This denomination is made up of the members of the Associate and 
Associate Reformed Churches of the Northern States, which two bodies 
united in 1858, taking the name of United Presbyterian Church of North 
America. Its members were generally bitterly opposed to the institu- 
tion of slavery. The first congregation was organized at Warrensburg, 
Johnson County, in 1867. It rapidly increased in numbers and had, in 
1875, ten ministers and five hundred members. 
« 

UNITARIAN CHURCH. 

This church was formed in 1834, by Rev. W. G. Eliot, in St. Louis^, 
The churches are few in number throughout the state, the membership 
being probably less than three hundred, all told. It has a mission house 
and free school, for poor children, supported by donations. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

The earliest written record of the Catholic Church in Missouri shows 
that Father Watrin performed ministerial services in St. Genevieve in 
1760, and in St. Louis in 1766. In 1770, Father Meurin erected a small 
log church in St. Louis. In 18 18, there were in the state four chapels, 
and for Upper Louisiana, seven priests. A college and seminary were 



78 HISTORY OF MISSOURI. 

Opened in Perry County about this period for the education of the young, 
being the first college west of the Mississippi River. In 1824, a college 
was opened in St. Louis, which is now known as the St. Louis Univer- 
sity. In 1826, Father Rosatti was appointed Bishop of St. Louis, and, 
through his instrumentality, the Sisters of Charity, Sisters of St. Joseph 
and of the Visitation were founded, besides other benevolent and char- 
itable institutions. In 1834, he completed the present Cathedral Church. 
Churches were built in different portions of the state. In 1847, St. Louis 
was created an arch-diocese, with Bishop Kendrick, arch-bishop. 

In Kansas City there are five parish churches, a hospital, a convent 
and several parish schools. In 1868, the northwestern portion of the 
state was erected into a separate diocese, with its seat at St. Joseph, and 
Right Reverend John J. Hogan appointed bishop. There were, in 1875, 
in the city of St. Louis, 34 churches, 27 schools, 5 hospitals, 3 colleges, 
7 orphan asylums and 3 female protectorates. There were also 105 
priests, 7 male and 13 female orders, and 20 conferences of St. Vincent 
de Paul, numbering 1,100 members. In the diocese, outside of St. Louis, 
there is a college, a male protectorate, 9 convents, about 120 priests, 150 
churches and 30 stations. In the diocese of St. Joseph there were, in 
1875, 21 priests, 29 churches, 24 stations, l college, i monastery, 5 con- 
vents and 14 parish schools. 

THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS. 

Instruction preparatory to ministerial work is given in connection 
with collegiate study, or in special theological courses, at : 

Central College (M. E. Church) Fayette. 

Central Wesleyan College (M. E. Church) Warrenton. 

Christian University (Christian) Canton. 

Concordia College Seminary (Evangelical Lutheran) St. Louis. 

Lewis College (M. E. Church) .^ Glasgow. 

St. Vincent's College (Roman Catholic) Cape Girardeau. 

Vardeman School of Theology (Baptist) Liberty. 

The last is connected with William Jewell College. 



History of Henry County, 



'5^.0 §» { <— 



CHAPTER 1. 

THE VALLEYS OF THE OSAGE AND GRAND RIVERS. 



GEOLOGICAL FORMATION— TWO ANCIENT MISSES— HOME OF THE INDIANS— THE PIONEER 
—SOIL— FROM 1820 TO 1830— LILLARD— LAFAYETTE COUNTY— ITS SETTLEMENT ANI> 
COUNTY SITE— DAVIS AND TEBO TOWNSHIPS— JACKSON AND CLAY— THE FIRST 
CABIN-1331-THE FIRST PLOWING-1832-BORN THEN. 

" Lift we the twilight curtains of the past 

And turning from familiar sights and sounds, 

Sad and full of reverence let us cast 

A glance upon Tradition's shadowy ground, 

Led by the few pale lights, which, glimmering round 

That dim, strange land of Eld, seen dying fast." 

GEOLOGICAL FORMATION. 

There is, perhaps, no portion of the temperate zone showing a more 
desirable climate than that which is found within the limits of Missouri, 
or one wherein the demands of an advanced and progressive civilization 
are so well met. While all portions of the state have their separate 
local advantages, in such comparison Henry and St. Clair Counties and 
Southwestern Missouri hold their full share. The geology of the state 
shows that the carboniferous period gave to Missouri much of that magic 
element of which the soil is composed, and at the age of man, or the 
quartenary age, developed her most valuable resources. The coal of the 
former period, and the soil, sand, marl, peat, clay and gravel of the lat- 
ter formed the groundwork of the state of Missouri for the habitation of 
man. Much might be given from the geological history of the state that 
would interest the reader, but in this work would be of little practical 
value. 



8o HISTORY OF HENRY COTNTY. 

When this continent rose from its waste of waters it left its rugged 
surface to be worn by the elements for ages before it became habitable 
for man; but with that we have little to do. 

The two leading factors in the problem of municipal growth are, 
location and character of first settlers. The location of Henry and St. 
Clair Counties was most favorable, and what is true of these two coun- 
ties is true of the whole state. More than half of the state is surrounded 
by two of the most renowned water courses of the world, and one will 
readily see that it possesses advantages enjoyed by no other state in 
the Union. These conditions, so favorable to the past and future devel- 
opment of the country, are beautifully illustrated by an ingenious little 
poem, entitled " Two Ancient Misses," written by a gentleman who has 
won a widespread reputation at the bar. It is here quoted, as it well 
illustrates this point, and is of sufficient merit to be preserved : 

TWO ANCIENT MISSES. 



I know two ancient misses 

Who ever onward go, 
From a cold and rigid northern clime, 
Through a land of wheat, and corn, and wine. 
To the southern sea, where the fig and the lime, 

And the golden orange grow. 

In graceful curves they wind about, 
Upon their long and lonely route, 

Among the beauteous hills; 
They never cease their onward step, 
Though day and night they're drippling wet. 
And oft with sleet and snow beset, 

And sometimes with the chills. 



The one is a romping, dark brunette. 
As fickle and gay as any coquette ; 
She glides along by the western plains, 
And changes her bed each time it rains : 
Witching as any dark-eyed houri, 
This romping wild brunette, Missouri. 

The other is placid, mild and fair. 
With a gentle, sylph-like, quiet air, 
And voice as sweet as soft guitar, 
She moves along the \»>es and parks, 
Where naiads play ^olian harps — 
Nor ever go by fits and starts — 
No fickle coquette of the city, 
But gentle, constant Mississippi. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 8l 

I love the wild and dark brunette, 
Beaause she is a gay coquette ; 
Her, too, I love of quiet air, 
Because she's gentle, true and fair ; 
Land of my birth ! the east and west 
Embraced by these is doubly blest — 
'Tis hard to tell which I love best. 

The compiler of a county history has somewhat of a task to per- 
form, and though some of the facts which are recorded may seem at first 
commonplace when compared with national events, yet the narration of 
the peaceful events attending the conquests of industry and the work of 
progress as 

" Westward the course of the empire takes its way," 

While they may seem tame, uninteresting and unexciting to those who 
have indulged in the reading of the more exciting works of early con- 
quests, of battles and sieges, are still not devoid of all interest. The 
faithful gathering and truthful narration of facts bearing upon the early 
settlement of this county, and the dangers and privations passed through 
by the early pioneers engaged in advancing the standard of civilization 
is a work of no small magnitude, and as such challenges the admiration 
and arouses the sympathy of the reader, though it has nothing to do 
with feats of arms or of conquests. 

HOME OF THE INDIANS. 

Missouri in her magnificent proportions and unlimited productive 
wealth, her mild and salubrious climate, and that part of her municipal 
corporation bounded by the lines forming Henry and St. Clair Counties 
is what for the present has to be recorded. 

The present boundary of Henry County was first made the home of 
the paleface in the year 1830. That year the first white man gave to 
civilization a habitation and a name within its border. At that time it 
was a part of Lafayette, then called " Lillard " County, but it was still 
the home of the red men — a home with which they were loth to part, 
and which for a few years after they continued to visit as a hunting 
ground. God had given them the beautiful valleys of the Osage and 
the Grand River as their home. It was a migratory field for the restless 
elk; the bear roamed its wooded hills; the deer and the wild turkey made 
it their home; the valleys, the upland and the rich and rolling prairies 
were filled with smaller game; fish sported in the cool and pellucid waters 
of h'er rivers and creeks, and in shadowy nooks, near bubbling springs 
and crystal fountains the aborigines built their wigwams. It was a 
paradise for the hunter, and the Indians had roamed lord of all. But 
when the white man came the red man had been dispossessed of his 

6 



82 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

domain, and naught but friendly greetings passed between the whites 
and the Indians when this county assumed a place upon the pages of 
history. Then the valleys of the Osage and of Grand River, with their 
wealth of forest and streams, with their high and rolling prairies, their 
bold bluffs and nestling valleys, became the property of the pale faces, 
and that which had stood for centuries in its wild and rugged grandeur 
was, ere long, to assume a prominent place in the future of our state. 



THE PIONEER. 

The early settlers are entitled to a high and honored place in th ? 
pages of history. Many, many days of toil have been devoted to gath- 
ering the facts which shall embalm the memory of this band of civil 
heroes who gave to Henry County its first step in the progress of civili- 
zation, and who, in all the phases of life, have proven themselves not 
only true sons of toil, but noble men and respected citizens. If the 
time spent in trying to secure facts and reliable information necessary 
to make this history complete has been one of incessant toil to the 
author, it has also been no less a work of love on his part, for in the 
record of the past, and when the light of the coming dawn first shed 
its rays upon this section of our common country, and in the early 
reminiscence which have been secured, he has found much which brought 
to mind many bright and glowing incidents of early days, and of those 
who taught him what life was and is, and what might be in the vista of 
the far off future, but who have now gone to the home beyond. 

Memory is oft times treacherous, and a confusion of dates has not 
been the least of the troubles which has fallen in the pathway of the 
author. Reliable dates of the early settlement of the county are all- 
important to those who take an interest in the progress of events, and 
who desire, of its early days, a correct and succinct history. 

Many of the old settlers have removed to other states and climes ; 
very many have crossed the " dark river " to the impenetrable and mys- 
terious beyond, while those who are left are weak in body, with memory 
sadly at fault on many facts of deep interest ; nevertheless they have 
b en willing, so far as health and memory would permit, to impart all 
the incidents and trials of early years, and with a spirit of cheerfulness 
that has made it a pleasure to record them. They are to-day, as in 
olden times, the same self-sacrificing people. It is well that in the sor- 
did, grasping avariciousness which characterizes so many of the present 
generation, that they should have yet within them, by consanguinity, 
the leaven which made the grand old pioneer stand out so prominently 
in unselfish and heroic sacrifices as " God's noblest work." 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 83 

SURFACE. 

The land in the county, away from the streams, is undulating prairie. 
Rising to the higher points of ground, the eye commands views of exqui- 
site loveliness, embracing the silvery course of the stream, the waving 
foliage of trees, the changing outlines of gentle elevations, and the undu- 
lating surface of flower-decked prairie, with cultivated farms, farm houses, 
including the log-hut of the first settler and the brick or painted houses 
and barns of the more advanced cultivator of the soil. 

Along the water courses there are hills and gentle slopes, as well as 
bottom lands. On Grand River the table lands are elevated in some 
localities from thirty to fifty feet above the water, and the country is 
somewhat hilly. 

The county has less land unfitted for cultivation than many of its 
neighbors, while there is not a section of country of equal extent in the 
state that possesses a better distributed drainage system than Henry 
County. 

1830 — 1831. 

It was in the fall of 1830 that the first white settlers trod the soil of 
Henry County. Hunters and trappers had plied their vocations through 
this, Osage and Grand River country as early as 1826, but no log cabin 
reared its front until the fall of the year above mentioned. It was a grand 
country for game. Upon the banks of the wooded creek was found wild 
honey, and venturesome spirits passed to and fro ere the Indians had 
ceased to be jealous of the encroachments of the white man. The 
Osages and Shawnee Indians occupied all this country as far east and 
along the river to the headwaters of Buffalo and Gravois Creeks, and the 
old missionary trail, leading from Jefferson City to Harmony Mission, 
on the Osage River, passed through this county, which was a recognized 
line of travel before Henry County was organized. Upon these high, 
rolling and beautiful prairies, skirted by woodland, many Indian battles 
had been fought, and the wild war-whoop of the savages had rang out 
with shouts of defiance, mingled with the whiz of the arrow or the dull 
thud of the tomahawk in doing its murderous work. It was not to be, 
however, that the bounteous gifts nature had lavished upoa this vast 
domain, in the richness of its soil and the wealth of minerals hidden in 
its bosom should remain forever undeveloped. 

FROM 1820 TO 1830— LILLARD, OR LAFA\ ETTE COUNTY. 

When this part of Missouri was organized into a county it was, the 
greater part, a dense wilderness, and in Henry and St. Clair Counties no 
white man, except an occasional hunter and trapper, had ever trod its 
soil. The present Henry County, when first placed under municipal 



/" 



84 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

government, was a part of Lillard County, whose boundary lines \tere, 
on the north the Missouri River, on the east range line between ranges 
24 and 23, south to the Osage River, its southern line the Osage River; 
from the above range line on the east to the Kansas state line, following 
the middle of the channel of Osage River, and the west line the state 
line to the middle of the channel of the Missouri River, where the state 
line crosses the river. Thus Lillard County included the present coun- 
ties of Lafayette, Johnson, Henry, half of St. Clair, about four-fifths of 
Bates, and all of Cass and Jackson. 

It was organized as Lillard County, November 16, 1820, and its first 
county court was held at Mt. Vernon, on the Missouri River, about ten 
miles below Lexington, on the 8th day of December, 1820. The county 
judges were James Lillard, Sr., John Whitsitt and John Stapp. They 
received their commissions from Governor Alex. McNair, the first gov- 
ernor of Missouri. The first clerk, and he was fifteen or sixteen years 
in office, was Young Ewing. This was the first organization of Henry 
County, the first time she was reclaimed from the wilderness. Civiliza- 
tion and progress from that day has marked her footsteps. In 1823 the 
county seat of Lillard was removed from Mt. Vernon to Lexington, and 
that ancient, but somewhat dilapidated, town was platted the same year. 
The old county seat of Henry County, as it may be called, still stands 
on the banks of the " Big Muddy," somewhat decayed in spots, but with 
an eminently respectable, though somewhat seedy appearance. 

DAVIS AND BLACKWATER. 

The first municipal division of which Henry, or Rives, became a 
part was called Lexington Township, which boundary line was the Osage 
River on the south. This was in May, 1824. The first township, how- 
ever, to boast of a constituency, or settlers as far south as this county, 
was Davis Township, and it was organized in May, 1830. At the same 
session of the county court of Lillard, then changed to Lafayette County, 
was the township of Blackwater. The dividing line between these two 
townships was the range line between ranges 26 and 25, running south 
to the Osage River. Thus Davis Township took in Shawnee, Field's 
Creek, Clinton, Fair View and all west, while Blackwater took in the 
seven townships lying east of said range line. As some of the officers 
of these townships lived in Henry County, their boundary lines are here 
given. 

DAVIS TOWNSHIP. 

Beginning at the county line between Saline and Lafayette Coun- 
ties, section corner between 2 and 3, township 50 of range 24; thence 
west to the middle of range 26 in township 50; thence south to the sec- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 85 

tion corner of sections 12 and 13, township 48; thence east to the range 
line between 26 and 25; thence south to the southern boundary of Lafa- 
yette County, which is the middle of the main channel of the Osage 
River; thence down the middle of said river to the range line between 
23 and 24; thence north to the place of beginning. Estimated there were 
forty-eight taxable inhabitants in said township. 

The voting precinct was at the house of Benj. Johnson, and the 
judges were all but one residents of Johnson County, both in the years 
1830 and 183 1, and the judges of election in 1832. But Thomas Collins, 
his daughter was Sarah Collins, born August 12, 1824 (afterward became 
Mrs. Young), was a justice of the peace for Davis Township in 183 1 and 
the first in the county. Nathan Toms was appointed constable, but his 
residence was probably Johnson County, as he can not be found among 
the early settlers of Henry. 

Blackwater Township took in a part of Johnson and Henry Coun- 
ties, as well as that portion of St. Clair north of the Osage River, but its 
dimensions were soon reduced to the limits of Johnson County. 

TEBO TOWNSHIP. 

This is the township more clearly identified in the memory of the 
early pioneers of Henry County than any other. All, nearly, remember 
Tebo Township. There are but few who ever heard of Davis Township. 
This, or Tebo Township, was organized May 21, 1832, with the following 
metes and bounds: 

" Ordered, that the following shall be the line and boundaries of 
Tebo Township, in Lafayette County, Missouri : Beginning where the 
main Blackwater crosses the eastern line of this county, it being the 
line between ranges 23 and 24; thence up the said creek opposite to 
Uriel Murray's; thence due west to the line between Lafayette and Jack- 
son Counties; thence south with said line to the middle of Osage River; 
thence down the same to the line between ranges 23 and 24; thence 
north on said line to place of beginning; and the number of taxable 
inhabitants residing in said township are about 35 polls, which is ordered 
to be certified." 

Tebo, it will be seen, was something of a township. It really included 
all of Johnson and Henry Counties, and St. Clair north of the Osage 
River. In the meantime Jackson County had been divided into two 
townships and Cass one, the largest settlements being on Sni-E-Barre 
Creeks. 

At the same term of court, and following the township organization 
act, was the following order: 

" Upon the petition of twenty and more petitioners, it is ordered by 
the court, that Henry Avery be recommended to the governor of 



86 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

this state as a proper person to be appointed a justice of the peace for 
Tebo Township, Lafayette County." ' 

The Rev. Henry Avery received his commission, being the first 
justice, his appointment dating from May 21, 1832. 

Following this, the judges of the first election of the township were 
appointed, and an election ordered. They read: 

"Ordered, that the election in Tebo Township be held at the house 
of John Brummet. 

" Ordered, that James Warren, Chesley Jones and Francis Nixon be 
appointed judges of the election in Tebo Township for two years." 

The two former named judges were living in Henry County and the 
last in Johnson. John Brummet's house was in Johnson County, about 
one-half mile north of the Henry County line. 

James McWilliams was the first constable appointed within the 
limits of Henry County. He lived in what is now Windsor Township. 
He received his appointment in November, 1832, and he handed over to 
the county court one dollar for a fine he had collected of Drury Palmer. 
Drury unfortunately had a horse who committed a trespass, and he was 
assessed one dollar for damages. This was probably Henry Avery's first 
case, as he was the only justice at that time in those " neck of woods." 
Anyway, here is the record of Lafayette County Court. They got the 
dollar: 

"James McWilliams, constable of Tebo Township, made report of a 
fine of $1.00 collected of Drury Palmer, which he paid to Young Ewing, 
clerk, in open court, which is ordered to be applied to county purposes." 

Mr. Robert L. Avery reports that Mr. Palmer cut up a twenty-five- 
cent deer skin to make a rope to tie that horse. At all events there is 
no record that he was assessed any more for trespass. 

It was such little items as the above, showing where the people's 
money was going to — supporting the aristocrats on the banks of the 
"Big Muddy," that convinced them that they had better organize a 
county of their own and keep their money for home use. 

JACKSON AND CLAY. 

There was only one election at John Brummet's house, and that was 
of a local or township affair. The election for president in the fall of 
1832 was held at the house of Alfred Askins, on section 18, the farm 
being now owned by Price Askins. This was a memorable election. 
Jackson and Clay were the opposing candidates. Jackson received 
twenty-four votes and Henry Clay six votes, which would go to show 
that Henry County was born in the Democratic fold, and its godfather 
was Andrew Jackson. The late election giving a Democratic majority 
of nearly 1,200, also shows that the leaven of the Jackson vote of 1832, 
just a half century later, had born rich fruit. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 8/ 

Quite a number of the incidents here given were received from 
Mr. R. L. Avery, who gave many pleasant stories of pioneer life. 

The table upon which the votes of that election were counted was 
made by Henry Avery, cut out with a whipsaw, and the legs of good 
old hickory. This table is now in possession of R. L. Avery, son of 
Henry Avery. Drury Palmer and Henry Avery were the clerks of this 
election. On the way to the polls Mr. Avery lost his quill pen, and the 
matter was remedied by Drury Palmer's toothpick, with a stick exten- 
sion for a handle. Francis Parazette, Thomas Arbuckle and Chesley 
Jones were the judges at this election. 

THE FIRST CABIN. 

Thomas Arbuckle has been credited with putting up the first cabin 
within the limits of Henry County. He settled on section 5 of what is 
now Windsor Township, in the year and spring of 1830. John Brum- 
met and Benjamin Kimsey came in 1828, and they both settled within 
a mile of each other, and not over a half mile from the Henry County 
line. Thomas Kimsey, the son of Old Ben. Kimsey, as he was called, 
left the old man and staked a claim some two miles south, also in the 
spring of 1830, and some claim in the winter of 1829-30. To these two 
pioneers may be given the honor of being the advanced guard of civili- 
zatioR, who blazed the way for future generations to follow. Matthew 
Arbuckle and James Arbuckle came with him and settled south of 
Thomas. Isom Burnett also came in 1830, during the summer, and set- 
tled on section 5, Windsor Township. Cyrus P. Arbuckle settled on 
section 32, township 44, range 24. Thomas Collins was one of those 
who came either in 1829 or 1830. He was a justice of the peace in 183 1 
of Davis Township, and lived in Big Creek. P. D. Wade came Octo- 
ber, 1830; and this list comprises nearly all, if not absoluteJy all, who 
lived in this county at that date. The records of Lafayette County were 
searched from 1825 to 1836, as well as the record of Henry County from 
the date of its organization, old settlers have been interviewed, and the 
above is the result. 

1831. 

This year marked a decided advance; the county actually more than 
doubled its population. Thomas Anderson, the first blacksmith in the 
county, settled on section 2, Windsor Township; Henry Avery, on sec- 
tion 10, now Tebo; William Ogan settled on section i, Windsor; P. W. 
Sissel, on section 4, Windsor; Drury Palmer and his wife, Mary A., set- 
tled on section 7, Tebo — the latter still living on the old place; William 
Gladden and William Crowley, section 4; Mr. Mesic, section 5, Tebo, 
and Alfred Askin on section 18, on the banks of Tebo Creek. James 



88 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and Jesse McWilliams, and their father, David McWilliams, and Jesse 
Hill, settled — the McW.'s on section 9, Windsor Township, and Hill on 
section 16. William Simpson and Fielding A. Pinnell, county and cir- 
cuit clerk for seventeen years, all came in 1831 and settled in Windsor 
Township. So, also, did Mason Fewell, who settled on section 8; James 
Warren, on the same section. Then Chesley Jones located on section 
12, and Valentine Bell on section 21, Tebo Township; George W. Lake 
in Fields Creek, and Zekiel Blevins on section 16, Shawnee, and in 1833 
removed to Honey Creek. This comprises most of the settlers who 
made this county their home in 1831. 

The conveniences in those days were few and far between. Going 
to mills was a job that took days to perform, and even then it was accom- 
panied at times by serious danger. Wolves would gather around the 
benighted traveler, and only by keeping up a bright fire all night and 
around them would keep the ravenous beasts away. Then high water 
would stop them, and a few days would be lost waiting for the water to 
subside. There was very little fun in all this. The family at home 
might suffer, while delay thus hampered them on every side. A post 
office twenty to forty miles away was another luxury of the early pio- 
neer, and twenty-five cents was the postage rate. When you got a let- 
ter it was as likely to be a month or two old as one is now a day old. 
With the exception of a little silver in circulation, wild game, honey, 
beeswax, skins of all kinds, secured by the unerring skill of the hunter, 
was the currency of the country. Yet with this there was little credit 
given, cash or barter being the standard of trade. This, however, lasted 
but a few years. The demon of credit took possession of the people, 
and the merchants who taught the people this manner of doing business 
became in the end the greatest sufferers. Not but what many farmers 
succumb to the evil, but the merchant also practiced what he preached, 
and he too failed when the day of payment came. But in the early 
thirties cash and barter was the rule, credit the exception. It was not 
until the wild cat banks of 1835-6 and the memorable crash of the year 
1837 that tell the deplorable story of the credit system. 

This year the Rev. Henry Avery built his cabin on section 10, and 
his house was the first one known to have had window glass in it. He 
put in two sash with four lights each. Before this magnificent residence 
was finished, a wagon box served as a sleeping place for the children, 
but it was in July, and it was not cold. There was not any first-class 
chimneys in those days, the first brick chimney not appearing until the 
year 1837. Good sticks, with a pure article of Henry County mud 
mixed to the required thickness, was the general rule. That old cabin, 
which served as the first court house in Henry County, is still standing, 
a monument of honest work and of the primitive style of the old pio- 
neer. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 89- 

THE FIRST PLOWING. 

One of the curious incidents of those days was the fact that in 1830 
a plow could not be found in St. Louis, but Henry Avery went nine 
miles below that point to purchase one in the year 1830. He took it to 
Morgan County, and there broke twenty acres of prairie land, to see if 
that kind of land would raise corn. That plow and the wagon which 
brought them to Henry County was the first plow and four-wheel wagon 
brought to the county, and the breaking of the prairie in the spring of 
1832 with that plow and four yoke of cattle was the first attempt to 
work that kind of land in the county. The pioneers all settled on the 
streams and in the timber, and would go to work and clear* patch for 
corn, cutting the trees and clearing the underbrush, when right before 
them was the land ready for the plow, with a soil of surprising richness. 
A few years, however, dispelled this illusion, and the prairies were sought 
for, not shunned, although it was not much before a decade had passed. 

1832. 

The growth of the county in population was very gratifying for the 
year 1832, and it brought many persons who afterwards became promi- 
nent in the affairs of the county in its official life and material progress. 
This year brought John Nave, who settled on section 4, Clinton Town- 
ship. William Swife, from Kentucky, settled on section 33, what is now 
Fields' Creek Township, as did also his brother Isaac. Samuel Cox set- 
tled on section 34, Shawnee Township. George W. and Pleasant Walker,, 
at that time believed to be the richest men in the county, settled on sec- 
tion 16, Fields' Creek Township. George and his brother prospected 
through the country in 183 1, but located as above. They, however, took 
a decided fancy to old man Ezekiel Blevin's place, five miles north, also 
on section 16, but in Shawnee Township, the result of which was that 
they purchased Ezekiel's claim and improvement for $150, paying in 
stock and things, or paying in trade, no money being used, and they 
took possession of the place late in the fall of 1833. 

HE WAS BORN THERE. 

And right there, on section 16, in the old log cabin, was born the 
first white male child in Henry County, and the well known and honored 
citizen of this county to-day, iPreston Blevins, was that child. His lungs 
were sound, and his father says he made the old cabin ring with his 
music at times, and that the sharp ears of his neighbors would recognize- 
the family voice when young Blevins sought to reach the upper notes. 
But as the nearest neighbor was between three and four miles away, a 
little allowance can be made for the old man, who may have thought from 
the racket in the cabin that the neighbors could hear him five miles away. 



■ CHAPTER II. 

WHEN THEY CAME AND FROM WHERE THEY CAME. 



THE PIONEERS-THE FIRST MARRIAGE- WOLVES AND CAUTION --1833 AN D .834-SPRlNG- 
KIELD TOWNSHIP— FIRST CLERK AND CONSTA BLE— 1835 TO 1840— SLIGHT RETRO- 
SPECT—TRIALS AMD IRIBULATIONS-CABINS AND COMFORT S-GOING TO MIL^- 
MARKET PRICES — PIONEER WOMEN-PIONEER LIFE- WAGES--THE NLST EGG OF A 
FARM— HFTY CENTS A DAY AND FOUND-RAlL SPLITTING 

FROM 1830 TO 1840. 

There are some who have placed the arrival of John Nave, William 
and Isaac Swiftes, Sears and Owens in the year 1831, but it has been 
impossible to ascertain this as a positive fact. They undoubtedly came^ 
at least Sears, Nave and Owens, in the winter of 183 1-2, or very early 
in the spring of the latter year. Joseph Fields settled on section lO- 
John F. Sharp, section 23; Peter Huntsmen, section 19, and Joel Milton 
■on section 17. This was what was called the Fields' Settlement and all 
in Fields' Creek Township, the township being named after Mr. Joseph 
Fields, the first sheriff of Henry County. Jonathan T. Berry settled on 
section 8, Windsor Township, this year. Esau Prewitt, of Kentucky, 
settled on section 5, Clinton Township, and Daniel Chittwood, a son-in- 
law of Prewitt, settled near by the same year. All the settlers of this 
year and the years preceding, and it might be said the year following, 
still found Boonville their nearest and best trading point. Among the 
troubles of those early days which the traveler found generally the most 
annoying was high water in the streams they had to cross whenever a 
heavy rain was experienced. When George W. and Pleasant Walker 
came to Henry County they were eleven days coming from Lexington, 
on the Missouri River, to section 16 in Fields' Creek Township. For 
four days they lay on the banks of Davis Creek before they could cross 
at the ford, and when they reached Blackwater Creek, in Johnson 
County, they had to swim their cattle across. They had five teams, and 
felt somewhat anxious as to the result, but they crossed in safety. 

The first two log cabins put up with glass windows were built by 
Avery and Nixon, the latter a resident of Johnson County, just over the 
Henry County line, and this same Francis Nixon helped Henry Avery 
lin the early fall of 183 1, split the first ten-feet rails ever laid in the 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 9 1 

county. There were then, in 1832, three settlements, known as such, in 
Henry County, then called Lafayette County. They were the Fields 
Settlement, the Avery Settlement, and the settlement in and around 
where Windsor now stands.. This latter was spread over a good deal of 
country, and represented the Arbuckles, Kimsey, Palmer, the Prices and 
McWilliams. Here and there were scattered many other settlers. 
Honey Creek and Big Creek each had a few settlers. What is now 
Leesville Township is said to have had one or two families within its 
border as early as 1832, but there is nothing reliable before 1834, although 
the compiler of this work wiil make another effort to ascertain its cor- 
rectness, and if so, it will be given in the township history of Leesville. 
William Hatfield and David Ross settled on section 21, Tebo Township, 
Barber Price, or William B. Price, who was appointed constable of Tebo 
Township in May, 1834, settled on section 24, Valentine Bell on section 
21, John Buchanan, and Lemuel and Alfred Compton on section 15. 
These were all in Tebo Township. John Hail settled on section 9, 
Windsor Township. 

THE FIRST MARRIAGE. 

Undoubtedly the first marriage in Henry County was that of a 
couple whose names are unknown. They were married by 'Squire Henry 
Avery, on the night of the 15th of May, 1832. They came from some 
place away down near Springfield, and had ridden their ponies four days 
in search of a justice or minister who. could marry them. They had 
come across some friendly Indians, who directed them to 'Squire Avery's, 
describing him as a " heap big white man, plenty law." After four days' 
travel they at last reached Mr. Avery's place just after night, were mar- 
ried and left at once, uncommonly happy. What the 'Squire charged 
for the price ot such happiness was not stated. 

WOLVES. 

As has been before stated, wolves were plenty in those days, and 
Drury Palmer met them once on his way to the mill that he did not soon 
forget. He was not hurt nor did he lose anything except his sleep, but 
for two nights he lost all that, and as he had to keep traveling he thought 
it was pretty tough. With his horse loaded with corn and he leading it 
on foot, when night came he heard their howling all about him. He 
camped and gathered his big pile of brush around him and a supply 
inside the circle, and instead of going to sleep he had to play fireman 
all night and work lively at that. He pushed on in the morning in hope 
of getting out of their reach the next night, but he did not. He was 
mad enough to kill the pack, but he was too prudent to give them a 
taste of blood, even if it was a half dozen of their own number. At 



92 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Boonville he just slept about eighteen hours to average up and prepare 
for another seige, but he got through his return trip without trouble. He 
said, on his return, that he never did want to shoot so bad in all his life, 
and if he had not the horse with him he would have climbed a tree and 
shot all night. He always did hate a wolf after that, he said, but it is 
rather doubtful if he had any love for them before. Several of the 
neighbors or settlers in Windsor and Tebo lost hogs and pigs from these 
animals, aud Mr. Robert Avery reports that his father lost a three-year- 
old steer, not a mile from their house, in the winter of 1831-2. But if 
the wolves troubled them occasionally the settlers generally got even, 
for a good many wolves succumbed to the unerring aim of their rifles, 
and their skins made everything even in the long run. In fact, the 
wolves soon found out they were getting the worst of it and concluded 
to leave for a, to them, healthier clime. 

1833. 

The settlements in 1833 improved slowly. There were fewer immi- 
grants arrived apparently than in the preceding year. There were no 
colonies, but several families arrived, forming new settlements in other 
parts of the county. 

In the arrivals of 1832 should have been mentioned Abner Martin 
and his two sons, George W. and Baker Martin, George Bounds and 
Littlebery Kimsey, who all came that year and settled in Big Creek 
Township. To the same township came Thomas Swipe and the Haines 
family. The latter came in 1 83 1 , George W. Lake being appointed guar- 
dian of Christopher M. Haines in 1831. Robert Allen, the first elected 
sheriff of the county, came early in this year. William Goff, one of the 
first county judges, came in 1833, and at his house the first circuit court 
was held, and the second or August term of the county court, in the 
year 1835. He settled on fractional section i. Mr. John and E. Goff, 
and other members of the family, now live on the old place, and near 
by. Mr. John Goff has a very retentive memory, and gave the writer 
much of the early history of the county and section where he lives. 
They live in Deer Creek Township, on section 7. John Legg came in 
1833, as did Colby S. Stevenson, who settled in Tebo Township. James 
Fields came the same year, and he opened a store at GofT's in the spring 
of 1835. William Reynolds was among the arrivals of 1833. 

The Parks settlement was started in 1833, being known as such from 
the fact that a large family of them came, nearly all from Lincoln County, 
Kentucky, and they all had families. Mr. John Parks, the father of 
William Parks, and others, settled on section 5, in township 40, range 24, 
or what is now Leesville Township, and his cabin was not far from the 
banks of Grand River. The family were scattered over the surrounding 



HISTORY OF HENR\ COUNTY. 93 

sections, being found on sections 5, 4, 3. 35, 34. 33, 27. and the Park fam- 
ily still owns from a half to three-quarters of all these sections, and 
others of the family are yet to be found in adjoininpf lots. Peyton 
Parks who platted the town of Clinton, and was its first commissioner, 
settled on section 23, Tebo Township, and this was the home of Judge 
James Parks, probate judge. B. D. Parks settled in Leesville Town- 
ship, on section 33. 

1834. 

When Tebo Township was made by the county court of Lafayette 
County in 1832 it entirely disposed of Davis Township, organized in 
1830, so far as related to Johnson, Henry and St. Clair Counties. Tebo 
Township, as before stated, from May, 1832, included the counties of 
Johnson, Henry and St. Clair north of the Osage River. At the May 
term, 1834, John Brummet, Cyrus P. Arbuckle and Joseph Dixon were 
appointed judges of the August election of that year. The two last 
named were residents of this county, the former of Johnson. At the 
same session of the Lafayette County Court a new township called 
Springfield Township was organized. The order reads as follows: 

"Ordered, That the following bounds shall include a new township, 
to be called Springfield: 

"Beginning where the new base line crosses the Lafayette and 
Saline County line; thence west along and with said line to the range 
line between ranges 26 and 27; thence south to the southern line of Lafa- 
yette County (the Osage River); thence east with said line to Saline 
County line; thence north to the place of beginning" 

" Ordered, That Joseph Montgomery, Philip Cecil and James Ander- 
son be appointed judges of election in Springfield Township for two 
years, the election to be held at the house of James Anderson." 

According to this boundary all east of the range line between ranges 
26 and 27 was Springfield Township, and west was Tebo. This was the 
division of the county when it was organized. Shawnee, Field Creek, 
Clinton and Fairview and the townships east all being Springfield. The 
election was held at Anderson's house, and Fielding A. Pinnell was the 
clerk of the election. He made or rather carried the returns to Lexing- 
ton, and received $6.20 for the job. James McWilliams got $4.00 for 
taking the returns from Tebo Township. 

It was at the August term of the Lafayette County Court, 1834, 
that William B. Price was appointed constable of Tebo Township. James 
McWilliams, then constable, and William Simpson went on his bond as 
sureties. The bond was for $800. 

This was the last act of the Lafayette County Court in reference to 
this county. The following winter, on December 13, 1834. this territory, 
now Henry County, was declared an independent munic pal division of 



94 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

the State, under the name of Rives County. The organization of the 
county was the commencement of something more definite in regard to 
her future. 

1835 TO 1840. 

It was the opening of an era which was to bring her prosperity and 
progress, and to place her well toward the front among the municipal 
divisions or counties of the state, and the year 1834 brought her quite 
an influx of population to meet her new position as an independent 
division. The Cecils settled on section 35, in Springfield Township, as 
now bounded. They came in the spring of 1834. James Gladden and 
Henry D. Lewis on section 36, Tebo Township, in 1834. Benjamin L. 
Dunn came in 1834. William Brickley came the same year and located 
on section 29, Windsor Township, John Woodward on section i, and 
William Perry on section 2, Windsor Township. Thomas B. Wallace 
and Benjamin F. Wallace came in 1835, in the fall, and opened a general 
store one mile north of Clinton, on section 35, Fields' Creek Township. 
Asaph W. Bates came a year later. James Anderson, Thomas Keeney^ 
and Whit MulhoUand settled in Bethlehem Township in 1836, and Maj. 
S. M. Peeler in 1837. John W. Jones, Bird D. Parks, Irwin Sisk, Andrew 
Sisk, Laban Pigg, section 32. Logan Palmer and John A. Pigg made 
Leesville Township their home in 1835 and 1836. M. Beedy on section i, 
and Wheedon Majors, on section 12, Windsor Township, came also in 
1836. W. R. Taylor and John Taylor located on sections 15 and 16, 
same township, in 1838. Asa Hendricks, John Scroggs and Rev. Joshua 
Page, of the Christian Church, made the choice of Bogard Township as 
their homes in 1837. Howell Lewis, in 1836, settled on section 9, Deer 
Creek Township. G. W. Squires and Nathan Arbuckle in 1836, and D. 
H. Pigg and James A. Tutt in 1838, the latter in Springfield Township 
and the former in Tebo. Richard Wall, of North Carolina, settled in 
Big Creek in 1839, ^"d Mason C. Fewell on section 7, Tebo Township, 
from the same state, A. Potts in Walker Township, the same year, while 
John C. Stone located his ranch on the sparkling surface of Deepwater 
.before the year 1840, 

" The year of promised relief " 
A SLIGHT RETROSPECT. 

The first county court was held at Henry Avery's, on section 10, 
Tebo Township, on the 4th and 5th days of May, 1835. The next term 
of the county court was held at the cabin of William Goff, on fractional 
section i, in the northeast corner of Deer Creek Township. The first 
circuit court was held at William Goff's in September, 1835, and Charles 
H. Allen, judge, was present, on the 23d day of September. Both of the 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 95. 

cabins in which the county and circuit courts were held, the Avery and 
Goff cabins, are still standing, and the present court house is not a stand- 
ing monument of either beauty or enterprise in comparison with the 
above relics of a more primitive age. 

Thomas and Charles Waters opened the first store in Henry County, 
about 200 yards from Mr. Avery's house, in 1835. Steve Clark, so called, 
a wide-awake merchant of Boonville, came down, and with a Mr. Bogg 
started another store, and these two were the pioneers. Not long, how- 
ever, the first court house having been forsaken and another established 
at Goff, James Field opened out at the latter place, and soon after Hall 
& Ketcham started at the crossing or ford of Tebo Creek. This store 
was known as " the store down on the creek." The Wallaces coming in 
the fall of 1835, did not open their store until. 1836, and while in 1840 
nine stores were to be found in Henry County, in January, 1842, there 
was but one left, solitary and alone, in the whole county, and that was 
at Clinton and owned by the Wallace Bros. Hard times and the credit 
system broke them all up. 

The county up to the year 1840 and later was about 350 Democratic 
majority, but the Whigs always managed to secure one or two of the 
county offices, and it is stated they held sheriffs for ten years in suc- 
cession. The county seat was located at Clinton in the fall of 1836, an'3 
soon after became, in fact as well as in name, the seat of justice for 
Rives County. Calhoun had made a desperate effort to secure the 
much-coveted prize. A square had been donated, etc., but it availed 
nothing. The struggle ended with the location. 

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS, CABINS AND COMFORTS, PIONEER LIFE. 

The life of the settler from 1830 to 1840, which might be said to 
cover the period of pioneer life, in a great measure, was not a bed of 
roses, but seasons of privations and hardships; yet all was borne uncom- 
plainingly and with unflinching courage. Up to 1835 it had been a 
part of the territory of Lafayette County, and while a part of and under 
its civil jurisdiction many settlers had pre-empted and staked their 
claims, but the land was not surveyed until the winters of 1836-7-8 and 
and was not open to entry until 1839 Therefore, in the exchange of 
property, the pioneer could only sell his claim, and this was often done, 
for many were of a roving disposition or would become dissatisfied, and 
were ready either to go to other untried fields or return to their eastern 
homes. 

THEIR HOMES AND CLOTHING. 

The settlers were united together like a band of brothers. Danger 
and privation had drawn them to each other, and there was little need 



•96 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

of law or lawyers in those days. They were neighbors in every sense of 
the word, and a spirit of justice and right ruled them. 

The pioneer would erect his cabin upon his claim, and the neighbors 
would come for miles around to help him anu give him a fair start in the 
■world. They gave him a warm welcome, the right hand of fellowship 
was extended anM the new settler felt at he "s at once. The latch string 
hung on the outside, and what the cabin held was at the command of 
the traveler or neighbor. Corn was their principal article of food and 
the wild game furnished the meat for their families. A cow was gen- 
erally secured, and the pioneer was then happy as well as rich. Store 
goods were not often seen or worn. Dressed deer skins served for men's 
clothing and moccasins for their feet. The pioneer's wife, without whom 
a pioneer's life would have been a wretched failure, done the making and 
spun and wove the home-made cotton for herself and daughters. Eight 
yards were sufficient and a dress would last a year or two. Sometimes 
ginghams and calico were purchased, but it was only the rich that could 
indulge in such costly goods in which to array their wives and daugh- 
ters. An extra quality and a brighter color of homespun was the gen- 
eral Sunday meeting dress of the women of that day, and when the men 
wanted to put on style they purchased an article of cloth called Ken- 
tucky jeans. But durability and not style was the forte of the old pio- 
neer, and the dress of deer skin and the coon skin cap was really the 
rage for solid wear. The cabin, with either a puncheon or earthen floor, 
and wooden chairs and a table, was regulation style. The fireplace took 
up nearly one end of the cabin, and the chimneys were made of sticks 
and the very best of Henry County mud. Now and then a cup of coffee, 
•sweetened with honey, the product of a lucky find in the shape of a bee 
tree, a juicy venison steak or a piece of turkey, and corn bread made of 
mashed corn pounded in a mortar or ground in a hand mill, composed 
the steady week day and Sunday diet of the old pioneer. 

From this section, and from the north and east part of the county. 
Muddy Mills was the leading post office for the people, and they had to 
travel from thirty to forty-five miles to reach there, and Boonville, some 
sixty to seventy-five miles distant, was their principal trading point up 
to 1836. At this time there were only four stores in the county — one 
owned by Water Bros, and one by Clark & Boggs, both in section 10, 
Tebo Township, established in the spring of 1835; and the others in the 
fall of the same year, and were owned by Hall & Ketcham and James 
Fields. These stores soon became quite important business houses. 
The people had depended up to this time on the Missouri River towns, 
but these stores filled what might be termed many an aching void. They 
could show up pretty lively for variety, but did not carry heavy stocks, 
for it was not necessary. They seldom invested a thousand in silks or 
broadcloths, but confined themselves to staple articles which met the 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 9/ 

demand of the early settlers. Their stocks consisted of salt, tea, tobacco, 
cotton, yarns, iron for horseshoes, nails, etc., powder, lead, shot, and 
steel points, for plows. Added to these and considered staple articles, 
there was kept a moderate supply of calico, ginghams, domestic cot- 
ton, Kentucky jeans, boots and shoes, etc., with a fair article ot corn 
whisky. This latter was ai o considered a staple article, and was of a 
kind not too weak to be insipid, or so strong as to make you fighting 
drunk, but of that mild, exhilarating quality that made a man feel just 
comfortable on taking " a good square drink." There was nothing in 
these lines of goods to make people extravagant. 

These country stores were strongly built, and the logs of which they 
were composed hewed flat on the inside. The goods were placed in the 
most convenient places to get at. Boxes were utilized as counters, and 
while there was but little display in those good old times, little, was 
desired. If the goods they wanted were there, it didn't make much dif- 
ference to the people whether they were on shelves, or even had shelves. 
The ladies in those days went a good deal more on sense than style, 
and did not go shopping to show off a "gift-edge make-up," or chat with 
a perfumed clerk, with an oreide watch and a plated chain. Just imag- 
ine Tom Wallace behind Cock & Breneison's counter, or practicing a 
dancing step down one of the side aisles, or in Allison's dry goods 
emporium with a bevy of Henry County beauties ! 

The Indians also did a good deal of trading. They still hunted 
through the country, were peaceable, drew a government annuity, and 
received powder and lead from the government as a part of their annual 
payment. Before stores had become a part of the progressive civiliza- 
tion of Henry County many of the old pioneers procured powder and 
lead of the Indians. They had become quite expert traders and would 
take the settlers' supply of skins and pay in many other necessaries they 
had received from the government. The red man would carry these 
skins and furs to the river towns and there sell them. It was thus that 
many settlers who could not go away from home, or had not a load to 
take sufficient to warrant such a long trip, were supplied by trading with 
the friendly Indians. These Indians were peaceable enough, but they 
needed watching, for they had no scruples whatever in appropriating to 
their own use any little thing that might be lying around loose. The 
settlers were, however, aware of this slight eccentricity of the character 
of their dusky neighbors or visitors, and were careful to keep articles 
needing only light transportation out of their way. 

This powder and lead business was a necessity, for upon his trusty 
rifle the old pioneer depended entirely for his meat and to a large extent 
for his clothing and that of his boys; therefore, when he could not go 
after his supply, he was glad to get it of the friendly Indians. 



98 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

As there was no horse mill in the county until that year, it was 
something of a job to go to a mill. The trip was made and it generally 
counted two ways. Not only did he go to mill, but he managed to lay 
in some supplies — a little tea, perhaps, coffee, a little flour to make bis- 
cuits for company, a little saleratus, for baking powder was not known, 
an iron wedge, a chain, and last, though not least, a jug to meet the 
spirit of any joyful occasion that might arise or as a medicinal dose to 
benefit a deranged system. To effect these purchases the old pioneer 
loaded his ox wagon, and vvith a little honey, a few venison hams, some 
deer, mink and coon skins, and " sich kind of truck," started in the fall 
for his winter supplies. Boonville, and sometimes even Glasgow, was 
their point of destination. His purchases were soon made and the jug 
was sure to be filled. The historian, however, will mention right here 
that the latter article was not used for intoxicating purposes. The old 
pioneer was the advance guard of civilization, but he left it to a later, 
and by some called a more cultured era, to introduce whisky as a bever- 
age and to furnish to this higher type of civilization the "common 
drunkard." A few years later these trips paid a little something beside 
expenses. The merchants made their wholesale purchases at these 
towns, or if at St. Louis, they were shipped by river to these points 
before starting on land navigation, and the settler would haul these 
goods back at the rate of sixty to seventy-five cents per hundred pounds, 
thus loading both ways and paying them something for the trip. 

Settlers flowed in, and the year 1834 found many newcomers. Those 
who first staked their claims in 183 1 and 1832 felt as though they lived 
in a populous country. The miles which had been between cabins had 
become reduced, so that once in awhile neighbors would be within a 
mile, or even a half a mile of each other, and "raising bees" became 
common, and were greatly enjoyed. A new comer would cut the logs 
for his cabin, haul them to the ground ready to put up, and then 
announce a "raising bee." The neighbors came from miles around, and 
the way that cabin went up into a square shape, capped with weight- 
poles, was a "caution to slow coaches." And they sang at their work: 

" Our cabins are made of logs of wood, 
The floors are made of puncheon, 
The roof is held by weighted poles. 

And then we ' hang off' for luncheon " 

This would be followed by a swig from the little brown jug, kept espe- 
cially for the occasion, and then with a hearty shake of the hand and a 
" wish you well," the neighbors left the new comer to put the finishing 
touches to his cabin. And this was a " raising bee " of ye olden times. 
The early settlers of Henry County were mostly from Kentucky 
and Tennessee, and not a few came from North Carolina and Virginia. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 99 

These old pioneers knew literally nothing of the value of the beautiful 
and rich, rolling prairies which lay at their feet, but one and all "took to 
the woods," and the first settlements of Henry County were made near 
or on the banks of the streams. Wood and water were a necessity, and 
they built their cabins near to these useful articles; still the timbered 
land was their choice, and the prairies were little used except for graz- 
ing purposes. Of course this did not last long. It began to get into 
the heads of the old pioneer that if grass could grow as luxuriant as it 
did, why not corn ? There was another impression, also, that gave the 
prairies a drawback, and that was, the settler, not knowing the nature of 
the soil, had an impression that the sod was so stiff that the prairies 
could not be broken. However, a trial and a corn crop on a small piece 
of prairie land soon opened the eyes of the settlers, and that which they 
thought to be a barren waste was a veritable garden of Eden, under the 
inspiring efforts of the plow and hoe. There were no less than three 
sixteenth sections which were prairies, that the settlers asked to have 
changed for other school lands, giving as their reasons that they were all 
prairie, and no account, and the county court consented to have the 
change made, and it was made. They wanted school lands that were of 
some value. But the experiment was tried, as above stated, with small 
patches of corn, and it was not long before the worthless and despised 
prairie, with its rich and productive soil, stood upon an equal footing 
with its timbered neighbor, and then took another start and led. The 
prairies are now the cultivated fields; the timbered are held for wood 
lands. But the clearing of the wood land or the breaking of the prai- 
ries were no idle pastimes. Years of toil, of hardship and privations 
was the lot of the early pioneer; but for the toil of the then present he 
expected, and did reap, in almost all cases, an abundant future. Still 
the old pioneer believed in labor. It was not only necessary to provide 
for the present and future, but it gave strength to the muscles and 
health to the entire system. Labor to them, therefore, was not only a 
necessity, but really a pleasure, for 

" There is not a man, from the sceptered king, 
To the peasant that delves the soil, 
That knows half the joys existence can bring 
That does not partake of its toil." 

MARKET PRICES. 

In one respect the early settler had a few advantages not possessed 
by the poor mortals of to-day, or even by those of a generation back. 
While they endured the privations with which they were encompassed 
with heroic fortitude and a patience which exalted them, these old-time 
heroes and heroines could eet the necessaries of life at a good deal less 



lOO HISTORY OF HEXRV COUNTY. 

cost than their favored children and grandchildren of this day: and not 
only that, but there was any quantity of land lying around loose at gov- 
ernment price, $1.25 per acre, and excellent swamp land, all but the 
swamp, at twenty-five cents per acre — twelve months' time and county 
warrants taken at par — anxious to be tickled with a hoe, that it might 
laugh with a harvest. The financial crash of 1837 had completely demor- 
alized values, property shrank to such amazing srhallness that many, 
people were in doubt as to whether they possessed anything except their 
lives and their families. The wildcat banks rapidly climbed the golden 
stairs, and their assets went glimmering. The necessaries of life were 
cheap, and those who suffered most in those days were of the class called 
wealthy, excepting perhaps the managers of the wildcat banks above 
spoken of The farmer and mechanic here in the West had little to com- 
plain of Their wants were few and supplies cheap; if corn was at a 
low figure, tea, coffee, sugar and whisky were also cheap. The business 
depression brought on by the financial collapse referred to continued for 
several years, and still hovered over the land as late as 1842. In 1839 
and 1840 prices of goods still ruled very low, and the prospect of an 
early rise seemed far from encouraging. 

Cows sold from $5 to $10, and payable, perhaps, in trade at that. 
Horses brought for the best about $40, but could be bought from about 
$25 up for a fair animal. Working oxen were from $25 to $30 per yoke, 
and considered down to almost nothing. Hogs, dressed, sold from $1.2=; 
to $1.50 each, and were not mixed with trichina; either. Garnered 
wheat brought from 35 to 40 cents a bushel, corn, 50 cents per barrel, 
delivered, and a good veal calf 75 cents. You could go to the woods 
and cut down a bee tree, gather the honey, bring it to market and you 
got 25 cents a gallon for it; it was thought that' the bees were well paid 
for their honey. And such honey, so clear and transparent that even 
the bee keeper of to-day with his patent hive and Italian swarms would 
have had a look of envy covering his face on beholding it. The wild 
deer came forward and gave up his hams at 25 cents each, and the set- 
tler generally clinched the bargain by taking the skin also, and when not 
cut up into strings or used for patches brought another quarter, cash or 
trade as demanded. It was a habit in those days for farmers to help 
each other, and their sons to work in the harvest field or help do the 
logging to prepare for the seeding of new land. This was a source of 
wealth to the sons of the early settlers and to those farmers who were 
unable to purchase a home. They received from 25 to 50 cents per day 
and their board. That was wealth, the foundation of their future pros- 
perity. It was the first egg laid to hatch them a farm and it was guarded 
with scrupulous care. Economy was often whittled down to a verj- fine 
point before they could be induced to touch that nest egg, the incipient 
acre of the first farm. Then, again, a da\-'s work meant something 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 10 1 

besides getting on the shady side of a tree and two hours for nooning. 
It meant labor in all its length and breadth and thickness from holding 
a breaking plow behind three yoke of oxen to mauling rails. Right here 
it may be mentioned that rails were made at from 25 to 40 cents per 
hundred. Just think of splitting rails at 25 cents per hundred ! It is 
enough to take the breath away from every effeminate counter jumper 
in the state. 

This covers a good deal of what the old pioneer had or received for 
labor and farm produce. 

SLIGHTLY PROGRESSIVE. 

The citizens soon began to take an interest in home affairs, and 
going to Boonville or other distant places to have their corn ground, or 
to put it in a hole burned into a log and pound it, was rather slow work. 
Consequently, when Richard Wade erected the first horse mill in the 
county, which he did in 1835, he could not complain of a want of patron- 
age. The mill was situated on section 7, in township 43, of range 25, 
now called Tebo, and about three miles west of the Avery settlement, 
and there would be, perhaps, a dozen farmers there at a time waiting to 
take their turn, and many times, for the purpose of expediting the grind- 
ing, would hitch their own animal on the mill and give the owner's ani- 
mal a rest. 

Nearly at the same time, at all events in the same year, William 
Collins put up another horse mill on the southeast quarter of section 22, 
township 42, of range 24. This mill received all the custom from the 
southern and southeastern parts of the county, and some came over from 
Benton County, being nearer to many of the western and southern set- 
tlers. When the crowd got so great as to compel many of them to 
spend a day and a night before their turn would come, fun would flow in 
great rivulets. The rifle was the daily companion of the farmer, no 
matter whether he went out to cut wood, to go to mill, or go to the store. 
So if a delay occurred at the mill, there would be a shooting match at 
once; then, perhaps, after night a game of poker by a log fire, and, if 
time permitted, a short hunt was taken, and the farmer often returned 
from mill with a few turkeys hung from his saddle-bow, or the carcass 
of a deer swung across the back of his horse, thus bringing both bread 
and meat for his family on the same trip. 

There was a grist mill put up on Honey Creek in 1838, and was 
owned by John Dixon. It was located on that stream, on section 10, in 
Honey Creek Township. This was said to be the first water mill in the 
county, but Kimsey's mill was erected before. Another mill, called the 
Huntley Mill, was erected in 1845, on Grand River, and on section 23, and 
what is now Clinton Township. This was considered a good mill at the 



I02 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



time, and doubtless was fully up to the mills of that day. It had a run 
of burrs for both wheat and corn. 

The horse mill soon became an institution. The country stores 
multiplied, and even the county seat began to take upon itself a habita- 
tion and a name. Many went to Wallace's store, others went to town, a 
few to the court house, and now and then a man would announce he was 
going to Clinton. And the women, too, went and shopped at these 
stores, for there were pioneer women in those days as well as pioneer 
men, and they knew something of pioneer life from actual experience. 




CHAPTER 111. 

EARLY ELECTION AND EVENTS— PIONEERS AND POETRY. 

ELECTIONS— "EIGHTEEN FORTY "—PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN— SONGS AND "A LITTLE 
MORE CIDER, TOO "—DEMOCRATIC DEFEAT— A CHANGE— THE QUIET OF EARLY 
DAYS, COVERING LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE— WOMEN "PIONEERS— PRIVA- 
TIONS, LABOR AND HEROIC FORTITUDE— NAMES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS— FROM 
THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE— PIONEER LIFE IN VERSE. 

ELECTION — " EIGHTEEN FORTY." 

In the early times election days were a sort of holiday. The voters 
went early, took their guns along and proposed to have a good time, 
shooting at a mark being one of their festive pastimes. County elec- 
tions did not produce much excitement. A few men got on the right 
side of the people, and they managed to secure the loaves and fishes 
pertaining to the local offices of the county. And, singular as it may 
seem to those unacquainted with the wealth that comes to a man by 
being a public officer, most all the men who held the offices and received 
the official pap are to this day pretty well off in this world's goods. Still 
it was the state elections, or the presidential years which called forth the 
true patriotic fever in those pioneer days of song and story, with here 
and there a well filled jug, which would raise the patriotic feeling to an 
enthusiastic pitch. It was genuine enthusiasm, too. There was noth- 
ing sordid about it. but they went into win on their side, and until the 
polls closed at sundown they kept the ball rolling lively. When the 
battle of the ballot ended the victors were cheered and the slain decently 
interred, to be resurrected, perhaps, at some future day. 

THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. 

There have been many exciting presidential campaigns in this coun- 
try, but to the old pioneer there has never been an election that could 
at all compare with that of 1840. And we must give the palm of fun, 
frolic and intense patriotism to the men of other days. It was a cam- 
paign of barbecues, picnics and processions, of merry songs and patri- 
otic utterances. Money, indeed, was used in the times of long ago, but 
instead of a bribe to the individual voter to corrupt and degrade him, as 



I04 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNIY. 

now, no such thought entered the minds of the leaders in those good 
old days. The money went for music by the band, a roast ox and a 
" little more cider, too." There was a feast of reason, a flow of soul, and 
principles were fought for and not spoils. 

The year 1840 will ever be memorable in the political history of our 
country. Jackson had carried out his plans to destroy the power of the 
United States Bank, which was using its vast resources to corrupt the 
people's representatives, to secure a renewal of its charter, and become 
a power potent for evil in the future of the country. Having accom- 
plished this he retired, and Martin Van Buren became his successor. 
Finances, however, had become deranged, and every effort of those who 
had felt the power of Jackson's policy was willingly put forth to effect 
the downfall of Van Buren's administration, by fair means or foul. The 
financial panic of 1837 was the golden opportunity of the Whig party, 
and they availed themselves of it. The cry of hard times was echoed 
and re-echoed throughout the land, and it was no false cry. Wildcat 
banks had come into being in place of the old United States Bank, and 
when the pressure came they were unable to stem the tide of bankruptcy 
and ruin, which indeed they were the most potent cause, and which 
then swept over the country with the force and destructive power of a 
cyclone, carrying desolation in its path. The banks' circulation being 
principally secured by bonds and mortgages, and real estate rapidly 
depreciating, these banks went down before the financial storm like 
leaves in an autumnal gale. The financial crash of,i837 told fearfully and 
with terrible effect in the East, where the bulk of the voting population 
was then found; but while west of the Mississippi the vote was light, 
and the country sparsely settled, yet the West was as enthusiastic as 
any other portion of the country and went into the campaign with the 
greatest fervor and delight. The distress all over the country was great 
and a presidential campaign came to hand before the people could 
recover. Not only were the friends of the United States Bank and the 
old Whig party solid, but the story was added that Van Buren's admin- 
istration was one of wild prodigality, and that the cabinet was an aris- 
tocratic court that vied in follies and extravagance the worst courts of 
Europe. This was a harp of a thousand strings, and every string seemed 
to send forth a wail of horror over the reckless waste of this Democratic 
administration. From this came the grand campaign of " Log cabin 
and hard cider," that of 1840. The old pioneer dotes on that campaign 
and memory brightens as its vivid scenes are recalled tc mind. 

In 1840, as before remarked, the people still suffered from the hard 
times brought on by the financial disaster of 1837; hard work had not 
yet drawn them out of the slough of bankruptcy, and the promised relief 
from congressional action had also failed. So the story of trials and 
sufferings was told in song and carried everything before it. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. IO5 

The log cabin feature touched the hearts of the people, for of such 
were their homes, and the songs had the effect of clinching reason and 
fancy and securing their votes. " For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, for 
Van, Van, is a used up man," and the chorus rang out with a heartiness 
that boded no good to the Democracy. In touching up the extrava- 
gances of the administration and the promises of relief which had been 
circulated, but never realized, one verse of a song is still in the memory 
of the writer. It ran: 

" In the year eighteen hundred and forty, 
The times of promised relief, 
Which was sung to the poor by the haughty, 
Two dollars a day and roast beef." 

Well, they had not realized the above, and every time that song 
went floating through the air it somehow seemed to carry votes and to 
cause the Democracy to look blue when the sound reached them. 

It was claimed that the destruction of the old United States Bank 
and the extravagance of Van Buren's administration had brought on 
the panic of 1837 and all the evils which followed, and that " Old Tippe- 
canoe," William Henry Harrison, who was not only a soldier boy, but a 
•farmer, would give the country a farmer's administration, which meant 
economy and good times. 

The Whigs had decidedly the best of the fight, and the campaign 
was simply "immense" with its grand barbecues, speeches, processions 
and songs. The charge of lavish expenditures of Van Buren was harped 
upon with wonderful effect, and many songs were composed and sung of 
of the way he got away with the people's money in aristrocratic living. 
One verse of a song which was sung with a wild enthusiasm in the cam- 
paign was as follows, speaking as coming from President Van Buren; 

" Bring forth, he cries, the glittering plate, 
We'll dine to day in royal state; 
He speaks, and on the table soon 
They place the golden fork and spoon. 
Around him bends a servile host, 
And loud they shout the welcome toast, 
Down with Old Tippecanoe ! 
Down with Old Tippecanoe ! ! " 

This generally brought down the house when an indoor meeting 
was held, and out of doors the shouts were fairly terrific. The Demo- 
crats, however, were not idle; they saw the storm and prepared to meet 
it with counter charges, and of the same kind of ammunition, but the 
disaffection of Van Buren and his traitor host caused their banner to 
trail in the dust. 



I06 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Henry Clay, of Kentucky, was the leader of the Whig party, and 
he was made the target of a good deal of Democratic thunder. The 
songs were not all on one side, not by any means; but the charge of 
royalty was the winning card of the Whigs. However, the Democrats 
got off a good many songs against Clay and his party, and a verse is 
here given to show the tactics of the Democracy. Here it is: 

"There's Harry Clay, a man of doul)t, 
Who wires in and wires out; 
And you cannot tell, when he's on the track, 
Whether he's going on or coming back." 

Or, in other words, like the Irishman's flea, when you had him, he 
wasn't there. 

The election came off, and the songs, "Log Cabins" and "A Little 
More Cider, too," did the business. " Old Tip " was elected, and " Tyler, 
too," and the people once more settled down to quiet life. 

But if you want to put life and snap in the voice and limbs of the 
old pioneer on an election theme, strike the keynote, the year 1840. 
His eyes will brighten, his limbs will straighten and his voice will ring 
out with a bell-like clearness, as he tells you of that greatest and best 
of political campaigns ever held in this country. The contrast to the 
bright glow and honesty of the one party, all working together for suc- 
cess, and the dark and damning treachery which haunted and followed 
the other with a black and frowning brow, was significant of the result. 
Treachery had done its evil work, and done it well. He who had 
received honors and emoluments at the hands of his party and the peo- 
ple became a traitor and a renegade, and so Van Buren sank out of 
sight, the dark pall of oblivion covering him with a mantle of shame. 
"Salt River" became household words, and many people actually believed 
that a vessel had taken the Democratic candidates on a voyage 
up that beautiful (.'') and historic stream. Harrison was deserving of his 
country's honor, and though General Cass may have been better versed 
in statecraft, yet if Harrison had lived, the country would never have 
suffered. 

Such a campaign as that of 1840 at this day would be a farce. There 
is too much bargain and sale. It would not chime in with an innocent 
song, for there is very little innocence in the elections of late years. 
Principles have had little to do with elections. High-sounding words, 
plenty of promises— to be broken, capital to the front, labor to the rear, 
monopolies triumphant and rolling in wealth, the people to live a pauper 
life with the heritage of unceasing work fastened upon their limbs. This 
is the present outlook of the people, taken from a party standpoint, who 
loves them so dearly and well. So the old pioneer revels in the times 
of long ago, and he is not far out of the way. Those days were as full 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 10/ 

of wrangling and bitterness as those of the present, but it was a square 
fight for principles only. Money was not the mighty power, which has 
controlled the past elections for more than a decade. It did not rule 
congress, buy legislatures or elect presidents. It had the will to do it, 
but its representative, the United States Bank, lay bleeding at the feet 
of the people, where it had been laid by the iron will and mailed hand 
of their lion-hearted president. 

Henry County had her part in this election and polled her usual 
party vote. 

A CHANGE. 

The tide of immigration, which had slackened during the previous 
years, began to assume greater proportions and Henry County received 
her share. Henry and St. Clair Counties had a population of 4,726 in 
1840. according to the census of that year, St. Clair at that time being 
a part of Rives or Henry County. In 1850 the two counties boasted of 
a population of 7,608, or a gain of about 65 per cent during the decade 
ending 1850. Of this Henry County had a population of 4,052 and St. 
Clair of 3,556. In the same ratio of division in 1840 Henry County 
would have had 2,521 and St. Clair 2,205. 

A QUIET LIFE. 

Henry County had few stirring incidents to record in her early days. 
There was little to arouse the old pioneer from the even tenor of his 
way. Indians were not troublesome, game was plenty, honey could 
easily be found. The distance to mill and post office was their greatest 
trouble, and though wolves sometimes were found troublesome on the 
way, there were no thrilling horrors enacted, and so the settlers through 
all those trying years, trying because of the privations endured, if not 
from danger. They had worked to improve their homes that they and 
their children might have a competency in their old age. To be sure, 
there were many incidents of these privations and cares that would be 
interesting to the readers, of hunting excursions that sometimes cost 
more than they came to. of the simple implements of industry which 
are now obsolete, and yet was the only help in all those early years ol 
the hardy pioneers, and of the forests and the prairies. 

This and much more could be written, yet it is more or less familiar 
to all. The old pioneer, in many cases, has departed to his long home, 
but the children of those days have not all passed their three score years 
and ten, and with memories tenacious they have told of their childhood 
days until it has become an open book to all. Yet these pages are gath- 
ered together that with the future onward march of time, when memory 
has ceased and the last link broken that unites the present with the 



I08 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

early days, then this work will be treasured as the missing link that 
should forever unite the pioneer of early history with the men and 
women of to-day. 

The country grew and prospered under the strength of the brawny 
arm and endurance of her noble old pioneers. Civilization advanced, 
and material progress could be seen on every hand. School houses 
were built, education took a step forward; Christianity went hand in 
hand, for the school house was also the church, and thus the pioneer 
sought enlightenment, and bowed before his Maker. 

Such has been, in a measure, the history of the early pioneers of this 
beautiful country, and those who are living can look back with unabated 
interest to the days which tried the nerve, the muscle and the indomi- 
table will of the fathers and mothers who had the infancy of Henry 
Country in their keeping. 

In closing this part of our history, covering but a little over a 
decade of time, there has been something written founded upon tradi- 
tion, but little of it in comparison with the vast array of facts gathered 
and compiled within its pages. The early pioneer made history, but 
knew little how to preserve it. This is a sad loss to the county. Those 
years, and the lives and actions of the heroes and patriots then living, 
were of the greatest importance. Then it was that the foundation was 
laid upon which a noble and enduring superstructure was to be reared, 
and upon which the moral, physical and political future of the country 
was to rest. 

There were no great stirring events or remarkable happenings, but 
it was a time of self-reliance, of persevering toil, of privations and of 
suffering that were endured with heroic fortitude. They believed in a 
future reward of successful labor and of the good time coming when the 
wooded hills and open prairies should resolve themselves into well cul- 
tivated farms, their humble cabins into residences that would be fitting 
their improved financial condition and the advanced era in which they 
would live. They had come into the boundless wilderness poor in purse, 
but rich in faith, powerful in endurance, and their future was before 
them. 

WOMEN PIONEERS— HER TRIALS — HER FORTITUDE. 

Thus far the pioneer has been referred to as of the sterner sex; but 
were they the only pioneers in these western wilds ? Was man the only 
one who suffered privations and want, who worked that a generation 
then verging on manhood might find the way " blazed " to the light of a 
higher civilization, and that a generation yet unborn might find the 
fruits of struggle in well tilled fields, a full granary, and a new home 
blessed with all the arts and progress that a new era gave them .'' Was 
it in the culture and refinement of a people of a later day, who had 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. * IO9 

received not only wealth descended from their forefathers, but those 
benefits which science had discovered hidden in" the deep and dark mys- 
teries of nature, and were they to thank men alone for these blessings 
around them ? 

No; but high on the scroll of fame should the pioneer women of our 
land have their names emblazoned that generations yet to come, and for 
all time may honor and bless the heroic women who gave their lives to 
the duties of a pioneer's life,, and who proudly and uncomplainingly did 
the work which came before them as only women could do it, smoothing 
their lives with the light of an undying love, and proving in every way 
the equal of man in carrying forward the work of making a wilderness 
take upon itself the garb of civilization and barren plains the wealth of 
fruitful fields and abundant harvests. Thus have the pioneer women 
worked and struggled, and the rude cabin was to them a home of love 
and happiness. Rude and primitive as that cabin might be, with a floor 
of mother earth, simple and unadorned, there was found within its walls 
many a heroine of early days. Not in the palaces of the rich of what 
is called this enlightened era was more true lifelike happiness found than 
in those lowly cabins. There was no waiting in those days for a home 
of splendor before man found his mate, but the heroes and heroines of 
those days joined hearts and hands and helped each other down the 
rugged pathway of life. He went into the field to work that he might 
supply the food necessary for life, while she worked on in her own 
sphere, furnishing her husband's cabin with the smiles of a lo-ving heart, 
greeting her partner with the evident work of willing hands, keeping 
her true and womanly talents in full play, not only in preparing her food 
for the family meal, but in weaving and spinning, cutting and making, 
the garments for herself and those, of her household under her loving 
care. 

Much has been written of the "'Old Pioneer," and his struggles in 
the early years of his life; his heavy trials, misfortunes, and his ulti- 
mate success; but little has been recorded of his companion, the light 
of his cabin, who cheered him in his misfortunes, nursed him in sickness, 
and in health gave her whole strength to labor for their future welfare 
and happiness. There was little luxury or ease for the pioneer's wife; 
but whatever her destiny might be, it was met with a firm faith and a 
willingness to do her whole duty, living in the love of her husband and 
children, and trusting in Providence to receive her final reward for the 
unceasing labor of years, well and nobly performed. 

Yes, there was something decidedly primitive in the building and 
furniture of those cabins of old. They were in many cases built one 
and a half stories high, that they might have a " loft " to store away 
things, and sometimes to sleep. The windows were covered with a light 
quilt, or paper, to keep the wind and rain out, the puncheon was laid, 



no HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

the Stick and mud chimney set up, a table and a chair or two, or stools 
made of a split log, the flat side up, and holes bored to put in the legs, 
which were generally three. Shelves would be made of the same mate- 
rial, holes bored and pins put in, to hang up their clothes or other things, 
and that pioneer heroine was ready to meet her friends and neighbors, 
or the world at large, in a roomy and comfortable home. A housekeep- 
ing outfit of that style in these days would send a young woman into 
hysterics, make her declare that she would " go right home to her pa" — 
and probably for herself and that young man it would be the best place 
for her. 

TI' en the wife generally milked the cow, if they had one, cooked 
and sewed, wove and spun, and went to mill, thus doing her part and 
keeping her end of the line taut. They made their bread literally by 
the sweat of their brows, and led happy and contented lives. 

A calico or a gingham dress was good enough to go to church in, 
but oftener a bright homespun dress did duty on the same occasion; 
then the calico or gingham would last a year or two, and then could be 
turned and made up for the children. It only took eight yards for a 
dress, hoop skirts having not yet put in an appearance, and pinbacks 
were of another day and generation. So with a multiplicity of duties, 
the young wife kept on her way. By and by, when a young family had 
grown up around them, cares began to increase, the wife and mother 
was often compelled to sit up, night after night, that the husband and 
children's clothes might be mended, their stockings darned, and the 
preparations for the coming morning's work made ready. Then it was 
discovered that a woman's work was never done. The household was 
asleep. The tired husband and father was resting his weary limbs in 
dream-land; the restless children were tossing here and there on their 
beds as children always do; nature itself had gone to rest, and the outer 
world was wrapped in darkness and gloom, but the nearly exhausted 
wife and mother sewed on and on, and the midnight candle was often 
still shedding its pale light over the work or the vigils of the loved and 
loving mother. And this is the record of thousands of noble women, 
the female pioneers whose daily presence, loving hearts, earnest work 
and intuitive judgment made the work of civilization and progress one 
of success. And the question has oftentimes been asked, " What would 
the men of the olden times have done if the women of the olden times 
had not been there with them.? And the question comes back, "Ah! yes, 
what would they have done.'" 

These were the kind of women that made civilization a success, and 
brightened the pathway of material progress with the promise of a glo- 
rious future. There are a few yet living of that glorious band of pioneer 
women who gave their lives to the hard fate of a pioneer's wife. They 
bore their share of the troubles, trials and labor of the times. They are 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. Ill 

deserving of the love and veneration of all, and may their pathway 
to the unknown river be brightened by kind words and loving hearts. 
Let them glide softly and pleasantly down the river of time, and let no 
regret come from them for neglect and coldness. Their young days 
were days of hardship; let the evening of their life be bereft of care, 
peaceful and joyous. Of those who are now sleeping their last sleep,, 
they did their duty nobly and well, and while their allotted time on 
earth has passed, they have gone to a better world — a reward to all 
those whose life's pilgrimage has been worthily performed. And thus 
the pioneer women passes away. May they ever be blessed while liv- 
ing. One and all, living or dead, deserve a high and honored place in 
the history of our country; and the author of Henry County's history 
gives this short tribute to their memory. Not that it is much, but that 
those who have done so much to bring these western wilds to a land of 
civilization and Christianity has the veneration of the writer, and of 
those he has met and those who have gone before will he hold in cher- 
ished memory until he, too, joins the throng on the golden shore, where 
time ceases and eternity begins its endless round. 

• 

NAMES OF THE EARLY PIONEERS. 

In bringing this portion of our history to a close the names of those 
who first trod the wilderness or that part of it which is now Henry 
County may be of interest, not only to those who are living, but to 
future generations. Not all who figured in the early history are here 
recorded; many familiar names may be missing — all could not be 
secured. The list, however, numbers nearly three hundred who settled 
in Henry County previous to the year 1840, and other names not here 
recorded will be found in some of the township histories. It is, there- 
fore likely that there are but few omitted. The record, with former 
home when known, is as follows: 

FROM 1830 TO 1840. 

Arbuckle, Thomas, 1830, Christian Avery, A. C, 1836, Henry County, 

County, Kentucky. Missouri. 

Arbuckle, James H., 1830, Christian Avery, Jas. M., 1838, Henry County,. 

County, Kentucky. Missouri. 

Arbuckle, Matthew, 1830, Christian Allen, George J, 

County,' Kentucky. Allen, James. 

Adair, William, 1831, Kentucky. Allen, Robert.-^ 
Anderson, Thomas, 1832, Kentucky. Austin, John H. 

Austin, Obediah, 1832, Kentucky. Akers, William. 

Avery, Henry, 1831, Tennessee. Aull, A. 



112 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY 



Aull, Robert. 

Anderson, George, 1833. 

Anderson, James, 1833. 

Anderson, Isaac, 1833. 

Anderson, Claiborne, 1833. 

Anderson, William H., 1832. 

Avery, V. January, 1833, Virginia. 

Berry, Jonathan T., 1832, Kentucky. 

Barker, James T., 1832, Cooper 
County, Missouri. 

Burnett, Isom, 1830, Kentucky. 

Blevins, Ezekiel, 1831, Kentucky. 

Blevins, Preston, 1832, Henry Coun- 
ty, Missouri. 

Bogarth, Joseph, 183 1. 

Bricker, William, 1834. 

Bronaugh, H., 1838, Virginia. 

Byser, Peter J., 1839, North Caro- 
lina. 

Byser, Mrs. L., 1840, Kentucky. 

Buchanan, John, 1832. 

Barker, Richard B. 

Bates, Asaph W. 

Banta, Abraham. 

Banta, Peter. 

Barker, John, 1832. 

Bridges, John A. 

Beatty, Joseph R. 

Berkley, John. 

Baker, Hiram. 

Berry, John W. 

Boles, Alexander M. 

Brown, Preston. 

Brown, John S. 

Brown, Jesse. 

Brelsford, Majorum. 

Bentz, William. 

Bledsoe, William. 

Bell, Valentine. 

Britton, Thomas. 

Benson, Zachariah. 

Brown, A. M., 1835, Virginia. 

Bounds, George, 1832. 

Briggs, D.. 1838, North Carolina. 



Brown, Samuel. 

Bunch, George H. 

Buster, Phillip J. 

Cecil, Phillip, 1834, Virginia. 

Cecil, Polly, 1834, Virginia. 

Cock, Chastian, 1837, Christian Co., 

Kentucky. 
Cock, Thomas G., 1837, Virginia. 
Cock, Mrs. H. S.. 1836, Kentucky. 
Chitwood, Daniel, 1833, Campbell 

County, Tennessee. 
Cox, Samuel. 
Cargile, William. 
Castleman, John G. 
Collins, William J. 
Cooper, Benjamin. 
Cleveland, George. 
Crowley, William. 
Callaway, James. 
Catron, John. 
Clark, Marshall P. 
Cecil, Sebastian. 
Collins, Thos. 1831, Howard County, 

Missouri. 
Collins, David, 1837. 
Deford,John M. 
Drake, James P. 
Davis, Matthew. 
Davis, James. 
Derritt, B. L. 
Davis, Jubal. 
Davis, William H. 
Dunnaway, Isaac. 
Davis, C, 1838, Ohio. 
Davis, Solomon, 1838, Ohio. 
Douglas. Henry T., 1835, Howard 

Count}', Missouri. 
Douglas, Mrs. C. P., 1835, Lincoln 

County, Kentucky. 
Dunning, Mrs. S. J. 1837, Kentucky, 
Elbert, Henry. 

East, Mrs. M. T., 1833, Tennessee. 
Fewell, H. P., 1833, Henry County, 

Missouri. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



113 



Fewell, J. M., 1839, Christian Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Fink, Mark J., 1835. Madison Coun- 
ty, Virginia, 

Fink, Elias J., 1840, Howard County, 
Missouri. 

Fink, W. C, 1840, Howard County, 
Missouri. 

Fink, Abner, 1835, Madison County, 
Virginia. 

Fields, Joseph, 1832, Virginia. 

Fields, Nathan F., 1834, Virginia. 

Fields, James W., 1833, Virginia. 

Fewell, B. C, 1838, Williamson Co., 
Tennessee. 

Fand, B. 

Trolinger, Henry, 1833. 

Goff, William, 1832. 

Goff, Andrew, 1832. 

Goff, L. J., 1839, Missouri. 

Goff, James M., 1836. 

Goff, Mrs. S. A., 1835, Missouri. 

Garth, Samuel D., 1834, Kentucky. 

Garth, Mrs. Ermie, 1834, Kentucky. 

George, William Chandler, 1835, 
Caroline County, Virginia. 

Gray, William A., 1836, Christian 
County, Kentucky. 

Gray, Dr. J. W., 1840, Henr}' County, 
Missouri. 

Gladden, William, 1832. 

Gladden, Robert, 1832. 

Goodin, Benjamin, 1832. 

Gragg, Malcom. 

Gragg, Alexander, 

Gordan, Jonathan. 

Gillet, George S. 

Greenup, John, 1835. 

Gray, Thomas. 

Gooch, John. 

Gordon, Russell M., 1836. 

Gordon, Pattison, 1837. 

Goodin, Amos H., 1832. 

Gladden, James, 1832. 



Ham, Wm. H., 1833, Howard Coun- 
ty, Missouri. 

Hughes, I. N., 1832, Christian Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Hughes, J. A., 1832, Christian Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Hastain, J. N., 1835, Missouri. 

Holland, F. C, 1838, Kentucky. 

Howerton, J. S., 1839, North Caro- 
lina. 

Hogan, William H. 

Hogan, Dr. James. 

Hogan, David. 

Hindley, Joseph B. 

Howard, Avery B. 

HoUey, Bartholomew. 

Hargreaves, James. 

Hargreaves, William. 

Hargreaves, Frederick. 

Howard, Seth. 

Hall, B. P. 

Hart, William. 

Holland, Whitniel. 

Irvin, James. 

Irason, Thomas, 1836. 

Jones, S. S., 1836, Woodson County, 
Tennessee. 

Jones, R., Jr., 1836, North Carolina. 

Jones, Richard, 1837, Virginia. 

Journey, A., 1839, Kentucky, 

Jones, Chesley. 

Jones, John. 

Jones, R., December, 1837, Virginia. 

Kimsey, Thomas, 1830. 

Kimsey, Alfred, 1830. 

Kimsey, Littleberry, 1830. 

Kimsey, John, 1830. 

Keeney, Rev. Thomas, 183 1. 

Knox, Thomas. 

Knox, Joseph A. 

Lewis, Howell, 1836, Virginia. 

Lotspeich, Henry, 1837, Tennessee. 

Littlepage, John D., 1839, Green- 
brier County, Virginia. 



114 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



Lake, George W., 1831, Virginia. 

Legg, Archibald C, 1833. 

Means, Robert, Sr., 1832, Christian 
County, Kentucky. 

Means, Robert D., 1832, Howard 
County,. Missouri. 

Means, Mrs. R. B.; 1834, Christian 
County, Kentucky. 

Means, Joseph, 1832, Christian 
County, Kentucky. 

McWilliams, James, 183 1, Ken- 
tucky. 

Merritt, M. B., 1840, Kentucky. 

Merritt, Mrs. S. A., 1839, Tennes- 
see. 

Means, Mrs. Marion W., 1839, Ken- 
tucky. 

Morgan, Russel M. 

Manship, George. 

Melton, Joel. 

Myrtle, Reuben. 

McDaniel, William. 

McPherson, Mark. 

Mockbee, H. C. 

Mockbee, Thomas. 

Mockbee, Cuthbert. 

Mockbee, John. 

Mulky, John. 

Martin, Abner, 1832. 

Martin, George W., 1832. 

Martin, Baker, 1832. 

Nash, James, 1832, Tennesse. 

Nave, John, 183 1. 

Nance, Benjamin S. 

Ogan, William D., 1834. 

Ogan, Mrs. J. G., 1833, Knox 
County, Kentucky. 

Owens, William, R., 1831. 

Owsley, John N., 1832. 

Oldham, John. 

Parazette, Francis, 1832, Ken- 
tucky. 

Palmer, Drury, 1831, Christian 
County, Kentucky. 



Palmer, Mrs. Mary A., 1831. 

Palmer, Daniel, 1840, Garret Coun- 
ty, Kentucky. 

Price, William B., 1831. 

Prinnell, Fielding A., 1831. 

Pigg, John A., 1836, Kentucky. 

Peeler, M. S., 1837, Orange Coun- 
ty, North Carolina. 

Peeler, S. D., 1837, Illinois. 

Peeler, H. F., 1839, Missouri. 

Parks, Peyton. 

Parks, James. 

Parks, Bird D., 1840, Kentucky, 

Prewitt, Esau. 

Pemberton, Thomas. 

Payne, James A. 

Perry, William T. 

Parks, William, 1835, Missouri. 

Pigg, Labon, 1836, Kentucky. 

Poor, Solomon. 

Poor, William. 

Parker, Benjamin G. 

Reid, Alfred, 1832, Kentucky. 

Read, Amanda, 1840, Clay County, 
Kentucky. 

Reed, John M. 

Reeder, Samuel. 

Rank, John. 

Ross, David. 

Reynolds, Wi liam. 

Robertson, Cyrus B. 

Radford, William P. 

Rains, James L. 

Swift, William, 1831. 

Swift, Isaac, 183 1. 

Sears, James B., 1831. 

Stone, Mrs. E. A., 1836, Henry 
County, Missouri. 

Simpson, William, 1831, Kentucky. 

Stevenson, Colby S., 1832, Christian 
County, Kentucky. 

Sissel, P. W., 1831, Virginia. 

Sharp, John F., 1832, Virginia. 

Sharp, C. C, 1832, Virginia. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. U| 

harp, p. B., 1832, Missouri. Woodward, James, 1832. 

Sproul, Robert. Woodward, John, 1832. 

Surface, Joel. Wallace, Thomas B., 1835. 

Surface, Jacob. Wallace, Benjamin F., 1835. 

Squires, George W. Wade, Richard, 1833, Kentucky. 

Shivers, Stephen. Warren, James. 

Striker, Peter. Wall, William M. 

Sweeny, Jonathan. Walker, John. 

Shannon, John. West, Mark. 

Swift, Thomas. White, David. 

Seaton, Edward. Wilson, John, 1833, Kentucky, 

Servis, Howard. Williams, John W. 

Stone, John C. Wright, William, 

Taylor, William B., 1837, Jefferson Watson, , 1837. 

County, Kentucky. Woodson, George B. 

Taylor, Rickard F., 1837, Louis- Woodson, William G. 

ville, Kentucky. Wiley, James. 

Taylor, Mrs. A. M., 1839, Ken- Wiley, Abraham, December, 1832, 
tucky. Tennessee. 

Thurston, Dr. Richard, 1835. Wiley, William. 

Trotter, George. Waters, F. 

Turner, George W. Waters, C. 

Thornton, J. T., 1839, Virginia. Woodson, Walter. 

Thompson, David. Westerfield, Dr. William J. 

Tuttle, Elias. Wolff, William. 

Walker, George W., 1832, Tennes- Young, Sarah Collins, 183 1, How- 
see, ard County, Missouri. 

Walker, Pleasant, 1832, Tennessee. Young, D. R., 1837, Lincoln Coun- 

Wade, P. D., 1830, Kentucky. ty, Kentucky. 

Williamson, B. F., 1840, Tennessee. 

OLD settler's poem. 

'Tis almost half a hundred years, 
Since you and I, old pioneer, 

With aspirations free, 
A home within this re^^ion sought ; 
But who of us then dreamed or thought 
To see the many changes wrought 

That we have lived to see ? 

From different counties then we came, 
Our object and our end the same — 

A home in this far west. 
A cabin here and there was found, 
Perhaps a little spot of ground 
Inclosed and cleared, while all around 

In nature's garb was dressed. 



Il6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Here then we saw the groves of green, 
Where woodman's axe had never been — 

The spreading prairies, too. 
Within these groves so dense and dark 
Was heard the squirrel's saucy bark ; 
The bounding stag was but the mark 

To prove the rifle true. 

But all is changed, the cabins gone, 

The clapboard roof with weight poles on. 

The rough-hewn puncheon floor, 
The chimneys made of stick and clay, 
Are seen no more — gone to decay — 
The men who built them, where are they ? 

I need not ask you more. 

They're gone, but they're remembered yet, 
Those cabin homes we can't forget, 

Although we're growing old ; 
Fond memory still the spot reveres 
The cabin homes of youthful years. 
Where, with compatriot pioneers, 

We pleasures had untold. 

The dense and tangled woodland, too. 
The groves we often wandered through. 

No longer now are there ; 
The praiiie with its sward of green, 
With flowrets wild no more are seen, 
But farms with dusty lanes between 

Are seen where once they were. 

Large towns and villages arise, 
And steeples point toward the skies. 

Where all was desert then; 
And nature's scenes have given place 
To those of art ; the hunter's chase 
Has yielded to the exciting race 

Of speculative men. 

Ah ! what a change the pioneer 
In forty years has witnessed here; 

The country's changing still ; 
How many changes it's passed through — 
And we, old friends, are changing, too — 
There's been a change in me and you, 

And still that change goes on. 

And when we think upon the past. 
Those friends whose lot with us was cast 

On this once wild frontier, 
And pass them all in our review. 
As often times in thought we do — 
Alas ! how very few 

Are there remaining here. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. II7 

A few years will come and go 

As other years have done, you know; 

And then ? Ah ! yes, what then ? 
The world will still be moving on ; 
But we, whose cheeks are growing wan, 
Will not be here ! We'll all be gone 

From out the ranks of men. 

Our places will be vacant here, 
And of the last old pioneer 

The land will be bereft; 
The places which we here have filled, 
The fields which we have cleared and tilled, 
Our barns, though empty or though filled, 

To others will be left. 

Let us go back — in memory, go — 
Back to the scenes of long ago. 

When we were blithe and young, 
When hope and expectations bright 
Were buoyant, and our hearts were light ; 
And fancy, that delusive spright. 

Her siren sonnets sung. 

'Tis natural that we should think, 
While standing on the river brink. 

How wide the stream has grown. 
We saw it when 'twas but a rill 
Just bursting from the sloping hill. 
And now its surging waters fill 

A channel broad, unknown. 

*Tis natural and proper, too. 

That we compare the old and new, 

The present and the past. 
And speak of those old fogy ways 
In which we passed our younger days; 
Then of the many new displays 

That crowd upon us fast. 

We little knew of railroads then, 

Or dreamed of that near period when 

We'd drive the iron horse ; 
And 'twould have made the gravest laugh 
Had he been told only one half 
The wonders ot the the telegraph — 

Then in the brain of Morse. 

We did not have machinery then 

To sow and reap and thresh the grain. 

But all was done by hand ; 
And those old-fashioned implements 
Have long ago been banished hence, 
Or rusting, lie inside the fence — 

No longer in demand. 



51 8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Yes, there are grown-up men, I know. 
Who never saw a bull-tongue plow, 

A flail or reaping hook ; 
And who could not describe, you know, 
A swingling board or knife, although 
Their grandmas used them long ago, 

And lessons on them took. 

The young man now would be amused 
To see some things his grandsire used, 

Some things he ne'er had seen ; 
The way in which we cleaned our wheat, 
When two strong men with blanket sheet 
Would winnow out the chaff and cheat, 
And twice or thrice the thing repeat, 
Until the grain was clean. 

The single shovel plow and hoe, 

To clean out weeds was all the show — 

We knew no better way; 
And now our sons would laugh to scorn 
Such poky ways of making corn, 
And bless their stars that they were born 

In more enlightened days. 

They say the world has wiser grown, 
They've got the speaking telephone — 

Talks hundred miles or more ; 
And preachers may preach and pray 
To congregations miles away; 
And thousand other things they say, 

We never had before. 

And yet I do not know but what 
The pioneer enjoyed his lot, 

And lived as much at ease, 
As men in these enlightened days, 
With all the strange, new fangled ways 
The world of fashion now displays, 

The mind of man to please. 

'Tis true, we did not live so fast, 
But socially our time was passed. 

Although our homes were mean ; 
Our neighbors then were neighbors true. 
And every man his neighbor knew, 
Although those neighbors might be few. 

And sometimes far between. 

Ah ! yes, old pioneers, I trow 

The world was brighter then than now 

To us gray-headed ones ; 
Hope pointed us beyond the vale, 
And whispered us a fairy tale, 
Of coming pleasures ne'er to fail 

Through all the shining suns. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 19 

Ambition, too, with smiles so soft, 
Was pointing us to seats aloft, 

Where fame and honor last. 
We had not learned what now we know — 
The higher up the mount we go 
The storms of life still fiercer blow, 

And colder is the blast. 

That though we reach the mountain top, 
Fruition find of every hope, 

Or wear the victor's crown ; 
Though far above the clouds we tread, 
Other clouds are still o'erhead, 
And on the mind there is the dread, 

The dread of coming down. 

Ah ! yes. Old Settlers, one and all. 
Whatever may us yet befall, 

We will not, can't forget, 
The simple and old-fashioned plans, 
The ruts in which our fathers ran 
Before the age of steam began 

To run the world in debt. 

But ere, my friends, we hence embark, 
We fain would place some leading mark 

Upon this mountain shore; 
A mark the traveler may see 
In coming years, and know that we 
Have lived and passed the road that he 

May then be passing o'er. 

When death's dark curtain shall be drawn, 
And we old pioneers are gone. 

Let truthful history tell 
To far off posterity the tale. 
As down the stream of time they sail, 
Bow we, with motto " Never fail," 

Came here, and what befel. 

Let history, then impartial state 
The incidents of every date, 

And that it so may do, 
Let pioneers of every age 
In this important work engage, 
And each of them produce his page, 

His page of history true. 

The incidents of early years, 
Known only to the pioneer, 

With them will soon be lost, 
Unless, before they hither go. 
Those incidents are stated so 
Posterity the facts may know. 

When they the stream have crossed. 



120 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

And while we talk upon the past, 
Of friends who seem to go so fast, 

And those already gone, 
It may not be, my friends, amiss 
For each of us to thir.k of this — 
The curtain of forgetfulness 

Will soon be o'er us drawn. 

The mind goes back through all the years — 
We call to mind the pioneers, 

Those bold and hardy men ; 
We pass them in the mind's review, 
The many dead, the living few; 
Those unpretending settlers, who 

Were our compatriots then. 

Men, who of toil were not afraid, 
Men who the early history made 

Of this now famous land ; 
The men who, ere the spoiler came, 
This heritage so fair to claim. 
Were here prepared, through flood and flame, 

Those claimants to withstand. 

But time would fail to speak of all 
Those changes that our mind recalls ; 

The world is strangely wise; 
And soon its passing scenes will bear 
The last old pioneer to where 
His lost and loved companions are. 

In lands beyond the skies. 

The poem closes, more particularly, the career of the old settlers 
and their work. It gives in verse a better description of the old pioneer 
and his life-long labors than many pages of prose could have done, and 
was written by one who had been a prominent actor in pioneer life, hav- 
ing settled in Jackson County in 1826. Not all has been given which 
the compiler of this history would like to record, and doubtless many 
omissions may be discovered that should have had a place in the forego- 
ing pages, but what is here given is a record of facts, and a pretty full 
account of the early settlement of the county. 



CHAPTER IV. 



MEXICAN WAR AND THE LAND OF GOLD— DEATH AND 

LUCRE. 

MEXICO-WAR-VOLUNTEERS— THEIR RETURN -THE LAND OF GOLD— THE RUSH FOR 
THE PROMISED LAND - SUFFERINGS AND DEATH— FEVER IN HENRY COUNTY- 
SOME GOT WEALTH AND MANY POVERTY-THOSE WHO WENT AND THOSE WHO 
DIED-THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO RETURNED-ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST- 
LEGAL DOCUMENTS— MARRIAGES— WILLS— DEEDS— SLAVES-WIDOWS DOWER. 

MEXICAN WAR. 

The next few years were uneventful ones so far as local affairs were 
concerned. The Mexican war, which began in 1846, sent a thrill of 
excitement through the hearts of the people. The regular army was 
not able to cope with the Mexican forces on account of superiority of 
number of the latter, and a call for volunteers was made. The southern 
states, being nearest the scene of conflict, rushed their volunteers to the 
front, but it was not long before it was shown by the people of the coun- 
try that the treasonable and cold-blooded utterance of an Ohio member 
in the halls of congress had no resting place in the hearts of the peo- 
ple: "That Mexico should welcome our soldiers with bloody hands to 
hospitable graves." General Taylor opened the fight at Palo Alto, 
Resaca de la Palma and Monterey, but it was done at the loss of the 
brave and gallant Ringgold, who met his fate at Palo Alto, and a host of 
others, who gave their lives to their country's glory. And it will do no 
harm to mention here the initial steps in the science of war taken by a 
number of gallant officers, who proved themselves heroes upon more 
than one battle field of the Mexican war, who on broader and more 
extended fields attracted by their skill and daring the attention of the 
world. These young heroes of the Mexican war were Grant, McClellan, 
Lee, Beauregard, Hill, Jackson, Sherman, Hooker, Longstreet, Buell, 
Johnston, Lyon, Anderson, Kearney, Thomas, Ewell and Davis. And 
of thirty officers mentioned by General Scott for their skill and daring 
sixteen were generals in the Union Army and fourteen were generals in 
that of the Confederacy. It was not until 1847, when a second call for 
troops was made, that two companies were formed — one commanded by 
Captain Nathaniel B. Holden, of Warrensburg, and the other by Cap- 



122 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

tain John Hollovvay, of Warsaw. Into these two commands something 
like a hundred volunteers came from Henry County, some joining the 
former and some the latter company. Captain Holden's company 
belonged to the Twelfth United States Infantry, while Captain Hollo- 
way's was Company C of the First Regiment of Missouri Mounted Vol- 
unteers under Colonel Sterling Price. Colonel Price and his command, 
and the triumphant march and famous battles of General A. W. Doni- 
phan and his heroic men, have won a glowing page in the history of our 
country. Some of that band of gallant men who lived to return, wear- 
ing bright garlands of victory, were from Henry County. 

" A thousand glorious actions that might claim 
Triumphant laurels and immortal fame." 

Among those who did not return, but whose bones now lie on Mex- 
ican soil, was Cyrus D. Fletcher. He died at Camp Calhoun, March 29, 
1847. He was under Holloway and in General Price's command. Ben- 
jamin W. Coats joined Capt. John N. Conant's company of Texas 
mounted volunteers, and also died. Then there were E. Preston Davis, 
Isaac N. Shooks, John B. East, James J. East, and Joseph Burks, who 
were in Captain Holden's command, who left their bones to bleach upon 
the soil of our foe, and joined on the golden shore the brave Ringgold, 
the gallant Clay, the intrepid Yell, and the noble Hardin, who wreathed 
their brows with the garland of death. And these names of the gallant 
dead, with those of Taylor, Scott, Price, and Doniphan, will go down in 
history, their fame growing broader and deeper as time rolls on. 

THEn< RETURN. 

Others returned to their homes to receive a joyous greeting. Thomas 
E. Owens, now in Colorado, joined the Texas Rangers, and in Holden's 
company was Dr. J. J. Grinstead, B. Q. Mitchenor, Paris Pinkston, James 
Davis, Hezekiah Major, William Bull, Dr. B. F. Smith, John W. Hall, 
and many others whose names it has been impossible to obtain. In 
Captain's Holloway's company was James W. Williams, Richard Taylor, 
Jesse Priggins, and many others. These all returned. Captain Holloway 
passed through this county on his way to Warsaw with his men, drop- 
ping them along as they reached their homes. He and his men took 
dinner at George W. and Preston Walker's, in Shawnee Township, on 
their return. He had about thirty men. The next morning they took 
breakfast at Thomas W. Jones', about half way between Clinton and 
Warsaw, and the same night were received with open arms by the patri- 
otic citizens of that town, who gave them a big supper and showed 
unmistakable joy at their return. Captain Holloway, in 1849, left for 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 23 

California, and he who had stood in the van of battle and escaped, died 
on his way to California and was buried on the banks of Green River. 

The war shed a lustre upon American arms, and they who lived and 
returned to their country received the plaudits of the people. Those 
who died in defense of their homes can have no higher tribute paid to 
their heroic deeds than the cherished memory that is ever in the hearts 
of the American people. 

"And they who for their country die 
Shall fill an honored grave, 
For glory lights the soldier's tomb 
And beauty weeps for the brave." 

THE LAND OF GOLD. 

The war with Mexico had scarcely closed when astounding news 
came in fitful gusts from the Pacific Coast. The report was that gold 
had been found in that western land; that the waters of the Pacific 
Ocean actually washed a golden shore, and that among the mountains 
and on the plains, on Iiill tops and in gulches, the golden ore was found. 
All this carne to the ears of the people, and when corroborated created 
the wildest excitement. Talk of frenzy, the madness of the hour, the 
surging of the wild sea waves when the storm king lashes them to fury, 
listen to the clamor of contending hosts when the god of battle urges 
on the serried ranks to slaughter and to death ! Think of all these 
combined into one terrible onset, and you can then have only a faint 
conception of that mighty throng who truly proved the madness of the 
hour, and whose pathway became a charnel house of sorrow and death, 
while the road became whitened with the bones of the victims who had 
failed to realize their hopes and dreams and never reached the golden 
shore. In that far distant land, where the white-capped waves kissed 
the pebbly beach on the Pacific's sunlit coast and sang the soft lullaby 
of a murmuring sea, or where the storm king in his wrath goaded the 
grand old ocean to fury, there gold, bright, yellow gold, had been found. 
The rush for the wonderful land was as the charge of a mighty host. In 
wagon, on foot, on horseback, everywhere the tide to the western bor- 
der of our state, and there the vast throng " Crossed the Rubicon," until 
the plains were white with their covered wagons and tents, and they 
entered the portals of an unknown beyond, some to pass the arid waste, 
others to leave their bones to mark the pathway for those who followed. 
It was many days, days of terrible suffering, before those prisoners of a 
trackless plain saw the light breaking and the golden land appear in 
view, for which they had longed with yearning hearts and looked for 
with eyes dimmed by expiring hope, but seen at last. Despair gave 
way to joy too great for utterance. The El Dorado had been reached; 
would their hopes be realized .-' 



124 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

THEY CROSSED THE " DARK RIYER." 

That hegira has left terrible foot-prints upon the pages of time. 
History has recorded in words of burning intensity and vivid brightness 
the hardship and sufferings of thousands who sought fame and fortune 
on the shore of that distant land. How many succeeded, or how many^ 
after suffering and enduring all in the hope of a brighter day, failed, will 
never be recorded. The stream of surging humanity kept on for years^ 
for many had gained a fortune, and California, the land of precious met- 
als, became to the poor man a veritable land of promise, but in reaching 
it many weary days and nights were passed, and many dropped by the 
wayside — crossing not the plains which bordered the land of their hopes 
and desires, but over the " dark river," with their fate unknown, until 
Gabriel's trump shall sound. 

GOLD FEVER IN HENRY. 

Henry County did not escape the intense excitement which ruled 
the hour, and many of her citizens caught the fever in a violent form, 
and probably over a hundred of her hardy and most enterprising sons 
left for the wonderful land. Many of those who started had been pio- 
neers of the county^ — men who had blazed a pathway for the car of pro- 
gress and endured the privation and sufferings of all those who lead the 
van of civilization, and what they had seen and endured here, they were 
ready to endure again when the prospects seemed so bright, for the 
reports came thick and fast that it was indeed a wonderful land, and 
gold could be had for the picking. Still other reports came to hand, of 
hardships untold, of suffering and death, yet it abated not one jot or 
tittle of the eager desire and determination of all to seek wealth in the 
land of sunset. They had endured, and could endure again, and they 
proposed to work as man never worked before, and believing they would 
realize great results, left for the promised Elysium. Just how many left 
Henry County is not of record. That over one hundred, as before 
stated, left, is very certain. Some returned to their homes happy, with 
a competency, others sank by the wayside, while others became residents 
of the country, making it their choice for a future home. 

Those who returned well supplied with the "root of all evil" were 
very willing to make it known that they had " made their pile," but the 
size of said pile was one of those things " no feller" ever could find out. 
Those who returned to Henry County and their homes were not all 
wealthy by any means; still, just what they did have was not known. 
Some spent money, bought farms and stock, improved the old place and 
gave evidence of being well to do, and things did brighten up consider- 
ably on their return, and Henry County seemed to grow and expand as 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 25 

money circulated and energy took possession of the helm. Henry 
County undoubtedly secured her share of the wealth found and gathered 
in the Golden West, and she also had her sufferings and her losses of 
that wonderful period. 

Of those who left for the land of gold only a partial list can be 
given, and is as follows: 

John W. Williams. Samuel K. Williams. 

Major S. M. Peeler. John Peeler. 

Samuel Garth. John Garth. 

John Sweeney, died on the way. Charles Sweeney, died on the way. 

James P. Pinnell, died in California. Wash. Ashby, died in California. 

Richard Taylor, Benjamin Barker. 

John Slavens. George Slavens. 

H. B. Witherspoon. Porter Bone. 

Samuel Burnside. John R. Tennison. 

Bird D. Parks. ^ Monroe Duncan. 

Israel Putnam. Rufus Putnam. 

John R. Gilmore. Aaron Cunningham. 

Isaac Cunningham. Captain Gillette. 

George East. Nathan East. 

John William Thornton. James Kimsey. 

George W. Squires. John Wilson. 

Ward Drake, died in California. Charles Drake, died in California. 

Walker Wallace, died in California. David Ross, died on Green River, 

Benjamin McDaniel. going out. 

Samuel McDaniel. James Davis. 

T. C. Davis. Free Nichols. * 

James Witherspoon. John Henry Royston. 

Dr. Edward Royston. Michael Gillette. 

Samuel January. Peter January. 

Not much can be gathered of those who returned, only that those 
who went overland, unless well prepared, suffered terribly. Those who 
went around the " Horn " fared but little better. Not many incidents 
happened to mar the monotony of their existence. Major Peeler and 
Dr. Ed. Royster, being together one day, succeeded in killing a buffalo. 
The Major shot, and the Doctor came gallantly to his aid with his scal- 
pel, and this is about all that can be gathered of interest. In fact many 
days had not passed before the constant tramp, tramp, began to tell, and 
but little energy was expended outside of their daily travel. 

SOME FACTS. 

The first white child born in Henry County was Susan I. Avery, 
October 6, 1832, on section 10, Tebo Township, now Mrs. Roberts. 



126 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The first male child born in Henry County was R. P. Blevins, Octo- 
ber 20, 1833, on section 16, Shawnee Township. 

The first child born in Clinton was Ermie Nave, now Mrs. Hall, 
born on section 3, Clinton Town and Township, February 12, 1836. 

The first child born in Henry County was Julia Ann Sherman, a 
colored child, born June 14, 1832. The mother belonged to Robert 
Means, Sr. The father of this child lived to the age of 105 years. The 
child lives in Windsor City, at the age of fifty years. 

The first death was a colored boy belonging to John Barker, who 
lived on fractional section 6, Springfield Township. He died August 15, 
1832, soon after th- ir arrival in the county. 

The first white child that died was that of John Buchanan, about one 
year old. It died in October, 1832. 

The first preacher was Rev. Addison Young, Cumberland Presbyte- 
rian, who preached to the first settlers in 1830. He was soon joined by 
the Rev. Abraham Millice, Methodist, a circuit rider, and Rev. Thomas 
Keeney, a Baptist. The former preached as early as 183 1, and the latter 
came in 1832. The first resident minister was Henry Avery, July 10, 
1831. 

The first school taught was in 1833, but whether the claim can be 
given to Windsor Township, or Fields' Creek, is hard to tell. An Irish- 
man by the name of Johnson taught school at John Nave's, at William 
Swift's, and at Sears', but Rev. Colby S. Stevenson taught a school in 
Windsor Township in the fall of 1833, in an old log cabin, down on 
Tebo Branch, about two and a half miles south of Windsor. 

In 1835 there were three log school houses erected in Henry County, 
built by the neighbors, and they were subscription schools. 

The first resident physician in the county was Dr. Richard Wade, 
from Kentucky. He settled on section 4, Tebo Township, in 1833. 

The first horse mill in the county was put up by Dr. Wade in the 
fall of 1833, on section 4, on one of the branches of West Tebo Creek. 

The first county court was at Henry Avery's, section 10, Tebo Town- 
ship, May 4 and 5, 1835. 

The first circuit court was at William Goff's, fractional section i, 
September 21, 1835. 

The first postoffice in the county was established 1835, and William 
Goff was postmaster. 

The first water mill erected in the county was put up by Littleberry 
Kimsey on Henry Creek, on section 4, in the year 1837. The mill stood 
on the property now owned and occupied by Benjamin Barker. 

The first hanging in Henry County was on July 31, 1846. James 
Lester was hung for the murder of Scott D. King. The gallows was 
erected near or upon the site of the present Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
Railroad depot, south of the town. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 12/ 

The first reward ever paid by Henry County, was the sum of $ioo 
paid to E. S. Pike, May, 1881, for the arrest of John W. Patterson for 
the murder James G. Clark. 

The present president of the "Old Settlers' Reunion," is George W. 
Walker, since October i, 1879. 

The oldest chair in the county is 240 years old, was made in Mary- 
land of oak with a drawing knife, and has a splint bottom. It is the 
property of Mrs. James M. Lindsay. The Wall family first took it in to 
North Carolina and was brought by Mrs. Lindsay from that state with 
the North Carolina Colony, which settled in Henry County in 1839. 

The first loss sustained by the county was in 1866. Something like 
$10,000 in Henry County property, which was sent to St. Louis and 
deposited with Miller & Kaist for safe keeping, during the the troubles 
of the civil war. The firm busted. , 

The second loss amounted, January i, 1883, to over $900,000, but as 
the loss is still going on and will continue so for from five to ten years 
to come, a future historian will have to make the footing and present a 
balance sheet to the people. 

. legal documents — marriage certificates. 

.Commonwealth of Missouri, 
Rives County. 

I do hereby certify that on the I2th day of November, 1835, I joined 
together in the rights of matrimony as husband and wife, Mr. Thomas 
A. Knox and Miss Nancy Allen. 

Given under my hand this 3d day of December, 1835. 

ABRAHAM MILLICE, 
Ordained Minister of the Gospel. 

The above seems to have been the earliest marriage after the county 
was organized. There was another certificate of a marriage on the 9th 
of December, and one on the 24th of the same month. 

Two more certificates are given, first, because of their brevity, and 
for the reason that turn about was fair play, it looks as if the sisters had 
swapped brothers; undoubtedly these young ladies met, and one said to 
the other, I will give you my brother for yours, and it looks as if the 
bargain was closed at once. Here are the models: 

CERTIFICATES. 

Solemnized marriage between John Sears and Dorcas Prigmore, the 
3d day of December, 1835. 

C. T. STEVENSON, E. C. C. 

Solemnized marriage between Daniel Prigmore and Mary Sears, on 
the 17th day of January, 1836. C. T. STEVENSON, E. C. C. 



128 HISTORY OF HENR\ COUNTY. 

The last three letters are supposed to stand for " Elder of the Christ- 
ian Church." 

FIRST WILL. 

The first will of record is given below. Mr. Cecil came to this 
county in 1834, and settled on section 35, of township 42, range 24, in 
what is now known as Springfield Township. The will reads as follows: 

I, Philip Cecil, of the county of Rives, and state of Missouri, do 
make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form 
as follows: I bequeath to my wife Polly, one-third part of all my estate, 
both real and personal, during her natural life. I bequeath to my four 
daughters, viz: Allelia Trollinger, Penelope Cecil, Almira Surface and 
Anna Legg, two hundred dollars each, to be paid them as soon as the 
money can be collected out of the money owing and now due to me. 
The balance of my money I leave and bequeath to my four sons, viz: 
William W., John F., Sebastian J. and Philip W. Cecil. I will and devise 
that the best half of my stock, and of the produce of my farm be kept 
on my farm for the use of my family, and that the balance be sold, and 
the money arising therefrom be equally divided between my four daugh- 
ters, aforesaid. T further devise that out of the money above devised to 
my four sons, that so much be reserved as may be necessary to purchase 
the quarter section of land to which I now hold the right of pre-emption, 
for the use and benefit of my wife during her natural life, and at her 
decease to descend to my son Philip W. I also will and bequeath to my 
wife my negro boy, Huland, for ten years from this date, and then and 
thereafter to my son, William W. I devise that my farming utensils 
and tools of all kinds be kept for the use of the farm. I also devise and 
bequeath the money arising from the sale of my land in Virginia, to my 
four sons, to be divided equally among them, and likewise my share of 
the money coming to me out of my mother's estate. 

I do hereby appoint my wife, Polly Cecil, my executrix of this, my 
last will and testament, revoking all others. In witness whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal this 23d day of July, in the year of our 
Lord, 1836. his 

PHILIP X CECIL. [SEAL.] 
mark. 

Signed and sealed in presence of Joseph Montgomery and Cyrus V. 
Robinson. 

TRUST DEED. 

The first deed of record proved to have been a trust deed to secure 
what in those times was called a store debt. There are quite a number 
of these deeds of record for the years 1836-7. Deeds of real estate were 
few, for not many of the early settlers had secured their patents, 
and therefore when they squatted on the land their ability to sell was 
only their improvements and the desirability of their location. More 
or less of claims changed hands from year to year, for man is inclined to 
be a roving animal, and it at times requires a strong incentive to make 
him contented in one place for any length of time. However, this was 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 29 

supposed in those days to have been " God's own country," and not many 
at this day will deny that it is one of the fairest spots to be found on 
this green earth, and very few who chanced to find a home upon the 
bountiful soil of Henry County ever cared to leave it. And this is found 
in the lives of so many old settlers living to-day, and the graves and 
names of all those who pioneered the advance guard of Henry County's 
stalwart sons and graceful and handsome daughters. 

Deeds of record for patents received began to come in more often 
in the year 1837. As above stated, the first deed of record was a trust 
deed upon personal property, and the following is a true copy: 

Know all men by these presents that I, John Anderson, for and in 
'consideration of the sum of one dollar in hand, paid, the receipt whereof 
is hereby acknowledged, hath bargained, sold and conveyed, and by 
these presents doth bargain, sell and convey unto George B. Woodson 
the following property, to wit: Three yoke of oxen, the lead oxen of 
the two yoke being red steers with white faces, and the third yoke being 
one a dark red and the other a black. The right and title to said prop- 
erty to the said Woodson I hereby warrant and forever defend. 

The condition of the above conveyance is such that, whereas, the 
above named John Anderson is justly indebted to Hall & Fletcher in 
the sum of fifty-one dollars and sixt}'-two cents, by bond bearing date 
August 24, 1836, and payable twelve months after date, and the said 
Anderson being desirous to secure the above named Hall & Fletcher in 
the aforesaid sum, hereby conveys and transfers to the said Woodson 
the above mentioned property, in trust, nevertheless. The said Wood- 
son, in case of the default on the part of the said Anderson, when 
required by said Hall & Fletcher, after said note becomes due, shall, 
after advertising the time and place of sale for thirty days previous, at 
three of the most public places in the County of Rives, proceed to sell 
to the highest bidder, for cash, the above property, or so much thereof 
as will be necessary to satisfy the debt aforesaid with interest, and pay 
over any balance, should any remain in the hands of the trustee, after 
satisfying the same, to the said Anderson. Now if the above named 
John Anderson shall well and truly pay and satisfy the above named 
Hall & Fletcher in the above mentioned debt as foresaid, then the above 
conveyance to be void, else, remain in full force and virtue. 

Test : his 

BENJAMIN X REYNOLDS. 

mark. JOHN ANDERSON. [seal.] 

GEO. B. WOODSON. [seal.] 

widow's dower and distribution of slaves. 

As years hence there may be a curiosity to know something of 
slaves and slave times, there is given below the distribution of the slaves 
of the estate of Reuben Parks, deceased, as an illustration of how slaves 
were generally held at the South. When the estate was unable to keep 
them the slaves generally were allowed to choose their master among 

' 9 



130 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

those wishing to purchase. In the case above the slaves, thirteen in 
number, were divided among the family, the widow having first choice, 
the children following according to their ages, or if they preferred, to 
settle it without. These slaves were valued as follows : Big Jim, $450; 
Little Jim, $600; Kesiah, $5CX); Grey, $425; Henry, $325; Harriet, $400; 
Ben, $300; Tabitha $200; Laban $175; Jack, $100; Fanny $450; Judy 
(old), 000. 

The widow, Mrs. Nancy Parks, had as her dower right one-third 
interest. She chose Grey, $425; Fanny $450, and Jack (the toddler) 
$100, She also took Judy and agreed to take care of her without 
charge. She was too old to work but she was given a good home the 
remainder of her life. The children selected, or divided the others 
among themselves, leaving just one for each of the children as his. 

It was all settled satisfactory and the returns made to the court. 
When one got the best he paid the other heirs the difference. P'or 
instance, the amount each was to have at the slave's valuation after the 
mother took her share was $368.75. Now Byrd Parks drew Little Jim, 
$600, and he paid the difference over ($368.75) to the other heirs, who 
took, say Henry at $325, or Laban valued at $175. The commissioners 
who had charge returned the report as above and it was approved. 

AN ORPHAN CARED FOR. 

The following order appears of record at the August term, 1846, 
and shows how they took care of the orphans in those early days. It 
reads: 

" Ordered that Elijah E. Gates, a poor child, without parents, 
guardian or estate, aged thirteen years on the i6th day of July, 1846, be 
bound to Asaph W. Bates until he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one 
years, and thereupon the said Bates came into court and entered into an 
indenture tha' he would instruct and teach the said Gates in the mys- 
teries of the trade of a blacksmith and such other employment as he 
may lawfully require of him, and that he will cause the said Gates to be 
taught to write and read and the ground rules of arithmetic, and at the 
expiration of the time of service will give him a new Bible, two new 
suits of clothes, to be worth $40, and $10 in the current money of the 
United States." 



CHAPTER V. 



OFFICIAL HISTORY— CULLINGS FROM THE COUNTY COURT 

RECORDS. 



WHEN RIVES BECAME A COUNTY— ACT OF ORGANIZATION- DATE DECEMBER 13, 1834- 
COUNTY SEAT COMMISSIONS— RIVES COUNTY BOUNDARY— COUNTY COURT AND 
COUNTY JUDGES— MUNICIPAL DIVISIONS- ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP— FIRST SHERIFF, 
TREASURER, ETC.— COUNTY SEAT COMMISSIONER-NEW COURT HOUSE-SALE OF 
TOWN LOTS IN CLINTON-VALUATION AN D ASSESSMENT— FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT 
—1837— SEVERAL ITEMS OF INTEREST— SALE OF SCHOOL LANDS. 

WHEN RIVES BECAME A COUNTY. 

The official history of Henry County may be said to date from the 
organization act of the legislature, December 13, 1834, yet in reality its 
actual date should commence on May 4, 1835, for it was on that day that 
the first official recognition of its existence was made. A county court 
convened, consisting of two members, and their acts on the two days of 
their session was the first official recognition. 

The act, however, of the general assembly of the State of Missouri 
gave to the people a corporate existence under the name of "Rives 
County," and the official life thus ordained has been worn with honor, 
and to the people has come prosperity and wealth. It is a magnificent 
domain, rich in an exhaustless soil. Wealth lies hidden beneath its sur- 
face to the extent of hundreds of square miles of coal fields, and with a 
climate unsurpassed, Henry County stands in the front of the muni- 
cipal division, which composes our great and glorious commonwealth. 

The act of organization: 

COUNTY OF RIVES. 

"An Act to organize the counties of Johnson and Rives, and to fix the 
southern boundary of Lafayette County." Of this act sections 7, 8 
and 9 refer to the organization of Rives County, as follows: 

ORGANIZATION. 

All that portion of territory included in the following limits, is 
hereby erected into a separate and distinct county, to be called the 
County of Rives, in honor of Hon. William C. Rives, of Virginia,. 
to wit: 



132 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Beginnings at the southwest corner of section 30, township 44, range 
28, thence south along the line of Van Buren and Bates Counties to 
the northwest corner of St. Clair County; thence east along the north- 
ern line of St. Clair County to the range line between 23 and 24; 
thence north to the southeast corner of Johnson County; thence west to 
the place of beginning. 

Sec. 8. The said county of Rives shall be added to and compose 
a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and that the circuit court for said 
county shall be held on the first Mondays of April, August and Decem- 
ber, until otherwise provided by law, and that the courts to be holden in 
said county shall be held at the house of llenry Avery, until the tribu- 
nal transacting county business shall fix upon a temporary seat of justice 
for said county; the county court of said county shall be holden on the 
first Mondays in February, May, August and November. 

Sec. 9. The commissioners appointed by the sixth section of this 
act, viz: Henderson Young and Daniel McDowell, of Lafayette County, 
and Daniel M. Boone, of the county of Jackson, for the purpose of 
selecting a seat of justice for the county of Johnson, are also authorized 
and appointed to make the selection for the seat of justice for the county 
of Rives, and are hereby invested with full powers agreeably to the pro- 
visions of the existing laws in relation to that subject. 

Approved December 13, 1834. 

At the same session of the general assembly, the boundary lines of 
St. Clair County were defined, but as the county was not then populous 
enough to warrant its organization as a distinct municipality, it was 
attached by special act of the legislature to the county of Rives, for 
civil and military purposes, until such time as it might of itself become 
an independent county. The act which made it a part of Rives County 
was passed February, 1835. This act reads as follows : 

'' Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri : 

" All that portion of the territory lying south of Rives County, west 
of Benton, now known by the name of St. Clair County, shall be attached 
to the county of Rives for all civil and military purposes, until otherwise 
provided by law." 

"Passed February ii, 1835." 

The following act defining the limits of the several counties of the 
state was passed by the general assembly at the session held in the win- 
ter of 1834-5, and was approved March 20, 1835. Section 38 of the act 
refers to Rives County, and gives the following boundary : 

. RIVES COUNTY. 

" Beginning at the southwest corner of section 30, township 44, 
range 28 ; thence south to the line between the townships 39 and 40 ; 
thence east to the line between ranges 23 and and 24; thence north to 
the southeast corner of Johnson County ; thence west to the beginning." 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 33 

As will be seen by the act of organization, the county court was to 
meet on the first Mondays of February, May, August and November, 
but for some reason not explained, the first session of the county court 
was held in May, 1835, commencing on Monday the 4th, and met as 
directed in the organization act at the house of Henry Avery, 

At this session of the county court but two judges appeared instead 
of three, and no sheriff. The county judges were Thomas Arbuckle and 
William Goff. The clerk, Jonathan T. Berry, was appointed by the 
judges present. While under, of and a part of the civil jurisdiction of 
Lafayette County, Henry Avery was a justice of the peace of Tebo 
Township (spelled in those days Teabo) and William B. Price was con- 
stable. The above township comprised as far as we can learn the pres- 
ent Henry County. At least no other township is mentioned, and these 
gentlemen and early pioneers made their appearance at the first session 
of the county court, and then and there offered their resignations, which 
were accepted. The court then appointed George B. Woodson assessor 
and John G. Castleman constable, and this closed the first day's proceed- 
ings of the county court. 

On Tuesday morning, May 5, 1835, the county court proceeded to 
lay off the county of Rives into municipal townships. They divided the 
same into four and named them respectively Big Creek, Tebo, Spring- 
field and Grand River. {See map on Jiext pa^e.) 

At the same time the county of St. Clair was called the township of 
St. Clair, taking in the entire county. On the second day. May 5th, 
the first justice of the peace was appointed in place of Mr. Avery, 
resigned, and Mr. Colby T. Stevenson received the appointment. Not 
having any further business the court adjourned to court in course, and 
both signed the minutes, as also the clerk. 

THOMAS ARBUCKLE, 
WILLIAM GOFF, 

Jonathan T. Berry, Clerk. County Judges. 

These judges had received their commissions from Governor Daniel 
Dunklin. 

At the second meeting of the county court, three judges appeared, 
Joseph Montgomery having received his commission from the governor. 
At this session, also, Joseph Fields presented his commission as sheriff 
of Rives County. Neither of the county justices commissions are of 
record but that of the sheriff was duly recorded as was also his bond, 
approved by Charles H. Allen, circuit judgeof the Sixth Judicial Circuit. 
This second session of the county court, as also the first session of the 
circuit court, was held at the house of William Goff, nearly six miles from 
Mr. Henry Avery's. Just when the circuit court opened is hard to tell, the 
records of the first three years having been lost. But Judge Allen was 



'134 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



RIVES COUNTY, 









Range 


Lines. 








44 


28 


27 


2 


6 


25 


24 


43 i 


BIG CREEK 


TOWNSHIP. 






TEBO 


TOWNSHIP. 


IS 

c 

o 

42^ 




















41 


GRAND 
TOWN 


RIVER 
SHIP. 






SPRING 
TOWN 


FIELD 
SHIP. 


40 














39 


ST. CLAIR COUNTY 
Under the Civil and Military 


38 


Jurisdiction of Rives County. 


37 


Named by Rives County Court 
ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP. 


36 





The double lines divide townships. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. I35 

• 
at Goff's, September 21, 1835, and it is to be presumed that he held court 
while there. The act of organization says that Henry County shall be 
attached to the Fifth Judicial Circuit. Whether it was an error or the 
number changed is not down, but Judge Allen signed his name as judge 
of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. There was also an adjourned meeting of 
the county court on the 23d of September, 1835, and the rate of taxation 
decided upon. The levy was ten cents on the $100, valuation. Twelve 
dollars for merchants license for six months, and ten cents on the $100 
valuation of stock, peddlers to pay a license of $20 and taverns $18 per 
year. Each poll, or as they called it, tethable, thirty-one and a quarter 
cents. The county seat at GofTs was located on fractional section i, 
in township 42, of range 25. The assessment was reported by George B. 
Woodson and the levy made as above. Mr. Woodson received for his 
services as assessor that year, 1835, $54.50. 

ELECTION OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

The organization of the township required the election of officers, 
and the election took place in August, 1835. Those elected were Abra- 
ham Banta, constable, of Springfield Township ; Chesley Jones, in Tebo 
Township ; Philip Cecil, justice of the peace for Springfield Township. 
These were the only ones reported, but Colby T, Stevenson, still held 
the office of justice of the peace for Tebo. 

The September term of the county court, elected Joseph Mont- 
gomery as its presiding officer. Judge Montgomery came from St. Clair 
County, or Township, as it was then called, and after the organization of 
St. Clair County in 1841, became prominent in local affairs of the new 
county. They held a special election in St. Clair Township, October 
24, 1835, for a justice of the peace and constable, and that was the first 
election ever held within that county. The County Court of Rives 
County, however, found that the one township composing the county 
covered too much space, concluded to make two townships out of it, 
and did so November 4, 1835. They were named respectively: Wau- 
bleau and Monegaw. 

The first was spelled Wablaw and afterwards Waeubleau, but we 
believe it is now spelled as first used above, " Waubleau." Range line 25 
divided the two townships, the east being called Waubleau and the west 
Monegaw. 

November 28, 1835, Joseph Fields ajfpointed Nathan A. Fields his 
deputy, and the appointment received the approval of Judge Charles H. 
Allen, judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. 

The judge had also approved the appointment of Fielding A. Pin- 
nell as circuit clerk pro tempore. This latter was of record September 
21, 1835. 



136 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

There was no general election, it seems, held in August, 1835. 

Joseph Fields' commission of sheriff was dated August 4 of that 
year, and the county court appointed some of the justices and consta- 
bles. 

The sixteenth section of township 42 of range 26 was the first school 
lands sold in Rives County. They were ordered sold at the April term 
of the circuit court, and the order of sale dated February i, 1836. Sec- 
tion 16, township 40 of range 25 was sold in November. At this term 
of the court (February) William Goff resigned as one of the county jus- 
tices and was appointed by the court county treasurer, which he held 
until August, 1837, when he resigned. Joseph Montgomery was appointed 
county surveyor, which he held until St. Clair County was organized. 
He did not, however, resign his county judgeship. 

In May, 1836, a slight change was made in the line between town- 
ships Grand River and Springfield. The first road laid out in the county 
was in the same month, and started at the Johnson County line, "near, or 
at the high point of Postoaks, and then to a point designed as the 
county seat of Rives County, thence south through the county of St. 
Clair, crossing the Osage Mission at or near Crow & Crutchfield's store, 
to the county line of Polk County in the direction of Bolivar." 

Willis Bush and David White were appointed overseers of the part 
in Rives county. 

Phillip Cecil, a justice of the peace, died in July, 1836, which is the 
first death of record, and whose will was recorded. His wife, Polly Cecil, 
was administratrix, and Cyrus C. Robertson and Samuel Garth were 
appointed to examine and invoice the effects of the estate. 

Russel Morgan was the second death, and probate action taken by 
the court. The probate court was a part of the county court in this 
county until 1872, but the county court, after the year 1856, kept the 
records in separate books. The early probate business will all be found 
in the county court records previous to the above date. 

Peyton Parks was appointed assessor for the year 1833, and the tax 
levy was the same as that of 1835. 

DEATH OF JOSEPH FIELDS. 

The death of the sheriff, Joseph Fields, left Nathan A. Fields acting 
sheriff for a few months, until the August election of 1836, when Robert 
Allen was elected. The sheriff and collector's ofifice was one and the 
same until 1872, when the collector's office was attached to the treas- 
urer's. 

Jonathan T. Berry, county clerk, presented his resignation of that 
office to the county court at the August term, 1836, and Fielding A. 
Pinnell received the appointment. Mr. Pinnell held the office for sev- 
enteen years. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 137 

In the meantime the county seat question had been agitated and 
settled, the commissioners having made their report. The report was 
accepted at the November term of the court, 1836. 

The location selected was the southeast quarter of section 3, town- 
ship 41, of range 26. The county court appointed Peyton Parks county 
seat commissioner, or county commissioner for the permanent seat of 
justice of Rives County. Mr. Parks was given full power to lay off the 
town, to sell lots and to do any and all things necessary in such cases 
made and provided. Mr. Parks laid off sixty-four lots, and the streets 
surrounding the public square. That is, under his direction James M. 
Goff surveyed the grounds, fixed the stakes, and Goff's assistants were 
James Gladden, Robert Sproul and William George, the two latter car- 
rying the chains and otherwise assisting. Mr. Goff received $42.75 for 
the survey, the three last named $3.50 each, and Mr. Parks came in for 
$17.25 for selling lots at the first sale, which came off in February, 1837. 
Mr. Parks and John F. Sharp sold of the first survey lots to the amount 
of $1,356.48. 

The next move was for a court house, and John F. Sharp, then 
county judge, and Thomas B. Wallace, who had succeeded William Goff 
as treasurer, on the latter's resignation, were appointed superintendents 
with full powers to plan and contract for a new court house. After the 
above order it was some months before the county court looked after the 
patent for the quarter section of land upon which the county seat was 
located. The land had been surveyed and platted, lots sold, etc., and 
so the following order was made and placed upon the record: 

" That John F. Sharp be appointed agent for and in behalf of the 
county of Rives, to deposit with the register and receiver, at Lexington^ 
$200 for the purpose of obtaining a pre-emption right to the quarter sec- 
tion of land on which the town of Clinton — the seat of justice for Rives 
County has been located. And it is further ordered, that said county 
pay said agent $2.50 for each day he may be necessarily engaged in 
transacting said business." Judge Sharp rendered a bill of $12.50. 

It was not until December, 1837, that Messrs. Sharp and Wallace 
were able to report on the plan for the new court house. The location 
having been submitted and approved and a brick structure decided upon, 
the county court made the following order and placed it upon the record. 

COURT HOUSE APPROPRIATION. 

" It is therefore ordered that the sum of $2,500 be and is hereby 
appropriated by the court for the purpose of building a brick couit house 
in the said town of Clinton and county of Rives, and that the said com- 
missioners be authorized and vested with full powers to offer the letting 
of said building for the lowest and best bid which can be had, after giv- 
ing public notice of the time and place of offering the same. 



138 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The contract to build the court house was let in January, 1838, to 
John D. Mercer, to be completed within eighteen months from the sign- 
ing of the contract, and the cost of construction to be divided into three 
equal payments — the first two in six and twelve months, and the last 
payment when the court hoVise was finished and accepted by the court. 

Judge Sharp was also appointed county commissioner for the perma- 
nent seat of justice, with full power to sell and collect notes and make 
deeds in the name of the county. Judge Sharp held this position until 
1844, when he resigned. 

The lots in the first plat having mostly been sold, another survey 
was ordered, and in March, 1838, the new addition was placed upon the 
market by Commissioner Sharp, Joseph Montgomery having surveyed 
the ground, for which he received the sum of $12. The report of this 
sale, like the others, was probably filed away, and the names of the pur- 
chases and prices paid can only be told by producing that paper. There 
was one lot sold at private sale of record. That was to George W. Lake, 
and he paid the munificent sum of $8 for the choice lot No. 89, " sup- 
posed to contain a half acre of ground." 

John F. Sharp, who was appointed to go to Lexington, Missouri, to 
enter the selected land for the county seat at the land office, and secure 
a United States patent, made his report. Lots had been sold ranging 
from $4 to $5, but only certificates of purchase given. Judge Sharp 
reported to the county court that he had entered the quarter section of 
land at the land office at Lexington December 12th, 1837. 

There is really very few of the early records that are satisfactory in 
many important points. For instance, the census of Rives County was 
ordered taken in 1836, and the sheriff, Robert Allen, performed the work, 
but the only record of his work is the account the sheriff made out 
against the county of $35.00 "for taking the census of Rives County," 
and the account was ordered paid. What the populatien was may have 
been known at the time, but it is not known at this day, nor is it of 
record. It is so in numerous instances in the enumeration of children 
of school age. They were taken years before any account was published 
of their number. The county court acted upon the theorj' in those days 
that these items were for their knowledge, to carry out their sworn duty, 
but that posterity had nothing to do with it, and so when they got the 
information and used it, that was the end of it. It is possible that in 
some hidden corner ot some old rickety building which answered for a 
court house in those primeval days, that a scrap of foolscap paper might 
be found with these figures upon it, but the probability is, the)' went to 
light the old clay pipe, or a fire. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 39 

REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT. 

Soon after the sale of lots had been effected, the order came for the 
county and circuit courts to be held at Clinton, and the "House of Goff" 
was thenceforward shorn of its honor as the county seat of Rives County. 

There wasn't much of a show for a court house, or a house to hold 
court in, at Clinton, but Mr. George W. Lake was authorized to find some 
kind of a building to hold court in, and have it ready by the May term, 
1837, of the county court, and that term was held in Clinton, being the 
first county court at the permanent seat of justice of Rives County. The 
last, or February term, at Goff's, was a memorable one, as it planned out 
most of the work which resulted in a new court house, and also organ- 
ized a more thorough system for the management of county affairs. It 
might, perhaps, be just to say, that the officials were learning more thor- 
oughly their duties, and the manner of carrying them out. At this last, 
or February term, at Goff's, came the commissioners who had performed 
the onerous duty of locating the county seat, and presented their little 
bills. Messrs. Young and McDowell, of Lafayette County, thought 
about $12 each would satisfy their yearning for the currency of the realm, 
while Mr. Boone, of Jackson, called for $14, as a remuneration for the 
important services he had rendered as one of the founders, you might 
say, of this beautiful city of Clinton, a gem that lies upon the fair bosom 
of the prairies of Henry County, a city of fine business blocks, beautiful 
residences and grounds, and last but not least, a generous, open-hearted 
and hospitable people. Such a prospect as is now presented to the eye 
was but dimly seen or felt by the old pioneers, but they paid the bills of 
the commissioners promptly, and probably with thanks. At least they 
were done with a peripatetic court house, and had come to the beautiful 
city of the dim and distant future to stay. That, at least, was enough 
to be thankful for. 

The first county pauper was also evolved at this time from the haunts 
of poverty, and came before the court to be taken care of as a county 
charge. He was a blind man named George Manship, and his offer to 
become a charge upon the county was gracefully accepted by the county 
court under the circumstances. 

Whether the county court used James B. Sears' house as a court 
room in May or not is not of record, but in June they did, and he got $6 
rent. It is more than likely that covered the rent of both sessions. At 
all events, Mr. Littleberry Kimsey offered to furnish a house from the fol- 
lowing November for thirteen months at the rate of $50 per annum. 
Just what the thirteen months meant was not stated, but it was proba- 
bly that that date was the completion of the new court house. The 
proposition was accepted. 



140 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

There was a slight change in taxation in the year 1837, increasing 
on valuation and made it less on poll. The rates decided on were i6| 
cents on the $100 valuation, 25 cents poll, merchants' license $12 to state 
and $12 to county for six months, peddlers $20 for six months, taverns 
$10 to state and $5 to county for one year, and groceries to state and 
county each $5 per year. 

The first school district organized in the county was in the fall of 
1837 as District No. i in township 42 of range 26, and from that date the 
selling of school lands and the organization of school districts com- 
menced, and from this foundation has arisen the magnificent system and 
liberal management of the schools of the present day. Our forefathers 
built well and laid a solid foundation for the intellectual advancement 
and moral progress of the people of to-day. But the school history of 
Henry County will be found fully written up under its own proper head- 
ing in another place, and will therefore call our readers' attention to it 
then. It will be found interesting reading to those who take pride in 
the intellectual advancement of the people generally and of the youths 
of the present day. 

THE COUNIY SEAT. 

Clinton seemed to grow and prosper. There was not in its location 
or afterwards, which happened to many other county seats, that was a 
county seat fight. There were no towns of importance in the county, 
and the only rivalry possible was in the ownership of land near the 
center of the county, but even that was denied them, as the land was 
only just opened for market, and not enough people to purchase all the 
land available for a county site. So when Clinton was located she had 
no rivals, her location prevented rivalry afterwards. Being so near the 
center, all she had to do was to grow and prosper. In August of 1837, 
a patrol was appointed. About this time William GofT resigned the 
ofifice of county treasurer, and Thomas B. Wallace was appointed. A 
tavern was built and a license to keep it was granted to John Nave, he 
paying $10 to the state and $5 to the county for the privilege. This 
was Clinton's first hotel. 

The August election came off as usual, but a special election was 
held at the town of Clinton on the 23rd of November, 1837, to elect a 
justice of the peace. This was the first held there. He was to have 
jurisdiction over Grand River Township. 

The county court, after paying Mr. Sears $6 for court house favors, 
as before mentioned, removed their court house to a building furnished 
by Robert Sprawl. He got $15 rent, but how long it was used was not 
stated. 

Another slight change took place in the township lines, and this time 
it was between Grand River and Big Creek. Mr. Matthew Davis wanted 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. I4I 

to be in Grand River Township, and by the order of the court he got 
there. The next thing to a road in those early days was a way to get 
across the large streams when the ford could not be used. This was 
accomplished by ferries, and the first one started in Henry or Rives 
County was by Edward Mulholland, who was granted a license to keep a 
ferry across Grand River on section 9, township 40, of range 25, he pay- 
ing $2 to the state for the privilege, the county charging nothing. The 
rates for ferriage was, for a man, 6 cents; man and horse, 12 cents; one 
horse wagon, 25 cents; two horse wagon, 31 cents; four horses and 
wagon, 50 cents, and hogs, sheep and cattle, 4 cents each. 

The first sale of slaves of record was those belonging to the estate 
of B. Cox, which took place in February, 1838, the family generally pur- 
chasing them. The sale was ordered to settle the estate. From May 
I2th, 1838, to May 12th, 1839, the sum of $72.50 was paid to John Parks 
for the use of his house to hold court in. This was quite an advance 
over the year before, but then John Parks' house might have been larger 
than the others. This was the fourth change of location since the seat 
of justice had been pervianently located. 

There was another sale of lots at auction March 22 and 23, 1838, on 
a credit of nine months. This time was given in place of the twelve 
months given at a previous sale, but it was done to help meet the second 
payments on the court house which would become due about that time. 
The sale of lots amounted to $315- Some $11 worth, or two lots were 
sold in August, and in March, 1839, another sale footed $156. On the 
previous or first sale of lots on twelve months reported at $1,356.18, the 
time was up, $736.04 was paid in and the remainder of the notes were 
renewed. Mr. Goff, who had handed in his resignation as treasurer of 
Rives County some months before, presented his account for services 
rendered. He had been acting treasurer for over a year and he thought 
he was entitled to $40.32. and seeing he had waited nearly a year before 
presenting his account, it was promptly passed and a warrant issued for 
the full amount. This warrant was worth its face as a tax paying cur- 
rency and somewhere in the neighborhood of seventy-five cents on the 
dollar in store goods. But the farmers soon got to understand that 
these warrants, like the greenbacks of to-day, were their own issue, that 
there was good property behind them, and that a little bit of reasoning 
advanced them to par and kept them there. 

The first coroner's inquest was on the body of Peggy Givens, whose 
body was found on the road leading to her home. Exposure and appo- 
plexy was supposed to have caused her death. The coroner's fees and 
burial expenses, except coffin, amounted to $6.80. A justice of the 
peace acted as coroner. 

The year 1839 ushered in numerous changes, and there were many 
new settlers who found their homes here. Not all had gone to the beau- 



142 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

tiful Indian lands known as the " Platte Purchase," but many found the 
splendid prairies of Henry, with their deep, rich soil, good enough for 
them, and that if there were richer lands than what they had before their 
eyes others might go and find them, as for^them they were satisfied. 
There is no mistake about it; the solid progress that Henry County had 
made, both in wealth and population, in less than a decade from the set- 
tlement of Arbuckle, Avery, Parks, Cecils, Goffs and others — from 1831. 
1832 and 1833 to the year 1840 — had been the equal of any similar area 
of land in the state, only excepting the wild rush of 1837-8 to the above 
mentioned " Platte Purchase" in Northwest Missouri. Yet large bodies 
of this land went into the hands of speculators, and therein it proved 
more of a curse than a blessing to that section of the state. 

The county building was progressing. Judge Sharp had his hands 
full attending to county seat matters and had to resign his superintend- 
ency of the court house building. Mr. Matthew Davis was called on to 
take his place, and Messrs. Wallace and Davis remained commissioners 
until the completion of the work. In addition to a new court house a 
public well was considered a great public convenience, and two of the 
public-spirited citizens of Clinton offered to the county court to sub- 
scribe $100 towards a well if the county would put up a like amount. 
The names of these gentlemen were Asaph W. Bates and Thomas B. 
Wallace. The county court was a pretty shrewd trio of old farmers and 
they promptly accepted the proposition, but coupled it with the follow- 
ing proviso: 

" If the well did not cost $200 the county would pay its share or half 
what it did cost, and Bates and Wallace were to pay the other half." 

They did not propose to subscribe $roo anyway, in case the well 
should not cost the full amount. The contract was let, and a guarantee 
clause of plenty of water and the well walled up with rock and every- 
thing in good order added, Messrs. Bates and Wallace agreeing to the 
economy proviso of the court. The well proved of great convenience. 

There had been numerous ferry privileges granted, but it seems there 
was one needed across Grand River, on the road leading from Clinton to 
Harmony Mission, in Bates County, which had not found a keeper. Such 
being the case the county court offered to any one who would take charge 
and keep said ferry at the point designated, extra prices for ferriage. 
These were for a four horse team and loaded wagon, $1.50; the same 
empty, $1; two horse wagon, 50 cents; man and horse, 25 cents; horses 
and mules, 12 cents per head, and sheep and hogs, 6 cents. Who accepted 
this most liberal offer was not recorded. 

This year also showed great activity in the schools. There were 
some five or six sections of these lands sold, generally* at the govern- 
ment price of $1.25 per acre. Some few choice lots would go higher, if 
the owners adjoining wished to enlarge their landed estate- 



CHAPTER VI. 



RIVES DISGRACED AND HENRY CROWNED-LET US HAVE 

A LAW SUIT. 



FAILED TO MATERIALIZE-COUNTY FAIR-WHAT IT COST— CEDAR TOWNSHIP— MORE 
TOWNSHIPS-DtEP WATER-ST. CLAIR AND HENRY -RIVES TO HENRY- SOME 
REFLECTIONS-DRAM SHOP— PROPOSING A SUIT- VALUATION AND ELECTION- 
ITEMS-HALF SHEET OF FOOLSCAP— THE FIRST BRIDGE-OSAGE RIVER ASSOCIA- 
'lION-4626 9;-TO REPAIR COURT HOUSE, $i.5oo-NO PROBATE COURT-PROGRESS. 



FAILED TO MATERIALIZE. 

It was as early as 1839 that the farmers of Henry County first took 
up the idea of forming an agricultural society, and the county court 
granted an order for an election for the purpose of organization. What 
became of it, or what it amounted to, is not known. This was in Feb- 
ruary. The matter slumbered then for two and a half years, and then 
the same identical order was made at the August term of the court in 
1841. It seemed to have then slept the sleep that knows no waking, for 
it slumbered no less than seventeen years. In 1858 the first agricultural 
fair was held in Henry County, but it came near being a success a year 
sooner. 

In the meantime the court house was approaching completion. Two 
payments had been made, and in August, 1839, the contractor reported 
his work done. The commissioners reported that the same was com- 
pleted, "except the circular glass over the door, and a bar across the 
south door." The county court accepted the report of the commission- 
ers, and ordered the payment of $833.33, when the two little matters 
spoken of were attended to. The court took a look at the building, 
which seemed to satisfy them, and they felt that their dignity would not 
be compromised when they took possession of the building, but what 
clearly filled their souls with horror was the debris which surrounded 
this stately edifice, (which is now an ejtesore to the aesthetic culture of 
the present day). The court thought it knew itself and its proper 
standing in society, and promptly withheld $25 of the contractor's pay 
until he cleared that stuff away, and the surroundings were such as 
would not disgrace them or detract from the handsome appearance of 



144 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

their new temple of justice. The court house completed cost $2,565, 
without the commissioners' salaries who superintended its construction. 
The $65 being for extra work in changing the roof. 

In the last payment the county fell short in funds to the amount of 
$713.70 and the majority of the court decided to borrow it from the road 
and canal fund. Judge Kimsey promptly dissented, saying that that 
fund could not be legally used for any such purpose. That it could only 
be used for roads and canals, and be loaned out expressly for the increase 
of the road and canal fund. The majority of the court. Judge John F. 
Sharp, and Judge Francis Parazette, admitted that Judge Kimsey was 
right, and they at once borrowed the money, themselves giving their 
notes, with a majority of the county court as their security, in the 
name of the County of Rives. They then handed the mone}' over to the 
commissioners to settle up in the manner and exceptions before noted. 

CEDAR TOWNSHIP. 

The territory south of St. Clair County was also a part of the terri- 
tory of Rives, or rather under its civil and military jurisdiction, but there 
were few settlers and the distance so great that it had not, up to this time, 
appeared in the proceedings of the Rives County Court. The first settler 
was believed to have been John Crisp, who settled on Sac River, near the 
center of the county, and where afterwards the Montgomery & Dunnegan 
Mill was erected. He afterwards moved south in Dade County, on what 
was afterwards called Crisp's Prairie, but still in Cedar Township. The 
organization of this territory into a township was done by an order of 
the court in February, 1840. The territory included in this township 
covered all the territory now known as Cedar, Dade, and Lawrence 
Counties. The following is the order of organization made at the above 
date : 

" Ordered by the court that an additional township be laid off z« this 
cotinty to be called Cedar Township, as follows : Bounded south by the 
county of Newton, east by Polk, west by Bates and north by the south 
boundary of township 37, of ranges Nos. 27 and 28." 

This order seemed to have swung around to the west and taken in 
Jasper and Barton Counties as w^ell. None of these counties were 
organized at that time. Bates County included Vernon, and Jasper 
being organized first included Barton, the latter county not being taken 
off of Jasper until 1855. The other counties, Dade and Jasper, were 
organized in 1841, Cedar in 1843, ^"^ Lawrence in 1845. So Cedar 
Township began to be curtailed of her immense proportions soon after 
her organization as a township. John G. Williams was appointed a 
justice of the peace for Cedar Township. There was an election in 
August for a constable and Mr. Stephen R. Wright was elected. He 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. I45 

brought the returns of that election of Cedar County to the Henry- 
County Court and received $5 for bringing them. He traveled some 150 
miles, required about a week's time, paid his own expenses and received 
the above munificient remuneration. Some of our official friends who 
claim the title of constable would hardly go across the street for such 
pay at this day. This election was held at the mill of John G. Williams, 
and the judges of the first election were Obediah Smith, William Ains- 
worth and John G. Williams. As St. Clair County was the next year, 
1841, organized out of that part lying immediately south, Rives County 
had no further jurisdiction, and St. Clair, with her two townships of 
Waubleau and Monegaw, was then an independent municipality. 

MORE TOWNSHIP, SALARY. 

Up to this time Rives County had consisted of but four municipal 
divisions, viz.: Big Creek and Grand River on the west, and Tebo and 
Springfield on the east. It was decided to make another township to 
be called "Deepwater" and this was done by taking the territory off of 
the south part of Grand River. It was and is the southwest township 
in the county. Deepwater Township line was slightly changed in Feb- 
ruary, 1841, and again varied a little in an order dated May 2, 1842. 

Prior to the year 1840 the justices of the county court received one 
dollar and fifty cents a day for their services, that is, for services actually 
performed. In the beginning of the year 1840 the justices allowed them- 
selves $2 per day for each day's attendance at court. The census of 1840 
was taken by the sheriff but what number of inhabitants Henry or 
Rives County had was not entered of record, but will be given under 
the head of population. It took the sheriff, Phillip J. Buster, sixty-five 
days to complete his work and his compensation was $97.50, or $1.50 a 
day. There was little change going on. The county seemed to grow 
and prosper, keep out of debt and pay promptly its bills. 

ST. CLAIR AND HENRY. 

The people of St. Clair County believing that their population was 
sufficient, and that they were capable of managing their own affairs, 
petitioned the general assembly for an act of organization to become a 
full sister in the galaxy of counties, and castoff the clothing of a depend- 
ent. The petitioner was received by the legislature and acted upon Jan- 
uary 29, 1841, and henceforth she was free, and allowed to " paddle her 
own canoe " in a manner which to her seemeth best. 

At this same session of the general assembly Rives County became 

a thing of the past, and Henry County succeeded to the title, interests 

and emoluments of all that was once, but never to be again, Rives 

County. 

10 



146 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

In 1840, the Hon. John C. Rives, of Virginia, became a Whig in pol- 
itics, and as Rives County was a strongly Democratic one, was named 
after the distinguished Virginian, because of his fame and his Democ- 
racy. On learning he had been false to his faith, and had wandered from 
the " true fold," the people became exasperated and decided to change 
the name of the county from Rives to Henry, this last in honor of the 
great oratorical light of the American Revolution of 1776, Patrick Henry. 
In the legislature of 1841, the people secured the passage of the following: 

"AN ACT TO CHANGE THE NAME OF RIVES COUNTY. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as folloivs : 

Section i. That all that portion of country bounded as follows, to 
wit : Beginning at the southwest corner of section 30, township 44, of 
range 28 ; thence south, to the line between townships 39 and 40 ; thence 
east, to the line between ranges 23 and 24; thence north to the southeast 
corner of Johnson County ; thence west to the beginning, shall compose 
the county of Henry. 

Sec. 2. All laws in force relating to the county of Rives shall be 
construed to apply, in all respects, to the county of Henry, and all acts 
and things done and performed, and contracts made, or which may be 
done or made, before the first day of September next, in the name of the 
county of Rives, shall be as valid and binding in that county and all 
others, as if made or done in the name of the county of Henry; and all 
matters and business which is commenced, or which shall before the said 
first day of September, be commenced in the name of the county of 
Rives, shall be continued in the name of the County of Henry, and all 
officers, civil or military, appointed, or to be appointed for the county of 
Rives, shall be deemed and taken to be appointed for the county of 
Henry, and are hereby authorized to act as such. 

Sec. 3. All courts, heretofore established and directed by law to 
be held in the county of Rives, shall in all respects apply to the county 
of Henry. 

Approved February 15, 1841." 

This act to take eftect from and after its passage. 

It was because of the apostacy of the Hon. William C. Rives to his 
political faith, which had been Democratic, who turned and had become 
a follower of Henry Clay, that caused the name of Rives County to be 
changed to Henry, and the deliberate treachery of Martin Van Buren 
to General Lewis Cass and the Democratic party, caused the name of 
the adjoining county of Van Buren to be changed to Cass. 

A man may change his politics and his party without in any way 
affecting either his honesty or his manhood, if that change is from per- 
sonal conviction, but when attempting to carry out a spirit of revenge, 
or to secure the power and spoils of office, they are simply traitors to' 
party, and but an apology for true manhood. So we have here in this 
changing of names in counties lying side by side a proof that the spirit 



HISTORY OK HENRY COUNTY. I47 

and conceptions of the people, at h(hurt, are right, and that treachery 
will receive condign punishment at theirl^ands in every case. Farewell, 
Rives, welcome Henry. And we trust that in after time, if the occasion 
should arise, that this name may arouse in the hearts of the people the 
spirit of true patriotism and love of liberty, as his magic voice and 
inspired words, "Give me liberty, or give me death," shook the halls of 
congress in the crisis of American liberty, and brought forth that great 
"Declaration of Independence," which has ever since been the beacon 
light of hope, no longer deferred, to the oppressed of all nations and 
climes. And those inspired words aroused congress to action and gave 
courage and hope to the already battle scarred heroes of many bloody 
fields, and if in the recall of this name it shall inspire our people to 
action and deeds of heroic valor, all will be well. They can tell their 
children of him, and of the great war of Independence, and to cherish 
in their memories the trials and the valor of the heroes of 1776, and to 
emulate their deeds and virtues. If this is done the future of Henry 
County will never be imperilled by armed foes. 

The organization of St. Clair County required from Henry a settle- 
ment of its affairs, and an account of Henry County's stewardship while 
under its jurisdiction. The principal item was that of the school fund, 
some of the sixteenth section having been sold under the direction of 
the county court of this county. The court made an order at once to 
find out the amount of funds in its hands, money,.notes, &c., and to turn 
the same over to the representative duly authorized to receive the same 
of St. Clair County. 

DRAMSHOPS. 

The groceries, or the general stores, had held a monopoly of the 
liquor traffic since the organization of the county, there being no regu- 
lar licensed saloon in the county up to May, 1841. On May 3, Preston 
Wise presented a petition for a dramshop license, as it was then called, 
and he secured the coveted prize for six months, by paying to the col- 
lector of the county $15 to the state and $22.50 to the county, and the 
advalorem tax on each. This license was for a saloon in Clinton, and at 
the same time M. Arbuckle and Sabine Jones received licenses for dram- 
shops in Henry County. They paid the same fee for the same length of 
time, six months. 

The license granted to Matthew Arbuckle was to go to Tebo Town- 
ship as then organized and was said to have been located at Calhoun. 
The other license, the place was not mentioned. It was to open a dram- 
shop in Henry County. From this time on for several years licenses 
were granted to all who applied. There were in later years some oppo- 
sition and Grand River Township was the first to oppose the granting 
of licenses for dramshops in their township. 



iI48 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

PROPOSING A SUIT. 

At the May term, May 4, 1841, the foUowinc^ appeared of record: 

"Jonathan T. Berry, one of the justices of this court, submitted the 
following for the consideration of the court, viz.: Whereas, the legis- 
lature, by an act passed lOth February, 1835, entitled an act concerning 
the road and canal fund, among other things provided: If by any order 
of any county court, any part of the fund shall be misapplied to objects 
other than roads, bridges and canals, the members of the court present 
at the time of making the order and consenting thereto shall be indi- 
vidually liable for the amount so misapplied, and the same may be 
•recovered by suit in the name of the county for the use of the said fund; 
and it appearing from the report of the treasurer of this county that 
$1,226.30 has been used by the county for other purposes than those pro- 
vided in said act; I, as one of the justices of the county court of Henry 
County, move said court to enter suit for the recovery thereof" 

"And after mature consideration thereon by the court the said 
-motion was overruled." 

Exactly, there were two against one and the "protest" got the 
'benefit of a record. Over $700 of this fund went to pay the last pay- 
ment on the court house of which two former judges. Sharp and Para- 
zette, gave their individual note to the fund for security. Judge Berry, 
lin the abstract was right, but it was scarcely just. 

• VALUATION — ELECTION. 

The assessed valuation of Henry County was first placed upon 
-record in 1842. It then footed up $197,059. There were also 505 polls. 
The assessed value of 1845, which was the next found placed upon the 
record, was $35 1,308, almost double in four years. 

The first school township organized in the county was in Novem- 
ber of 1842, being in congressional township 43, range 26. Mr. William 
Akens was appointed school commissioner. 

At the election in August, 1841, William R. Owen and Phflip J. 
Buster were candidates for the office of sheriff and collector. Buster got 
the certificate and Owen at once entered a protest, and contested the 
election. The suit was decided in favor of Owen, who took possession 
January i, 1842, Mr. Buster retaining the office only a little more than 
three months. But the peculiarity of the case came out when Mr. Owen 
■coolly brought in his bill against the county, of $161.43, ^.s the amount 
it cost him, as he said, to secure his just rights. The county court 
slightly demurred to this, in fact refused downright to pay a penny of 
it. This, of course, precipitated matters, and Mr. Owen's attorney 
promptly asked for a writ of mandamus, to compel the county court to 
fork over the money for this bill of costs. This seemed to the court a 
pretty hard case, and they called in their legal adviser and consulted 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 149- 

upon the course to be pursued, and it was thought best to join issue and 
let the circuit court try the case. They made the following rejoinder : 

" The county court of Henry County, in answer to said writ of man- 
damus for cause of non-payment of the sums certified to be paid, say, 
that the cost accrued in the contested election between William R. 
Owen and Phillip J. Buster, for the sheriffalty of said county, to which 
suit the county nor this court was a party, nor, as the court conceives,, 
are in any way interested in the event thereof, therefore they conceive 
that they are neither equitably or legally bound to levy the same upon 
the county for payment. Whicli answer is ordered to be certified to the" 
circuit court." 

The suit was decided, nevertheless, against the county, and they" 
paid the $[61.43, ^"d as the judgment added, "the cost of this suit." 

There was still a sale of lots going on in the town of Clinton. Now 
and then a purchaser would come forward, and the prices would go right- 
up. Lots 107 and 108 were sold for $9 each; five years before they could 
have been bought for $5. The cheapest sale seems to have been ten- 
acres in the southwest part of the town, which were sold to Asa C. Mar- 
vin for $15. 

Among the incidents of that time was the residence and death of a' 
soldier of the war of 1812, living in Henry County, and also the parents- 
of several others, who had died or been killed in battle while in the 
United States service. William Baylis, a revolutionary soldier, died in" 
this county June 18, 1843. He was from Kentucky, and had been a lieu- 
tenant in the army of the revolution of 1876. He had received a pen- 
sion of $320 a year from 1831, although the law was not passed until^ 
1833. This sum was divided into two semi-annual payments. 

HALF SHEET OF FOOLSCAP, 

It is a notorious fact, a fact that has been handed down to us from' 
generation to generation, because instilled into our minds by practice 
and precept, that our ancestors were a penurious race in the use of paper,, 
and there is not a particle of doubt but what the very justices who made 
the following order were in their home life as careful of the scraps of 
paper as those who came into court with a petition on the back of an 
old letter or on a blank page of some old book, or still worse, a scrap of 
paper torn off some sheet of foolscap not over an inch wide, to bring 
into court an account, a report or a petition. However that may be, the 
court, whether they practiced economy in the matter of paper or not 
were heartily tired of receiving such scraps, which were too small to hie 
or keep in any respectable shape for reference, and made this order: 

"It is ordered that all papers presented to this court hereafter must 
be on not less than a half sheet of foolscap paper, and that the court 
will not act on no paper less in size than the above, notes, receipts and- 
vouchers of settlement of estates excepted." 



150 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

THE FIRST BRIDGE. 

The first bridge of any account built in Henry County was started 
in the fall of 1845 and completed in May, 1846. It cost $1,470, and the 
contractor was to keep it in good repair for two years. Fifteen hundred 
dollars had been appropriated. The bridge was built across Grand 
River at a place known as the " Big Ripple," on the road leading from 
Clinton to Harmony Mission, in Bates County. 

ITEMS. 

Another well was built in the court house yard, completed February, 
1845. 

Judge John F. Sharp delivered the patent for the quarter section of 
land on which Clinton was located, to the county court in November, 
1844. That patent, however, is not of record, nor does any one at this 
day know what has become of it. 

A debtor and credit account was ordered to be kept, and the county 
clerk was charged to keep it, so the court could tell the condition of the 
county finances at any time. 

The clerk of the county court showed up his financial reports of 
receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year ending May, 1847. The 
county had run behind, or had fallen in debt just $47.56. 

All the lots in Clinton, not sold, were ordered to be, either by pri- 
vate or public sale, as the commissioner might see fit. 

Thomas B. Wallace resigned the treasurership February, 1846. He 
had been treasurer for nearly nine years. 

There was on hand, the first day of May, 1846, the sum of $3,730.64, 
belonging to the road and canal fund. 

The first fence around the court house square was to include one 
acre of ground. John Sweeny took the contract to build it. 

Henry County joined what was called the "Osage River Associa- 
tion," and paid $626.95 for the privilege. The court then turned over 
the share that Henry County held in the Osage River to the state, and 
declined to invest any more. 

The Mexican war commenced in 1846. 

It cost $350 to keep the court house in repairs from the time it was 
erected up to 1848. 

First mention of the issue of county warrants was in 1850; $991.95 
had been taken in for taxes by the collector. 

The delinquent lists of all kinds, real and personal, for 1854, was 
only $44.83. 

Andrew M. Tutt made the first plat of the township of Henry 
County in 1853. There were seven in all. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 151 

The first school commissioner of the county was George W. Miner, 
who was appointed in November, 1864. 

The sum allowed for the treasurer, salary, from 1848, for several 
years, was $80. It was then raised to $100, and kept at that for several 
years. 

The field notes of Henry County were purchased in 1853, for the 
sum of $40. 

In 1853 $1,500 was appropriated to improve and finish off the court 
house. 

Benjamin F, Owen offered to put up a well house over the old well 
on the southeast corner of the public square, if the county court would 
grant him an exclusive lease of it for fifteen years. Mr. Owen got it. 

It was this same year that the temperance element out voted the 
dramshops in Grand River Township, they getting an order that no 
dramshops should be licensed in that township for twelve months, end- 
ing May, 1854. 

Persons who turned their cows in the court house yard were fined 
$2.50. 

NO PROKATE COURT. 

All the probate business of Henry County had been transacted by 
the county court, and in many other counties of the state they had done 
the same. In fact, there was little of it done outside of large cities, by 
any other officers than county court justices. A law was passed, how- 
ever, in the winter of 1848-9 by the general assembly in session, known 
as a " Probate act," appointing a judge and defining his duties. This 
act was left optional with the people of the several counties of the state 
to accept or reject the law, which was to take effect only on receiving a 
majority of the qualified voters of the county. Henry County did not 
seem ro take much interest in the matter, and though it was voted upon 
at the annual August election (1849), only a light vote was polled. The 
vote for a separate probate court was returned and showed ninety-eight 
votes in favor of the new court and ninety-one against it. The majority 
of the county court at once decided that the vote was a failure, that a 
majority of the qualified voters of Henry County had not voted in its 
favor, and consequently there was no probate court in Henry County, 
nor was there any for many years after, or until 1872. 

Justices C. C. Bronaugh and Johnathan T. Berry decided that as the 
act did not say that "a majority of the qualified voters voting in its 
favor, etc., but a majority of the qualified voters of the county, so read 
the law." To this view of the case Justice John VanHoy dissented, but 
he was a minority, and that ended the business. It was thought that 
it was less expensive to the people to keep matters as they were. 



152 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



PROGRESS, 
i 

There was considerable increase in the population of the county, 
and immigrants came in in groups and formed settlements. The major- 
ity were still from the southern states. The township grew so that two 
of them, Tebo and Grand River, were each divided into two voting pre- 
cincts, the order of the court being here given: 

At the July term, 1856, Tebo Township was divided into two voting 
precincts, the boundaries of which were as follows : 

"Precinct No. i to include all that part of Tebo Township on the 
east side of the road running from the township line near William A. 
Gray's to Calhoun; thence following the road to the high point of Tebo 
by way of A. Atkins, and that the poll books for said precinct be opened 
at the church in Calhoun." 

"Precinct No. 2 to include all that part of Tebo Township lying on 
the west side of the road running from the township line near William 
A. Gray's to Calhoun; thence following the road to the high point of 
Tebo, by way of A. Atkins, and that the polls be opened at M. Arbuckle's 
store in Calhoun." 

At the same term of the court and date the township of Grand 
River was also divided into two voting precincts, known as Nos. i and 
2, and their metes and boundaries were described as follows: 

" Beginning at a point on the line between Henry and St. Clair 
Counties, where the road leading from Osceola to Clinton crosses the 
same; running from thence along said road to Clinton, and from Clinton 
along the main road to the Grand River bridge. All that portion of 
said township south of said road shall be known as Precinct No. i, and 
the poll books for said precinct be opened at Major Marvin's office in 
Clinton. 

"And all that portion of said township lying north of said road shall 
be known as Precinct No. 2, and the poll books for said precinct shall 
open at the court house." 




CHAPTER VII. 

JAILS— ELECTION— FINANCES— TOWNSHIPS. 

A NEEDED INSTITUTION— FINANCIAL AND OTHERWISE— RESOLUTION OF THANKS- 
PATENT OFFICE AND AGRICULTURAL REPORTS-ELECTION OF 1858, THE FIRST OF 
RECORD— RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE^— NINE VOTING PRECINCTS IN i860— 
TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES, AUGUST, i860— THE GREAT CHANGE-FINANCIAL DEPRESS- 
ION—EXHIBIT—DELINQUENTS OF 1861 TO 1864-TAXATION— LEVY, COLLECTIONS AND 
DELINQUENCIES FROM 1865 TO 1870— ITEMS. 

A NEEDED INSTITUTION. 

Henry County had been pretty free from criminally inclined people, 
but a jail at last became a necessity and one was accordingly ordered. 
It took no less than three persons to oversee this job to the satisfaction 
of the court. In November, 1855, ^ committee was appointed to draw 
up a plan and specifications and let the contract for a jail building for 
the county of Henry. The commissioners named were Joseph Davis, 
Daniel Ashby and William M. Bogarth. They were ordered to adver- 
tise the job so as to get the best and lowest bid for the work. Three 
thousand dollars were appropriated for the building. It was finally let 
to Messrs. William Johnson and Joel C. Bridges, who entered into a 
bond of $6,000 for the faithful performance of their contract. The con- 
tractors pushed things, and in April got $1,000, and by November, 1856, 
had received $2,100 in all. 

By the middle of December the committee reported that the jail 
was completed, but not according to contract. The county court then 
ordered the commissioners to retain $350 in their hands until the con- 
tract was fully and honestly carried out, and for the sheriff to take the 
keys. The jail was finally completed, and its total cost $3,044, the $44 
being for extra work. This without the commissioners' salaries. The 
first jailor put in charge was William D. Street. 

FINANCIAL AND OTHERWISE. 

The next statement of the finances of the county was in 1856, when 
it was shown that the receipts 'for the fiscal year ending May, 1857, 
exceeded the expenses to the amount of $241.71. There was a floating 
debt outstanding in warrants of $183.22. The intention was to keep 



154 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

out of debt, and although considerable expense had been gone into in 
building and improvements, the taxes had been levied to meet the 
increased expenditures, and it had done so despite of the delinquent 
lists, vvWch, though not large, seem to grow in proportion to increased 
taxation. 

The election for governor in 1856, was the first and nearly the last 
vote entered upon the record until 1880. That year James S. Rollins 
received 441 votes, and Robert M. Stewart 291. The latter, however, 
carried the state and became its governor. A list of all the state officers, 
United States senators and members of congress will be found in another 
part of this work, and carried up to date. 

RESOLUTION OF THANKS. 

It was in ante bclhnn days when congressional and governmental 
literature was being wafted to every congressional district in the land, 
and such literary gems as the patent office reports, the Congressional 
Globe and Agricultural Reports, were the staple and most interesting 
reading furnished a confiding people by the public servants, and that too, 
without money and without price, that the judges of the Henry County 
Court became the proud and grateful recipients of favors from their ever 
thoughtful servant, the Hon. Thomas P. Akers, congressman for this 
district, then known as the Fifth. That they should feel it their duty to 
offer him a " resolution of thanks," and have the same spread upon the 
minutes for a liberal supply of these valuable works, is not to be won- 
dered at. To receive this light and instructive reading for their amuse- 
ment during the long winter evenings to come, was indeed a boon. 
Therefore, for this unexpected supply of mental pabulum, and the 
exquisite pleasure of its perusal to be experienced in the near future, 
they caused to be written out the following resolution, and the same 
entered upon the record, at the August term, August 12, 1857 : 

Ordered, That the thanks of this court are hereby tendered to the 
Hon. Thomas P. Akers, member of congress from this district, for pre- 
senting each member of this court with a copy of the Agricultural 
Reports from the patent office for the year 1855." 

This was all right and proper, but for some unexplained reason, the 
genial and faithful Akers failed to materialize, or, in other words his 
congressional duties came to an end, when the unexpired term which he 
had been called to fill came to a close. 

ELECTION, AUGUST, 1858. 

The election returns of Henry County was the first county election 
returns made for county officers of record. The following was placed 
upon the records for the August election of 1858: 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 55 

Congress — 

S. H. Woodson 762 

John W. Reid 221 

G. R. Smith 122 

State Senate — 

M. C. Goodlett 508 

L. S. Cornell 506 

Representatives — 

Dewitt C. Stone 574 

Daniel Ashley 537 

Sheriff- 
William R. Taylor 582 

George W. Minor 535 

County Court Justice — 

Jonathan T. Berry 547 

Samuel M. Shensley 518 

Public Administrator — 

Alexis Warmsly 686 

Joshua Sweeny 276 

Treasurer — 

Royal L. Burge 798 

Coroner — 

P. F. Genoway 650 

Superintendent Public Schools — 

John G. Provines no v^ote entered 

William B. Starks no vote entered 

ITEMS. 

The new township of Bogard was organized August, i857- It lies 
in the northwest corner of the county. 

The town of Clinton was incorporated February, 1858. 

Osage Township, in the southeast corner of the county, was organ- 
ized in May, 1858, and the voting precinct was established at the house 
of George W. Bowles. 

The Clinton Hay Scales Company was organized in August, 1857, 
and the county court granted "twenty feet square of ground, and more 
if necessary," to accomplish their purpose of erecting a large platform 
scale. The county subscribed $95 to the stock. 

The receipts of Henry County for the fiscal year ending May. 

1859 $7,358 84 

Expenditures, same time 7. 198 48 

Excess of receipts $ 160 36 

For i860, ending May, receipts $5,604 58 

For i860, ending May, expenditures 5,473 62 

Excess of receipts $ 13096 

There was a deficit for 1861 of $382.94. 



156 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Twenty dollars were paid for wolf scalps at the February term of 
the county court, i860. 

The nine (9) voting precincts in Henry County, January 1st, i860, 
were Calhoun, Bellemont, Leesville, Clinton, Goldsmith's Store, N. J. 
Dunn's, Bogard, at Asa Hendrick's house; Big Creek, Kimsey's School 
House; Osage Township, the house of George VV. Bowles. 

The second fence around the public square was erected in the sum- 
mer of i860, and the court house yard was enlarged some twelve feet, 
it being extended that number .of feet on each side, and William R. 
Taylor was placed in charge of construction. The old fence was sold 
for $14.15. 

The bonds for treasurers and collectors was not very high, being 
from $20,000 to $30,000, until i860. That year they were raised and 
Royal L. Burge $50,000, and William R. Taylor, $40,000 bonds were 
given. The former as treasurer and the latter sheriff and collector. 

Another election for a probate court was had in i860, but nothing 
resulted. 

The county court ordered in 1861 the publication of the boundaries 
of the seven municipal divisions of which it was composed, in the Clin- 
ton Journal. 

$3 a day was now the pay of the county court judges. 

The military roll of the county, as returned August, 1861, numbered 
1,640 names. 

The receipts in the war year, 1862, were 287.98, and expenditures, 
$2,1 13. II. 

The valuation of slaves was place 1 at $150 each, and assessment at 
that figure. 

The deficit for the fiscal year ending May, 1863, amounted to 
$871.10. 

TOWNSHir BOUNDARIES. 

The boundaries of the several municipal townships of Henry 
County was more clearly defined by action of the court at its session, 
August 10, i860. They were as follows: 

TEBO TOWNSHIP. 

" Beginning at the northeast corner of the county, thence moving 
west on the county line to the northwest corner of section 36, in town- 
ship number 44, of range 26; thence south on section line to the line 
between townships 42 and 43; thence east on said township line to the 
northwest corner of section 5, in township 42, of range 25; thence south 
on section line to the southwest corner of section 17, in township 42, of 
range 25; thence east on section line to the eastern boundary of the 
county; thence north on county line to the beginning. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 57 

BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning at the northeast corner of section 35, in township 44, of 
range 26; thence west on section line to the middle of the main channel 
of Big Creek to its confluence with Honey Creek; thence up the middle 
of the main channel of Honey Creek to the line betwen townships 43 
and 42; thence east on said township line to the southeast corner of 
section 35, township 43, of range 26; thence north on section line to the 
beginning." 

BOGARD TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning at the northwest corner of the county; thence running 
east on the county line to the middle of the main channel of Big Creek 
on the north line of section 36, in township 44, of range 28; thence 
down the main channel of Big Creek to the middle of the main channel 
of Grand River; thence up the middle of the main channel of Grand 
River to the western boundary of the county; thence north on county 
line to the beginning." 

DEEPWATER TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning at the southwest corner of the county; thence north on 
county line to the middle of the main channel of Grand River; thence 
down the middle of the main channel of Grand River to the line between 
ranges 26 and 27; thence south on said range line to the southern line 
of the county; thence west on the county line to the beginning." 

OSAGE TOWNSHIP. 

"Beginning at the southwest corner of township 40, of range 26; 
thence north on said range line to the middle of Deepwater ; thence 
down the middle of the main channel of Deepwater to its confluence with 
Grand River; thence down the middle of the channel of Grand River 
to the Benton County line; thence south on county line to the middle of 
the channel of Osage River; thence up the middle of the main channel 
of Osage River to the south line of township 40, of range 24 ; thence 
west on township line to the beginning." 

SPRINGFIELD TOW^NSHIP. 

"Beginning at the northeast corner of section 24, in township 42, of 
range 24; thence south on county line to the middle of the main chan- 
nel of Grand River; thence up the middle of the main channel of Grand 
River to the line between sections 14 and 15, in township 40, of range 
25; thence north on section line to the northwest corner of section 23, 
in township 42, of range 25; thence east on section line to the begin- 
ning." 

GRAND RIVER TOWNSHIP. 

" Beginning at the northeast corner of section 22, township 42, of 
range 25; thence south on section line to the middle of the main chan- 
nel of Grand River; thence up the middle of the channel of Grand 



158 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

River to the mouth of Deepwater; thence up the middle of the main 
channel of Deepwater to the line between ranges 26 and 27; thence 
north on said range line to the middle of the main channel of Grand 
River; thence up the middle of the channel of Grand River to the mouth 
of Big Creek; thence up the middle of the main channel of Big Creek to 
the mouth of Honey Creek; thence up the middle of the main channel 
of Honey Creek to the line between townships 42 and 43; thence east 
on said township line to the northeast corner of section 6, in township 
42, of range 25; thence south on section line to the southwest corner of 
section 17, township 42, of range 215; thence east on section line to the 
beginning. ' 

These boundaries remained intact until May 8, 1868. Two of the 
townships had been given two voting precincts each, Tebo and Grand 
River, and some changes had been made in the voting places, but no 
new townships had been formed. At the above date two new townships 
appeared, one designated " White Oak," and the other " Windsor," and 
the following boundaries and changes appeared: 

WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP. 

"Commencing at the southwest corner of section 18, township 41, 
of range 28, running thence north on county line between Henry and 
Bates to the center of the channel of Grand River; thence down the 
center of the channel of Grand River to the section line between 2 and 
3, in township 41, of range 27; thence south on said section line to the south- 
east corner of section 15, township 41, of range 27; thence running west 
on section line to place of beginning, and it is ordered that that part of 
Henry County enclosed in said boundaries be, and the same shall be 
known as ' White Oak Township.' " 

This caused some other changes in Deepwater and Grand River 
Townships. The changes made were, of 

DEEPWATER. 

" Commencing at the southwest corner of Henry County, thence 
running north on county line between Bates and Henry, to section line 
between sections 18 and 19 ; thence east on section line to the northeast 
corner of section 22, township 41, range 27 ; running thence south on 
section line to the center of the channel of Deepwater Creek ; thence 
down the center of the channel of Deepwater to the range line between 
ranges 26 and 27 ; thence south to county line between St. Clair and 
Henry ; thence west on said line to the place of beginning." 

Grand River Township came in for an increase of territory, the fol- 
lowing being added to her bounds : 

"Sections i, 2 and 12, and that part that lies south of Grand River 
in township 41, range 27; and sections 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36, in 
township 41, range 27, and that part of sections i and 2 in township 40, 
range 27, lying on north side of Deepwater Creek, is hereby added to 
Grand River Township." 



HISTORY OF HEXRY COUNTY. 1 59 

Two voting precincts and townships were made out of Tebo Town- 
ship, by dividing the same east and west of the Warsaw and Warrens- 
burg road. That portion lying west of said road was Tebo Township, 
and 

WINDSOR TO\VNSHIP 

" was all that portion of Tebo Township lying east of said road, and 
shall be known and designated as ' Windsor Township ' or election 
district." 

THE GREAT CHANGE. 

From May 8, 1868, until March 6, 1873, the county of Henry was 
divided into nine municipal townships, whose metes and bounds are 
described in the preceding pages. 

At the session of the general assembly of Missouri, held at Jeffer- 
son City in the winter of 1872-3, a new township organization law was 
passed, leaving it, however, optional with the several counties of the 
state to accept or reject the law by a vote of the people. Henry County 
accepted the new law, and in accordance with the provisions of the same, 
the county court met on March 6, 1873, to divide the county into muni- 
cipal districts. 

The conclusion was to number them from one to nineteen, giving 
each number a name. This gave the county 

• NINETEEN TOWNSHIPS, 

and their boundaries will be found under the head of their respective 
townships. 

FINANCIAL DEPRESSION. 

The financial depression which was brought upon the state by the 
fierce strife of our civil war was one of the most serious drawbacks 
which the people during those evil times had to contend with. Where 
all had been peace and prosperity was felt the blight of distrust, the 
ruination of all business, the gradual destruction of property and all 
hope of prosperity. Who was to blame for this terrible state of affairs, 
of the loss of life, the sundering of social ties, and all the concomitant 
horrors of a fierce and deadly internecine strife, it is not the province 
of this history to give. We have only to record the general facts, of 
which Henry County, as a part of this great country, contributed to her 
own weal or woe. 

Nothing can so plainly show the deplorable depth to which the 
county suffered than to give her financial statements for that period. 
How demoralization covered the whole people as a pall, and strife — bit- 
ter and unrelenting — crowned these horrors, these figures will show with 



l60 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

appalling exactness and tell with what fearful weight of sorrow and 
woe the people struggled. It was not only during the heart-rending 
strife that these figures tell their terrible tale, but for years after the 
struggle was kept up, and now, while nearly two decades have passed 
since peace came with its wings of love and rested upon all, even now 
the effects are visible here and there of the sanguinary struggle which 
darkened our fair land, wrought misery and sadness to her people and 
destruction to their homes and firesides. 

THE FINANCIAL EXHIBITS. 

The tax delinquent lists of Henry County up to May, i86i, the end- 
ing of the fiscal year, were (ew, and the total amount in dollars and 
cents seldom, if ever, exceeded $ioo. Up to that date the entire back 
taxes had nearly all been collected, excepting the last years' returns. 

DELINQUENT 1 86 1. 

State $2,575 9i 

County 976 13 

Total $3,552 04 

This also included militia tax delinquent of $81.04. 

1862. 

State $ ao25 47 

County 504 <^5 

Total $ 2.529 52 

For the Delinquent, 1861 535 39 

1862 52466 

Total $ 3.589 57 

For 1863, it footed in all 2,906 75 

For 1864, it was reported at 7,558 02 

The county's financial statement showed that it was in debt on the 
first day of August, 1864, $1,662.62, and that increased to, in August 
1865, $3,503.66. A bounty of $50 was offered in the spring of 1865 for 
and the treasurer was ordered to sell $5,000 Union Military bonds at 
85 cents on the dollar, but the war closing it does not show that the 
bondsweresold on the record. In July, 1865, there was $350 charged as 
paid on the bounty fund. 

The tax receipts for the fiscal year, August, 1866, as then reported, 
amounted to $6,863.56, and the expenditures showed an excess over the 
above of $1,778.06, adding that much to the county debt. Warrants 
were signed to meet the difference, and the floating debt now exceeded 
$5,000. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. l6l 

Notwithstanding the war had ceased, the demoralization had been 
so great, and the destruction of values so complete that it seemed 
almost impossible for the people to recuperate. The delinquent lists 
for 1867 and 1868 proved nearly the equal of preceding years. Here is 
the collector's returns made January i, 1868, for the year 1867: 

State revenue delinquent $ 2,310 19 

County revenue delinquent 1,843 9^ 

State internal fund tax delinquent 3,689 92 

Railroad delinquent 1,373 05 

County bridge delinquent 448 81 

Total delinquent on Real Estate $ 9,665 95 

LEVY OF 1868. 

The total tax levy for 1868 was, by items, as follows: 

State revenue tax $ 8,535.75 

County revenue tax 6,503.64 

State interest tax 13,008.22 

Railroad tax 4.887.50 

County bridge tax 1,638.23 

Total $34,573-34 

The delinquent was reported as follows: 

Real estate. Personal. Total. 

State revenue $i,730 84 $71 1 96 $2,442 80 

County revenue I.730 84 467 33 2,198 17 

State interest 1,730 84 467 33 2,198 17 

Railroad revenue 2,079 59 57^ 74 2,651 33 

Grand total .• $9,490 47 

No bridge tax was returned delinquent. 

The delinquent list for 1869 was returned on state, county and rail- 
road, at $11,591.62. 

From this statement of taxation and delinquencies something can 
be told of the utter wreck of property, and the prostration of a people 
into poverty and almost despair. Numbers of those who passed through 
this fiery furnace of want and destitution are living to-day, and yet 
remember the fearful ordeal through which they lived. Others have 
crossed the mystic river, and the great beyond is their final home — 
peace and rest are theirs. The boys of that period, those from six to 
ten years of age, can remember but little of the struggle that poverty 
brought on all, and these pages of facts and figures may be of interest 
to them and to their children. With the total receipts and expenditures 
of the county for the year ending February ist, 1870, we close this 
exhibit, giving*as it does the five years following peace. There was col- 
lected of the 

11 



^62 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Back taxes of 1 866 $ 6,602 59 

Back taxes of 1867 , 7,600 75 

Back taxes of 1 868 1 1 ,307 93 

And of the taxes of 1869 12,883 42 

Total . $38,394 69 

Gross expenditures the same year 38,200 13 

Excess of revenue $ 194 56 

It will be seen that the year 1869 was the first that showed a recu- 
peration, over $25,000 having been collected of the delinquent list of 
other years. 

Mr. James R. Connor, the new assessor for 1871, having by close 
work and vigilance, increased the assessment of real and personal prop- 
erty, was allowed an extra compensation of $200. He was well paid 
but he earned it, and the county could afford it. He added i,8oo new 
tracts to the tax roll, many living in the county having forgot to make 
any returns, and increased the assessment of personal property $250,000, 
which showed considerable forgetfulness on the part of sundry persons 
heretofore, on what personals they owned. But these little matters 
were not alone indigenous to Henry County. Man is proverbially known 
for his forgetfulness when taxation is to be considered. At this day it 
has become chronic. 

ITEMS. 

A census was taken in 1868 and the cost was $325.25, and again in 
1876 at a cost of $638.75, but the number of the population was not 
recorded in either case. 

The recorder's office was established January i, 1871. 

The poor farm was purchased in April, 1871. It cost $7,200, to be 
paid in three equal annual instalments. 

The treasurer reported, January, 1872, that he had up to date 
redeemed railroad coupons amounting to $55,895, and county warrants 
of the sum of $15,942.56, less $50 for interest on warrants. The warrants 
and coupons were burned in the presence of the treasurer and county 
court. 

The first poor farm bond for $2,400 was renewed and also a portion 
of the interest, February i, 1872, and new bond was given for $2,583.30. 

Township organization carried at the November election, 1872. 

Missouri, Kansas & Texas first assessment of property in Henry 
County was at a valuation of $592,739. This was in 1873. The com- 
pany has 37 4-100 miles of road within Henry County. 

The county court justices received a salary of $5 each, per da}', from 
1864 to 1873. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



165 



The tax rates for horses was $40; mules, $50; and cattle $15, for 
the year 1874, Springfield Township alone excepted. Cattle were there 
rated at $12. 

Swamp land fund in 1878 amounted to $9,648.99; fines and penal- 
ties fund amounted to $5,736.75. It is loaned for the benefit of the 
schools, being added to the school fund. 




CHAPTER VIII. 

INVESTIGATION AND EXONERATION— AND MORE TAXA- 
TION. 

WANTED AN INVESTIGATION— RESULT, EXONERATION— EVF.RYTHING LOVELY-REGIS- 
TRATION AND REGISTRARS— THE COUNTY COURT— THE FOUR DISTRICTS AND 
THEIR BOUNDARIES- TAXATION AND COLLECTIONS— COUNTY EXPENDITURES— 
THE REPEAL— DISTRICTS i AND 2— JUDGE GANTT, COUNl Y AGENT— SALE OF $400,000 
RAILROAD STOCK-SINKING FUND— ASSESSMENT AND LEVY— A DONATION— SWAMP 
LAND CLAIMS-SOME ITEMS. 

WANTED AN INVESTIGATION. 

There having been some talk that the financial exhibits of certain 
years had not been correct, and that the collectors were short in their 
accounts, the matter was brought before the grand jury at its April ses- 
sion in 1871. The jury, after an investigation, made a request upon the 
county court for an examination of collectors' accounts from 1867 to 
1870, inclusive, and to appoint a committee for that purpose. The 
court promptly acted upon the suggestions of the grand jury, and 
appointed Harvey W. Salmon, Charles H. Snyder and William E. Brink- 
erhoff such committee. 

THE EXAMINATION: 

The report of the special committees to examine into the financial 
condition of Henry County for the years 1867, 1868, 1869 and 1870, 
reported errors in the aggregate of $671.68, in the collector's returns for 
these years. The sums agregating the above amount were nine in num- 
ber, from $18.78 for the smallest, to $1 50.2:5 for the largest, and belonged 
to all the different levies, such as revenue, bridge, railroad, etc. There 
was no evidence adduced to show a criminal intent, but more a want of 
an arithmetical education on the part of the collectors. James M. Mil- 
ler was collector for 1867, and Henry T. Dodson for the three following 
years, called for by the county court for examination. 

The report also stated that the inaccuracies for the year 1867 was 
caused by the mistake of the clerk of the county court in turning over 
two pages at once in footing the gross amount, missing entirely the page 
so turned. The errors discovered were in 1867 and 1868; in the former 
they amounted to $394.39, and in the latter $277.29. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



165 



The years 1869 and 1870 proved relatively correct. The committee 
so appointed and reporting were C. H. Snyder (then county clerk), Hon. 
H. W. Salmon and William E. Brinkerhoff. The report was accepted 
by the county court and was made to them at the October term, 1871. 

The committee asked for more time to go more fully into an exam- 
ination of the financial condition of the county, but made the above 
report of work done in the collector's office. 

They also asked for more specific instructions in regard to their 
future work. 

On the i6th day of January, 1872, Collector Miller came forward and 
paid $295.50, which the court explained was the amount he was short by 
the report of the commissioners. The amount short for 1867 was, as 
above reported, $394.39, but it is probable that a portion was collected 
by Mr. Miller's successor. 

Whether the committee ever done anything further is not of record, 
and if the other collector paid it is also left out of the county court pro- 
ceedings, but it is probable that all was satisfactorily settled. It may 
not be considered remarkable by the people of Henry County that there 
should never have occurred a defalcation among any of its officials from 
the date of its organization, yet such is the case, and it is and would be 
considered remarkable in almost every other county. The writer has 
examined the records of no less than seven counties within the past 
eighteen months, and not one but had a blemish spot among some of 
those who had been chosen to conduct their county affairs. 

This purity of action on the part of the official conduct of those 
entrusted with the welfare of the county deserve a few words of praise, 
and the record is entered here as worthy of all commendation. 

REGISTERING OFFICERS. 



The formation of the new townships required the appointment of 
registering officers at once to register the voters for the coming election 
(1873). These appointments in the different townships were as follows: 



Windsor, William Goforth, 
Tebo, Davis Mann. 
Shawnee, Thomas F. Hill. 
Big Creek, A. M. Butcher. 
Bogard, James Kepner. 
White Oak, John Schroeder. 
Honey Creek, Luther I. Stewart. 
Fields' Creek, John Hopton. 
Deer Creek, J. W. Middelcoff. 
Springfield, Henry Shafer. 



Leesville, John Venlemans. 
Bethlehem, H. C. Jury. 
Clinton, James V. Bergen. 
Davis, John E. Severs. 
Walker, Henry B. Hicker. 
Deepwater, Joseph Capehart. 
Bear Creek, John J. Teller. 
Fairview, Robert W. McFarland. 
Osage, C. F. Mercer. 



l66 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

THE COUNTY COURT. 

Not only did the new township organization law entail upon the 
county court the making of new and many more municipal districts and 
the appointment of registering officers, but it also called for the laying 
out of the county into four justices or judicial districts, the law giving 
each county five justices of the county court, instead of the three which 
had composed the county county court since its organization. One of 
the justices was to be voted for by the county at large, his term was 
iour years, and he was to be the president of the court, the other four 
were to be elected from the four districts into which the county was 
to be divided. This division was not made until July 22, 1873, and a 
special election was held on the 21st day of August for their election. 
The county was divided as below : 

FIRST DISTRICT. 

District No. i is composed of municipal townships, named and num- 
bered as follows : No. i, Windsor; No. 2, Tebo ; No. 3, Shawnee; No. 4, 
Big Creek; Honey Creek, No. 7, and Fields' Creek, No. 8. 

SECOND DISTRICT. 

Bogard Township, No. 5; White Oak, No. 6; Davis, No. 14; Walker, 
No. 15; Deepwater, No. 16, and Bear Creek, No. 17. 

THIRD DISTRICT. 

Clinton Township, No. 13. 

FOURTH DISTRICT. 

Deer Creek, No. 9; Springfield, No. 10; Leesville, No. 11; Bethle- 
hem, No. 12; Fair View, No. 18, and Osage, No. 19. 

The election resulted in the election of 

William R. Taylor, judge-at-large, M. A. Stewart, ist year, F. M. 
Groff, 2d year; Lewis P. Beatty, 3d year, and B. L. Owens, 4th year. 

The years for which each was to serve was decided by lot between 
the four justices elect, as above shown, the law requiring one of the asso- 
ciate justices to retire each year. 

The tax levy and assessment from 1870 to 1874 was not of special 
interest as no attempt had been made to show fully the financial condi- 
tion of the county at any time. In April, 1874, a full exhibit of the 
levy and back taxes uncollected was made, and also the amount collected 
and what was left still delinquent in the hands of the collector. It 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 167 

will be observed by the' figures that follow that the railroad tax and its 
delinquent in other years was a trifle over one-third of the amount to 
be collected. The tax collections are given in detail and will be good 
for reference. 

TAXES AND COLLECTIONS. 

The levy of 1873 with the back taxes due on each fund added was 
as follows: 

State revenue, including back delinquent $ 20,923 04 

State interest fund, back delinquent 19,236 30 

County revenue, back delinquent 36,572 93 

Railroad tax, back delinquent 47,483 25 

Road tax, back delinquent 5,779 25 

Fines and penalties, back delinquent 1,583 56 

Total $131,578 33 

Here was this enormous sum to be paid by the people of Henry 
County in one year. To be sure a large portion of it had been accu- 
mulating from year to year, and was not of that year's levy, but it was 
due and must be paid. Very little force so far had been used to compel 
payment, for it was well known the people were struggling to regain 
their standing and to pay off arrears, and to distress them by suit had 
not often been attempted. However, they responded that year nobly. 
Here is the returns of amount on each fund paid in: 

State revenue $ 14,98 1 98 

State interest 14,553 02 

County revenue 31,679 72 

Railroad tax 40,590 66 

Road tax 4,926 64 

Fines and penalties 1,583 56 

Total $ 108,3 1 5 58 

The people paid in $108,315.58 for the year 1873, leaving a total 
balance due on back taxes of $23,262.75. That was a pretty prompt 
meeting of this enormous obligation, and reduced the back tax list over 
$i2,OGO. The amount due in 1873 being a little over $35,000. 

COUNTY EXPENDITURES. 

The county clerk made the following report of the receipts and 
expenditures of the county, for the fiscal year ending April, 1875 : 

Receipts from all sources $21,304 88 

Expenditures 20,869 84 

Receipts over expenditures of $435 04 



l68 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



1875. 



Receipts to April i, 1876 $16,410 48 

Expenditures 14 92 1 80 

Excess of receipts $1 ,488 68 

In October, 1875, a notice was served upon the delinquents of the 
years 1869 to 1873, inclusive, that they must pay their taxes by the com- 
ing January, or suit would be commenced to enforce it. 

THE REPEAL. 

The new township organization law, which went into effect in 1873, 
was repealed by a vote of the people in 1877. The county court there- 
fore was changed again from five members back to three. At their 
regular meeting in February, 1858, the county was divided into two 
districts for associate justices, the presiding judge, as under the previous 
law to be voted for by the people of the county at large. This division 
was as follows .'* 

DISTRICT NO. I. 

To be composed of the townships of Windsor, Tebo, Shawnee, Big 
Creek, Bogard, White Oak, Honey Creek, Fields' Creek, Deer Creek and 
Springfield. 

DISTRICT NO. 2. 

To be composed of the townships of Leesville, Bethlehem, Clinton, 
Davis, Walker, Deepwater, Bear Creek, Fairview and Osage. 

There was a slight change made in the boundary line of Fairview 
and Clinton Townships, being a desire on the part of Fairview to run a 
straight line east from the northwest corner of township 40, of range 26, 
to the dividing line between sections 4 and 5, of the same township and 
range. Grand River being the cause for this desired change. 

TAXES OF 1878. 

The amount ot the tax levy on real estate for 1878 was $64,604 18 

On personal property 34.4H 70 

$99,018 88 
There was of this collected : 

On real estate $40,991 41 

On personal property 21 ,609 1 1 

$62,600 52 

Leaving the delinquent on both of a gross amount of $36,418 36 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 169 

There was collected the same year on back taxes, 1877, and penalties 
on real and personal : 

For the county $12,583 12 

For the state 4.033 14 

Licenses — state and county, 1878 986 00 

$17,632 26 
This condensed statement shows what amount of taxes was assessed 
that year, and how the people paid. Nineteen thousand dollars of this 
sum was for school purposes. 

A SINKING FUND. 

The railroad suits and a desire to compromise caused a good deal of 
trouble to the county court at this time, and money was an object, and 
so an application was made to Judge Wright to grant an order for the 
levy of iive mills on the dollar of the assessed valuation of real and 
personal property in the county as stated, " As a special tax to create 
a sinking fund to be used in the purchase of outstanding railroad bonds 
of Henry County at their lowest market value in the discretion of the 
county court." 

The order was granted and made of record in the county court pro- 
ceedings at the May adjourned term, as was also the petition to the 
circuit judge by the county attorney, C. C. Dickinson. They will be 
found in full on pages 100, loi, 102, and 103, of Rook I, County Court 
record. 

James B. Gantt was appointed county agent of the August adjourned 
term, 1879. to dispose of the 4,000 shares of Tebo & Neosho Railroad 
stock for the same amount of stock in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
Road, ar i then sell the same. This is fully treated in the article on 
railroads in this work. The assessed valuation put upon the Missouri, 
Kansas & Texas Railway at the February term, 1880, was more than 
double the valuation of the previous five years. As assessed in the county 
and townships it footed up : 

County • $883,742 40 

The valuation in the city of Clinton 23,685 00 

The valuation in the city of Montrose 8,305 50 

The valuation in the city of Calhoun 8,542 35 

The valuation in the city of Windsor 8,542 35 

Total assesment, 1880 $932,817 60 

The assessed valuation 1880, was 

County $894,42 1 50 

Cities , 49,660 22 

Total assessment, 1881 $944,081 72 



I/O HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

They did not, however, collect tax on this sum as the state board 
of equalization placed the assessed valuation for taxation at $322,258.35, 
and the levy at forty cents. The county made the same levy for county 
purposes and then a further levy of fifty cents on the $100 in Clinton, 
and thirty cents on the $100 in the city of Calhoun as a city tax. 

A DONATION. 

The county court at its session. May 16, 188 1, made the following 
order, as a well merited compliment to the citizens of Clinton for their 
noble, praiseworthy and generous treatment of those in sickness and 
poverty who had received kindly ministration at their hands. The order 
reads: 

" It is ordered by the court that a warrant be drawn on the county 
pauper fund for the sum of $500, payable to T. W. Collins, mayor of 
the city of Clinton, as a donation to the city of Clinton for expendi- 
tures, aid and assistance rendered to paupers and destitute persons dur- 
ing the recent small pox scourge in Clinton " 

The state claimed an indemnity on 1,000 acres of swamp land loca- 
ted in 185 1, 1852 and 1853, the proof of which they were ready to make 
under act of congress, March 2, 1855. 640 acres of this was in town- 
ship 42, range 28; the remainder in township 40 and 41, ranges 26 and 
2"]. Mr. A. C. Avery was appointed agent to look after and secure from 
the government the amount of the indemnity demanded of them by 
the state. 

SOME ITEMS. 

The gold fever struck Henry County forcibly in 1849 and 1850. 

The largest loss by the county up to 1866 was the deposit made by 
the county with Miller & Kaist, St. Louis. The question has since been, 
how much was the loss and what was done about it.'' Answer still reserved. 

The railroad fever struck Henry County in 1867 and raged violently 
to 1871. It cost the people $1,225,000 in round numbers. The fever 
spent its force and is not likely to ever get a serious hold in Henry 
County again. 

The year 1875 is known as grasshopper year. 

Warren & Foote published the present county map of Henry County 
in 1877. 

In the year 1878 the poor farm harvested a rat crop numbering I,I00 
rats. The year was memorable for cheap sausage meat. 

The first snow storm in Henry County in the winter of 1879-80 did 
not come until the 12th day of March, 1880. . 

The first marriage license under the license law of 1880-1 was that 
of Roy Driggs and Miss Mattie Ogden, June 29, 188 1. 

The compromise year for railroad bonds was 1882. 



CHAPTER IX. 



FINANCIAL AFFAIRS— RAILROAD ASSESSMENT— COUNTY 

VALUATION. 

THE TAX LEVY— COLLECTIONS OF 1879— SAME IN i8So-NE\V COUNTY JAIL— ITS COST— THE 
YEAR 1882-RAILROAD ASSESSMENT AND REJECTION-MATERIAL WEALTH— AS- 
SESSED- VALUATION FROM iS/o TO 1883 OF HENRY COUNTY— JANUARY i, 1882,^5,392,- 
270- JANUARY I, 1883, . 

THE TAX LEV\ AND COLLECTIONS OF 1 879. 

The total tax levy of all kinds for 1879 and returned by the col- 
lector, with the amount of his collections, March 1st, 1880, was as 

follows: 

• 

State and county levy on real estate $52,516 53 

State and county levy on personal property 3 1,600 33 

State and county levy on merchant's license 3,666 30 

Total $87,783 16 

Deducted errors of assessment, etc 181 61 

Balance $87,601 55 

The total collections made as returned at the above date was 
$100,229.64, the surplus coming from back taxes of the years 1877 and 
1878 collected. 

Of the taxes collected for 1879, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 

division paid $1,2 11 18 

And the Western Union Telegraph Company . 10 20 

This payment was on an assessed valuation of less than $9,000 per 
mile. The county assessment was at the rate, in round figures, of 
$24,000 per mile, but the state board of equalization put it at the first 
named amount. The state is wrong. While at the rate of taxation 
paid by farmers, merchants and artisans, is fully 33^ per cent, that of a 
railroad corporation should not be less. The railroads in Missouri can 
well afford to pay a tax on an assessment of $15,000 per mile, and any 
less sum than that is a fraud upon the people. Why rich corporations 
who have millions of dollars given them as gifts should be favored at 
the expense of labor, is hard to understand. 



172 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNIY. 

1880. 

The tax levy of 1880 fell a little short of 1879. The total, as returned 
by the collector in his settlement March i, 188 1, showed the following: 

State tax levy $20,976 62 

County 64,469 62 

Total real and personal $85,446 24 

The assessed valuation of the M., K. & T. division was only . $307,776 3 1 
And the Western Union Telegraph Company 2,533 00 

The valuation of the property of both of these companies was raised 
in the assessment of 1881, the former to $322,479.35, and the telegraph 
company to $3,145. The county levy was 40 cents on the $100 valua- 
tion on this property. Clinton assessed a tax of 50 cents on the $ioo,Cal- 
houn 50 cents, and Windsor 25 cents extra on what was within their 
limits. 

THE NEW COUNTY JAIL. 

A new jail being a necessity, the county court took up the matter in 
1880, and appointed Dr. John H. Britt superintendent or commissioner 
to look after it, and keep the builders up to their contract. » The jail was 
completed and accepted by the court January 3, 188 1. 

The order of the county court to pay for the same was to the amount 
of $7,880. This was said to be the balance on completion. The con- 
tractors were P. J. Pauley & Brother. In May, 1881, the fence, walk and 
work in the jail yard cost $163.75, and Dr. Britt was paid $200 for his 
services as superintendent. These two items, with the first mentioned, 
completed the cost of the jail at that time. There has been a little 
extra necessary work added since, but it was something less than $100. 
It is a good piece of work, and a credit to the county. 

1882. 

The March statement of 1882 showed a collection, state and county 
tax, judgments and back taxes, to the amount of $91,000.88, including 
the amount, in round numbers, of $5,500 back tax collections. 

These back taxes of former years, say from 1862 to 1876, have all 
been paid, compromised or left in default entirely, but a large portion 
was collected, or in reality not any great loss has been experienced since 
1868. The levy of 1882 was placed at 30 cents on the $100 valuation 
for general purposes, 10 cents on same valuation for county officers fund, 
7^ cents on same for poor fund, 7\ cents incidental fund, 5 cents jury 
and witness fund, 10 cents county road fund, and 10 cents for bridge 
fund. This makes a total county levy of 80 cents on the $100 valuation 
and for state 40 cents. Total taxation on the $100, $1.20. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 173 

It would seem that a school tax and sinking fund tax should be 
added to this. 

The levy or assessed valuation of Missouri, Kansas and 

Texas division was placed by the county at $912,739 20 

The amount assesed within the city of Clinton was a val- 
uation 24,480 00 

Within the city of Calhoun ' 8,788 80 

Within the city of Windsor 8,788 80 

Within the city of Montrose 8,544 00 

Valuation of the property in cities $ 50,601 60 

Total assessed valuation $963,340 80 

This is in round numbers $30,500 per mile. This is further out of 
the way than the state assessment. The fact is the county should make 
the assessment at about $15,000, and then fight the state board of equal- 
ization for the levy. This would give a valuation of $555,600 for county, 
and about $25,000 to the four cities, total $580,600 assessed valuation. 
This would be in reason, and would bring nearly double the present tax. 
However, just when corporations will cease to be favored and the people 
swindled is a conundrum "no fellow can answer." 

CAN PAY OUT. 

Henry County has passed through a pretty severe financial strug- 
gle. The struggle of the past few years, however, will not again be 
felt as the strain has ended by the arrangement for a compromise of her 
debt. Having no floating debt her whole liabilities may be considered 
in the new 6 per cent bond issue of $525,000. It is possible that it will 
not take all to redeem the old bonds and coupons, but it is pretty cer- 
tain that it will not exceed that issue. The assessed valuation of the 
county in 1881 and returned January i, 1882, amounts to the sum of 
$5,392,170; that of 1880 was $4,620,020; a gain over the previous year 
of $772,250. A levy on this valuation of 10 mills on the $100 would 
pay the interest and form a sinking fund, which, at the end of five years, 
when the bonds can be first redeemed, of $112,000 in round figures, but 
as valuations would increase it would be safe to say that the debt could 
be reduced $150,000. Let that levy continue for ten years and the debt 
will be paid, allowing for the probable increase of the assessed valua- 
tion of the county. If not, there would not be much left to worry them. 
About that time, if the old court house has not fallen completely in 
ruins, it would be a good idea to invest about $125,000 for a court house 
to adorr? one of the prettiest sites in the state, and an ornament to a 
very beautiful inland city, of which the people of the county may well 
be proud. A little of it might be left to macadamize the streets around 



174 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

the square. A clause to that effect might be added to the appropriation 
bill. 

MATERIAL WEALTH. 

The wealth of a county, the culture and moral characteristics 
of her people, the richness of her soil, and the disposition to labor to 
secure this productiveness, is what places her people in the front rank 
with those who believe that wealth, progress and refinement, are the 
open sesame of a happy life, and a future which shall be bounded by a 
golden shore when the "dark river" shall have been passed. 

Henry County made no record of her material wealth until 1842, 
when the total assessment for 1841 showed the sum of $197,059. In 
1845 this sum had been increased to $351,308, which was the assessment 
of that year. 

Just what lands and stock were valued at would#be hard to say, but 
it is probable, in view of cheap lands and stock, that it was fully up to 
and perhaps higher, really, than the assessment at this time. Lands 
were then worth $1.25 per acre unimproved, and improved farms at from 
$5 to $7 was a large price. Taxing these farms at this day at an assess- 
sessment of from $5 to $6 per acre, while improved farms are worth 
from $25 to $40, would give a higher rate of taxation in those old pio- 
neer days than at the present. The county seemed to grow and pros- 
per, but the record of that growth was very imperfectly kept. Taxation 
and assessment went hand in hand, but it was not until i860 that there 
is found another statement of the progress of Henry County in the 
record of her assessment rolls. 

i860. 

That year the real estate and personal property was returned sepa- 
rately, or, it might perhaps be better to state, was entered separately 
and is as follows: 

Real estate $1,825,320 

Personal property 550,080 

Total $2,375,400 

What the comparison was between the assessments of i860 and 
1867, the next recorded return is hard to say, as a portion of the assess- 
ment in regard to stock is not at hand for reference, but the increase^ 
notwithstanding the disastrous effect of the civil war was marked in an 
eminent degree. The assessment that year footed: 

For real estate $3-35 1,027 

For personal property * 1,016,725 

Total $4,367,752 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, 175 

The assessessments of 1870 and 187 1 also showed a wonderful 
increase, and the latter year footed up something like one and a half 
millions of dollars more than the assessment of 188 1, as returned in 
Janury last, 1882. But land was then assesed at $10.50 per acre, while 
the present tax is but $5.10 per acre. 

1870, 1871 AND 1873. 

There were assessed in 1870, 461,011 24-100 acres of land, and town 
lots to the number of 1,323. These, together with the personal property 
of all kinds, gave the valuation of real and personal property that year 
at $6,458,855. This was a gain of nearly 50 per cent, in three years. 

That assessment gave 12,656 tracts of land, giving the above num- 
ber of acres. There were, also, returned as being 525 whole sections of 
land in the county, and 225 fractional sections. The assessment for 
1871 showed 15,706 tracts of land, and 3,239 town lots. This was a sur- 
prising increase, and showed the last year a pretty close assessment, 
while that of 1870 must have been badly performed, probably like the 
United States census of that year, which is one of the most astounding 
statistical frauds ever compiled in the history of this or any other 
country. 

The assessed valuation of real and personal for 1871 was $7,071,623 

And for 1873 5,449,369 

This was the last assessessment under the high valuation then in 
vogue, and the next is given, which shows a falling off about 30 per 
cent, for the year 1875, saying nothing about the natural increase of 
productive wealth. This decrease was largely in the real estate assess- 
ment mentioned above. 

1875 TO 1881. 

The total valuation for 1875 was $4,809,210 with a falling off in the 
number of acres of land assessed of 68 1| acres. 

The heaviest tax year known to the people of Henry County was 
that of 1873. The total tax of the year footed up, $96,340.76, and, includ- 
ing back taxes, something over $100,000 was collected. The assessment 
of 1882, returned January i, 1883, as it shows the entire resources of the 
county and comparison of previous years, is of great value, and will be 
found in Chapter X. The levy of 1882 was : state, 40 cents; county, 50 
cents ; railroad, 80 cents; a total of $1,70 on the $100 valuation. 



CHAPTER X. 



SOIL — CLIMATE — AGRICULTURAL AND MINERAL 
RESOURCES OF HENRY COUNTY. 

INrRODUCTORY— LOCATION— CAPITAL AND LABOR— WATER AND TIMBER-AGRICULTURE 
—CEREALS AND GRAPES— FIELD OF CORN AND OATS — SHEEP - 1865 —STOCK- 
REMARKS OF L. C. MARVIN— BETTER HORSES— 1867 TO 1880-SHIPMENTS OF 1877— 
THE CENSUS CROP— RETURNS OF 1881-2— OF HORSES, SHEEP, CATTLE, HOGS, AND 
MULES, AND GRAND TOTAL. 

" In ancient times the sacred plow employed 
The kings and awful fathers of mankind ; 
And some, with whom compared, your insect tribes 
Are but the beings of a summer day. 
Have held the scale of empire, ruled the storm 
Of mighty war with unwearied hands, 
Disdaining little delicacies, seized 
The plow and greatly independent lived." 

INTRODUCTORY. 

The resources of Henry County are varied, and their full develop- 
ment brings wealth, contentment, health and happiness. Soil of exceed- 
ing richness, its alluvial qualities reaching many feet below the surface, 
making it almost inexhaustible in its producing qualities. Streams of 
running waters, timber of various kinds, all of excellent quality, yet lim- 
ited in supply, but more than compensated by many hundreds of square 
miles of coal field, illimitable in its productive capacity, prairies undu- 
lating and easy of cultivation, and quarries of stone fit for a palace, of 
the formality of a hood, all these things make the resources of Henry 
County a fruitful theme, which, to give it but partial justice, would fill 
many pages of history. It is the home of the succulent grasses; cereals 
and vegetables are everywhere productive, and with them as a ground 
work of solid ingredients, it gives it a prominence as a stock raising and 
dairy country. The latter would certainly flourish here, the equal of any 
county in the state, or country. The farmers of Henry County have but 
to give their attention to their farm duties to secure them a home and a 
competency. 

There are few states in the union that combine so great a variety 
of soil, as salubrious a climate, so rich in agricultural and mineral 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 7/ 

resources, better adapted to stock, or a more healthy climate for man 
than Missouri, and of all these qualities certainly Henry County has her 
full share. 

There are many reasons why Henry County should receive a large 
immigration, and among these is, that in soil, climate and productive 
capacity it has few superiors in the counties of the state. Lands are not 
high, and not one-half of her soil is in cultivation. She has room for a 
hundred thousand people, and in all the element of success has her full 
share. These things are all to be considered when settling in a new 
country, and yet Missouri, while a new country in the extent of her 
immense forests and prairies, is old in all that constitutes wealth, refine- 
ment and culture, in the luxuries of life and in her schools and churches. 
It is because of her great educational facilities and her numerous railroads 
and waterways, which gives her a pre-eminent stand over both eastern and 
western neighbors. She equals the east in all the luxuries of life, of social 
ties and advancements, with cheap lands and living at less than two-thirds 
the cost. She surpasses the west and the borders of civilization in 
everything that constitutes a comfortable home, the necessaries and lux- 
uries of life, and all this without going into the confines of savage life, 
and enduring the hardships and privations of pioneer life. One and all 
of these advantages may be found in Henry County, and having thus 
given the reasons of our faith in the future of Henry County, the future 
pages will give more in detail what these advantages are and how her 
people have improved them. 

LOCATION. 

Henry County is situated within reasonable distance of the marts 
of trade — a very desirable feature to her people. It is in this location 
which makes Henry County stand among the first in the list of counties 
as a market for her surplus produce. She has the privilege of three 
com.peting markets, and in the near future her railway facilities will be 
complete. It is 227 miles to St. Louis, about eighty-five to Kansas City, 
and about 500 miles to Chicago. It is between the 38th and 39th par- 
allels of latitude and belongs to that section of the state known as 
Southwest Missouri and its northeastern part — a section of country 
known for great agricultural resources, mineral wealth, and a climate 
whose health-sustaining and life-giving qualities are not surpassed. 

The county has an actual area of 731 square miles, and an acreage 
of 467,840, about one-fitth of which is tim.ber. These figures are differ- 
ent from others already published, but which are erroneous. The figures 
here given are from actual measurement as given by its boundaries. 
The census of 1880 gives the area at 760 square miles, but as no one will 
say the county is over thirty miles east and west by twenty-four and 

one-half miles north and south, which would only give 735 square miles, 

12 



178 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

there is no use quoting more than the figures will verify. The west side 
falls short of being twenty-four and one-half miles north and south, and 
there are full two sections, or square miles, taken from the southeast 
corner from the bend of the Osage River. 

The largest acreage assessed in any one year was that of 188 1, 
returned January i, 1882, which was 463,046 acres, and town lots 3,765, 
or an acreage of about 2,560. This leaves still unassessed 2,234 acres. 
There are no government lands, the last acre having been sold before the 
war. No corporations own land in the county, though a large number 
of acres are owned by non-residents. It is difficult to estimate the price 
of land. Prices are controlled by the amount sold, amount of timber, 
extent of improvements, location, etc., etc. It cannot be very wide of 
the truth to say that improved lands range in price from $12.50 to $40 
per acre. 

While these figures in regard to acreage and prices may vary a 
trifle, it is the nearest that can be arrived at without a survey of about 
every foot of the county. This is, at all events, a magnificent domain, 
and one which the people of Henry County may well feel proud of It 
needs but the inspiring hands of labor and a liberal supply of active 
capital to place it in the van of the municipal divisions of the state. 
Home capital has not exhibited the enterprise and far-seeing judgment 
which the resources of the county plainly indicate, and it may be that 
foreign capital will reap the largest share of the wealth which now lies 
hidden in her soil. 

This county is gently undulating in its surface, abounding in rolling 
prairie, with little timber, except along the banks of its streams. The 
soil is generally what is termed limestone, or alluvial, of great depth and 
productiveness. The southeastern portion, however, where it approaches 
the Osage River, inclines more to what we call sandstone, and has num- 
erous streams of living water. Two of these are classed on the Gov- 
ernment returns as rivers ; Grand River, which runs directly through 
the center of the county from west to east, and the Osage, which forms 
part of the southeastern border. They vary in depth from five to twenty 
feet, with a medium force of current. Of creeks we have a goodly num- 
ber: Deep Water, Big Creek, White Oak, Tebo, Honey Creek and 
Bear Creek, all tributaries of Grand River, and durable streams, upon 
the banks of which good timber is found in abundance. Many of these 
streams might be made available for manufacturing purposes. Theie 
are two flouring mills upon the banks of Grand River, also many fine 
saw mills located upon the banks of the different streams. On the 
whole, no one who has make himself acquainted with its locality and 
peculiarities, but considers Henry County a healthy, productive and val- 
uable county. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 79 

TIMBER. 

The prevailing species of timber is the oak. All the varieties of 
this tree are found in greater or less abundance, but the white oak is 
probably more prevalent than any other. There are, also, black walnut 
in abundance, ash, hickory, elm. maple, linn or basswood, pecan, locust, 
sycamore and perhaps others. Shrubs and wild fruits consist mostly of 
wild plum, pawpaw, persimmons, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, crab 
apples, hazel, redbud, black and red haws, and probably others less com- 
mon. Besides the wild grape vine, which largely abounds in the forests 
along the streams, there are the ivy, honeysuckle, bittersweet, wild 
cucumber, pea vine, and several other " creeping things," for which no 
names are given. Timber has generally been considered scarce, but 
coal largely compensates for the seeming deficit in that direction, by 
furnishing plenty of fuel, and timber is increasing rather than diminish- 
ing within the bounds of the county. 

AGRICULIURE. 

The cultivation of the soil was the first and is the most ennobling of 
all callings. When the first happy pair was created the}' were placed 
in a garden, the most delightful spot upon earth; their physical employ- 
ment was its cultivation, their mental exercise to admire and adore the 
wisdom and goodness of God, that appeared in every shrub and plant 
that flourished throughout the garden. In this department of labor the 
whole realm of truth is spread out before us, and invites our inquiry and 
investigation. The composition of soils, the laws that govern vegetable 
life, are wide and pleasant fields for the exercise of the mind, and while 
contemplating and studying nature's laws, the mind takes a pleasing 
transit from nature's works up to nature's God. Cowper has beautifully 
poetized the sentiment: 

" To study, cultivate, and with artful toil 
To meliorate and tame the stubborn soil; 
To give dissimilar, yet fruitful lands, 
The grain, or herb, or plant that each demands; 
To cherish virtue in an humble state. 
And share the joys your bounty may create; 
To mark the matchless workings of the power 
That shuts within its seed the future flower, 
Bids these in form of elegance excel. 
In color these, and those delight the smell; 
Sends nature forth, the daughter of the skies, 
To dance on earth and charm all human eyes ; 
To teach the canvas innocent deceit, 
Or lay the landscape on the snowy sheet. 
These, these are arts pursued without a crime, 
That leave no stain upon the wing of time.' 



l80 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Who stands in so enviable a position as the owners of the soil and 
producers of bread? They feed the teemin^c^ millions of our population; 
they supply their most pressing wants. Agriculture is the basis of all 
our material relations. More than one-half of the population of our 
country are engaged in tilling the soil, and over three-fifths of the per- 
manent wealth of the country is in their hands. The prosperity of the 
country is based upon the prosperity of the owners and tillers of the 
soil. Truly, then, is agriculture the mother of a 1 arts, the foundation 
and basis of every other calling. 

Agriculture, like every other art, must be educated. We educate 
for the law— we educate for medicine — we educate lor war, for war upon 
the land and war upon the sea. We educate for all arts and sciences, 
save, but in a limited degree, that art or science which is the njoblest of 
them all, and upon which all other arts and sciences depend. 

Missouri possesses more natural advantages and adaption of soil 
and climate for agricultural pursuits than any other state in the west or 
in any other part of the country. It has a soil and climate that will 
grow in the greatest perfection the peach, apple, pear and cherry, 
together with all other fruits that succeed in this latitude. While por- 
tions of the state are better adapted to the successful culture of the vine 
than any state in the Union, unless it may be Calitornia, we have soil 
well adapted to the growth of tobacco, hemp, cotton, and all the cereals 
and bulbous and tuberous roots grow to great perfection. 

Wheat is grown to perfection and the average yield is exceeded but 
by four states in those years that turned out the heaviest crops. Henry 
County has not given full attention to this cereal, yet more than enough 
is raised for home consumption, and it is of late years becoming more 
of a leading product, the crop of 1879 being 191,457 bushels. Corn, how- 
ever is the great staple of Henry County, and in that respect there are 
but a few counties that exceed her in the gross yield. In 1879 Henry 
County had a yield of 5,002,216 bushels of corn and but four counties in 
the state gave a larger yield. These were Bates, Carroll, Nodaway and 
Johnson, and with the exception of Nodaway were not greatly in 
advance. Nodaway is the banner corn county of the state, having har- 
vested for 1879 no less than 6,961,556 bushels. 

The people of Henry County may be classed as an agricultural one. 
Out of a population of in round numbers, 24,000, only about 5 5^0 are 
located in towns, leaving 18,500 as the agricultural population of the 
county. In fact there is far more enterprise exhibited by the agricul- 
tural people of the county, than the capitalists or those living in towns. 
The breeding of fine stock has become quite general, and combined as 
it is with cereal products are facts placing the farmers and stock raisers 
in an enviable position in the matter of finance. Oats are a leading crop, 
and yield from thirty to forty bushels per acre — to feed in connection 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. l8l 

with corn to horses is considered better than feeding either alone. Buck- 
wheat is but little raised, and the same can be said of barley. Rye is 
also a light crop, but little of it being raised. Corn, oats and wheat, 
in the order named being the principal crops. Hemp and flax yield 
heavy returns, but are not extensively cultivated. Sorghum is an insti- 
tution that is growing in favor, and in the number of acres planted, there 
are few crops that pay better. Another crop, that of broom corn, has 
been much cultivated of late, and the year 1882 returned a crop that 
more than paid the full value of the land upon every acre upon which 
it was grown. Tobacco could be cultivated with profit, but it has not 
taken the fancy of the farmer as a staple crop. Potatoes can be raised 
in almost any quantity. The soil is adapted to them, and it only requires 
care to raise an enormous crop. Then the turnip is another root that it 
is hard to tell how many can be" raised to the acre. A turnip " patch " 
is about all that is seen planted or sown of this root. The "patches" 
vary in size from an eighth of an acre to an acre, and but few ever 
exceed that space of ground. There is nothing in the line of roots and 
and vegetables, but what yields handsomely on Henry County soil. 

GRASSES. 

The natural resources for grasses are very great, and this for many 
years was a great drawback to the cultivation of tame grasses. For 
years the pastures were the open prairies, or, if necessary, the prairies 
fenced in. Of late years, however, timothy meadows have increased 
and will continue to increase as the stock interest grows. Timothy, 
when sown, yields abundantly, an average of three tons to the acre hav- 
ing been produced. The prarie, when cut, yields from one to two tons 
per acre, that on wet soil yielding the heaviest, and if properly cured is 
a pretty fair hay for cattle. But for pasturing the blue grass ranks the 
highest, while timothy is the leading hay grass. Redtop and clover is 
raised, but not to a great extent; the former act, however, as a filling on 
a timothy meadow. 

When you come to take the great yield of the grasses, the prolific 
returns of corn and oats, the abundance of water, it is not much of a 
wonder that within the past few years the farmers of Henry County 
have turned their attention to stock. The wonder is that it has not been 
a leading industry for the past twenty years. Even now it is only in its 
infancy, and it will be found that money invested in Texas, Colorado or 
New Mexico will show no greater profits than in our own state of Mis- 
souri in the matter of cattle raising. 

The great ranches of these Western States have made their profit 
by grazing their stock on government land, and when free pastures are 
no more, the chances for large profits will be much curtailed. To be 



l82 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

sure, large capitalists have combined and purchased a large number of 
acres of land at a nominal cost, and will make money, but the stock- 
men whose capital is limited will not fare better in those states than 
here, where a market can be found at his door. 

SHEEP. 

Henry County farmers, with but few exceptions, have not gone 
largely into sheep, yet of all the stock which go to make up a profitable 
return, the sheep has not a superior for this section of the country. The 
returns for i88i gives 15,289 as the total in the county. This is not 
half the number raised in the leading county, Livingston, in 1879, 
and many other counties double this number. Yet Henry County 
is eminently a sheep county, in its adaptibility to this industry and for 
its successful and profitable production. 

IN 1865. 

In the year mentioned above the Rev. L. C. Marvin, a Universalist 
preacher, who as an emancipationist, was elected speaker of the general 
assembly in the year 1862, a man of culture and varied experience, 
wrote to the Missouri Agricultural Society, at their request, matters 
agricultural of Henry County. Of that letter and report the following 
has been taken, which seems to bear upon its face the condition, views 
and actions of the farmers of the county, and in a concise form tells 
much that is of interest at this day. From this report and the present 
condition of the farming population, the advance made in some depart- 
ments can be readily seen. 

The fol'owing is from the last two pages, or closing of his letter : 
He says of hogs, cattle, horses, no statistics ever having been attempted 
previous to the war, and the irregularities which prevail now and during 
the past few years preclude the possibility ot giving anything reliable 
under this head. In general terms, it may be stated that few counties 
in the state, and none in the southwest, have been more prolific in pro- 
ducing the kinds of stock above enumerated for market. Men whose 
judgment is seldom at fault in estimates of this nature, are of the 
opinion that in 1863-4 'I'' many as 15,000 hogs were fattened and mar- 
keted from this county alone. The weight, on an average, it is supposed 
would be about the same as the average of hogs which find a market at 
St. Louis. Taking into the account the fact that a bloody and relentless 
bushwhacking war was carried on within our bounds during that and 
other years, and the altogether unsettled condition of things generally, 
with the indications as above stated, and some estimate may be made of 
the capacities of our county in a time of profound peace, with none to 
molest or make us afraid. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 183 

Beef cattle in immense numbers were also driven from our county 
during the first years of the war, and, seemingly, horses and mules 
enough have been stolen and driven away to outfit an army for the occu- 
pation and conquest of the Peninsula. There are various kinds of stock 
of the improved breeds among us, but the most common is the Durham 
in the cattle line; and of hogs, the Berkshire is the favorite, with inter- 
mixing of other kinds. Durhams do well, but require far more care and 
better keeping than the natives. Crosses between the Durham and 
native, with some, are a favorite kind of stock, giving more weight on 
the one hand, and requiring less care and feed on the other. 

No person has ever undertaken to raise stock especially for the 
dairy. Farmers simply make their own butter, zvhen they have any, and, 
incidentally, a few pounds for the market. There is the commencement 
of one cheese dairy in the county, belonging to Mr. John Baker, where 
the cows number about eighty. I think he makes a profitable business 
in this matter, selling his cheese readily at high prices. His cows are 
mostly natives, with a small per centage of Durhams. Considering the 
price paid in this region for cheese, and frequently for an inferior article, 
and the facilities offered for keeping dairies, it is not seen what business 
could possibly pay better than the manufacture of good cheese for the 
market. One hindrance seems to be that few people here know the secret 
of cheese making. 

FRUIT. 

Considerable attention has been paid to the raising of apples and 
peaches, both of which do well and repay the farmer a large return for 
his labor. Almost every farmer, at present, and some in the past, are 
intent upon raising fruits of various kinds, and in the future, from pres- 
ent indications, a large increase will be visible. The best winter fruit 
in all this region is the geniting, an apple, I believe, unknown in the 
north, but one of the very best, as conceded on all hands in this vicinity. 
There is no difficulty in raising fruit, if the trees are only planted, and a 
reasonable amount of care taken of them, and no labor pays the farmer 
a larger per centage. The oldest fruit raiser and nurseryman in this 
county is Augustus Dana, of Calhoun. Though not largely employed in 
the propagation of fruit, it is believed he has done much to introduce 
good and valuable fruit into the county. Large numbers of fruit trees, 
just previous to the war, were bring introduced from New York and 
other eastern and northern states. It is generally thought, however, 
that nurseries in this state are to be preferred to those a great distance 
north or east. Some are of the opinion that trees, by being transplanted 
so far from home, are apt to change the character of fruit, like a youth 
who goes far from home is apt to fall into bad company, and in the end 
contract bad habits. 



184 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

VINES AND VINEYARDS. 

There are, properly speaking, no vineyards in the county. There are, 
however, in many gardens a few vines, rather incidentally or accident- 
ally than with any well defined intention on the part of the planter. 
The location of the county and the character and tastes of the people 
will be apt to preclude much wine making in our midst, probably for a 
long time to come. No reason is known why, if properly cared for, 
pruned and cultivated, the winemaker might not do as well here as in 
other localities within the boundaries of the state." 

STOCK. 

There is no enumeration of stock found prior to the year 1867 of 
record, and therefore the growth of the county in stock wealth will be 
dated from that time. There were few head of fine cattle or sheep in 
the county at that time, and the era of shorthorns, Hereford and Jersey 
stocks are of a later period. In the matter of hogs the desire for fine 
breeds commenced earlier. When the land became settled and the 
savages curtailed, the old slab-sided rail splitter gave way to the Berk- 
shire and the Poland-China, and these two breeds now predominate, with 
a slight preponderance perhaps on the side of the latter breed. There 
is but little difference in reality between their value. The Berkshire will 
hunt its food and is not lazy in that particular, but the Poland-China is 
a genuine hog all over. He will go to his food, but if he could have his 
way the food would be brought to him. He despises exercise and get 
fat because he can help it, having the appetite of a born hog. 

Sheep have, of late years, attracted more attention, both as to the 
breeds and to their raising. The farmers of Henry County would have 
been better off to-day (but perhaps that is unnecessary) if they had 
given their attention earlier to this department of farm stock. It is not 
yet too late, and the sheep is beginning to assert itself as a staple of 
farm production. The horse is another animal that has seen far less 
attention in Henry County than it should. Not but that there are many 
fine horses in the county, but they are the exception and not the rule. It 
would pay to take a deeper interest in this best of all farm stock. When 
it comes to cattle, of late the farmer has exercised commendable energy 
and desire to improve the common stock and the scrub, for some- 
thing, that without being, if any, more expensive, will sell on an average 
at three times the value of the aforesaid scrub. The shorthorns lead at 
this time, and will, doubtless for sometime to come, but that farmer will 
be wise who also takes an interest in the Hereford for the market, and 
looks after a thorough Jersey for the dairy. The value of the short horns 
none will deny, but a very plain fact is also observant, that they do not 
combine in themselves all that is desirable in cattle. There are several 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



185 



breeds, both of cattle and sheep, which it would be well for the farmer 
to experiment with, and while the situation and liking of one might suit 
him, it does not follow that others would, under different circumstances, 
find the same breed as profitable or desirable. 

And right here a very pertinent question might be asked: Why 
does not Henry County support and foster a first-class agricultural 
society ? The want of one certainly reflects upon the intelligence and 
enterprise of the farming population of Henry County and certainly is 
a mistake. 

As before stated, the year 1867 was the first that a record was found 
of the assessment of live stock. That year they numbered as follows: 
Horses, 3,979; mules and asses, 1,132; neat cattle, 12,520; sheep, 9,241; 
hogs, 5,823. 

1870. — The number increased rapidly to this date, as will be seen 
below, except in mules and sheep: Horses, 6,069; mules and asses, 
1,137; "G^t cattle, 15,662; sheep, 9,478; hogs, 28,005. 

1871 — Horses 7,681; mules and asseS; 1,388; cattle, 20,567; sheep,. 
10,331; hogs 28,617. 

1874 — Horses, 9,301; mules, 1,965; cattle, 27,540; sheep, 13,589; 
hogs, 37,369, 

SHIPMENTS OF I877. 

While the wealth of Henry County has increased over 25 per cent^ 
the past five years, what she contributed to the outside world during 
the business season of 1876-77 will be found of interest: 

The following is a tabulated statement of the shipments of live 
stock and produce from the different stations in Henry County, Mis- 
souri, for the seven months ending May 15, 1877. The exhibit is taken 
direct from the shipping books of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- 
way, and is true in every particular. 






1-1 

c 



V 

Q 





■r. 


s 
s 



u 



B 

90 

15 

251 

142 

4 

I 

17 

9 

I 


u 




Cattle 

Hogs 

Sheep 


236 

46 

I 

370 


51 

6 

74 


591 
69 

7 

736 

32 


* 64 

502 


56 

15 

I 

202 


1017 
226 

24 

1697 

676 

4 


Coal , 


Mules 






Horses 


I 

2 

10 

6 

6 


2 

2 


2 
12 

15 

38 

108 

38 




I 

I 


4 


Potatoes 

Broom Corn . • • 


16 

42 


Flax Seed 






55 


Miscellaneous 

Flour 




52 


169 
38 
















Total Cars 


678 


135 


1648 


566 


326 


575 


3968 



1 86 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Under the head of miscellaneous is included beans, oats, stoneware, 
hides, bran, watj^on material, etc. 

The total value of the above shipments foot up the handsome sum 
of $1,552,998. 

The census returns of 1880 gives the cereal crop of the year 1879, 
and the number of acres planted to each crop. In this exhibit Henry 
County is well to the front. 

THE CENSUS CROP. 

Acres. Bushels. 

Corn 131,368 5,002,216 

■Oats 13.730 279,911 

Wheat 17,982 191,457 

Rye 106 1,171 

Buckwheat 19 130 

Barley 15 1 80 

assessor's RETURNS, JANUARY I, 1883. 

The following condensed statement of the returns of 1882, and 
returned January i, 1883, is taken from the Clinton Democrat, of Feb- 
ruary 15, 1883 : 

Total valuation of live stock, moneys, notes, bonds and other per- 
sonal property, for the year 1882, arranged by townships : 

Osage $ 126,720 Fields' Creek $ 69,970 

Fairview 84,440 Honey Creek 41,940 

Bear Creek 81,950 White Oak 63,220 

Deepwater 109,450 Windsor 173,200 

Leesville 85,870 Tebo 149,290 

Bethlehem 108,300 Shawnee 132,520 

Clinton 466,850 Big Creek 121,870 

Davis 101,940 Bogard . . 1 14,500 

Walker 92,590 

Springfield 71,050 Total $2,293,470 

Deer Creek 95,800 

Valuation. 

Real estate, number acres 462,860 $2,415,435 

Real estate, number town lots 3,75 1 481,580 

Personal property 2,293,470 



Total taxable wealth January i, 1883 $5,190,485 

This closes the resources of Henry County, and from this date on 
it will be easy to trace the growth and true prosperity of the county. 
Here it is found tabulated from 1840 to date, of such years as the same 
was placed upon record, and from this history the past can be gathered. 
This alone will make it a valuable reference to every citizen for all 
iuture time. 



CHAPTER XL 



FRUITS AND BERRIES— GRAPES AND WINES— COAL AND 

STONE. 



FRUIT ALL GROWN HERE-BERRIES EVERYWHERE-GRAPES— THE BEST VARIETIES- 
COAL, STONE AND IRON— AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY— WHEN ORGANIZED— 1839— 1858— 
1869— A PREMIUM LIST— DEATH. BUT NO RESURRECnON— FARMER'S CLUB-HENRY 
COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY-WHEN IT DIED— LIST OF MEMBERS— VETERINARY 
CLUB-ELECTED OFFICERS- DEAD 

FRUITS AND BERRIES. 

There has been of late years considerable attention paid to all kinds 
of fruit and berries, and it is only of late years that serious attention has 
been given to that which is prolific in yield and of such healthful quali- 
ties as good ripe fruit. Up to, say, 1875, there was very little attention 
paid to the raising of any kind of fruit outside of home consumption, 
and even in that respect it was a scarce article. Berries, outside of a few 
vines or bushes in the garden, little attention was paid to them, and yet 
you will scarcely find a county in the state where fruit can be grown in 
greater perfection or berries give a more prolific yield. But orchards 
now dot the county, and the apple crop alone probably exceeded a mil- 
lion bushels in the year 1882, which was a memorable one for nearly all 
kinds of fruit in the immensity of its yield. Apples are principally, but 
there are peaches and plums in plenty, and cherries everywhere. The 
berry crop is not large as yet, but strawberries, currants, gooseberries, 
raspberries and blackberries are all grown, sufficient for home consump- 
tion. Why these berries are not cultivated more is hard to tell. The 
people have hardly yet got to know the luxury they are very unneces- 
sarily depriving themselves of, when with but little trouble they could 
feast on these health-giving and luscious fruits of the garden. 

The day is not far distant when all this will be changed, and they 
will wonder how they ever could have lived without them. The apple 
orchard is now a staple of the farm, and it will not be long before the 
county will equal in the yield of apples that of any county of the state; 
and she is not far behind now. 



1 88 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

THE GRAPE. 

There are but few vineyards in Henry County at this time, and the 
cultivation of the grape has not become general. The soil is well 
adapted to the raising of some varieties of the grape, the Concord being 
the leading grape grown and considered the hardiest and less liable to 
mildew. The Alvira is little grown and but little known, but for wine 
it is considered superior to the Norton's Virginia or the Martha. There is 
no mistaking the quality of the wine it produces, both in body and flavor. 
It is not as prolific in its yield as the Concord, and for that matter there 
is no grape that equals it in yield, or can be said to be as hardy, but the 
Concord does not make a rich wine. It is lighter in body, and lacks 
that delicate flavor which gives to the Norton's Virginia, Alvira and 
Martha their chief attributes, and calls forth high praise. The Catawba 
is a grape that was cultivated many years, but it is light in yield and 
light in body in the quality of its wine. 

The Concord for light wine is the superior of any grown, when yield 
and quality is considered. This is meant in the nature of a common 
wine. The Herbemont is also cultivated to some extent, and has yielded 
a very heavy crop, about eight hundred gallons to the acre. Among 
the varieties promising well, but which are as yet not extensively culti- 
vated, are the Cunningham, Clinton, Hartford Prolific, Taylor, Cynth- 
iana, Martha, North Carolina Seedling, Roger's Hybrid, No. i, and last, 
though not least, the Alvira. The average value of Catawba wine is 
$1.50 ; Norton's Virginia wine, $4; Concord wine, $2.50; Herbemont 
wine, $3. These are the comparative prices in accordance with their 
quality, and are nearly correct. In a comparison of the wine made 
from the Alvira and Norton's Virginia, the preference was given by good 
judges to the former. Still there is but little difference, and the latter 
gives a greater yield per acre. The average yield per acre of leading 
varieties may be put down as follows, one season with the other, under 
fair treatment: 

Gallons. 

Catawba, per acre 250 

Norton's Virginia, per acre 700 

Concord, per acre 1,200 

Alvira, per acre 800 to i ,000 

Martha, per acre 800 to i ,000 

Herbemont, per acre 1,000 

Clinton, per acre 1,000 

There is no doubt but the grape finds here its natural home, and 
will produce unrivaled yields, and while at this time the Concord is the 
favorite, from its hardy nature and sure returns, other varieties will 
doubtless find favor as vineyards increase, and a taste for superior vintage 
becomes more widespread and desirable. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 89 

MINERAjlS. 

Whether coal can be called a mineral is perhaps subject to contro- 
very; but one thing is absolutely certain — that coal abounds in great 
quantity in Henry County, fully threefourths of her surface being under- 
laid with a very fine article of bituminous coal, and at no very distant 
future will be mined in such quantities as to make it an important factor 
in the aggregate of her yearly revenue. Even now it has an important 
bearing in the financial resources of the county. There has been as yet 
no deep mining in Henry County. Numerous veins of coal have been 
opened, varying from twenty inches to three feet in thickness, which are 
now being worked at a profit. They are, comparatively speaking, near 
the surface, being from 10 to 120 feet deep. One million bushels and 
over are now being taken out annually. 

In 1870 a vein of coal nine feet in thickness was discovered on Mr. 
Cook's farm, known as the " Old John Gutridge farm," some 300 yards 
from the line of the located Tebo & Neosho Railroad. 

The Widow Tyler Coal Mines, three miles east of Clinton, have 
been worked since 1869. In 187 1 two sets of hands were engaged to 
keep up the supply, the demand being so great. 

Another shaft was sunk north of Clinton and has been worked since 
1870. 

The Lee Owens Shaft has been worked considerable, and it was at 
this mine that John Woolfort, a miner, was killed in 1877, the contents 
of a "pot" falling on him. 

S. D. Garth also struck a thirty-inch vein, only a short distance 
southeast of Clinton, in October, 1881. 

These might all be called surface veins, as the deepest, Osage No. 
I, is but 124 feet in depth, and as before remarked vary from twenty 
inches to thirty-six inches in thickness. It is frequently dug from the 
sides of ravines and creeks. Several other shafts have been sunk and 
the mines are being worked. 

The geological report of the lower coal measure is of great impor- 
tance to this county, as the veins are of great thickness and of the finest 
quality of bituminous coal. It says that the lower coal measures are 
found exclusively in Henry County, comprising a vertical section of 
rock and shale of 250 to 300 feet, including five workable seams of coal 
from eighteen inches to five and one-half feet in thickness, and several 
thin seams covering an area of 300 square miles, with three and one- 
half feet of workable coal, and 250 square miles with six and one-half 
feet of coal, and 150 square miles with ten and one-half to twelve feet 
of workable coal, or in all 650 square miles with three and one -half to 
twelve feet of workable coal. 



190 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The mines at Lewis and near Windsor will be found described in 
the history of those townships. 

H^ON AND STONE. 

Iron ore is also found, and there are also indications of coal oil. 
The iron has never been looked after or efforts made to work it, and the 
same may be said of coal oil. There is nothing positively known of the 
latter, but iron is known to exist in payin,f^ quantity. 

Limestone may be said to be most numerous of the different rock. 
Sandstone is found at intervals, as is also cotton rock, fire rock, etc. 
There has been a fine quarry of a very handsome stone found on the 
farm of John Rhoads, about one and one-half miles from Montrose. The 
stone is a finer grade than the celebrated VVarrensburg stone, and sus- 
ceptible of a higher finish. It is destined to be one of the most valuable 
quarries of building stone in the state. 

There are quite a number of quarries of other stone in the county, 
which will in the future be of great value. The demiand at present is 
light, but as the people grow in wealth and culture, much of this fine 
stone will be used, both for the substantial and ornamental, the qualities 
of which will prove satisfactory. There is perhaps more limestone in 
the northern section of the county, but stone of some kind is found in 
almost every section. The fine quarry above spoken of, Mr. Rhoads', is 
in the southwest, while south and east are the sandstone quarries. Now 
and then, on the hills overlooking Grand River and the Osage, some 
flint is found. Take it altogether there are few counties in the state 
better supplied with a first class article of building stone than Henry, but 
really there has been but little done to develop its resources in this par- 
ticular. The same might be said of coal. There is a home market for 
from a half to three-quarters of a million bushels of coal, and beyond 
this, and what is supplied to the railroad, covers the extent of the min- 
ing interest. Yet there is coal enough to make it the equal, if not the 
leading product of the county. 

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

Henry County, as a county, has never been largely interested in an 
agricultural and mechanical association. There have been a few moving 
spirits, who have struggled from year to year to educate the people up 
to the belief of the well-known fact, that a well sustained agricultural 
society, would do more to advance the farming interest than any one 
thing connected therewith, outside of intelligent manual labor. In one 
respect the farming population of Henry County, cannot be called a 
reading one, and to some extent this may account for their want of 
interest in a society which would prove so valuable to them. Not only 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 19I 

does their pocket interest suffer, so also does their moral and social 
existence. The neighborly feeling encouraged and promoted by these 
societies, the social gathering and interchange of thoughts, views of 
experience of each, go a long way to develop improvements in farm and 
stock, which cannot so well be found in any place or institution as at an 
agricultural fair. The spirit of social life, of improvement and progress, 
seems to be in a measure lacking among the farmers of the county. As 
before remarked, not all are wanting in this spirit, but up to the year 
1S83, the few have failed to leaven the mass, and Henry County, rich in 
soil, prolific in production, and by prudence and economy, has amassed 
much substantial wealth among her people, yet among her rural popula- 
tion there is seemingly a want of intelligent enterprise. 

THE FIRST MOVE. 

There has been from the first organization of the county, some 
spirits, who believed in agricultural societies and fairs, and it is found 
that as early as 1838, there were farmers who desired to form an agricul- 
tural association. The affair took shape in February, 1839, when the 
county court granted an order for an election foi the " purpose of organ- 
izing an agricultural society." 

Nothing, so far as the records show, was accomplished. Who were 
the moving spirits was not stated. It slumbered for two years and six 
months, when the county court made again the same order for an elec- 
tion, and for the same purpose, at the August term, 1841. It again 
failed to materialize, and seemed to have slept the sleep that knows no 
waking. The spirit had died out, and for seventeen years nothing was 
heard of an agricultural society in Henry County. 

THE SPIRIT OF PROGRESS. 

Once more the spirit began to move, and in 1857, the talk assumed 
a demonstrative tone, and during the summer of the following year, that 
of 1858, and the first fair ever held in Henry County was in the fall of 
that year, and for three days. In 1859, there was another, and both of 
these exhibitions were a success, and gave promise of much future use- 
fulness. When those early days are considered, the success was phe- 
nominal, and in the number, quantity and quality of articles exhibited, 
augured well for the future. Yet these two fairs were all that were held 
in those ante belluin days. If they could have been continued there can 
be no doubt that the generous and friendly rivalry which was stimulated, 
and the personal acquaintance and friendship which was cultivated, 
would have led to very excellent results to the farming population, and 
benefitted the community generally. Among the projectors and early 



192 HISTORY OF HENR\ COUNTY. 

friends of the society were Joseph Davis, Joshua Swinney, A. M. Tutt, 
R. Allen, A. C. Marvin, John A. Rogers, A. C. Legg, James Hogan, Major 
Good and others. What caused the failure of i860 is not reported, and 
after that the general demoralization attending the fierce civil strife put 
an end to all ideas as to fairs or anything else that savored of friendship 
or progress. The people drifted along until the times once more became 
settled, and they had, in a measure, recovered from the prostration and 
poverty left them when grim-visaged war had ceased, and the white- 
winged angel, " peace," hovered once more over the land. 

On November 20, i86g, a joint stock company was formed and 
called the agricultural and mechanical society of Henry County, and 
the following prominent citizens of the county, at that time, composed 
its first board of directors, viz: A. C. Marvin, R. Z. Fewell, Thomas E. 
Owens, Isaac M. Cruce, John L. Gray, John A. Bushnell, James Hogan, 
Moses W. Sevier, John O. Covington, Robert Allen, Jacob C. White, R. 
K. Murrell and Burt Holcomb. 

On January 29, 1870, a meeting was called, and an election of offi- 
cers took place. For the presidency of the association there were four 
candidates, and Dr. J. H. Britts was elected by a vote of forty-three to 
twenty-five for all the others. Captain Curtis was chosen vice-president 
and Will H. Lawrence, corresponding secretary. The following execu- 
tive committee was then appointed by townships: Bogard, Captain J. 
A. Will; Big Creek, L. E. B. Winslow; Grand River, Marshal Lahue; 
Springfield, Columbus Banta; Osage, Reuben Good; Tebo, George 
Casey: Deepwater, James T. Tags; White Oak, S. L. W, Robinson; 
Windsor, I. N. Hughes. 

Active work was commenced to get the farmers interested so as to 
hold a fair the coming fall, and during the summer it was announced 
that the "Sixth Annual Fair of the Henry County Agricultural and 
Mechanical Society would be held on the fair grounds, near Clinton, 
commencing September 20, 1870, and continuing four days. 

The effect was really a success, the display of stock and the product 
of the farm was first-class and the entries numerous. A very liberal 
premium list was offered, the aggregate being $1,200. 

The board of directors elected and holding office in 1871 were: Dr. 
John H. Britts, president; Colonel William H. McLane, vice-president; 
William H. Cock, treasurer; D. H. Pierson, secretary, and R. Z Fewell, 
H. P. Epperson, J. P. Waddell, John Hopton, William M. Doyle, D. R. 
D. Dobyns and Joseph Reid as constituting the board. 

This seemed to be the first fair held since the war and the last until 
1878. Just why such a prosperous beginning should have been allowed 
toi die out, of course cannot be told, only upon the ground taken in the 
commencement of this article, that while there were a few public-spirited 
and energetic men in the county, there were not enough of them to 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. I93 

imbue with the right spirit an era of progress in the people's hearts, and 
the association died of inanition, a want of nourishment and that kind 
■of food which makes all public objects a success. 

The closing of the fair of 1870 left the matter at a rest or stand- 
still until the year 1878, above mentioned, when another spasmodic 
effort was made and resulted in having a fair held on the nth and 12th 
days of October, 1878, two days only. This was under the control of 
the former directory. One more attempt was made and a three days' 
fair was held in 1879, and this endeth the chapter so far as a separate 
fair in Henry County is concerned. The gentlemen who have been 
instrumental in infusing life occasionally into the society have become 
somewhat despondent, and after some twelve years of struggle, of time 
and money spent, have, we believe, given up, at least for the present, 
any hope of making an agricultural and mechanical society in Henry 
County a permanent success. The effort of 1880 having proved abor- 
tive, a few have attended what is called a district fair held at Appleton 
City, in St. Clair County, but close to the border of Henry and Bates. 
Let us hope that a more liberal spirit will yet take hold of the farmers 
of Henry County, and that the public spirited citizens may in the near 
future see the full fruition of their hopes and desires and that the Agri- 
cultural and Mechanical Society of Henry County will yet have a perma- 
nent being and become a pronounced success. 

FARMERS CLUB. 

There was a farmers club organized in 1869, of which Dr. Britts was 
president. At the meeting held at Clinton on February 5, 1870, there 
was a lively discussion about the stock law. There were quite a number 
of lawyers who got up and undertook to explain the law and air their 
farming knowledge, which latter was about all heresay and theoretical, 
but announced in that sort of matter of fact way that they knew all 
about it, in fact much more than the tillers of the soil themselves. 
When these limbs of the law got through a quiet old farmer by the 
name of Winslow, got up and grimly remarked, "that it made the meet- 
ing a heap more spicy by hearing from those who knew nothing about 
farming," and then sat down. It was a sort of a wet blanket on the 
legal lights, who afterwards kept silent, fearing perhaps they had exhib- 
ited more ears than was really necessary, the old farmer chuckled quietly 
to himself, and the neighbors smiled aubibly, and this ended the meet- 
ing. There were other meetings of the club which, when the Grange 
furor passed over the country became embodied into that institution 
known as the Patrons of Husbandry. This was an order of high merit 
and wielded, during its short existence, immense power for good, and it 
has been the only organization strong enough it its Way to make corpo- 

13 



194 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

rations tremble at its word and railway kings bow to its behests. The 
order is not yet extinct, but its power has waned. It may again come 
forth, clad in the armor of right, with power to enforce, and if based 
upon the creed upon which it first started into life, may God speed the 
day of its coming. An organization armed with aggression in the cause 
of right and justice, with the power to carry it out, is something badly 
needed in this accursed monopoly ridden era, and it cannot come too 
soon. Speed the day that the justice of its cause, and the power of its 
might, may become triumphant, that labor may have its reward and be 
forever removed from the slavery of capital. 

HENRY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 

This society was organized in Clinton April 5th, 1870. Dr. Britts 
was called to the chair, and Dr. Winch secretary. On organization the 
first motion was by Dr. Stewart, to the effect that the name should be 
called the " Henry County Medical Society." Articles 2d and 4th, arti- 
cles of the State Medical Society, was adopted as the 2d and 3d articles 
of this constitution, as was, also, the 6th and 7th of the state constitu- 
tion made the 5th and 6th in the Henry County Society. By-laws were 
drawn up and adopted at the next meeting, but the regular officers were 
chosen at the first, at the date of organization. For permanent presi- 
dent. Dr. John H. Britts; for vice president, Dr. W. L. Shankland ; for 
treasurer. Dr. Samuel Jones; for recording secretary. Dr. Robert Zener; 
for corresponding secretary, Dr. T. F. Leech; for librarian, Dr. Bronaugh. 
Executive committee — Dr. Leech, Dr. Stewart, Dr. Trevey. 

A committee on election was appointed, and a fee of $1 charged for 
membership. The national code of ethic was adopted, and Dr. J. W. 
Stewart elected to represent the association in the State Medical Society, 
which was to meet at St. Louis on the 26th of April. 

The association met pretty regularly during the ensuing year. A 
fee bill was prepared and adopted and a small pamphlet was published, 
embracing the constitution and by-laws, the code of ethics and the fee 
bill for use of the members. With the exception of the papers and 
essays prepared and read, the above constituted the principal business 
of the year. 

The election in May, 1871, resulted in the selection of the following: 
President, Dr. J. P. Dimmitt; vice president, Dr. J. W. Bronaugh; cor- 
responding secretary. Dr. W. H. Wirich; recording secretary. Dr. Rob- 
ert Zener; treasurer, Dr. Samuel Jones; librarian, Dr. I. F. Houx, 

Executive Committee — Drs. Britts, Rayston and Chilton. 

Elective Committee — Drs. Stewart, Trevey and Shankland. 

There were lively and interesting discussions at all these meetings, 
but all within the jurisdiction of medicine and the experience and prac- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. I95. 

tice of each physician as detailed, when of importance, was of essentia! 
advantage to the members of the society. 

There was a fine assessed for absenteeism toward the latter part oi 
the second year. Still there was no doubt that a hearty interest was 
taken in the society by all its members. 

ITS THIRD YEAR. 

The third annual meeting, May 28, 1872. Dr. W. L. Shankland,. 
president; Dr. Robert Zener, vice president; Dr. I. F. Houx, corres- 
ponding secretary and librarian; Dr. P. S. Jennings, recording secre- 
tary; Dr. J. W. Stewart, treasurer. 

Excutive Committee — Drs. Chilton, Trevey and Dimmitt. 

Elective Committee — Drs. Britts, Bronaugh and Winn. 

The society clearly announced the position that it did not recog- 
nize the school of medicine known as homeopathy. 

The society closed its labors for some reason in 1874, at which time 
Dr. P. S. Jennings was president and Dr. J. H. Britts secretary. That it 
had accomplished much good during the four years and a little over of 
its existence was freely admitted by the physicians, members of the 
society and many able papers were read and discussed, but removals 
from the county, and by death, decimated the ranks, and the member- 
ship declined. 

One serious trouble was in the unfailing health of Henry County. 
It is not a prosperous field for many doctors. The people are given to 
health and longevity, and the daily sight of this kind of people has a sor- 
rowful feeling upon a doctor's mind, and the effect upon his pocketbook 
is entirely too Realistic to illumine his face with a joyful presence. A 
few have prospered and many have left, but at this time the future of a 
Henry County medical society, of a near or ultimate resurrection, is not 
flattering. 

THE LIST OF MEMBERS. 

The total membership was twenty-two, as follows: 

Dr. John H. Britts. Dr. Thomas F. Leech. 

Dr. William H. Winch. Dr. P. S. Jennings. 

Dr. I. F. Houx. Dr. B. H. Land. 

Dr. Robert Zener. Dr. Edward Chilton. 

Dr. W. L. Shankland. Dr. A. P. Bowman. 

Dr. Robert Trevey. Dr. C. F. Mercer. 

Dr. Samuel Jones. Dr. J. S. Jones. 

Dr. John W. Bronaugh. Dr. John Wilson. 

Dr. E. C. Royston. Dr. W. A. Davidson. 

Dr. J. W. Stewart. Dr. J. D. Axtine. 

Dr. J. P. Dimmitt. Dr. Samuel H. Jones. 



196 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



VETERINARY CLUB. 

A veterinary club was formed in Clinton in the year 1870, the inten- 
tion of which wa.s to make horse and its diseases their special study. Its 
officers were Dr. F. M. Estes, president; Will H. Lawrence, vice presi- 
dent; William E. Wallor, secretary, and George P. Durst, treasurer. 
What the society did, or how long it was in existence cannot at this day 
be clearly established. It lived, yet seemed to have died. 




\s ^(i/^^ e!^"^^ 



CHAPTER XII. 

SCHOOI^S— THEIR GROWTH AND FINANCIAL EXHIBIT. 

THE FIRST SCHOOL- SALE OF SCHOOL LAND IN 1836 TO 1838— NO PRAIRIE LANDS WANTED 
THE FIRST STATE SCHOOL FUND APPORTIONMENT— APPORTIONMENT OF 1850-1854 
NUMBERING THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS— TOWNSHIP FUNDb OF 1858 AND 1860-FROM 
1866 TO 1870— STATE SCHOOL MONEY— 1880, AND THE TOTAL COUNTY FUND-RE- 
CEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES FOR 1881— REPORT OF THE CLINTON GRADED SCHOOL 
FOR 1S81-AMOUNT APPORTIONED FOR MAY, 1882— THE STATE. 

THE START— LOG CABIN SCHOOLS. 

Henry County has not been behind her sister counties in her desires 
and aims for a thorough school system. The people of a neighborhood 
who had, previous to the county's organization, but apologies for schools, 
were anxious that the sixteenth section should contribute as soon as 
possible to improve their school facilities. Some schools had been kept 
in the county at private cabins, and again some old deserted one had 
been utilized for teaching the children of a neighborhood in the rudi- 
ments of an elementary education. 

Very cheap and very imperfect had been these schools, the parents 
paying from one to two dollars per month for each pupil. All of these 
early schools were known as subscription schools. The neighbors would 
get together, when an old hut was not at hand, and erect a log cabin with 
a stick chimney, puncheon stools, no doors or windows, and here would 
be found the youths of both sexes gathered together, taking their first 
lessons in reading, writing, and arithmetic. It was not much, but it was 
all, and the best the pioneers of those early days could do. As the 
population increased, better provisions were made, and the state school 
fund became an important item in causing the winter term to lengthen 
to three and four months. 

The county had been organized but a little over a year when the 
inhabitants of what is now Clinton Township, petitioned for the sale of 
the sixteenth section of township 42, of range 26. The court granted 
the petition at the February term, 1836. This was the first land sold, 
but not all of the section was disposed of Then followed the petitions 
for the sale of other sixteenth sections in the order here given : 

Sixteenth section, township 40, range 25, August, 1836. 



198 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Sixteenth section, township 43, range 25, November, 1836. 
Sixteenth section, township 42, range 24, March, 1838. 
None of these sections were fully sold at the first sale. 

NO PRAU^IE LANDS WANTED. 

The old pioneers never had a liking for prairie lands, and all of the 
settlers generally located on or near a stream of water. While the 
prairies were treeless, on the banks of all the streams and rivers there 
was plenty of wood. This objection to prairie land was very plainly 
exemplified by the early settlers of Henry County, in a petition to the 
county court, that, sixteenth section of township 42, of range 25, the 
sixteenth section of township 43, of range 24, and the sixteenth section 
■of township 41, of range 26, be given back to the United States, on the 
ground "that it was poor land, and there was no timber on it," and that 
they have the privilege of selecting three other sections of land in their 
place. The court effected the change, for Thomas Arbuckle was after- 
ward commissioned to select the lands for township 43, range 24, and he 
may have done it for all, and when selected, an order was granted for its 
sale for school purposes. 

In August, 1837, the first school district was organized in Henry 
County, and was called district No. i, township 42 of range 26. John F. 
Sharp, George W. Lake and Hiram Baker were appointed trustees. 
They continued in office one year and then all resigned. There were no 
others organized until November, 1842, when one was organized in 
township 43 of range 26. Mr. William Akens was appointed commis- 
sioner. From that time on to 1847 quite a number were in operation, 
no less than nine receiving the state fund distributed that year, which 
amounted to $322.40. It was apportioned as follows: 

Township 43, range 24 $71 60 No. children 179 

Township 43, range 25 52 40 No. children 131 

Township 43, range 26 77 60 No. children 194 

Township 42, range 24 39 20 No. children 98 

Township 42, range 25 19 20 No. children 48 

Township 41, range 25 10 40 No. children 26 

Township 41, range 26 15 20 No. children 38 

Township 41, range 28 13 20 No. children 33 

Township 40, range 25 23 60 No. children ... 59 

This was the first money distributed which was found of record. 
The next apportionment of state fund here entered was in May, 1850, 
and it amounted to $363.96. 

In May, 185 i, the state school money received was divided among 
all the townships in proportion to the number of children in each town- 
ship between the ages of six and twenty. The si^m apportioned is given 
in detail, so as to show on future pages the growth of the schools in the 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



199 



county, and what townships were in the lead, both in number of chil- 
dren of school age and schools in operation. The gross sum from the 
state amounted to $439.40, and each township received its proportion, as 
here given: 

STATE SCHOOL APPORTIONED, 1850. 

This fund is received in April or May of the following year, and the 
amount was received and distributed to the school districts in May, 185 1, 
and divided as follows: 



Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 
Townsh 



ip 40, 


ip40, 


ip40, 


ip4i. 


ip4i. 


ip4i. 


ip 42, 


ip42, 


ip 42, 


ip42. 


ip42, 


ip42, 


ip42, 


iP43. 


1P43, 


ip43, 


ip43. 


ip43, 


ip43. 


ip44, 


1P44. 


1P44, 



range 24 $ 13 60 

range 27 9 60 

range 28 13 20 

range 24 32 00 

range 27 7 20 

range 28 16 40 

range 24 34 00 

second district 24 12 00 

range 25 23 20 

second district 25 12 40 

range 27 8 40 

second district 27 4 00 

range 28 25 60 

range 24 86 40 

range 25 48 00 

range 26 40 80 

second district 26 4 80 

range 27 23 20 

range 28 8 80 

range 24 10 80 

range 25 4 40 

range 27 3 60 



There was a steady increase in the state fund from year to year, and 
by the sale of the sixteenth sections the townships fund also began to 
show a fair supply for distribution. The state fund for 1852 was $410.80, 
1853. $450.50, and that apportioned in 1854 to $611.10. The number of 
children in the county of school age was, in 1852, 1386, and in 1854, 
1444. The state school money of 1852 gave thirty cents to each child 
of school age, while that of 1854 was within a fraction of forty-two cents. 
As the year 1854 was the first year that a full apportionment was made 
of all funds, the county and townships being apportioned together it is 
here given with the township funds, such as had any. 

There was distributed of county school money $216 and of state 
money $611.10. There was, according to the school census, 1444 chil- 
dren between the ages of five and twenty years in Henry County. 

In 1854 there were six townships which at that time had no perma- 
nanent township school fund, the sixteenth section still remaining 
unsold. Township 44, of ranges from 28 to 24 inclusive, being one-sixth 



20O HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

of the township on its southern border and lying within Henry County^ 
were attached to the school townships, joining them in township 43, of 
the same ranges. 

February 7, 1857, the county was divided into regular school dis- 
tricts for the first time and numbered from one to twenty, and they 
remain so to this day. 

The sum of $300.66 was received for the county school fund for the 
year 1856 and apportioned. 

In June, 1857, the county court apportioned the county /und, the 
amount being $386.88. 

The highest price any school land brought was a forty-acre tract — 
northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 16, township 41,. 
range 28 — sold to James A. Cummings at $7.75 per acre. He purchased 
240 acres of that section. 

Section 16, of township 41, range 28, sold for $2,012. It was sold 
May II, 1857, and brought the highest price of any school lands sold up 
to that date; Mr. Cummings paying an average of $3.8o| per acre for 
his 240 acres, and J. A. Pinson, purchasing the remainder of the section 
— 400 acres — at an average of $2.70 per acre. There was, on the date 
above $3,818 worth of school lands sold. 

In May, 1858, the state, county and township fund had increased sO' 
that the distribution that year amounted in all to $1,608.51. The county 
treasurer also made a full exhibit of the township funds of each district. 
The organization in^o school districts caused the fund to be properly 
separated and each district had its proper amount to its credit. This 
was the first full exhibit made. The report is below of each township 
fund at interest. 

TOWNSHIP FUNDS 1858. 

District No. i $1,71677 District No. 1 1 $ 85679' 

District No. 2 i,74i ^7 District No. 12 979 55 

District No, 3 1,244 87 District No. 13 1,028 39^ 

District No. 4 88552 District No. 14 1,351 13 

District No. 5 954 99 District No. 15 2,166 78 

District No. 6 890 05 District No. 16 

District No. 7 102 57 District No. 17 

District No. 8 • • • 858 27 District No. 18 

District No. 9 i,oii 23 District No. 19 ... 

District No. 10 1,052 13 District No. 20 



I 



1,281 


42 


82 


90 


950 


30 


538 


15 


517 


35 



Total . $20,2 10 83 

The swamp land fund amounted to $9,890.65. 

The return of township funds for 1859 showed a gain of $2,436.60,. 
the total footing up $22,641.43, and that of i860 was $13,089.34. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



20I 



i860. 



District No. 


I 


townsh 


District No. 


-7 


tovvnshi 


District No. 


2 


townsh 


District No. 


3 


townsh 


District No. 


4 


townsh 


District No. 


S 


townsh 


District No. 


6 


townsh 


District No. 


7 


townsh 


District No. 


8 


townsh 


District No. 


Q 


townsh 


District No. 


10 


townsh 


District No. 


II 


townsh 


District No, 


12 


townsh 


District No. 


n 


townsh 


District No. 


14 


townshi 


District No. 


IS 


townsh 


District No. 


16 


townsh 


District No. 


17 


townsh 


District No. 


18 


townsh 


District No. 


IQ 


townsh 


District No. 


20 


townshi 



The township and county fund distributed in i860 was as follows 
and footed up $2,521.90: 

ip 43, range 24 $ 164 62 

ip 43, range 25 $154 02 ( g g 

ip 44, range 25 27 71 f ' -^ 

ip 43, range 26 124 63 

ip 43, range 27 78 55 

ip 43, range 28 196 83 

ip 42, range 28 -....'. 98 48 

ip 42, range 27 1025 

ip 42, range 26 82 55 

ip 42, range 25 99 28 

ip 42, range 24 100 25 

ip 41, range 24 88 26 

ip 41, range 25 95 12 

ip 41, range 26 156 26 

ip 41, range 27 148 29 

ip 41, range 28 216 67 

ip 40, range 28 i?i 45 

ip 40, range 27 * . . . . 345 20 

ip 40, range 26 122 58 

ip 40, range 25 54 21 

ip 40, range 24 39 69 

The school census was 3,051 children of school age. 

The troubles which overran our country from 1861 to 1865 had a 
most depressing effect upon not only the school fund of the state, which 
arose to nearly a million dollars, but Henry County sunk nearly one-half 
of her permanent fund in the same time. The interest on the swamp 
land fund was in May, 1861, for the year, $1,118.20, and strays and fines 
reported, $383.69. This was given, as -the law required, to the school 
fund. That year, 1861, the largest fund had been received of any pre- 
vious year, the increase being marked, and had not the war and its 
attendant evils prevailed, the school fund of the county would have borne 
wonderful fruit in the education of her children. 

For years the amount apportioned to some of the school districts 
was not drawn, and the sum began to accumulate in the treasury. It was 
decided at the February term, 1862, to loan it out and add it to the prin- 
cipal of the fund of the township that had neglected or failed to use the 
amount thus apportioned. In the report given of the township fund and the 
swamp land fund, which is all loaned out, the records in the county 
clerk's office gives the names of all those to whom the fund is loaned. 
For instance, take record book E, on pages 213 to 222, inclusive, will be 
found names, amount and the sum due by each for the fiscal year ending 
July, 1862. 

The state apportionment for 1864 was $1,342.44 



202 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, 



1866 AND 1870. 



To show how the years of bitter strife affected the permanent school 
fund of the county, the figures are given as taken from the record. As 
before given, 

The township fund for 1859 was $22,641 43 

That given for the year i860 23.089 34 

The report for 1866, total fund 20,694 68 

For 1870, ten years after, it was 23,895 56 

Showing a total increase in ten years of 806 22 

The township fund is again given for the two last years mentioned, 
but by townships, so that each can sec its loss or gain in the different 
years, and it will also serve as a guide to count the future increase: 



Township Fund 1866. 



Township Fund 1870. 



District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 
District No. 



I $ 1,691 24 

1,974 08 
1,194 40 

922 27 



2 
3 
4 

5 1,051 7^ 

6 

7 
8 

9 
10 
II 
12 
13 
14 



789 00 
255 16 
570 81 
842 30 
1,111 94 
463 56 
763 00 
901 32 
893 53 



District No. 15 2,144 00 

District No. 16 I,ii0 19 

District No. 17 2,471 01 

District No. 18 6or 62 

District No. 19 438 00 

District No. 20 405 47 



Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 
Distr 



ct No. 
ct No. 
ct No. 
ct No. 
ct No. 
ct No. 
ct No. 
ct No. 8 
ct No. 9 
ct No. 10 
ct No. II 
ct No. 12 
ct No. 13 

ct No. 14 1,264 32 

ct No. 15 926 00 

ct No. 16 1,160 69 

ct No. 17 3.583 08 

ct No. 18 707 71 

ct No. 19 438 00 



I $ 1,625 82 

2 1,946 17 

3 1,239 69 

4 1.223 30 

5 785-38 

6 1,089 00 

7 2,850 48 

8 800 81 

9 797 98 

758 97 
785 08 
635 00 
972 61 



ct No. 20 



305 47 



Total $20,694 68 . Total $23,895 56 

A township school tax was levied in the several townships for 1867, 
to the amount of $15,161.40. In addition thereto some of the school 
districts levied an additional tax. 

In the Sixth Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Public 
Schools for the year 1872, page 228, the number of acres of school lands 
sold in this county was put down at 10,400 acres, and the number still on 
hand at 2,400 acres, making a total in the county of 12,600 acres. The 
10,400 acres were credited as being sold for the sum of $27,545.10. As 
this fund from the sale of school lands at this time, 1882, only amounts 
to $24,133.04, the people can see that they have nor only lost the prin- 
cipal to the amount of $3,412.06, but lost ten years' interest besides 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 203 

which at ten per cent, equals the principal, or a total lost of $30,957.16, 
sacying nothing about the 2,400 acres of school lands, which are about all 
disposed of. The same report (1872), makes an interesting statement of 
the swamp land sale, a history of which will be found in another part of 
this work. This report credits the county with 25,298.12-100 acres, but 
says the county sold 27,120 acres for the gross sum of $15,699.66 ; that it 
had still unsold, 1,480 acres, and that it had lost of the amount sold for, 
no less than $6,621.86. There was about 40 per cent, and over, of the 
principal of this sum gone — where ? The war times was a great year for 
losses, and but little of it had been regained a decade after. 

In the report of the State Superintendent of Public Schools, Janu- 
ary 5, 1876, covering the proceedings of 1875, it says, in reference to the 
school funds of the state, that, " the township swamp land and county 
school funds are under the control of the various county courts, and, as a 
general rule have been badly managed. They have, to a shameful extent 
been lost, squandered and stolen. This was more particularly true of 
the war period of our history. There is now a general principle to guard 
more faithfully these interests." Now all this is true enough, but the 
counties and county courts were not as derelict in their duties as the 
state officers were during the same time and up to January, 1869. It then 
required a state certificate of indebtedness of no less an amount than 
$900,000 from the state to the state school fund, to meet the sum due 
that fund, which the state had neglected to do for a period of eight 
years. There is perhaps no better place to show how the school fund 
of the state stood, January i, 1876, than here taken from this report. It 
shows' that Missouri stands well towards the front rank of states that 
have made liberal and extensive provisions for the education of her 
children. 

THE FIGURES. 

Total township fund January, i 1876 $2,079,182 96 

Total swamp land fund 1876 1,088,200 13 

Total county fund 1876 1,169,516 70 

Total amount controlled by county $4,336,899 79 

The total of state school fund 2,910,635 54 

Total school fund of the state $7,248,535 33 

To show the people of the county how the state school money has 
gained in the amount apportioned, the figures of the different years are 
given together. Very few are aware of the rapid increase of this fund 
or even aware of the amount annually apportioned to this county. 

STATE SCHOOL MONEY. 

State school fund apportioned 1852 $410 80 

State school fund apportioned 1953 450 50 

State school fund apportioned 1854 611 lO 



204 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

For a number of years the money apportioned and distributed was 
all put together. The state fund, however, for 1871 and apportioned 
May 1872, was $3,466. This shows a decided gain for the years first 
given. 

There were that year eighty-four schools in Henry County for 
white children and four for colored, and there were eighty-four school 
buildings in the county. The enumeration showed children of school 
age in the county, January i, 1873, 7,286, and in 1874 they numbered 
6,737. The state school money for those years was : For 1874, 
$4,227.80; 1875, $4,442.30, and the number of children of school age in 
the county numbered for 1875, 7,230. The same year Henry County 
had the following permanent school fund : 

Total township fund $23,3 17 89 

Total swamp land fund 10,022 88 

Total county fund 5,613 65 

Total $38,954 42 

Henry County had 98 school houses in 1875, and rented four more 
buildings for school purposes. The value of school property in the 
county was $64,198.74, and the wages paid teachers the same year (1875) 
aggregated $22,648.22. These figures show the rapid advance made in 
the county for a more perfect school system. The tax levy for a number 
of years has been quite heavy, and the sums thus voluntarily paid have 
done much to place the educational facilities of Henry County not only 
on a firm foundation, but have placed her in the line of educational facil- 
ities and genuine progress, in the front rank of counties in the state. 

1880. 

The schools show a commendable advance in the past five years. 
The state, county and township funds have gradually increased, and the 
receipts for school purposes correspondingly advanced. More schools 
were needed and furnished, and the demand in all departments fully met. 

The general statistics for 1880, and published January i, 1881, are 
here given: 

Number of children of school age, white 7.729 

Number of children of school age, colored 315 

8,044 

Number of school houses in the county 108 

Number of school houses rented ' 7 

115 

Number of schools kept in 1880 115 

Value of school property ... $79,835 00 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 20$ 

Number of teachers employed, males 103 

Number of teachers employed, females 75 

178 

Average salary of teachers, males $36 ,10 

Average salary of teachers, females 31 05 

Average salary paid teachers $33 57 

Total amount of salary paid teachers $25,417 04 

Total amount of township fund for 1880 $23,536 53 

Total amount of county fund for 1880 I7.990 05 

Total township and county permanent fund. . $41,526 58 

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. 

• 

Cash on hand first of school year $ 13,398 15 

State school fund received 5,594 50 

County school fund received 1.405 1 1 

Township school fund received 2,061 80 

From all other'sources 365 70 

From taxation 28,200 12 



Total receipts $ 5 1,025 38 

Total expenditures 37,209 20 



Balance on hand, January i, 1881 $i3,8j6 18 

This shows a healthy state of the school finances, but still there is 
no special necessity for so large an amount remaining on hand at the end 
of the year. It might go to the permanent fund, so that by-and-by, tax- 
ation might be lessened. 

The following interesting report of the Clinton Graded School is 
appended : 

CLINTON. 

To the Hon. R. D. Shannon, Superintendent of Public Schools of Mis- 
souri : 

Dear Sir — Under the provisions of section 7138, Revised Statutes, 
I have the pleasure of submitting the following report of the public graded 
school of Clinton school district for the school year beginning Septem- 
ber 8, 1879 : 

Number of white persons in the district between six and twenty 

years of age 987 

Number of colored persons in the district between six and twenty 

years of age 148 

Total enumeration of white and colored i,i35 



206 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Total enrollment of white pupils 814 

Total enrollment colored pupils 131 



Total enrollment of white and colored pupils 945 

Number of pupils enrolled between six and sixteen years of 

age 792 

Number of pupils enrolled between sixteen and twenty years 

of age 22 

Average number of days attendance by each pupil enrolled. 99 7- 10 

Number of days school has been taught 174 

Total number of days attendance by all pupils 94,234 

Average number of pupils attending each dayf 542 

Number of teachers employed in the district during the year 12 

Average salaries of teachers per month $46 33 

Highest salary paid to teachers. (Principal $1,000) 40 00 

Lowest salary paid to teachers 35 00 

Number of school houses in the district . . 2 

Number of buildings rented for school purposes 2 

Number of pupils that may be seated in the various schools. 810 

Number of white schools 3 

Number of colored schools i 

Average cost per day on daily attendance .*. . .6| 

Value of school property in the district $20,000 00 

Average rate per $100, levied for school purposes in the dis- 
trict .60 

Assessed value of property in the district $757,160 00 

Amount on hand at the beginning of the school year 4,062 14 

Amount received for tuition fees 52 50 

Amount received from public funds, (state, county, and 

township) 13,282 58 

Amount realized from taxation 8,180 28 

Amount paid for teachers' wages in district during the year. 4,616 55 

Amount paid for fuel in the district during the year 

Amount paid for repairs or rent of school houses during the 

year 

Amount paid for apparatus and incidental expenses in the 

district for the year 

Amount expended in defraying past indebtedness 

Balance in hands of treasurer at close of year 4,283 69 

Very respectfully, 

E. P. LAMKIN, Superintendent. 
This school has become noted for its proficiency and the success 
which has attended its course for the past few years. The building is a 
fine one, and its appurtenances throughout belong to the latest and most 
approved method of teaching. Two years ago there was a fine addition 
added to it, almost equal to its former dimensions, and even this now is 
hardly adequate to the demand upon it. 

The state fund is increasing, showing a steady gain. So do the 
county and township funds,*as fines, penalties, estrays, etc., are added to 
them yearly 



99 


87 


511 


46 


476 


01 


2,920 


00 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 20/ 

The apportionment from the state, May, 1881, amounted to. . $ 5,771 57 

Township fund, same time 2,909 96 

County fund, same time 3.076 83 

Total. .' $11,758 36 

The figures from these three sources for May, 1882, amounted to 
$12,260.03. 

THE STATE. 

Missouri as a state is not behind her sisters in advancing the cause 
of education, and to-day the permanent school fund of the state, includ- 
ing the township and county fund, exceeds that of any state in the Union, 
Indiana alone excepted. 

The school fund of Indiana from all sources and perma- 
nent is $9,065,254 73 

That of Missouri 8,950,805 71 

A difference in favor of the former $ 1 14,449 02 

The school property of the state was valued January i, 1881, at 
$7,353,401.22. 

Tnere is not a particle of doubt that the sum dedicated to educa- 
tional purposes in permanent funds and school property aggregates the 
sum of $16,500,000. 

When the population of the state is considered, the destruction and 
loss occasioned by the civil war, the prompt manner in which the state 
has upheld and sustained the education of her sons and daughters has 
had no superior among her sister states, and but few if any equals. 
When the constitution gives one-quarter of the income annually to the 
support of this system of popular education, and fines and penalties are 
turned over to its use, and the counties of the state annually levy a tax 
according to their population of from ten to twenty thousand dollars irb 
addition to all that may arise from the permanent fund, will any one say 
that the educational interests of youths of this state are neglected.-* No 
state in the union can boast of a better system, or has shown a greater 
desire to advance the cause of popular education, of religion and mor- 
ality, and she stands the peer, having few equals and no superiors in the 
constellation of states that forms this glorious union. Rich in agricul- 
tural resources and mineral wealth, blest with a climate unsurpassed for 
its healthfulness, a soil rich and inexhaustible, it needs but the teaching 
of the rising generation that honor and manhood, combined with intel- 
lectual culture is the stepping stone to future greatness, and it is for 
them to advance and develop these to make her a beacon light, and an 
example for her sister states to emulate. 



CHAPTER Xlll. 

MURDERS, ASSASSINATIONS AND ROBBERIES. 

THE BLUDGEON FOR KING; THE KNIFE FOR HARPER; THE PISTOL FOR WILLIAMSON AND 
ROBIN; THE SHOT GUN FOR MILLER AND EDMONDSON; THE HAMMER OR HATCHET 
FOR CLARK, AND A SHOT IN THE DARK FOR EZELL— STAND STILL AND HOLD UP 
YOUR HANDS WAS THE CHEERING WORDS WHICH MET D. B LAMBERT AND 
ARRESTED A GAME OF CROQUET— CRIMES IN HENRY COUNTY AND THEIR PUN- 
ISHMENT—THE GALLOWS, THE PENITENTIARY AND THE REAPER, " DEATH " 

ASSASSINATION OF SCOTT D. KING. 

One of those cold-blooded assassinations which sometimes shock the 
world for its cool and deliberate fiendishness, was the murder of Scott D. 
King, by a relative named John Lester. The act was committed in 
Lafayette County, but the trial, conviction and hanging was performed 
in Henry County, brought here on a change of venue. The motive 
■seemed to have been, from the testimony, the securing of property. It 
was even said that his own mother came near being a victim to his hell- 
ish cupidity and passion. The principal witness was a John B. Horton, 
whom Lester approached with a proposition to murder King. At first 
lie seemed willing, and the character he bore was none too good, but his 
■coward heart failed him. He, like a sleuth hound, dogged Lester's steps 
■until he claimed, and Lester afterward admitted, that the latter had 
committed the murder. Horton turned state's evidence, thereby saving 
his own neck as an accessory. The body of King was found and the 
excitement ran so high, especially as it was rumored and believed that 
his mother, too, was to have been a victim, that Judge Lynch was in a 
fair way to become judge, jury and executioner. He was brought here on 
the 9th day of June, 1846, and after a fair and impartial trial was con- 
victed and sentenced to be hung. He was executed in the south part of 
the town, the gallows having been erected very near if not upon the 
spot where the depot of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad now 
stands. This was the first hanging in Henry County. Lester had 
•decoyed King into the woods and when he got him there, stepped 
behind him, and without warning struck King a violent blow on his 
head with a club crushing the skull and producing undoubtedly almost 
instant death. The condition of his head showed that the blow would 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 209 

have killed him had no other been struck, the fiend, however, did not 
intend to leave anything to a chance recovery, and beat his victim until 
his death was sure. John B. Horton left the country, and the next 
heard of him he had killed a man in Virginia, and was arrested, tried, 
convicted and executed, in that state. 

The trial of Lester commenced on June 9, 1846, before Judge Foster 
P. Wright, being an adjourned April term. The jury was as follows: 
William H. Cock, foreman; Mason C. Fewell, Mark Funk, George Cart- 
ridge, Archibald C. Legg, William Coff, John C. Rayburn, Valentine 
Bell, Peyton S. Banister, James F. Nichols, Charles B. Bradford and Phil- 
lip Elkins. 

The jury, after four days' trial, brought in a verdict of murder in the 
first degree, and on Saturday morning, June 13, 1846, Judge Wright sen- 
tenced him to be hung on Friday, July 31, 1846, which sentence was duly 
executed at twelve o'clock that day. 

THE EXECUTION OF PATTERSON. 

[From the Clinton Advocate ] 

Friday, July 22, 188 r, caine at last — it caine all too soon, no doubt, 
for the condemned man. A full, fair and an impartial trial had; two stays 
of execution had been granted by the supreme court to permit a full 
investigation of the proceedings in the lower court; the governor had 
been appealed to by his counsel, and they had made the last effort they 
could to save him from the scaffold, but there was now no hope. He 
must expiate his crime and answer to the law for the life of his victim. 
" Whoso shedded man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." There 
is no vengeance in it. It is the strong arm of the law taking hold of him 
who disregards the law, that society may be protected and men be secure 
in their persons and property from those who would assault or despoil 
them. Least of all was there vengeance in this case. Thirteen years 
before the ciime had been committed, men's passions had cooled and no 
one was crying for his blood. No friend of the murdered man was in 
court to prosecute. There was no one near who had any feeling against 
the accused; no one who felt any interest in his victim or even knew 
him. There was no one to prosecute except the ofificers of the law; no 
prosecuting witnesses in anger and heat to color a tale for effect. It 
was a dispassioned trial, if ever there was one, and resulted in a verdict 
of guilty. John W. Patterson paid the penalty of his crime on the scaf- 
fold to-day. The morning light had hardly beamed in the eastern sky, 
when the crowds began to pour into town to witness the hanging. And 
here let us remark that while the prosecution of John W. Patterson was 
calm and dispassioned, and there was no unseemly demand for his con- 
viction, yet it bespeaks to our mind a depraved and diseased condition 



210 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, 

of society that brings together such a crowd to witness his execution. 
What is it they come to see? What motive prompts them to come? 
The law will take its course, and its offended majesty be vindicated by 
the proper officers and their necessary attendants. There is no need of 
others. 

THE CLOSING SCENE. 

At II o'clock Captain G.W.Armstrong- assisted by Lieutenants 
Kitchen and Scott, marshaled the Patterson Guards in the court house 
square, and marched them over to the jail, and formed there in two 
lines in front. The condemned man was brought out by the sheriff, 
assisted by Deputy EUiston and others, and was placed in a carriage 
between two deputies and driven to the place of execution west of town, 
on an open space across the creek, opposite the woolen mill, where the 
gallows had been erected, the guards, numbering about fifty armed men, 
attending close to the carriage during the journey, and the immense 
crowd following and going with it. 

The prisoner was taken at once to the scaffold, and Rev. Mr. Pierce 
read a selection from scripture and offered an appropriate prayer, after 
which the death warrant was read. He then shook hands with his attor- 
neys, McBeth and Fyke, and several others on the stand. A couple of 
straps were then put around his legs, and arms pinioned behind his back. 
The black cap was then drawn over his eyes. He shook hands with 
Sheriff Hopkins, and immediately after the sheriff cut the rope, and the 
trap fell at 11:49, ^"'^ ^t one minute past 12 he was pronounced to be 
dead. 

The physicians attending were Schilling, Boyer, Land, Jr., Hardi- 
man, Stewart and Jennings. The prisoner manifested no concern but 
bore up throughout the trying ordeal with stoic indifference; made no 
remarks, but expiated his crime in silence. May the lesson not be for- 
gotten by those who witnessed the execution or may read of it. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRIME. 

During the last days of November or the first of December, 1868, a 
man was found lying dead on the prairie in Leesville Township, near 
Cole's .«;tore, in this county, with two wounds on his head and his throat 
cut. The wounds had the appearance of having been made with the pole 
of a hammer or hatchet, and the throat as having been cut or haggled 
with some dull instrument. The body was found by Isaac, son of J. R. 
Halford, some distance from the main road, out in the high grass. A 
sack and a part of a blanket were found near the body, more or less 
bloody, the sack being marked " Hezekiah Patterson." The body was 
recognized by Mr. Henry Bradley as a man who had stayed at his house 
the night previous, and who gave his name as Clark. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 211 

THE MURDERED MAN. 

James G. Clark was a resident of St. Clair County. Some time in 
November Mr. Clark took a trip to St. Louis, it is said to get money to 
pay an indebtedness upon his farm. He went to St. Louis, returned to 
Sedalia, and there bought some lumber and employed James W. Patter- 
son .with his team to haul his lumber to his farm. With the lumber, 
some chairs and a sofa, the pair leave Sedalia in an ol^ government 
wagon, with a broad tire and covered. The first we hear of them is in 
this county, some twelve miles southeast of Clinton. Here they stopped 
on the banks of the Tebo for the night. Mr. Clark, not being well con- 
cluded to stay in-doors if possible, consequently he went to a house 
near by and got permission to stop for the night with the family. Next 
day they took up their journey. Mr. Clark, not being well, was lying 
on the lumber and happened to fall asleep. Patterson saw this, and to 
carry out, as he afterwards confessed, a determination to kill him and 
secure his money, took up a hatchet, crept towards him and dealt him a 
blow with the pole of the instrument on the head, crushing in the skull. 
A second blow was given, and to finish the man effectually, his throat 
was struck with the edge of the hatchet a time or two. He went on a 
piece, turned out of the road and drove out in the prairie, threw the 
body, out, drove back into the main road and passed on to Prownington. 
Here, at the store of Doyle & Avery, Patterson unloads his wagon, sells 
a chair or two and returned to Sedalia, as he averred. 

A day or two after the body is found, recognized and suspicion 
directed to the driver of the broad-tired wagon, which was traced to and 
from the body, and had been noticed afterward going north toward 
Sedalia. A company of some six men started upon this clue to hunt up 
the murderer. They went to Sedalia, found the wagon in the wagon 
yard and identified it as the one seen on the highway. Shortly after- 
ward the wagon team and driver were seen to pass up the street and 
stop at a blacksmith shop. The sheriff was found, a warrant for the 
arrest of Patterson issued, and the arrest made. Upon being arrested 
he demanded the cause of his arrest. Mr. Hornbeck and the party told 
him it was for the murder of Clark. He denied the charge, but said that 
his partner had been out there. Upon further conversation he admitted 
that he had been out there awd that his partner had killed Clark, and 
that he had tried to prevent it. The party then took charge of the 
prisoner and started for Clinton. As they were riding along, two by 
two, Hornbeck remarked that he (the prisoner) might as well confess, as 
there was a clear case against him. Patterson replied that he had tried 
to pray, but that he could not with a lie in his mouth, and that he might 
as well tell the whole truth, whereupon he gave a detailed account of 
how it was done. He stated that he saw Clark with two bills, which he 



212 HISTORY OF IlENRV COUNTY. 

took to be $500 bills, but they afterward proved to be only $50 bills; that 
when he saw them he determined in his mind to kill Clark and have 
them. He accordingly laid plans for the consummation of his inten- 
tions. The night they camped on Tebo's banks he intended to com- 
mit the deed and throw the body into the stream. The opportunity 
came the next day as the victim lay asleep, and was taken advantage 
of with the results as stated. 

Pattersoi> was brought to Clinton and placed in the county jail, 
and an indictment for murder was brought against him. He was brought 
to trial and a change of venue taken to Morgan County. Here he suc- 
ceeded in breaking jail and making his escape, and for nearly twelve 
years succeeded in eluding justice. 

THE MANNER OF IHS RE-ARREST. 

The father of Patterson died in Jasper County some eight years ago, 
and in settling up the estate the administrator found among the papers 
a letter from John W. Patterson, from Illinois. A correspondence was 
the result, which led under the stimulant of a reward, to this re-arrest 
in August last, in Livingstone County, Illinois, where he was living 
under the assumed name of John Williams. When he found that he was 
fairly captured, he said: 

"I am your man; there is no use in denying it, for the folks out 
there know all about it." 

He was brought back to Clinton, indicted by a grand jury, tried, 
convicted and sentenced to be hung at the April term of the circuit 
court. A report came that a man in Granby, Newton County, had made 
a confession upon his death bed several years since that he had killed 
Clark. Upon the strength of this, the statement, word was sent to the 
prosecuting attorney of that county who, upon inquiring, found that 
such a confession had been made. Information to that effect was sent 
to T. J. Lingle on Wednesday night. Thursday morning Judge McBeth 
went to Jefferson City to confer with the governor, but he positively 
refused to interfere. Thus the last hope for a release faded from his 
view. It is very doubtful, however, whether he built very largely upon 
a respite, knowing so well his guilt. When told of the governor's deci- 
sion he simply remarked, "that settles it." 

ON THE BRINK HE STEALS A WATCH. 

Although his days had been numbered, and the time set for his exe- 
cution, yet it seems not to have given him any serious concern for the 
hereafter, or caused him to amend his conduct. The ruling passion was 
still strong in the face of death, as the following incit'ent shows: 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 213 

One of the attendants at the jail some time since missed a u atch that 
he had left hanging near Patterson's cell. A few days ago Patterson desired 
to send a small box of things to his wife. He had the box nailed up, 
and requested that it should not be opened, but his wish was disregarded 
and the box opened, and in it was found the missing watch. In a note 
he had stated that the watch was given him by his cell mate, and he sent 
it as a present to his infant son. One of Patterson's fellow prisoners 
stated that Patterson had fastened a crooked pin to a stick and hooked 
the watch in. 

Sometime in June, Patterson wrote what he claims to be his last 
words. He must be a hardened wretch, indeed, who can pass into eter- 
nity with so palpable a falsehood upon his lips. His several confessions, 
voluntarily made, and fully corroborated by the evidence, leaves no 
shadow of a doubt in the minds of any one as to his guilt. Had there 
been another guilty of the crime, and in his power, as was this so-called 
' partner, he would certainly have made an effort to have had him traced 
up, but singularly enough he seemed never to have thought that by hnd- 
ing this man his own innocence would be established. The following is 

THE STATEMENT. 

Clinton, Missouri, June, 1881. 

Having been asked a good many times since my re-arrest last 
August, why I did not have any plea to make in my own behalf, I will 
just say here in answer to all such questions, that I was caught foul in 
the first place, without any show for my life, and that I have been under 
disadvantages ever since, and consequently I thought it would be of no 
profit to me in any way, shape or form in my present trouble, for I could 
not back up what I might say with evidence as required by law, for I 
have had no witnesses in my behalf and have had no show to get any, 
and considering that I am behind the bars where no man is supposed to 
tell the truth I have thought it best to keep still and say nothing. Nev- 
ertheless, I will state a few facts which I know to be the truth. 

In the first place I will call the minds of the people back to the 
beginning of this trouble of mine (in 1868). In 1868 I left home in 
Jasper County, Missouri, (my father having just moved into this state 
in the fall of 1868) to make a trip to Sedalia on purpose of getting some 
boxes of household goods belonging to my parents, (the goods having 
been shipped through by rail). Next morning after arriving in Sedalia I 
met this man Clark, who was looking for some one to haul a load for 
him. When I found out what he wanted I refused him. But I wanted 
to get my wagon repaired before going home, and after I ascertained 
that three or four days would elapse before I could get the wcrk done 
on the wagon; then I chanced to meet Clark on the street again and he 
insisted that I haul the load for him. While I was considering the mat- 
ter this partner of mine (spoken of in the testimony at my trial) he 
spoke up and said if I would let him have the team he would make the 
trip, as he was out of work and it would give him employment and help 



2 14 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

to make expenses for rae while waiting to get my wagon fixed. He 
suggested that I could stay in town or go to my brother's in the country 
until he returned with the team. 

And, being young and entirely inexperienced in the ways of the 
world, having always remained pretty close at home and under the influ- 
ence of honest, upright and religious parents, and supposing also that 
everybody else was as good as their word, and this man (a so-called 
partner), who was a man I chanced to overtake on my way to Sedalia 
soon after leaving home. He asked me to let him ride; said he was 
traveling looking for work, he being near my size and about my com- 
plexion with short hair, while I at that time wore mine long and curled 
under at the bottom. His name I have forgotten, and he making me 
some very fair promises as to what he would do, when he would come 
back, his own charges, etc., I at last consented to let him take the team 
and make the trip, and expenses, if he could, in part until I could get 
my wagon repaired. So he loads up with lumber, a lounge-bedstead 
and two chairs (but no fishing tackle, as indicated in the evidence) and 
off he starts in company with this man Clark, what his christian name 
was T do not know, for I never heard of it as I know of until my re-ar- 
rest. How long he was gone with the team I don't remember now, but 
I was anxious to see him when he returned. When I met him on the 
street he said he had put the team in the stable and the wagon in the 
yard, and after going to the stable, finding the team all right, we then 
went to the hotel and registered our names; (name of hotel I have for- 
gotten) after supper he said to me that he believed that he would go to 
Illinois on the first train that came along, which, I believe, was between 
nine and ten o'clock that night; and that is the last that I have seen or 
heard of him since; and between supper and train time he told me all 
about the trouble he had been into, giving me the full particulars of the 
crime; what he done it for, how he done it, and what he done with 'the 
body, and also the load and that he had dropped a letter in the postoffice 
at or near the place that he left the load, stating in the letter to my 
father about what time I would be at home. (As I had directed him to 
as soon as he got through with his load and mail it at the first postoffice 
when he had an opportunity to do so). 

He said he thought he was detected when he seen a man cross the 
creek near where he was seen after throwing the body from the wagon, 
that some man was watching him when he run back next morning to 
get the sheep skin, after that he said he had no fear, and if I would keep 
still that he would give me big money, that he would pay me well for 
it. He told me he seen the man pay for the lumber, and thought he had big 
money with him. He then gave me the pocket book that was found in 
my possession next day. What it contained I do not know; all that I 
know of its contents is what the witnesses testified to on the stand. The 
next day I was arrested, taken up stairs in a building. The parties that 
arrested me searched me and found the pocket book. They kept me 
over night in that room under guard. They had made frequent remarks 
during the night of a mob, which I think was enough to make anybody's 
hair stand on end; and once the)' all jumped to their feet and looked 
from one to the other and said the mob had surrounded the house, and 
as like as not try to break in, (so they all expressed themselves) 
and then there was several words passed in regard to a mob while on 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 21$ 

the road from Sedalia to Henry County, which was just previous to the 
time that I made the confession to them, and according to the best of 
my recollections of my experience at that time I was in the right mind 
to have told almost anything that I was asked to tell; ignorant of the 
consequences, and the result was that I related the circumstances of the 
crime just as they were detailed to me but two evenings before, only 
placing myself in the stead of the real criminal. 

It seems a strange mystery to me now why I did so, unless through 
fright; and then after the examination at the squire's, I heard them 
speaking or, for something about a mob, and which would be the best, 
that is, the safest road to go from there to avoid coming in contact with 
the mob, apparently talking as though they expected the mob at any 
time almost. And after starting for Clinton (it being then late in the 
evening) they took me off of the road some distance to stop over night, 
in order to baffle the mob, they said. I heard them say, one to 
another, that if the mob didn't find us that night that we would have no 
need to fear the next day. And, come to find out, there was no mob 
out at all. A strange memory, I think, that the witnesses could not 
recollect that anything was said about a mob, except once (that was in 
Sedalia), while they can remember the particular points so well, even to 
one man who goes so far as to say he recognizes me as being the same 
identical person that he spoke a few words to twelve years ago, and 
another man testified that I, while on the train between Sedalia and 
Clinton last August, drew a large pocket-book, or wallet, I believe he 
called it out of my pocket, saying at the same time that was all I got 
from my father's estate. Now, I think, that reasonable common sense 
will tell anybody that I had no such thing with me at the time, after they 
consider what my circumstances was then — being away from home when 
arrested and not been seen home since — I could not help telling the 
sheriff of Illinois, that he put a false addition to what he ought to have 
said, which if he had not done it, his evidence would have been worthless, 
in a manner, in behalf of the state — that wherein he testified that I said, 
"I did it, and the people there know it, and there is no use in denying 
it," this much of the statement is false. And Mr. Kehn's the railroad 
man's statement about drawing the wallet out of my pocket, is also false. 
And there is other points of evidence of the same character, that I could 
mention, but I consider this is sufficient to show the people that I have 
had no fair show for my life. That in the first place they scared a con- 
fession out of me, and one that suited them, on and at the trial there was 
more added to it, apparently in order to be sure to convict me, or at 
least it seemed so to me. I admit that I did wrong, and was to blame, 
more or less, in making the confession as I did, but I done it under 
restraint, although the witnesses had not the idea or impression that 
they did not try to influence me in that day. I have also seen, and 
that to my sorrow, since the beginning of this trouble, that I did wrong 
in not exposing the man while I had the opportunity — I mean to say 
while he was to be had. But I was young at that time and entirely 
inexperienced in the ways of the world; never had been in any trouble 
before where the law had to have anything to say. I was like all other 
boys, easily led astray and this has proved a sad experience to me, and 
not only sad to me but it is a sad affairto my bosom friend, my wife, and 
doubly sad to me on her account. 



2l6 • HISTORY or HENR\ COUNTY, 

Now the thought may rise in the minds of some people why did he 
get married while in such circumstances? I admit that I done wrong in 
getting married and by so doing draw a good woman into shame and 
sorrow as I have done. But then let me reason the case to some extent; 
In the first place I am happy to say I had no evil principles or inten- 
tions, not inclined or disposed to become a renegade or outlaw, but, on 
the contrary, I was raised under honest, upright teachings and being 
so inclined it was my desire to settle down and make a good citizen of 
myself if I could. And considering that I had implements put into the 
jail to effect my escape with twelve years ago (by who, I know not) and 
having been home twice since my escape to visit my parents, the first 
time about four or five weeks after my escape, the second time about 
four years after; this last time I remained in Carthage with my parents 
over a week, and there was never any reward offered for me, or any stir 
made after me that I ever heard of, and having lived in the same neigh- 
hood in Illinois, undisturbed nearly ever since my escape. I naturally 
concluded that I never would be disturbed, and the best thing I could 
do would be to seek for myself a good companion and settle down and 
have a good home of my own as comfortable as I could under the cir- 
cumstances, which I believe I did with some honor as a citizen and 
neighbor. (As evidence in my trial goes to show.) Thank God I had 
lionor enough about me to make my living by the sweat of my brow, or 
in other words by hard work. Now I think I have said enough to 
explain my trouble from beginning to ending, as this statement will 
show, and, as I have stated above, it seems useless for me to say much 
in self defense, for I am behind the bars where people are all considered 
false. Although I have made a true statement, as best I can, people 
may not believe it, but I wanted the people to have a true history of 
the circumstances of this trouble before it is too late for me to write it. 
Whether believed or not they are my dying words. And the way the 
matter stands now I have no hopes of a future happiness in this world, 
although I have a wife and child in Illinois who long for my return; and 
allow me to say she is a true wife and a pleasant companion, and very 
dear to me, but my hopes for a future time in company with them is 
blasted, and as it were, like the dews of the morning vanished from 
sight. 

Now, wishing everybody well, I bid adieu to all. 

THE MURDER OF >nLLS. 

This was a cold blooded murder, yet not one premeditated. It was 
the result of a high temper, violent and ungovernable, and it wrecked 
the homes and lives of two families. 

On Monday morning, October loth, 1870, John W. Adkins, a well to 
do farmer, shot and killed a neighbor by the name of Mills. Mr. Adkins 
had some trouble about his hogs, and without examining into the mat- 
ter took it for granted that Mills was the trespasser, merely from the 
fact that he resided near Mr. Adkins' home and passed through a lane 
near his (Adkins) house. His hogs had been dogged and otherwise 
ill treated, and he had found them shut in his barn only a day or two 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 21/ 

before. Meeting Mills and his son on the morning above referred to, on 
their way to work hauling rock, Mr. Adkins, who was on horseback and 
armed with a shotgun, stopped Mills and accused him of being the 
aggressor. Mills denied all charges. Adkins cursed Mills and grew 
more violent as his anger increased, and told Mills if he thought he could 
fool with him he was barking up the wrong tree, and cocked his gun. 
Mills did not seem much alarmed, but picked up a piece of rock in the 
bottom of his wagon, and then threw it down. He rose, however, from 
his seat and faced Adkins, saying men who threatened had better look 
out for themselves. The latter immediately fired. The load of shot took 
effect in his side, just above his heart, and Mills fell, and caused his 
almost instant death. 

His son and a family of movers going by, who had stopped on hear- 
ing the loud talk and angry words were witnesses of the appalling crime. 
The movers were brought to town and gave their evidence, and then 
were permitted to proceed on their journey. Mr. Adkins went to his 
house and then fled from his home forever. A little while afterwards he 
was traced to Arkansas, but he was never arrested and has not again 
been seen in Henry County. He sent a deed of forty acres of land in 
Henry County to the widow of his victim, since which time he has not 
been heard from. He was never followed or prosecuted. His own 
family also remained here, and left the murderer to himself A rumor 
was current a few years ago that he had married in that state, but no 
one seems to have taken the trouble to find out. Just why he escaped 
the punishment justly deserved for his crime is hard to tell. Justice in 
this case was different from that in the case of Patterson. He was hanged 
years after, punished for his crime, and no one connected with his victim 
had a hand in securing for him his just deserts. 

ASSASSINATION OF JAMES H. EDMONDSON. 

One of the most deliberate and cold blooded assassinations that has 
happened in this or any other country, was the shooting of James H. 
Edmondson, on the night of September 26, 1869, at Calhoun, Henry 
County. Of this assassination little is to be said, for little is known out- 
side of the appalling fact. Mr. Edmondson had closed his store, and 
gone to the house, and having occasion to go out, did so. While but a 
little distance from the house, which was on the east side of the 
public square, he was hailed by some one with, " is that you, Jim.''" He 
did not catch the words at first, but said, "who's that.'*" The words 
came back, " is that you, Jim.'" in a muffled voice, and he answered, 
" yes." The word had scarcely left his lips, when the person fired a load 
of buckshot, striking him on his side and hip, and as he turned and 
raised himself received another charge in his shoulder and neck, and he 



2l8 HISTORV OF HENRY COUNTY. 

fell prostrate. The firing had alarmed several and doors were flung 
•open, but the second shot followed so closely upon that of the first that 
no one could get out before the murderous work had been completed. 
The groans of the wounded man soon brought others besides his family, 
and he was carefully carried in and laid on his bed. Beyond the above 
remarks, which he was hardly able to utter, he made no sign, and soon 
the soul of James H. Edraondson had been wafted on spirit wings to his 
Maker. He did not recognize the voice, and nothing definite has ever 
been known. 

The work of death was on the public square, near the northeast 
corner. The murderer ran across the square, and crossed the railroad 
just south of the square and in the southwest corner of the town; beyond 
that he could not be traced. Edmondson had received no less than 
twenty-one buckshot, any one of which would have killed him, besides 
being grazed with others. The above number was found in his body, 
and whoever the murderous wretch was he meant to be sure of his work. 
Some time afterward a man by the name of Thomas A. Spotswood was 
arrested for the murder. Suspicion was strong against him, but the evi- 
dence was lacking. His trial was short and he was discharged. Over 
thirteen years have passed since this terrible tragedy took place and 
nothing reliable has yet been discovered as to who was the assassin, yet 
the belief has in no wise abated with many that Spotswood was the man. 

Thus was a young man in the prime of life, with large family con- 
nections and a host of friends, taken off to appease the hatred of some 
fiend in human form. 

RAPE AND JUDGE LYNCH. 

In July, 1870, a Miss George, while on her return from picking ber- 
ries, was stopped on her way home in broad day light, by a negro 
named John Sears, supposed to have had some Mexican blood in his 
veins. Sears drew a large knife and swore he would kill her, and in her 
fright he accomplished his hellish purpose. She was on a visit to her 
brother-in-law in Calhoun. She succeeded in getting home and told 
her sister. She instantly went to her husband and related the story, 
who gathered his neighbors and started a hunt for the criminal. He 
was tracked to near Clinton where he was captured and put in jail the 
same night. The next morning Judge Lynch gave his decision that 
the miscreant should be hung, and although the sheriff objected and 
stated he was not the judge whose orders he obeyed, the representa- 
tives of Judge Lynch gave the sheriff to understand that it was their 
business to obey orders and John Sears was taken to the court house 
yard and hung to a tree, the lynchers waiting around the doomed vil- 
lain to see that he was done kicking before they left. The crime was 
heinous and the punishment just, swift and terrible. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 2ig 

THE bullet's fatal WORK — WILLIAMSON GAYE UP HIS LIFE. 

The cause of the death of John S. Williamson was something of the 
nature of a family quarrel, and yet it was not. An uncontrolable temper 
and a fierce tongue were the moving causes which produced the fatal 
result. John S. Williamson and John G. Clark were both young men, 
and the latter was a suitor and aspired to the hand of Miss Williamson, 
a sister, in marriage. The Williamson family did not approve of the 
match, and John seemed to be particularly and determinedl}- opposed 
to it. It is hard, even at this day, to get anything like a history of this 
sad affair. Neighbors and friends on both sides will not talk about it, 
and others reply, " well, yes, I remember the affair, but really I don't 
know anything about it only from heresay." Well, can you give us what 
you know.-* " Yes, but really I didn't know aaything; there was some 
objections to Clark waiting upon Miss Williamson, and there was 
some feelings, but really I didn't know anything about it. I heard some- 
thing of the kind, etc." 

It will be seen from such guarded expression that there was little 
to be found out, and what objection the family had to Clark will not be 
given even by those who know, whether' from fear, policy or friendship, 
is a matter which the writer cannot explain. The above is the substance 
of some half a dozen enquiries to learn the true facts. Outside of these 
the writer interviewed many others, whose chief reply was, " Well, yes, 
I remember the circumstance, and if you will go to such a one he can 
tell you all about it." That person was found but all he knew was 
simply nothing, but such a person could give the information, and at 
least a half dozen were interviewed. 

The facts were simply that the young men were not on good terms, 
The victim was opposed to Clark as a brother-in-law, and he used one 
night at a neighbors, where Clark was in the habit of visiting, some very 
abusive language in regard to Clark. Whether Clark was there or came 
in after is not stated, but Clark came, the language about him he soon 
learned of, and he informed Williamson that it must be settled. A few 
days after, in company of two young men, he went to the field where 
Williamson was stacking haj". Williamson was on the stack and Clark 
rode up and demanded a retraction of the language above referred to. 
This Williamson refused to do, and Clark drew his pistol, as also did 
Williamson. Two or three shots were fired by each when Williamson 
fell, shot through the body, just over his heart and below his left shoulder. 
Clark escaped unhurt. Williamson was taken home and lived but a few 
hours. It was said that the young men who accompanied Clark had no 
idea of a fatal termination of their visit, but expected that Williamson 
would retract and went as witnesses to settle the quarrel. The princi- 
pals, however, took the matter in their own hands, and the end proved 



220 



HISTORY OFHENKV COUNTY. 



disastrous. Clark was aricsted, or gave himself up, was duly indicted 
and put in jail a short time. He was, however, in poor health, and was 
released on giving bail in the sum of $15,000. He lived but a short time 
dying of heart disease before his final trial. 

This is the substance of all the writer gleaned or could gather of 
this sad and tragic affair, and this was submitted to a party who knew, 
or was supposed to know as much about it as anyone, but who dis- 
claimed all but heresay knowledge, but said that the above was about 
the facts of the case as he had heard. The shooting and death of Will- 
iamson occurred in January, 1872. 




CHAPTER XIV. 

"SATAN FINDS WORK FOR IDLE HANDS TO DO." 

THE WORK OF FIENDS— SELF DEFENSE IS NOT MURDER— IT WAS THE GAME OF "DEAD 
OPEN AND SHUT"— AND THEY LOST EVERY TIME-PISTOLS VS. CROQUET MAL- 
LETS—PISTOLS THE WINNER- A CRAZY WOMAN'S CRIME- KILLING EZELL. NOT FOR 
A CRIME, BUT BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T STAY ARRESTED-" TELL MY SISTER THAT 
I LEAVE HER ALL MY PROPERTY, I AM DYING "-VERDICT, JURY COULD NOT 
AGREE— THE END. 

THE HOPKINS TRAGEDY. 

There was a great excitement occasioned in the year 1874, by the 
killing of George Hopkins, by William Bailey. Before the trial was 
ended, and before and after, there were many assertions made that the 
prosecution was carried on in a spirit of vengeance, and that hatred of 
Bailey by some half a dozen persons was the groundwork of the prose- 
cution, and that those persons swore they would have him hung. Not 
only was he the subject of this reported persecution, but his mother was 
also the recipient of the hatred and undying vengeance of these men. 
Whether true or not, the mother was caused to suffer because she did 
not and would not believe her son guilty of murder, but only acting in 
self defense. Whether these rumors were true or not, William Bailey 
was tried, convicted and sent to prison for four years for murder in the 
second degree. His lawyers promptly appealed the case, but before the 
supreme court could act in the case, he had been in the penitentiary four 
months, and had also suffered an imprisonment in jail, and his mother 
had been confined there five months, when she was released. 

The supreme court decided that he was not guilty of murder and 
his release was ordered. The general impression sided with the supreme 
court. In the trial two of the jury were for acquittal, six for a four 
years' term in state prison and four for hanging. The action of the 
supreme court ended their legal troubles, but they were ruined finan- 
cially and Mrs. Bailey broken in health. 

PARTICULARS OF IHE ROBBERY OF LAMBERT'S STORE IN CLINTON, 

MISSOURI. * 

[From the Advocate, May, 1875. J 
Heretofore Clay County has been the scene of outlawry, but now 
Henry County comes in, and for daring recklessness, what is truthfully 
told below, has never had an equal here. 



222 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

D. B. Lambert keeps a thriving country store twelve miles north of 
Clinton. His store stands alone on the prairie, and in a portion of it he 
lives. The store is the resort for young people in that neighborhood. 
A croquet set is planted there, and on Thursday last. May 13, 1875, at 
7 P. M., in the yard a part}^ of eight were playing croquet, and Mr. Lam- 
bert was in the store. Two strangers, tall, slim and genteel men, rode 
up and came in, and after a few minutes in came two more, looking simi- 
lar to the others. Just as they were inside the door the first drew a pis- 
tol and told Lambert to stand, and the other two went to the croquet 
ground and told the eight croqueters to " Walk in, ladies and gentle- 
men, and be seated." 

Three of the robbers came in and assisted in guarding them while 
the fourth one robbed the store. Lambert was marched into the rear 
room with the others. 

In the meantime a little over $300 in greenbacks was taken, also a 
very favorite silver watch, a fine shotgun, two revolvers and a lot of 
other goods from the store. They turned up every box in the house, and 
searched every corner. They came in from the west, and when they left 
started in the direction of Clinton. They were all well dressed, well 
armed, and mounted on the finest of horses. No uncouth language was 
used by any of the robbers. Lambert had his money in his pocket, also 
his watch, v/hen they made him shell out. 

The robbing was done so quickly that a blacksmith, 100 yards dis- 
tant, pounded away and knew nothing of it until it was over. 

Mat. Dorman is a truthful citizen and lives near Clinton, and he has 
stated that about noon last Tuesday he was in company with two of the 
Younger Brothers and two other men, and that he conversed with them; 
and, further, he states that he is personally acquainted with both of the 
Younger Brothers. It is supposed that their companions are Jesse and 
Frank James. 

About one year ago two men came to Lambert's store, and he saw 
and suspected them from their actions, and he thinks two of this gang 
are the same ones. Noeffort is being made by any officers in Clinton to 
capture these outlaws, and it is not supposed that there will be. 

LATER. 

In my telegram last night I recited what I had learned from the 
party w4io was captured by the Claude Duvals at Lambert's store. 
To-day I made a hasty drive to the store, and there met D. B. Lambert, 
the proprietor, his wife, Miss Bessie Sharp and A. S. Mulholland, all of 
whom were in the storeroom while the bandits went through it in a sys- 
tematic manner. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 223 

The bandits halted north of the store five minutes, in a fence cor- 
ner, and held a consultation; then rode past, hitched their horses and 
two entered. One called for a cigar, and fumbling it with his left hand 
coolly drew a ten-inch, dazzling bright revolver, and rubbing it under 
Lambert's nose, told him to throw up his hands. Then followed the 
robbing reported yesterday. With his hands above his head they 
marched him and Miss Sharp up stairs, and a systematic se^irch was- 
made but no money found. 

It seems that they had been told that Lambert had $3,000 or $4,0001 
in gold about the house, and the leader told him that he would give him,' 
till he counted ten to display it. With a pistol at his forehead he com- 
menced to count — one, two, three, four, and at this the heroic Miss 
Sharp rushed between them. He was then taken to the back yard, and 
one man pointed a cocked pistol at his head while another twisted his 
wrists, and there he stood, pleading for mercy and telling them they had 
all his money. His true and brave wife could stand this no longer, and 
she struck the highwayman a powerful blow in the stomach, whicli 
caused him to release his grasp. One hour and a half was occupied in 
this cool and systematic robbery, and during that time all of the men 
were compelled to keep their hands clasped over their heads. They 
all say the leader was the coolest man they ever saw. He con- 
trolled every movement and did nearly all the talking. When ready to 
leave, they led the eight captives to the back yard, huddled them' 
together, and in true knightly style mounted their handsome, agile- 
horses and rode off in a dashing cavalry style. 

All but the leader wore white handkerchiefs around their necks and' 
slouched their hats over their eyes. Nothing of the false face or masque 
was used. The leader did not pretend to disguise himself in any way. 
Mrs. L. told him he had been at the store before and he said it was so, 
and he told her not to look at him too close, as she might know him' 
again, and he turned his back on her. On the little finger of his left 
hand he wore a beautiful gold ring with a brilliant set therein. He is- 
fully six feet in hight, short light hair, short sandy chin whiskers and 
mustache, light brown eyes, spare made, well shaped face, long arms and 
can look another straight in the eye. He said he had been an outlaw 
ever since the war. The hands of each of the four were white and soft. 
Their language indicated that they were Americans. They were well' 
dressed and well behaved. None of them was over thirty years of age,, 
and one of them was quite a small man. Everyone present was fully 
convinced that they were experts at the business, and seemed to think 
that others who came in contact with them in similar manner to what 
we have recorded had better lay down the spoils. The store was filled 
all day with country folks, and it is estimiated that Mr. Lambert has. 



224 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. , 

answered 1 1,000 questions. On the next day Mr. Lambert found his 1 
shotgun in a neighbor's field. 

This bold robbery astonished the people of Henry County, and not- 
withstanding it was done in broad daylight, the women of Henry County 
persisted for months in looking under their beds for robbers, before retir- 
ing for the night. This history has, however, no record where that 
search proved successful, and the writer is happy in being able to 
■embalm this fact in the pages of history. The women, however, were 
not all alone, for the men got together, and concluded now that the 
horses had been stolen, it was a good time to lock the stable door, or in 
other words, a meeting was called to take into consideration the propri- 
ety of forming a vigilant committee, " an organization," says the call, 
" that will be strictly legal." "All citizens who were opposed to highway 
robbery," were cordially invited to attend. There was not a doubt but 
that Mr. Lambert's friends were largely in a majority at the meeting, 
which was held May 21, 1875. It was certainly a serious matter to be 
thus afflicted right in grasshopper time, though it is believed to be an 
assured fact that misfortunes never come singly. 

DEATH OF F. H. RABINE. 

On Saturday, August 19, 1876, John H. Light shot and killed F. H. J 
Rabine. They were both engaged in the pottery business at Calhoun, 
Mr. Rabine for something over three years and Light about one. They 
had, it seems, become jealous of each other and from ill words came 
threats of bodily harm. This was probably the result of being in the 
same business, and the tragedy seemed to have been brought on by the 
tell-tale peculiarity of a Calhounite, who it seems, reported to Rabine, 
that Light, who had just finished burning a kiln of ware, remarked to 
this third party that Rabine, or some of Rabine's hands, had put some- 
thing in his slack or glazing, which had seriously damaged the ware, in 
fact he claimed that out of $200 he would only realize $20 worth of good 
ware. This accusation was borne to the ears of Rabine, who became 
highly incensed. This was the prelude to the fatal difficulty. On Saturday, 
as above stated, both parties met on the platform at the railroad depot, just 
as the western bound passenger train arrived. Rabine, armed with a 
■good sized club, which he carried concealed by his side, accosted Light, 
-demanding to know if he. Light, had accused him of putting something 
in his slack. Light replied that he had said that either he, Rabine, or some 
of his hands had done so. A few words passed when Rabine dealt Light a 
heavy blow on the nose with his club felling him and repeated the blow 
twice after Light was down. The first blow broke Light's nose and stunned 
him, as soon as he recovered sufficiently to understand things he tried 
to rise to his feet an.d draw a revolver, as he did so Rabine started to 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 22$ 

run when Light fired two shots in quick succession at the fleeing man 
both shots taking effect in his back near the spine. Rabine, after being 
shot, jumped from the platform, ran a few steps and fell. He dropped 
his club and regaining his feet ran home, a distance of about 250 yards- 
Arriving at the house he sat down in the door way and said to his wife: 
^'John Light has shot and killed me." These were his last and only 
words, and he fell over dead, not living two minutes after reaching his 
doorstep. 

Mrs. Rabine became frantic at once, and soon the neighbors were 
aroused. Light went home, but was soon told that he had killed Rabine. 
He expressed no regret, but stated he was willing to stand his trial. 
Such, says the Clinton Democrat, was the substance of the matter as 
related by eye witnesses. 

An inquest was held over the body on Sunday morning. Light was 
arrested, but waiving examination before a justice, he gave bail in the 
sum of $2,000 to appear the next day at the circuit court, then in session 
at Clinton. Judge Wright empanneled a special grand jury, and an 
indictment was found of manslaughter in the second degree. 

John H. Light, still a resident of Calhoun, was of medium hight, 
light hair, blue eyes, and rather prepossessing in appearance and thirty- 
five years of age. He was born in Batavia, Clearmont County, Ohio. 
He had a wife, but no children. 

Rabine, the man killed, was a German, and came to Calhoun from 
Huntingdale, and to the latter place from Knob Noster. He had fol- 
lowed the business in both places successfully, and had removed to Cal- 
houn to get on a line of railway, and to enlarge his facilities and increase 
the manufacture of his wares. He left a wife and three children. 

The pistol used was an Allan's patent seven-shooter. No. 22 car- 
tridge. 

The trial came off on the 29th of August, ten days after the fight, 
and the following constituted the jury: E. S. Morgan, foreman; S. W. 
Billingsley, D. E. A. Price, John Hopton, Richard Marshall, George Kel- 
lums, Robert Gilbert, J. H. Cannon, William Ellis, Daniel Golden, G. 
W. Hancock and E. O. Price. 

The verdict was: " We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty." 
He was immediately discharged by command of Judge Wright. 

MURDER OF JAMES HARPER BY HIS STEP MOTHER. 

The following terrible tragedy was the work of a lunatic, which at 
■first was not thought by a good many persons. There maybe some even 
to this day who have doubts, but the best medical minds are satisfied. 
The woman has been in the asylum at Fulton nearly ever since the 
occurrence, and her second trial came off in Vernon County on a change 



226 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

of venue in November, but upon full investigation the prosecuting attor- 
ney, C. C. Dickinson, declined to prosecute. The keeper of the asylum 
and the physician gave explicit belief in Mrs. Harper's insanity, and her 
husband. Dr. Harper, has always believed, and has done all he could, 
since satisfied of the fact, to shield her. On the withdrawal of prose- 
cution she was taken back to Fulton and again incarcerated, with no 
hope of ever leaving the institution alive. Her actions were a mixture 
of saneness and insanity, but there is no doubt that had not her mother 
caught the gun she, too, would have been killed, and then, feeding on 
the excitement, her child would have been the next victim, coupled with 
self-destruction. The following, taken from the Clinton Advocate of 
October 13th, 1881, is a graphic account as detailed to coroner's jury on 
Monday, the loth of October, the next day after the murder. The 
Advocate says: 

Crime develops itself in many ways, and often crops out where 
least expected, and often in a manner to send a shock of horror to even 
such as are familiar with it in all its phases. Such a crime, and one for 
which there seemed not the least provocation, occurred in this county 
Sunday morning last, it being no less than the inhuman butchering o( a 
seven year old child by a step-mother. 

The woman who stands charged with this heineous crime is Mrs. 
Mary M. Harper, wife of Dr. James P. Harper, who lives in Honey Creek 
Township, about twelve miles northwest of Clinton. Her maiden name 
was Dejarnette, and was married to Dr. Harper three years ago last 
month in Bates County, near Altoona. 

The family consisted of Dr. Harper, his wife, and two children and 
Mrs. Dejarnette, mother of Mrs. Harper. Dr. Harper is well known 
throughout the county and is a practicing physician. So far as the out- 
side world knows, he got along harmoniously with his wife and family. 

The murdered child is the issue of a first marriage with Miss Mary 
Brown. The child is represented as having been a bright, intelligent 
one, for its age, and of an even, quiet disposition. If there was any 
unpleasant relations existing between' the child and its step-mother, it 
was not known in the neighborhood. 

The sad tragedy occurred a little after nine o'clock last Sunday 
morning, the particulars of which, as here given, were gleaned from the 
evidence of Mrs. Dejarnette, and conversations of different parties who 
were on the ground soon after the deed was committed. 

At the coroner's inquest the first witness examined was Reuben Mor- 
gan who said: "Yesterday morning about 9 o'clock I came here to the 
school house to church. After I got to the church I went to the well to get a 
drink of water, about the time I commenced drinking I heard an unusal 
noise in this direction, like some person was in distress. I then hastened to 
the front yard of the school house and some men were standing there. I 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 22/ 

told them theie was some person in distress and we ought to see 
after it, and that quick. They started for this place a foot and I got on 
horseback. About half way the young men halted and I rode up and 
asked them the trouble there; they answered there was a little boy in 
the field with his throat cut. I turned my eyes in that direction. I saw 
the boy naked and bloody all over — pretty much. I then still heard 
the noise at the house like thej^ were in distress, like I heard at the 
school house. I didn't halt there. I told the boys to take charge of the 
boy and I would ride up to the house and see what was the trouble 
here. When I got opposite the end of the yard fence running east I saw 
Mrs. Dejarnette and Mrs. Harper standing at the east fence east of the 
cook room. I sprung off my horse as quick as I could and went in the 
direction ot the ladies where they were standing. When I got opposite 
the gate east of the porch I saw they had a double-barreled shot gun, 
one pulling and the other pulling. Mrs. Harper observed, not to come 
there for the gun was cocked. I told her it did not make any difference 
with me, the gun was what I wanted and the gun I must have. The muz- 
zle of the gun was through the crack in the plank fence. As I passed 
b)^ that I went pretty lively until I got hold of it — I had to go in front 
of the gun, Mr. Depew came to my assistance. I told him to take hold 
of the woman, Mrs. Harper. I then went down the lane. I helped the 
young men bring the boy to the house on a bed cover. Mrs. Harper 
told me I 'had just as well let that boy die, for bleeding to death was 
the easiest death any one could die on earth.' After we had got the boy 
on the bed I was trying to make him as comfortable as possible, for he 
was very much chilled. She remarked again, I ' had just as well let that 
boy die for him and her couldn't live.' Young Dan. Randolph, Bud. 
Dobyns and others helped me bring the boy in. Harper's house and 
school house is on the public road leading east and west from Big Creek 
bridge and Dobyn's school house. The school house is west of Dr. 
Harper's residence about 200 steps. I put the boy in the east and sputh 
room known as cook room. He was wounded on the arm, seemed to be 
pretty deep cut about the elbow— seemed to have been made by some- 
thing like a knife. I saw a knife in Mrs. Dejarnette's possession which 
was said to have done the cutting — bleeding freely from neck, held his 
head down. 

All he ever said to me was that he wanted to go to his Aunt Ann's 
(Mrs. Murphy, who kept him a great deal.) When we first took him up 
the boy was scared, and it was with difficulty that we could get him out 
of the buggy. I told him I would take him and stay with him, that he 
should not be hurt— I would stay with him until his pa came. Chris. 
Beck's little boy spoke to him — he approached the little boy and asked 
him what was the matter, and he said his ma had cut his throat. I so 
understood this from young Lorenzo Beck. I remained in and about the 



228 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

room from nine to about one, young Daniel Randolph and Mr. Byron 
Homan most of the time, also Mr. Depew." 

The following is the testimony of Mrs. Polly Ann Dejarnette : "I 
reside in Bates County, Missouri. I was here at Dr. Harper's Sunday 
morning. I came here the first day of September, i88i. Mrs. Harper is 
my daughter. Everything was peace and quietude yesterday morning, 
and a couple of little boys of Mr. Friend's came over to get some glycerine, 
and Mrs. Harper got the glycerine. I came to the door with her and 
the little boys and she said: 'tell your ma to come down,' and the next I 
heard little Jimmie scream. I supposed she was putting glycerine in 
his nose, which was sore, and I came to the door, got there as quick as 
I could, and when I got there I saw the boy and his arm was bleeding. 
I ran to him and she said: 'ma, get away,' and I said I would die by the 
child. I then took the child and applied cold water to his arm. I had 
him on the bed; she came in and snatched him up and I held on to him. 
I put my hand to his throat to protect him. I didn't see her have any 
knife, but I knew she intended to do something wrong, and I wanted to 
protect him. I then took the child and applied applications to his throat 
and about the time I got the blood checked, she came in and said : 'ma, 
get away from there:' and said: 'Jimmie, get up,' and I said: 'he shan't,' 
and turned round to see and she had a gun cocked and turned at me 
•with finger on the trigger. I then hollowed and screamed and gave the 
alarm until the neighbors came to me. She also threatened to shoot 
Mr Morgan. When I saw the gun pointed at me I turned and caught 
the barrel, and told the child to get out of the way. He was in the east 
room — kitchen, where he now lies. We were at the east door. He must 
have come out of the north door, or on the porch, about twenty feet, 
and from east door to east gate. She told me she would kill me if I 
didn't let loose. 

He was first cut at north parlor door in the arm. He was standing 
just outside the door looking down, dressed as usual, with his face 
towards the door. Mrs. Harper was going from him, south toward the 
hall door (three rooms and one hall). Jimmie was standing at the east 
hall door when the Friend boys came and they came to the same door 
and she came to the same door and she gave them the glycerine in the 
hall and they all three came through the parlor. The Friend bo}'s had 
been gone only a few minutes when Jimmie screamed — Friend boys very 
small. I then took Jimmie and took him to the water stand and washed 
him and put him on the bed — I undressed him. I was applying cold 
water all the time and can't tell how long it was before Mrs. Harper 
came in where he was lying. When I took him he was cut only on the 
arm. She came in, perhaps, a quarter of an hour afterwards and caught 
hold of him and dragged him from the bed. I struggled to protect him, 
and we went out of the east door and got to the gate. She must have 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 229 

cut him in the throat at the gate. He was then dressed and I then took 
him in and undressed him and put applications to his throat. I had got 
the blood stopped when she came in with the gun, he didn't say anything 
about how he got cut, he only said: 'Grandma it hurts.' I told him to 
let it be and bear with it until his pa came. I wanted to save his life. 
I didn't see her afterwards for some time. I didn't notice which room 
she was in. I asked her when I first saw her at the parlor what it meant. 
I can't tell her reply. I had no conversation with her that evening. 
Until late yesterday evening I couldn't get her to talk with me. Some 
of the other women had a talk with her — she didn't talk with me at all 
about it. She had a wild look and wasn't right the day belore, but I 
didn't think of it till then. She hasn't been right since I have been here, 
in fact. 

" How old was the child .^" 

" He was going on seven years old." 

" How old is Mrs. Harper.-"" 

"About thirty-one or thirty two." 

" How long have they been married.-*" 

" Three years last September." 

" What was the nature of the relations between Mrs. Harper and 
the child.?" 

"Always pleasant before this." 

"Who were on the premises when this happened.-*" 

"Mrs. Harper, little Jimmie and myself were here alone. Dr. Har- 
per had gone to see a patient." 

" What time did Dr. Harper leave.-* " 

" He left about nine o'clock." 

" She told Jimmie to wash and fix himself up for Sunday school and 
he said 'I would just as lief go this way." 

"What became of the knife.-*" 

" I took the open knife from her hand." 

" What did you do with it.-* " 

" I turned it over to Dr. Powers, at his request." 

" Whose knife was it.-*" 

" Her knife." 

" What kind of a knife was it.-*" 

"A little knife, two-bladed; small blade was open; point broken off;, 
also point broken off of big blade." 

Paul Gumpert testified: "I came up from the school house, and 
saw the boy get up and climb over the fence on the opposite side of the 
road. Jimmie crawled through the hedge and got a piece from the 
hedge in the corn field and fell down. I asked him what was the mat- 
^ter. He said, ' Ma cut my throat,' and he said, * Go to the house and 
ake the gun away from her.' And I came to the house and go* over the 



230 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

fence, and came to where Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Dejarnette were with 
the gun, and took hold of Mrs. H.; and me and Mr. Depew had a hold 
of her, and Mr. Morg^an and Bud Dobyns the muzzle of the gun. She 
said she intended to kill Jimmie, Mrs. Dejarnette, the baby and herself 
That was as soon as we had separated her, east of the kitchen. He fell 
about one hundred steps from here." 

Dr. Powers testified: "A knife was turned over to me by Mrs. Dejar- 
nette." (Knife exhibited. Black handle; small; blood on small blade.) 

Question — -" Doctor, you may describe the cuts." 

"There seemed to be at least three strokes made on the neck; cut 
on left arm at the bend of the elbow; the cut on the arm not dangerous." 

At the close of the testimony the jury returned the following ver- 
dict: 

State of Missouri, ) 
Couj^TY of Henry. \ ^^' 

We, the jury, having been duly sworn by James T. Land, coroner of 
Henry County, Missouri, diligently to inquire and true presentment 
make in what manner and by whom one James Harper, whose dead body 
was found at the residence of Dr. James P. Harper in the county of 
Henry and state of Missouri, on the loth day of October, A. D. 188 1, 
came to his death, after having heard the evidence and upon full inquiry 
concerning the facts, and a careful examination of said body, do find 
that the deceased came to his death about nine o'clock A. M. on the lOth 
day of October, 1881, at the residence of his father, Dr. Harper, Henry 
County, Missouri. That his death resulted from the infliction of some 
two or three wounds, one at least a mortal wound, in his neck; that said 
wounds were made by Mrs. Mary M. Harper, his stepmother, about nine 
o'clock A. M., October 9, 1881, in her attempt to kill him; that we also 
find besides the above wounds one severe wound on his left arm on the 
bend of his elbow, made a short time before the infliction of the wounds 
on the neck, which was also done by Mrs. Harper, all of said wounds 
being made by a penknife held in the hand of his stepmother. We fur- 
ther were not able to discover any provocation tor the assaults upon the 
deceased, he being only about seven years old, and nothing appearing 
to show any reason for an assault upon hmi; that Drs. Land and Powers, 
together with the family and others, were present when he died. 

Given under our hands at the residence of Dr. Harper, in the 
county of Henry, state of Missouri, this lOth day of October, A. D. 1S81. 

JAMP:S F. land, Coroner. ' 

D. SWATH OUT. 

W. F. COVINGTON. 

J. G. MOORE. 

G. P. SELBV. 

JAMES E. FRAZIER. 

The necessary papers were then drawn up by Squire Webster for 
her arrest and served by Constable Cheatham. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. ' 23 1 

THE SHOOTING OF EZElL. 

Burt R. Ezell was shot and killed on the night of November 15, 188 1. 
From the Windsor Review is taken the following summary and substance 
of the facts developed in this sad case: 

" Mr. B. R. Ezell resided with his brother-in-law, Mr. Samuel 
Wherry, near Burnett Station, in Johnson County, and came to Windsor 
on Tuesday to assist Mr. Wherry in loading a lot of hogs, belonging to 
him, on the cars for shipment. After the shipment, Mr. Ezell remained 
in town, got on a spree, and about eleven o'clock at night, with a boon 
companion, went over to "Africa," so called, being that part of Windsor 
principally occupied by colored people. He entered the house of Mack 
Sims, and insulted his wife, and Mack finding he could do nothing, went 
over, to City Marshal Hall, and requested him to come over there. What 
transpired there, and also the facts of the shooting, is given in the evi- 
dence at the examination and preliminary trial. After being shot, Ezell 
was taken to the Bass Hotel, where he was examined by the physicians 
who had been summoned, and every care taken of him. His sister, Mrs. 
Wherry, was sent for and arrived before his death, remaining with him 
until he was relieved of pain and life. He remained conscious most of 
the day following the night of the shooting, but soon after night became 
restless, and his mind wandering. From that time until 1:30 o''clock, 
when he died, he gradually sank, and at the above hour all that was mor- 
tal of Burt Ezell passed from earth, and his soul to the judgment of Him 
who gave it." 

THE EVIDENCE. 
/ ■ 

The evidence seemed to be of a peculiar kind, but all pointed to the 
fact that after Ezell was arrested, he attempted to escape in the dark, 
was fired at, mortally wounded, and died from the wound, as above stated, 
and yet the man had committed no crime for which, even if he escaped, 
could have been more than alight fine, let alone paying the penalty with 
his life 

It was a brutal and reckless affair, at best, allowing that no inten- 
tion of murder was in the heart or mind of him who fired the fatal shot. 
And it may be mentioned here that a trial of one of the four persons 
who were supposed to have done the work of death, was tried at the 
December term, 1882, of the circuit court at Clinton, and the jury were 
unable to agree as to the guilt of the defendants and they were dis- 
charged and a new trial will be given. 

MARSHAL hall's EVIDENCE. 

This evidence refers more especially to the killing. It was long and 
tedious, referring to the arrest of Ezell and his escape from him. He 



232 HISTORY OK HENRY COUNTY. 

said: "I called for Stone & Ragan and they dressed and came out 
on the sidewalk. Cotton came also. I told them what was up and what 
I wanted; told them my gun was empty and I wanted ammunition. 
Went down and waked up Charlie Lewis, got the ammunition and loaded 
my gun. When I got back Eli Dawson, (the person on trial) John Tay- 
lor and Benjamin Smith were standing in front of the store. I then told 
them to take the horses to the stable and put them up, and then we will 
go and find this fellow. The horses were supposed to belong to Ezell 
and another party, and in Ezell's escape from Hall had hit him and run. 
Hall's face was covered with blood. Those above told Hall to go back 
and wash and they would attend to the horses. About the time I (Hall) 
got through washing Will Cotton came in and said they had caught him 
and wanted me to come up there. As I was putting on my overcoat I 
heard firing. Cotton had a lantern and we walked rapidly in the direc- 
tion of the bank. Firing had ceased after we had got out of Harnsber- 
ger & Ragan's store. I saw lights on Benton Street, near McGee's. I 
don't know how many shots were fired, as many as three, there might 
have been more. I came to where the light was and saw the body of a 
man in the center of Benton Street and recognized him as the one with 
whom I had a fuss, and started Cotton for Dr. Shadburne." 

Cotton's evidence was pretty much the same after his meeting with 
Hall, but stating that the persons who sent him for Hall were in the dark 
outside the barn, and he did not recognize any one. 

DAVE M'GEE'S evidence, 

was in substance as follows: "Heard some one talking between my house 
and Ousley's stable. They came on to my corner, and I heard some one 
run, who appeared to run in a westerly direction from the sound. Then 
I heard shots. I went out doors to where they assembled, and I found 
there, Eli Dawson, Benj. Smith, Charles Ragan, John Taylor, Jim Bush 
and others. Marshal Hall came up just after I did. Saw the deceased 
lying on the ground. The doctor came up and said he must be taken 
somewhere to be better cared for. Did not recognize any of the parties 
who passed my house before the shooting commenced." 

All the evidence was of a similar nature: " Heard shots fired," nobody 
recognized, and a man killed. The Review, in its report, summed up 
editorially, as follows : 

" The parties who took the horses to the stable, found Ezell, and ar- 
rested him. He claimed he was not the man and started to McGee's, 
to prove his statement. Arriving there. Bush stepped to the door to 
awaken Dave. Just then the prisoner started to run, and the firing 
began, with results as above stated." 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 233 

JURY VERDICT. 

We, the undersigned, find the deceased came to his death by shoot- 
ing at the hands of unknown parties. 

(Signed,) J. A. CALFA, 

I. W. MITCHELL, 
JAMES M. DOUGLAS; 

We, the undersigned cannot concur in the above verdict. 

(Signed,) EDMUND BASS, 

W. A. BRAME, 
W. H. HAM. 

ARRESTED. 

On Friday following state warrants were issued for the arrest of Elr 
Dawson, J. B. Bush, John Taylor, and John W. Hall, and they all gave 
bail in the sum of $5,000 each, 102 names going on the bonds. On the 
succeeding Wednesday they had a preliminary trial before Justices Tutts 
and Powell. C. C. Armstrong, prosecuting attorney, and H. H. Arm- 
strong appeared for the state, and Judge Shirk, of Sedalia, Peyton A. 
Parks, Clinton, and Allen & Allen, of Windsor, for the defense. At the 
opening the state dismissed the charge as to J. R. Bush, and he was 
released, but held the others for examination. The evidence was much 
the same, somewhat more full, and Dawson got the worst of it. The 
trial resulted in the discharge of Taylor and Hall by the justices pre- 
siding, but Dawson was bound over, and his trial came off as above men- 
tioned, December term, 1882, with a failure to agree on the part of the 
jury. The case was tried before Judge Gantt, and continued five days. 
The prospect of conviction in any future trial is not flattering. 

It was said that while Ezell was lying on the ground waiting for the 
doctor's arrival, he said to Taylor, " Tell my sister that her brother on 
his dying bed leaves his property to her." There was a strong feeling 
of affection between the two, and when the sister came the meeting 
seemed almost heartrending. From that he seemed to understand that 
his wound was mortal. It was a sad case, and it is not likely that a man 
arrested for a misdemeanor will be again killed if he seeks to make a 
sudden escape. 

They generally can be found and costs and fine paid at some future 
day, but neither the law and the fine and cost was of a nature to demand 
the life of the man, or immediate payment. The lesson has caused one 
man his life, let us hope another may not be sacrificed. Here endeth the 
record of crime. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE COUNTY'S SERVANTS— ELECTIONS OF 1880 AND 1882. 



THE COUNTY OFFICERS, FROM ALPHA TO OMEGA-THE YEAR AND THE DAY-REPRE- 
SKNTATIVES, STATE SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN-ELECTION OF 1880— ELECTION 
OF 1882 — CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS — SENATORIAL DISTRICT MEMORANDA — 
POLITICAL— HENRY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC— WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE- 
CIRCUIT COURT ITEMb— SLANDER, DIVORCE AND PERJURY— THE FIRST GRAND 
JURY. 

COUNTY OFFICIALS— COUNTY JUDGES. 

1835— Thomas Arbuckle, presiding; William Goft; Joseph Mont- 
gomery, presided from September 21. 

1837 — John F. Sharp, presiding; William Goff, Thomas Kimsey. 

1838 — Francis Parazette, in place of William Goff, resigned. 

1841 — James P. Drake, presiding; John F. Sharp, Jonathan T. 
Berry. • 

1842 — Christopher C. Bronaugh in place of James P. Drake, resigned; 
Jennings Beckvvorth in place of John F Sharp, resigned. 

1843 — Christopher C. Bronaugh, presiding; Jonathan T. Berry, Jen- 
nings Beckwith. 

1844 — Jonathan Sweeney, presiding; Christopher C. Bronaugh, John 
C. Stone. 

1848 — Christopher C. Bronaugh, presiding; Jonathan T. Berry, John 
M. Van Hoy. 

1850 — William McCown, in place of John VanHoy, resigned. 

1852 — James P. Bone, presiding ; James Freeman and Milton B. 
Merritt. 

1856 — Christopher C. Bronaugh, in place of James P. Bone, deceased. 

Judge Bone died September 4, 1855, and resolutions of respect and 
condolence were entered by his associate justices, of record, and the 
resolutions ordered published in the Independent, Osceola, and Demo- 
crat, Warsaw. 

1856 — Daniel Stewart, presiding ; William L. Avery, John M. Van 
Hoy. 

1858 — Daniel Stewart, presiding; William L. Avery, Jonathan T. 
Berry. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 235 

i860 — J. G. Dorman, presiding; William L. Avery, Jonathan T. 
Berry. 

1862 — J. G. Dorman, presiding ; William L. Avery, John P. Stone. 

1863 — A. M. Rhoads, in place of John P. Stone, time expired. 

1865 — J. G. Dorman, presiding; William L. Avery, Henry Devinny, 
in place of A. M. Rhoads, resigned; William Jennings and Joseph Hil- 
legas, in place of Dorman and Avery, time expired. 

1866 — Henry Devinny, presiding ; William Jennings, Joseph Hil- 
legas. 

1869 — William Jennings, presiding ; Joseph Hillegas, Jared Steven- 
son. 

1871 — Joseph Hillegas, presiding; Jared Stevenson, William Mun- 
son. 

1872 — Jaren Stevenson, presiding ; William Munson, James T. Gil- 
liland. 

NEV^ ORGANIZATION LAW. 

1873 — William R. Taylor, presiding; B. L. Owens, Lewis P. Beatty, 
M. A. Stewart, F. M. Gofif. 

1875 — Phillip W. Cecil, in place of W. R. Taylor, resigned; Metel- 
lus Wood, presiding, in place of F. M. Goff, time expired. 

1877 — John Venlemans, presiding; M. A. Stewart, Lewis P. Beatty, 
P. W. Cecil, P^phraim Allison. New organization law repealed. 

1877— M. A. Stewart, presiding August; L. P. Beatty, M. B. Merritt, 
presiding 1879. 

1881 — Ephraim Allison, presiding; M. A. Stewart, Lewis P. Beatty. 

1882 — Lewis P. Beatty, presiding; John S. Kelley, James M. Har- 
rison. 

COMMISSIONERS SEAT OF JUSTICE. 

1836, Peyton Parks; 1838, John F. Sharp; 1844, Jennings Beckwith; 
1845, Asaph W. Bates; 1850, Joseph Davis; 1854, Daniel Ashby; 1866, P. 
S. Jennings. From 1870 to 1877 special commissioners appointed as 
occasion required. 1877, James Parks, county seat commissioner; 1881, 
Charles S. Robinson; 1882, Charles S. Robinson. 

SUPERINTENDENTS PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

1837, John F. Sharp, Thomas B. Wallace. Office discontinued after 
the completion of the court house. 

PUBLIC SQUARE COMMISSIONERS. 

1852, Benjamin F. Owens; 1854, Lewis H. Tutt; 1874, D. T. Terry, 
1880, Ambrose B. Hopkins; 1882, Ambrose B. Hopkins. 



236 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY, 

SPECIAL CLAIM AGENT — WIDOWS AND ORPITANS. 

1866, D. W. Alkire. Office discontinued. 

SUPERVISORS OF REGISTRATION. 

1867, Henry Devinny; 1870, Jared Stephenson. Office discontinued, 

TREASURERS. 

1836, William Goff, resigned; 1837, Thomas B. Wallace, resigned 
1846; 1846, Asaph W. Bates, died September, 1849; 1849, Asa C. Mar- 
vin, resigned 1852; 1852, George H. Hardy; 1856, Thomas S. Rogers; 
1858, Royal L. Burge; 1865, Jared Stevenson; 1866, I. N. Rogers; 1870, 
Henry Riehl; 1872, Ephraim Allison; 1876, William F. Carter; 1878, 
Emory O. Price; 1882, Emory O. Price. 

SHERIFFS AND COLLECTORS. 

1835, Joseph Fields, died; 1836, Nathan A. Field, deputy and acting; 
1836, Robert Allen; 1840, Philip J. Buster, seat contested; 1841, William 
R. Owens, contestant; 1844, Robert Allen; 1848, William R. Taylor; 
1850, John M. VanHoy; 1854, Dewit C. Stone; 1858, William R. Taylor; 
1862, Jasper N. Coats, resigned; 1863, Samuel K. Williams; 1866, James 
M. Miller; 1868, Henry T. Dodson; 1870, John Curtis. 

SHERIFFS, ONLY. 

1872, D. T. Terry; 1876, W. B. Calvird; 1880, Ambrose B. Hopkins; 
1882, Ambrose B. Hopkins. 

CLERKS AND RECORDERS. 

1835, Jonathan T. Berry, resigned ; 1836, Fielding A. Pinnell; 1853, 
Lewis H. Tutt; 1859, Benjamin L. Quarles; 1862, William Parks, resigned 
September 12, 1863; 1863, James Parks, resigned April 1865; 1865, John 
M. Dunn, resigned July, 1865; 1865, John L. Barlow. 

CLERKS ONLY. 

1870, Charles H. Synder; 1874, Benjamin L. Quarles; 1878, Joseph 
A. Doyle; 1882, Benjamin L. Quarles. 

ASSESSORS. 

1835, George B. Woodson, appointed; 1836, Peyton Parks; 1837, 
William McMillan; 1838, George W. Martin; 1840, James W. Fields; 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 237 

1841, Edward Seaton; 1845, Nathan A. Fields; 1846, William Cecil; 1854, 

A. H. Clark, elected and removed; 1855, Daniel Ashby, appointed and 
resigned; 1856, William L. Avery, appointed ; 1856, William R. Taylor 
elected. The new assessment law was passed by the legislature this year 
1858, District No. i, William R. Taylor; District No. 2, James Parks 
District No. 3, William M. Beaman; District No 4, Moses W. Sevier 
District No. 5, Vincent N. Jones; 1859, District No. i, William T. Legg 
District No. 2, James Parks; District No. 3, William M. Beaman; Dis- 
trict No. 4, James B. Mclntyre ; District No. 5, Vincent N. Jones. Law 
repealed, i860, James Parks, appointed, Hiram C. Russell, elected August; 

1862, Jeremiah L. Cross, removed, failed to return his book in time; 1864, 
John R. Turner; 1865, James M. Miller; 1867, John A. Wells; 1869, Henry 

B. Hecker; 1871, James R. Conner; 1877, Peter D. Lane; 1878, A. B. Hop- 
kins; 1880, John H. Royston; 1882, John H. Royston. 

COLLECTORS. 

1878, William F. Carter; 1880, Frank S. Ware; 1882, Frank S. Ware. 

RECORDERS. 

1870, W. D. Tyler; 1874, George W. Armstrong; 1882, William H. 
Allison. 

INSPECTOR OF MINES. 

1881-2, Richard Bowen. 

COMMON PLEAS COURT. 

1869, R. C. McBeth; 1871, William L. Avery, to July ist, 1873 — 
merged into the probate court. 

PROBATE COURT. 

1873, William L. Avery, died September, 1875; 1876, F. E. Savage; 
1878, James Parks; 1882, James Parks. 

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. 

1847, Robert Allen; 1849, Asa C. Marvin; 1853, John M. VanHoy, 
declined; Robert M. Hardwick; 1856, Joshua Sweeny; 1858, Alexis 
Walmsly; i860, F. E. Savage, resigned 1862; 1862, James Parks, declined; 

1863, William H. Peer; 1864, William A. Gray; 1865, A. M. Rhoads; 
1868, William P. Baker; 1872, George W. Hopkins; 1875, John C. Rivers; 
1880, Benjamin F. Milton; 1882, Thomas A. Cheaney. 



238 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS. 

1853, George W. Miner, resigned July, 1858; 1858, John W. Will- 
iams; 1866, William E. Brinkerhoff; 1867, Matthew Zener; 1870, James E. 
Flagg; 1875, Thomas J. Claggett; 1877, J. N. Cook, died; 1878, Max 
McCann, unexpired term; 1879, Peyton A. Parks; 1881, William H. 
Smith; 1882, William H. Smith. 

SURVEYORS. 

1835, Joseph Montgomery; 1843, Ebenezer Gilkerson; 1844, Thomas 
Britton, resigned; 1845, John W Williams; 1846, John W. Wallace; 1854, 
Daniel Ashby; 1857, John W. Williams; i85i, Samuel K. Williams, 
resigned and reelected; 1869, William E. Brinkerhoff; 1872, Bird D. 
Parks; 1880, Henry C. Allen; 1882, Henry C. Allen. 

ROAD COMMISSIONERS. 

1865, George W. Squires; 1867, William Crosier; 1869, William Mun- 
son, resigned; 1870, W. D. Tyler, resigned; 1871, H. H. Linnville; 1877, 
Bird D. Parks, ex-officio being consolidated with the office of Surveyor; 
1880, Henry C. Allen; 1882, Henry C. Allen. 

CORONER. 

1844, George J. Allen; 1847, George Brummet; 1856, Peter F. Gen- 
eway; i860, John A. Bushnell; 1864, William Moore; 1868, Samuel 
Jones; 1870, J. W. Stoker; 1872, C. C. Williams; 1874, William A. David- 
son; 1876, Robert Trevey; 1878, James P. Dimmitt; 1880, Dr. B. H. 
Land; 1882, Bart B. Green. 

SUPERINTENDENT OF POOR. 

1868, Samuel Jones, resigned; 1871, Robert Allen; 1874, Dr. John 
W. Stewart; 1877, Dr. A. N. Kincanon; 1879, Dr. James P. Dimmitt; 
1880, Dr. B. H. Land, resigned; 1882, James F. Land. 

MANAGERS POOR FARM. 

1871, D. A. Henry; 1874, Richard Woodson; 1879, Daniel E. A. Price; 
1880, Eli Wade; 1882, Eli Wade. 

COUNTY ATTORNEYS. 

1843, Lycurgus Alney; 1846, A. M. Tutt; 1854, Royal L. Burge; 
1858, Royal L. Burge and Dewitt C. Stone, special; 1859, Royal L. Burge; 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 239 

1861, Alexis Wamsly; 1863, Royal L. Burge and A. C. Avery, special- 
1865, Royal L. Burge; 1866, W. H. H. Waggoner; 1867, Royal L. Burge, 
died October 19. 1868; 1869, William N. Pickerell; 1872, W. W. Gate- 
wood; 1875, Charles B. Wilson; 1877, C. C. Dickinson; 1882, Robert E 
Lewis, 

COUNTY RAILROAD AGENTS. 

1866, Royal L. Burge, died; 1869, William H. McLane, resigned ^ 
1870, Dewitt C. Stone; 1874, William R. Taylor. Then the court 
appointed different agents and attorneys from time to time to vote 
stock, and to defend the county against suits, etc., as occasion required. 
1880, James B. Gantt; 1882, William H. Cock. 

CIRCUIT CLERKS. 

i856, William Weaver; 1871, John A. Driggs; 1875, William C. 
Edmonston; 1878, Charles S. Robinson, resigned; 1879, Benjamin L. 
Ouarles; 1882, RoUin B. McConnell. 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

1836, George B. Woodson, three terms; 1842, Samuel Land; 1844,. 
Peyton Parks; 1846, A. C. Marvin; 1848, Dr. John W. Fitzhugh; 1850, 
William Steele; 1852, A. C. Marvin; 1854, John W. Williams; 1856,. 
Robert Allen; 1858, Dewit C. Stone; i860, James A. Tutt; 1862, Levi 
C. Marvin, speaker; 1864, William Weaver, ineligible; 1864, Augustus 
Dana; 1866, William Schafer; 186S. William H. McLane; 1870, George 
W. Squires; 1872, Jerubal G Dorman; 1S74, Banton G. Boone, speaker; 
1876, William T. Thornton; 1878, William H. Cock; 1880, George H. 
Shelton; 1882, Dr. W. L. Shankland. 

STATE SENATORS. 

1836, Joseph Montgomery, Henry County; 1840, James Young, Lafa- 
yette County; 1842, Benjamin F. Massey; 1846, James M. Gatewood, 
Henry County; 1850, B. W. Grover, Johnson County; 1854, M. C. Good- 
lette, Henry County; 1858, A. C. Marvin, Henry County; 1862, W. S. 
Holland, Henry County (change in district); 1868, W. H. Blodgette,. 
Johnson County; 1872, Joshua LaDue, Henry County; 1876, J. B. New- 
berry, two years. Bates County (the new constitution changed district); 
1878, J. N. Bradley, Bates County; 1882, Dr. John H. Britts, Henry County. 

CIRCUIT JUDGES. 

1835, Charles H. Allen, Fifth Judicial District; 1837, John F. Ryland^ 
Sixth Judicial District; 1845, Foster P. Wright- 185 i, Waldo P. Johnson; 



24© HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

1854, DeWitt C. Ballou; 1859, Foster P. Wright; 1862, Burr H. Emerson, 
Seventh Judicial District; 1868. David McGaughey; 1873, Foster P. 
Wright; 1880, James R. Gantt, present judge. 

Cn^CUIT ATTORNEYS. 

1835, William B. Almond; 1840, Henderson Young; 1844, Robert G. 
Smart; 1850, Waldo P. Johnson; 1S56, Thomas W. Freeman; 1862, S. S. 
Burdette; 1868, James Masters. Office discontinued. 

. ELECTION OF 1880. 

The presidential election of 1880, was one which from its excite- 
ments and questions at issue, brought out a full vote. It is here given 
that it may be contrasted with the vote of 1884, when that vote shall be 
counted. The election of 1880 failed to bring out a full vote, and the 
progress of the county as to party increase, and of the voting population, 
will be better obtained by comparing with the presidential vote two 
years hence. The national and state tickets for 1880 stood as follows: 

HENRY COUNTY. 

Hancock over Garfield, plurality 1 127 

Majority 821 

Crittenden over Dyer, plurality 1 134 

Majority 809 

The majorities for the remainder of the state ticket did not vary 
but a few votes from that for governor. The Greenback ticket polled 
from 306 to 330 votes on the state ticket, and ran as high as 352 down to 
307 on the local or county ticket. 

In 1880, the state had thirteen congressional districts, but the cen- 
sus of that year gave to Missouri according to the apportionment, one 
more congressman, or fourteen. The state was then redistricted, and 
Henry County was placed in what is now called the Twelfth Congress- 
ional District. The old Sixth was composed of fourteen counties, while 1 
the new Twelfth has but eight. Seven of the eight were in the old Sixth, 
and the one now added to the seven to make the Twelfth District is 
Cass County. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 
FOR CONGRESS— SIXTH DISTRICT. 



241 



COUNTIES. 



Greene . . 
Barry . . . 
McDonald . 
Newton . . 
Jasper . . . 
Barton . . . 
Vernon . . 
St. Clair . . 
Bates . . . 
Cedar . . . 
Dade . . . 
Lawrence . 
Henry . . 
Webster . . 

Total . . 
Plurality . . 
Per cent. , . 
Scattering . 

Total vote 







1 


•6 


pi 






U3 ^ 


13 a 


la 

u 

„ 

— 


c 



i» 


S-5 

•— > 


^0 


^Q 
^ 




2143 


2299 


1456 


1434 


I 166 


1 103 


1077 


771 


670 


649 


636 


105 


1574 


1730 


1200 


660 


2575 


38'3 


2285 


2096 


940 


1205 


580 


341 


2329 


1297 


1579 


494 


1009 


1686 


696 


628 


2997 


1987 


231 1 


919 


909 


1133 


783 


767 


926 


1348 


767 


^055 


1473 


1685 


1281 


1 192 


2908 


1808 


2146 


678 


106 I 


1044 


972 


482 


22680 


22787 


17769 


11622 




107 


6147 




4982 


50.05 


4398 


28.76 


54 






3 




45521 




40398 



BO 

5 



1922 
304 
499 

1210 

1722 
744 
551 

1061 

673 
328 
306 
459 

668 
567 



1 1 004 

27.22 



For circuit judge, the majority for James B. Gantt over William 
Page was 898. 

THE COUNTY TICKET. 

The vote of the county ticket is given in full as it will make it val- 
uable for reference: 
Representatives — 

George J. Shelton, Democrat 2772 

James C. Carpenter, Republican 1647 

D. E. Browning, Greenback 352 

Circuit Clerk — 

Benjamin L. Quarles, D 2826 

Henry B. Hecker, R 1680 

Jerome B. McCoy, G 307 

Prosecuting Attorney — 

Clement C. Dickinson 2726 

George W. Dunn 1974 

Collector — 

Frank S. Ware 2833 

James M. Cameron. 1655 

Henry Walbert 317 

County Treasurer — 

Emory. O. Price 2840 

Henry S. Marvin 1674 

Reuben Morgan 309 

16 



242 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Sheriff- 
Ambrose B. Hopkins 2837 

John N. Barlow 1704 

M. M. Robarb 275 

Surveyor — 

Henry C. Allen 2847 

Samuel K. Williams 1741 

Assessor — 

John H. Royston 2833 

William A. Walker 1652 

Ellis Smith 315 

Public Administrator — 

Benjamin F. Milton -. 2832 

H. J. Dooley 1673 

Thomas H. Banta 313 

Coroner — 

James F. Land 2822 

W. C. Bromfield 1682 

Henry Settles 308 

Presiding Justice — 

Ephriam Allison 2713 

Thomas Day 2008 

County Judge First District — 

Lewis P. Beatty, 1.329 

George Cock 764 

H. C. Mullins lOi 

County Judge, Second District — 

Mark A. Stewart 1,450 

John C. Bram 944 

Harry P. Brown 202 

Township Organization — 

For 1 ,682 

Against 2,468 

Restraining Swine at Large — 

For 1,190 

Against 3,082 

The list of justices of the peace and constables for the several town- 
ships can be found entered on pages 299 and 300 of county records, 
book L 

In the above vote the names are given in the order of Democrats, 
Republicans and Greenbackers, the highest being the Democratic vote 
and the lowest the Greenback. 

1882. 

The election of 1882 was another Democratic victory in state, con- 
gressional, state senatorial and county. The state ticket had a majority 
of about 70,000, rather over than under, and there was a general Demo- 
cratic gain in almost every county in the state on the local tickets. The 
general election throughout the United States was such heavy gains 
that it is known as the Democratic C3'clone of 1882. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 243 

The vote is as follows: 
Tudee Supreme Court — „ ^ 

^ "Sherwood ^98.620 

Wagner ^^^'239 

•u- ^2,407 

Kice J <^ / 

Sherwood's plurality over Wagner 70,381 

Sherwood's plurality over all 37-974 

Superintendent Public Schools— 

Coleman 202.855 

Hill ^24.759 

Booth 32,264 

Coleman's plurality over Hill 78.096 

Coleman's plurality over all 45-832 

Railroad Commissioner — 

James H. Harding 202,137 

Robert H. Hunt ^^^'^"^^ 

Matthew H. Ritchey • 32.576 

Harding's majority 44-170 

Vote on Constitutional Amendment— 

For amendment 4-^6 

Against amendment 142,742 

Majority against amendment 58,601 

The following is the vote for congressmen: 

First District — 

William H. Hatch '^'243 

John M. Glover • 'I'W 

F. A. Leavitt • ^^7 

Hatch's majority 4, 169 

Second District — 

A. M. Alexander 19-033 

William Quayle 5-302 

D. B. Dorsey • ^'^^S 

Alexander's majority 5-103 

Third District — 

A. M. Dockery ^7-201 

James H. Thomas 12.887 

Joseph H. Burrows • 2-405 

Dockery's majority 1,889 

Fourth District — 

J. N. Burnes ^3-325 

Nat Sisson 2,185 



244 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Fourth District — 

M. A. Reed 10,571 

Burnes' majority ,. 5^9 

Fifth District- 
Alexander Graves 12,695 

John T. Crisp 8,672 

John McCabe 243 

Graves' majority 3.780 

Sixth District — 

John Cos^jrove I7,i49 

William C. Aldridge 1 1.349 

Cosgrove's majority 5, 800 

Seventh District — 

A. H. Buckner I4.370 

T. J. McNair 1,786 

Charles Dandt 9.857 

Buckner's majority 2,727 

Eighth District — 

O'Neill 7,240 

Sessinghaus 5.514 

Daley 1,291 

• Sullivan ; 1,039 

Ninth District— 

Broadhead 6,860 

McLean 6,758 

Hill 463 

Tenth District— 

Clardy 13,536 

Manistre 7.4S5 

Jackson 2,667 

Ford Smith 49 

Eleventh District — 

R. P. Bland 14,259 

W. J. Wallace ! 10,530 

John H. Quinn 1,187 

Bland's majority 2,542 

Twelfth District- 
Charles H. Morgan 14.768 

William J. Terrell 9,1 1 1 

Gage S. Spring 3,550 

Morgan's majority 2,107 

Thirteenth District — 

Robert W. Fyan 13.904 

William W. Cloud 12,424 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 245 

Thirteenth District — 

J. S. Hazeltine 6,122 



Fyan's majority 1,480 

Fourteenth District — 

Lowndes H. Davis 14,023 

Solomon G. Kitchen 2,920 

A. B. Carroll 7,^77 



Davis' majority 3.926 

The average majority for the Democratic congressional ticket out- 
side of the St. Louis districts — eighth, ninth and tenth — was 3,100. 
The vote for congress in this district is given by counties: 

Cass County — 

C. H. Morgan 2,338 

W. J. Terrell i,39i 

S. G. Spring 4.39 



Total vote polled 4. 1 58 

Bates County — , 

C. H. Morgan \ 3,002 

W. J. Terrell 1,895 

S. G. Spring 454 



Total vote polled 5-35 ^ 

Henry County — 

D. H. Morgan : 2,570 

W. J. Terrell 1,400 

S. G. Spring 98 

Total vote polled 4,068 

St. Clair County — 

C. H. Morgan 987 

W. J. Terrell 746 

S. G. Spring 849 

Total vote polled 2,582 

Vernon County — 

C. H. Morgan 2,43 1 

W. J. Terrell 997 

S. G. Spring 261 

Total vote polled 3-789 

Cedar County — 

C. H. Morgan i ,243 

W.J.Terrell 994 

S. G. Spring 217 

Total vote polled 2,554 



246 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Barton County — 

C. H. Morgan 1,304 

W. J. Terrell y-jy 

S. G. Spring 10 



Total vote polled 2,091 

Dade County — 

C. H. Morgan 983 

W. J. Terrell 827 

S. G. Spring .• 387 



Total vote polled 2, 197 

Total for Morgan 14,848 

Total for Terrell ."■ 9,027 

Total for Spring 2,715 

Morgan's total majority over Terrell 5,821 

Morgan over Spring 12,133 

Morgan's plurality .... 3, 106 

There was some falling off in the vote of this county as compared 
with the vote of 1880. Taking th^ electoral vote of that year and 
the vote for congressmen this year we have: 

Hancock 2,821 Morgan 2,570 

Garfield 1,694 Terrell 1,400 

Weaver 306 Spring 98 



Total 4,821 Total 4,068 

A difference of 753 votes in favor of 1880. 

The counties composing the state senatorial district, are, Cass, 
Bates and Henry, and below is the vote : 

THE SENATORIAL VOTE — CASS COUNTY. 

John H. Britts 2,365 

H. J. Dooley i ,440 

BATES COUNTY. 

J. H. Britts 3,006 

H.J. Dooley i ,970 

HENRY COUNTY. 

J. H. Britts 2,580 

H. J. Dooley 1,412 

Total vote polled 12,773 

Britts' total vote 7,95 1 

Dooley's total vote 4,822 



Britt's majority 3.129 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 24/ 

In 1880, the Greenbackers put out both a senatorial and a county 
ticket, but for the election of 1882, the party leaders decided to waive it 
in counties where the vote was light. In this senatorial district and 
county, no Greenback ticket was put forth, they giving their attention 
to the state and for congress. The local vote of Henry County is given 
in detail, so that the political complexion and the number of votes of 
each township can be seen. 

OFFICIAL VOTE OF HENRY COUNTY FOR 1 882. 

Name of Candidates. Vote. Maj. 

Supreme judge — 

Thomas A. Sherwood, D 2572 1130 

David Wagner, R 1442 

Superintendent Public Schools — 

. W. E. Coleman, D 2596 1173 

Osmer C. Hill, R 1423 

Railroad Commissioner — 

Tames Harding, D 2596 1 167 

Robert H. Hunt, R 1429 

Constitutional Amendment, Yes 912 

Constitutional Amendment, No 1849 937 

Congress, 12th District — 

Charles H. Morgan, D 2570 1072 

William J. Terrell, R 1403 

G. S. Spring, G .... 98 

State Senate — 

John H. Britts, D 2580 1 168 

H. J. Dooley, R 1412 

Representative — 

W. L. Shankland, D 2539 1063 

Daniel A. Brooks, R 1476 

Probate Judge — 

James Parks, D 2621 1205 

George W. Dunn, R 1416 

Circuit Clerk — 

RoUen B. McConnell, D 2643 1244 

William A. Walker, R. 1399 

County Clerk — 

Benjamin L. Quarles, D 2450 901 

John A. Driggs, R 1395 

James W. Victor, 1 154 

County Collector — 

Ffank S. Ware, D , 2626 1206 

Charles Littlepage, R 1420 

County Treasurer — 

Emory O. Price, D 2652 1257 

William Shafer, R 1395 

Sheriff- 
Ambrose B. Hopkins, D 2676 13 14 

James M. Horner, R 1362 



248 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Prosecuting Attorney — 

Robert E. Lewis, D 2526 1044 

Alvin Haynie, R 1482 

Recorder — 

William H. Allison, D 2556 1 105 

Nathan Ellington, R 145 1 

Assessor — 

John H. Royston, D 2624 1 190 

David Erwin, R 1434 

Presiding Judge County Court — 

Lewis P. Beaty, D 2566 1 126 

Garrett W. Freeman, R 1440 

Associate County Judge No. I — 

John S. Kelley, D 1 109 423 

Thomas Day, R 686 

Associate County Judge No. 2 — 

James M. Harrison, D 1395 588 

James Armstrong, R 807 

Public Administrator — 

Thomas A. Cheaney, D 2591 1132 

Henry B. Hecker, R 1459 

Coroner — 

Bart B. Green, D 2574 1 1 18 

William C. Brumfield, R 1456 

For restraining swine from running at large 1741 

Against restraining swine from running at large 1907 166 

STATE SENATORS. 

The senatorial district, of which Henry County has composed a 
part, since its organization, has been changed a number of times, and 
Henry County has no cause for complaint, so far as receiving her share 
of the senatorial honors of the district of which she has composed a part. 
The early senatorial districts were composed of many counties, covering 
a large territory, but these are not of much moment to the reader. The 
Fifteenth Senatorial District formed in 1872, from the census of 1870, 
gave to that district the counties of Johnson, Henry, St. Clair and Ben- 
ton. Under the last apportionment, this county was placed in the Four- 
teenth Senatorial District, composed of the counties af Cass, Bates, and 
Henry, and was so organized in 1882, 

The first election held for general purposes in Rives County (now 
Henry) was in 1836, and Joseph Montgomery, then county judge, and 
one of the three who composed the first county court of Rives County, 
was elected to the office of state senator. Henry County was not again 
allowed a candidate until 1858, when the Hon. M. C. Goodlet was elected. 
In 1872, Henry County again received the honors, and Joshua Laden 
was elected. At the last election, and in the new Fourteenth District, 
Dr. John H, Britts, a prominent physician and citizen of Clinton, was 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 249 

elected, and Henry County was again honored the first of the trio com- 
posing the counties of the district under the late apportionment. 

CONGRESSMEN, 

The full list of congressmen of the state up to i88acan be found in 
the history of the state in foregoing pages, but those who have repre- 
sented Henry County, as a part of a congressional district, is here given 
that the citizens of the county may know their own immediate represent- 
atives. The first members of congress were from' the state at large and not 
by districts, the district organization being arranged in 1846, and that was 
the first year that an election for congressmen took place by districts. This 
county formed a part of the Fifth Congressional district, and five was the 
number of congressmen to which this state was entitled until after the 
census of 1850. Missouri gained two members by that census, but this 
district, or rather the Fifth District, still included Henry County. In 
i860, the census gave the state nine congressmen, this county still 
remaining as a municipal part of the Fifth District. 

Notwitstanding the evil effects of the civil war and other causes,, 
the natural advantages which were so prominently seen by every traveler 
or prospector who visited the state, that her increase became rapid and 
continuous, and in the census of 1870 it was shown that few states in the 
Union had exceeded her in solid growth and material prosperity. This 
census gave Missouri thirteen congressmen^ and under the new apportion- 
ment Henry County was placed in the Seventh District and its first con- 
gressman was the Hon. Thomas T. Crittenden, now the honored and 
able governor of the state. 

Henry County remained attached to the Seventh District until after 
the adoption of the new constitution of 1875, when, at the session of the 
general assembly in the winter of 1876-7,. a new apportionment was 
made and Henry was placed in the Sixth Congressional District, where 
it remained until the census of 1880, which added one more congress- 
man, and Henry County was placed in the Twelfth Congressional Dis- 
trict. 

SEVENTH DISTRICT, 

The Seventh District was composed of the following counties: John- 
son, Cooper, Dallas, Henry, Moniteau, Benton, St. Clair, Camden, Mor- 
gan, Hickory, Cole, Miller and Pettis — thirteen. 

SIXTH DISTRICT. 

The following counties were apportioned to this district: Greener 
Vernon, Dade, Barry, Bates, Lawrence, McDonald, St. Clair, Henry, New- 
ton, Cedar, Webster, Jasper and Barton — fourteen. 



2 50 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

TWELFTH DISTRICT. 

This is the present congressional district, which it will probably 
remain until after the census of 1890, and is composed of the eight fol- 
lowing named counties: Cass, Bates, Henry, St. Clair, Vernon, Barton, 
Dade and Cedar. 

MEMBERS. 

Those who have been the immediate representatives of Henry 
County since the state was divided into districts, are: 1844-6, John S. 
Phelps; 1848. John S. Phelps; 1850, John S. Phelps; 1852, John S. 
Phelps; 1854, John G. Miller, died; 1855, Thomas P. Akers, unexpired 
term; 1856, James H. Woodson; 1858, James H. Woodson; i860, John 
W. Reid, expelled; 1862, John W. McClurg; 1864, John W. McCl'urg; 
1866, John W. McClurg, resigned, 1867, John H Stover, unexpired term; 
1868, Samuel S. Burdette; 1870, Samuel S. Burdette; 1872, Thomas T. 
Crittenden; 1874, John F. Phillips; 1876, Thomas T.Crittenden; 1878, 
James R. Waddill; 1880, Ira R. Hazeltine; 1882, Charles H. Morgan, v 

MEMORANDA. 

The " Drake constitution," so called, was adopted by a majority of 
29,000. 

Eighty thousand voters were, by it, disfranchised in Missouri. 

The president of the convention was Arnold Kreckel, now on the 
supreme bench. Charles D. Drake was vice president, and afterward 
left the state. 

Willis S. Holland was the delegate from Henry County, and he 
voted for the Drake disfranchisement. 

The convention of 1875 was presided over by Hon. Waldo P. John- 
son and Nathaniel W. Watkins; a connection of Henry Clay was vice- 
president. E. A. Nickerson was the delegate to Henry County to the 
•convention and favored, by his vote, the new constitution. The vote of 
Henry County for governor in 1870 was, for 

B. Gratz Brown .... 1064 

J. W. McClurg 921 

Brown's majority 143 

S. S. Burdette carried this county by a majority of 165, and his plur- 
ality in the district was 1707. 

POLITICAL. 

Henry County, as will be seen by the above vote, was, at the last 
■election, not far from an average majority of twelve hundred, and in 
1880 it was about nine hundred votes. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 25 1 

Henry County has always been Democratic except during and just 
after the civil war. She was named after Rives, of Virginia, because of 
his Democracy, and promptly repudiated him and his name when he 
became a follower of the illustrious " Harry of the west," Henry Clay, 
of Kentucky. It will make but little difference which of the leading 
parties she upholds, if her people will solidly unite to advance her mater- 
ial prosperity, add to her educational facilities, and follow in the paths 
of true virtue and honor in all things. 

CIRCUIT COURT ITEMS. 

To show how in early days crime was punished, a case of perjury is 
taken. The person was convicted of perjury in 1833 in the Lafayette 
Circuit Court, and had the following sentence passed upon him: A fine 
of one cent; be confined in jail one minute; to stand in the pillory one 
minute; be deprived of his vote, of being a witness or juror, or of ever 
holding any office within the state. The first three items of punishment 
were imposed at once. This man afterward became an honorable citi- 
zen of Henry County for years, and was relieved of his disabilities, the 
three last, by a pardon of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs a few years after- 
ward with proof of his honorable conduct. 

The first divorce suit was entered July, 1838; Edward Roberts was 
the plaintiff and Nancy Roberts, defendant. The divorce was granted, 
the wife receiving $50 alimony. 

The first suit for slander was entered by Thomas Windsor against 
Elijah Pucket in 1838. Damages not serious. 

FIRST GRAND JURY. 

The first grand jury was drawn in 1835, and they met in August of 
that year. Joseph Fields was sheriff, Fielding A. Pinnell clerk, Charles 
H. Allen was presiding judge. What indictments they returned, if any, 
is not known, the records of the circuit court of Henry County for the 
first three years, from August, 1835, to March, 1838, being lost and prob- 
ably destroyed. How and by whom this loss was occasioned is not 
known, but the loss is unfortunate. 

The names are Archibald C. Legg, John Wilson, Pleasant Walker, 
George W. Walker, Robert Allen, Chesley Jones and Phillip Cecil. The 
rest of the names composing this grand jury have been lost to the mem- 
ory of the oldest settlers. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

POPULATION, DEVASTATION AND EXULTATION. 

POPULATION OF HENRY COUNTY— POPULATION OF TOWNS-THE UNITED STATES AND 
THE STATE OF MISSOURI-THE GRASSHOPPER PLAGUE-DESl RUCTION OF CROPS 
—RELIEF— MEADOW COUNTY SCHEME— THE BANTAM CROWED, BUT CROWED IN 
VAIN— THE CLINTON SCARE— SWAMP LAND HISTORY-FROM A TO IZZARD AND A 
POSTSCRIPT— SALES FROM $7,00 TO 25 CENTS PER ACRE— RECEIPTS AND LOSSES- 
POOR FARM-WHEN PURCHASED— ITS COST— WHERE LOCATED— DESCRIPTIONS, 
ETC. 

POPULATION OF HENRY COUNTY. 

While Henry County was settled in 1830, and a local census was 
taken in 1838, yet there is no record until the United States census of 
1840 was taken. What it was by townships is hard to tell, yet as there 
were but four it was probably nearly equally divided. Grand River 
Township was the smallest in agricultural population, but Undoubtedly 
Clinton made up in the general aggregate. This may, also, be said of 
1850 and i860. 

The change in townships in 1858, and again a few years later, would 
give but little of what the present townships had under tie late division. 

Henry County had a population in 1840 of 4,726, St. Clair County 
then being a part of her territory, and her population included in the 
above figures. In 1850 the census gave a population of 4.052, and these 
figures were for Henry County, alone, St. Clair having been organized in 
1841. In i860 Henry County had a population of 9,866. Here was an 
increase of 144 per cent in ten years. The increase was exceeded by 
only seven counties in the state for the decade. The decade between 
i860 and 1870 is reported in the latter year by townships, and is here 
given: 

CENSUS OF 1870. 

Whites. Col'd. Total. 

Big Creek Township 1,363 27 1,390 

Bogard Township 1,080 37 1,117 

Deepwater Township 2,01 1 44 2,055 

Grand River Township 5,127 323 5,450 

Clinton, town, 640. 

Osage Township 826 2 828 

Springfield Township 1,869 ~7 1,896 

Tebo Township 3,156 152 3,308 

White Oak Township 1,327 30 i,357 

16,759 642 17,401 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 253 

The town of Clinton is concluded in the aggregate of Grand River 
Township. 

The only town reported was Clinton with a population of 640. 
What other towns were in the county were reported in the total figures 
of the township. 

REMARKS. 

The census of 1870 was the worst fraud ever put upon the people. 
There were many towns in Henry County which should have be reported, 
then some idea of their growth during the decade could have been 
known, but this was not done, and in many cases the returns were not 
correctly reported. Calhoun, Windsor and Leesburg, are old towns. 
Should have been reported separately. 

, CENSUS OF 1880. 

Bear Creek Township 817 

Bethlehem Township 1,380 

Big Creek Township 1,038 

Bogard Township I,I9S 

Clinton Township 3,849 

Davis Township 1,074 

Deepwater Township 1,652 

Deer Creek Township 1 , 1 2 1 

Fairview Township 848 

Fields' Creek Township 852 

,Honey Creek Township 480 

Leesville Township 1,253 

Osage Township 1,010 

Shawnee Township 1,104 

Springfield Township 941 

Tebo Township 1,725 

Walker Township 1,102 

White Oak Township 565 

Windsor Township 1,900 

Total 23.906 

TOWNS. 

Clinton City. . 2,868 

Ld Due 140 

Montrose 495 

Lewis 154 

Leesville 70 

Brownington. 251 

Huntingdale 66 

Calhoun 492 

Windsor City •. 872 

Total 5,408 



254 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Agricultural population 18,498 

Cities and towns 5,408 

Total county 23,906 

Shawnee Mound and Coalsburg each have a population probably of 
from thirty-five to forty souls, and there are a few cross-road stores, but 
this is about all. 

HOW IT HAS ADVANCED. 

To show what Henry County has advanced the past half century a 
summary is given of her population by the census of different years and 
the per cent, of her gains given, leaving out the fractions: 

Population 1840,4,726; 1850, 4,052, St. Clair County taken off; i860, 
9,866, gain 144 per cent.; 1870, 17,401, gain 76 per cent.; 1880, 23,906, 
gain 37 per cent. , 

As the state gained but twenty-six per cent, the last decade, Henry 
County has gained eleven per cent, above the average, and there is no 
reason that she should not gain even more rapidly during the present 
decade. Certainly the productive quality of the soil, the mildness of 
the climate, the amount of cheap lands yet in the market, are induce- 
ments that only need be known to be appreciated and utilized. Let the 
people of Henry County show to the world these advantages, and immi- 
gration will flow in until the waste lands will blossom like the rose, and 
by increase of taxable wealth, reduce taxation to all. Advertise to the 
world that Henry County will welcome the immigrant, and that besides 
the welcome it can be added that she has every other attractiveness o^ 
soil, climate, and lands at low prices. 

THE GRASSHOPPER P1.AGUE. 

It was the year 1875 that will long be remembered by the people 
of at least four states, as the grasshopper year. The scourge struck 
Western Missouri April, 1875, and commenced devastating some of the 
fairest portions of our noble commonwealth. They gave Henry an 
earnest and overwhelming visitation, and demonstrated with an amazing 
rapidity that their appetite was voracious, and that everything green 
belonged to them for their sustenance. They came in swarms, they came 
by the millions, they came in legions, they came by the mile, and they 
darkened the heavens in their flight, or blackened the earth's surface, 
where in myriads they sought their daily meal. Henry County was 
visited from about the first week of May, and remained until the ist of 
June, 1875, and during that time, every spear of wheat, oats, flax and 
corn were eaten close to the ground. Potatoes and all vegetables received 
the same treatment, and on the line of their march, ruin stared the far- 
mer in the face, and starvation knocked loudly at his door. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 255. 

The chinch bug also added to the horror, and they filled the air at 
times, as though a snow storm was in the grandeur and height of its 
power. 

The people were thoroughly alarmed, and the rich and able were 
called upon to help support their suffering fellow-beings. Meetings 
were called, and the farmers were advised to plant everything that was 
possible to arrive at maturity, even if it depended, in a measure, upon a 
fall. Corn meal had been furnished, and the scene at the depot in Clin- 
ton was not only an impressive one, but told with ghastly effect the 
wholesale devastation that the myriads of pests had wrought upon one 
of the fairest spots on God's green earth. Not far from 200 wagons were 
collected in the vicinity of the depot at one time, their anxious owners 
waiting, with an eagerness truly painful to witness, to secure their little 
donation of corn dispensed by the grange for the benefit of the poor 
and needy. It is needless to add that many hungry teamsters wended 
their way homeward with a feeling of thankfulness swelling in their 
hearts to the giver of all good for raising them up a helper in their time 
of need. 

On May the 14th, 1875, the citizens of Clinton became aware that 
the resources of their own could not meet the wants of the sufferings 
people looking to them for succor, and to keep the wolf of starvation 
from their door a meeting was called to decide upon a course of action 
and to carry it out, as no time was to be lost. 

The meeting was organized by calling Dr. J. H. Britts to the chair, 
and Thomas Day, secretary. The chair appointed William A, McLane, 
R. Z. Fewell, M. Woods, J. B. Gantt and G. Y. Salmon a committee to 
draft a programme. The report of said committee was received and! 
committee discharged. Report was discussed and adopted. Motion 
offered for the chair to appoint a committee of five as an executive com- 
mittee to receive contributions, distribute the same, and exercise a gen- 
eral supervision of the wants of the destitute. Motion adopted. 
Motioned that the executive committee be requested to seek a reduction' 
of freight. Moved that the township board and trustees be requested 
to forward the names of the destitute to the executive committee. 
Motion carried. Moved that the executive committee be empowered 
to fill all vacancies in township committees. Executive committee 
appointed by the chair, William H. McLane, G. Y. Salmon, J. B. Colt,. 
M. Woods, M. Stewart, J. H. Britts and R. W. Majors. Moved that the 
resolution as to planting be adopted. 

REPORT. 

Mr. Chairman — Your committee having consulted, have come to- 
the conclusion that we have not the means in our midst to relieve the 
necessity of our poor. Great destitution is alarming. We must have 



256 HISTORY OK HENRY COUNTY. 

aid ! We are now in the midst of a famine ! Tiie people of Henry- 
County have always contributed liberally when other sections needed 
our aid; believing then that an appeal to those portions of our country 
that have been blessed will bring- contributions of corn and bacon for 
our poor, we are in favor of sending duly authorized agents to solicit 
aid from the people of other portions of the country, and especially the 
great center of commerce. 

WILLIAM H. McLANE, Chairman. 

J. B. GANTT, Secretary. 

RESOLUTION. 

Owing to the fact that there is now great and wide spread alarm 
among all classes of citizens of this county at the ravages of the grass- 
hoppers and chinch bugs, and that much harm will necessarily ensue to 
the growing crops of the county, and in many instances the flax crop is 
already destroyed, therefore, be it 

Resolved, ist. That to prevent the destitution that must necessarily 
follow if the crops of the county are destroyed and not replenished, 
we earnestly recommend that farmers do not cease planting as long as 
a crop is likely to mature at all; that after it is too late to plant corn, we 
recommend Hungarian and millet be sown for the purpose of supplying 
the deficiency of the hay crop. 

2d, That it is only by earnest and persistent effort that we will be 
able to supply the loss caused by these pests, and to some extent pre- 
vent the calamity that now threatens us. 

A resolution to memorialize the state board of equalization was 
adopted. Committee appointed, W. H. McLane, B. G. Boone and J. B. 
Gantt. 

Moved that the county papers be requested to publish the proceed- 
ings of this meeting. Carried. 

Moved that executive commttee have power to fill vacancy in their 
own board. J. H. BRITTS. Chairman. 

THOMAS DAY. Secretary. 

Active work at once commenced and an appeal was made for assist- 
ance, which met with a generous response, even an Iowa town, a dis- 
tant place, contributing a car load of corn by the appeal of one of Henry 
County's farmers who had formerly lived in that state, and from many 
eastern towns came a welcome supply. 

The hoppers reached Clinton between the loth and 15th, and they 
moved upon the fields outside, and in twenty-four hours a Mr. Rose- 
baugh's garden, potato patch and young coin was completely eaten out. 
They then moved like an army upon his oat field. That which was 
promising of a handsome yield was within the short space of twenty- 
four hours a desert waste. 

On the 15th of June quite a large lot of early corn was received and 
dealt out in limited supply to all who were ready and willing to plant, 
to the poor without price, to those able to pay at the cost of delivery, 
And at that date and for two weeks later supplies or rations were still 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 257 

issued to the poor. The grasshoppers began to take their departure 
about the 20th of June. 

MEADOW COUNTY. 

One cannot exactly say " Meadow County," for it only existed like 
some railroad projects, on paper, but there was a time when the men- 
tion of Meadow County would raise a tempest of anger in the hearts of 
some people while joy unspeakable would shine out on the faces of others 
like the silver lining to the black and sombre clouds which hung o'er the 
darkened heavens. Up in the northeast part of Henry County on a 
rise in a beautiful prairie, lies the spot which conceived and wicked men 
who brought forth the audacious idea of a " Meadow County." The 
spot aforesaid has for years been known by the name of " Windsor.' 
It is not of the game cock breed for it is too small, but belongs to the 
bantam, and according to its inches can make as bold, as daring and as 
game a fight as any " cock of the walk." But, notwithstanding its fight- 
ing qualities, the wickedness of its attempt and the outrageous, and it 
might be said its dastardly conception, it was doomed to meet with dis- 
appointment and failure, and without wishing to deepen the line of sor- 
row upon which our little bantam was overwhelmed, about the time that 
its failure became known, that silver lining took a southwestern shoot 
and the tempest of anger aforesaid found a resting place in the bosom 
of our aspiring young bantam, " Windsor." It was a despairing blow to 
dissatisfied ambition, and while the people of Henry County were per- 
fectly willing that it should swallow Sedalia they were slightly opposed 
to its making a meal also of Clinton. This may be called selfishness, 
but it is the truth, nevertheless, " and that's what's the matter with 
Windsor." 

The attempt was made at the session of the general assembly, in the 
winter of 1870- 1, and the county was to be carved out of Pettis, Johnson, 
Henry and Benton, and to raise the proud city of Windsor to the exalted 
position of a county seat, Warrensburg, Sedalia, Warsaw, and Clinton, 
were to be stuck up in one corner of their respective counties. Certainly 
there was a whole volume of modesty contained in this simple request, 
and it is really a wonder that that and succeeding legislature failed, in 
slang term, " to catch on." 

However, there was a good deal of noise made, and when the news 
reached Clinton, on February 21, 1871, that the bill had been favorably 
reported, the people actually thought they had been struck by lightning. 
The bells rang out a peal and a meeting was called, and sixteen of 
her most prominent citizens were made a mass delegation to go to Jef- 
ferson at once, and sit down on the infernal scheme. Just why they 
did not pick up the bantam as they passed and wring its neck, has 
never been explained. They sat down on it, however, until the life was 



258 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

crushed out of it. The scheme was once more presented to the legis- 
lature at the session of 1872-3, but it never rose to the dignity of being 
able to raise an alarm, and its second attempt died of indigested ambi- 
tion. This ended " Meadow County," for all time, or in fact, any other 
attempt to change the present municipal divisions which form our com- 
monwealth, 

SWAMP LANDS. 

The swamp lands of Henry County was a splendid contribution to 
the educational fund of the county, and had wisdom and business talent 
conducted its disposition, Henry County's school fund might have been 
increased many thousands of dollars. In the swamp land management 
there is no disputing the fact that it was both reckless and unbusiness- 
like, and it may be said that Henry County was not alone in its waste- 
ful or reckless management of its school funds, in the disposal of these 
swamp and overflowed lands, so-called, but in reality, some of the 
choicest lands in the county was among them. From the time those 
lands were ready for the market until they were finally disposed of, it 
seems as if the county court could not rest. Sales were ordered every 
few months. The price first was $[.25 per acre, but this did not sell 
them fast enough, and the price was lowered to 75 cents per acre. The 
land still seems to burn the fingers of the county courts and another fall 
in price was made to 50 cents per acre. Just two years from the first 
sale, in February, 1854, the court evidently could not stand it any longer, 
and so they made an order virtually giving them away, and they evi- 
dently determined to close them out. The order was made at the Feb- 
ruary term, 1856, to sell the remaining swamp and overflowed land at 25 
cents per acre, and the sheriff was not only ordered to advertise the 
same within the county, as usual, but to advertise in the Osceola Inde- 
pendent -and in the Warsaw Democrat. Even this frantic endeavor 
failed to relieve the county court from its burden, and had it not been 
for the charitable act of George Y. Salmon and Robert Allen, the court 
might have been bereft of senses in trying to get rid of what they 
believed was an enormous elephant on their hands. Messrs. Salmon 
and Allen kindly took what was left, nearly 4,000 acres, off their hands 
at the nominal price of 25 cents per acre. The court was saved, and 
the land went to swell the private pockets of its purchasers, while the 
school fund held but a moiety of what it should have received. Of 
course all the purchasers were right in taking these lands at the price 
offered, and but few would have been willing to have invested so largely 
as the two last purchasers, who had to hold and pay taxes on them for 
years, for in the natural course of events it was not to be expected that 
they could so soon dispose of what the county had believed was an 
untold evil on their hands. There was no county debt, no great number 



HISTORY OF h?:nry county. 259 

of schools needed just then. The sixteenth sections were being sold off 
from applications, and the state school money was increasing yearly, but 
that court gave themselves no rest until every acre of swamp was sold. 

HOW AND WHEN SOLD. 

From February 13, 1852, to October i, 1855, over 25,000 acres of 
land were placed upon the market, and 6,566 99-100 acres sold. Of this 
5,237 24-100 acres was sold at government price, except here and there 
a lot which went higher, where it was wanted by adjoining proprietors, 
and 1,329! acres was sold at seventy-five cents per acre. Up to June, 
1856, there were three sales which numbered in the aggregate 8,218 42-100 
acres which were sold at fifty cents per acre, and 6,899 /o-ioo acres at 
twenty-five cents per acre. Quite a large portion of that sold at the 
different prices named went over the regular price for special lots. Over 
4,000 acres of the first lot sold at twenty-five cents, realized thirty-three 
cents per acre. Here was a sale of swamp land (in acres) of 21,685 
ii-ioo and it realized to the county $12,984.54. Mr. Robert Allen was 
appointed by the court to select this land, and he received for the work 
$597.16. The returns of the survey and selection of these lands was 
made November 14, 1853. Of this swamp land fund there was in the 
hands of the county treasurer, drawing interest at the rate of ten per 
cent, per annum, $7,575.81, there was cash on hand of $171.25 on Jan- 
uary I, 1867, making a total of $7,747.06. This was the report of the 
county court after a full examination by them of the swamp land funds 
reported that the disposition that had been made of the funds appeared 
to stand as above. 

Here was a small clerical error of $5,237.48 less expenses, and also 
less the sum of $1,269.70, which was loaned to the use of the road and 
canal fund, which leaves the net expenses of the sale, locating and sur- 
veying, $3,967.78, or a trifle over 31 per cent of the total received. 

The state reports that Henry County had of swamp and overflowed 
lands 25,298 12-100 acres. This would leave as yet on hand 3,613 acres, 
and about this number of acres was the purchase made by Messrs. Sal- 
mon and Allen at the December term, 1856, when they proposed to the 
county court that they would take the remaining swamp lands belong- 
ing to Henry County at their advertised offer of twenty-five cents per 
acre, and the court promptly closed with the ofter. 

Here seemed to be the end of the swamp land business so far as the 
land was concerned, only except the land in Taney County, but it did 
not end what became of the funds, and there seems to have been another 
discrepancy and another elephant in the management of this fund. 

An examination showed December, i860 $9,228 46 

In July, 1 86 1, there was 9,447 73 

And in 1866 another report made the amount on hand 5,288 94 



26o HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

What became of this odd $4,000 and upwards the records do not 
state. Neither is it referred to. The fact that it was gone seems to 
have been sufficient. However, there was an evident mistake in this 
report, as was also in the statement that was made- — "that the swamp 
land bonds amounted to $14,285.52." That probably included the fines 
and penalties and other county funds that may have been entered 
together. 

The state superintendent's report of schools in 1872 gives this state- 
ment: 

Henry County swamp lands, acres 25,298 12-100 

Amount land sold, acres 27,120 

Amount sold for $15,699 "J^ 

Lost by being improperly secured .... 6,62 1 86 

Balance on hand $ 9,077 90 

Number of acres unsold, 1,480. 

These extra acres are probably the forfeited lands. 

The Swamp Land Fund in 1876, $10,022.88; in 1879, $9,645; in 1881, 
$11,231.88. 

The fund is now nearly at a stand. The interest being paid annu- 
ally to the township, per capita, for school purposes. 

As the writer of these pages had heard much of these lands, and as 
was stated, sacrificed, it was thought best to give all the facts which 
could be found of record. Every statement here made is of record, 
and as it extended over a period of nearly sixteen years, it took time 
and patience to place it in a clear light before the reader. 

Mr. A. C. Avery was appointed county agent to confer with the state 
authorities in regard to some lands claimed by the state, and to look 
after Henry County's interest in the matter. His work is not yet com- 
pleted and of course no report has been made. 

The county has also, as a part of this swampland gift, 1,680 acres in 
Taney County. Lewis P. Beatty was authorized in 1877 to go and look- 
after it, and sec what it amounted to. He did so, returned and made his 
report. The above was the number of acres belonging to Henry County, 
of which up to this date none has been sold. 

POOR FARM. 

After two requests had been made, and commissioners appointed to 
select land for a poor farm, and both proved a failure, it was decided by 
the county court to purchase an improved farm for county purposes. 
The purchase was accordingly made in April, 1871, of the east half of 
the northwest quarter, and west half of the northeast quarter of section 33, 
township 42, range 26, and also the east half of the northeast quarter of the 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 26'I 

northwest quarter of section 17, in township 41, range 26 ; making a farm 
of 160 acres, twenty acres of wood land; purchased of Frederick Chris- 
man, for the sum of $7,200, to be paid in three equal annual instal- 
ments of $2,400 each, with interest at the rate of ten per cent, per 
annum. The bonds were made payable to " bearer," and worded: " For 
the purchase of the poor farm, purchased of Frederick Chrisman." 

Mr. Robert Allen was put in charge as superintendent, and Dr. J. W. 
Stewart, county physician. Previous to this Mr. Samuel Jones had been 
acting as superintendent, but at that time the paupers were boarded at 
different places, any where that the people would take them. D. A. 
Henry was made farm manager. Mr. Robert Allen resigned in 1874 and 
Dr. Stewart was made both superintendent and physician for the county 
poor. Some talk was made of the doctor's management, but an exami- 
nation fully exonerated him, and he remained in charge some four 
years, when he, to, resigned. At the time when Dr. Stewart took 
charge D. A. Henry retired, and Richard Woodeson assumed the position 
of manager of the poor farm. This was in 1874. In 1877 the resigna- 
tion of Dr. Stewart having been accepted, Dr. A. N. Kincanon was 
appointed superintendent and accepted, as also the position of county 
physician. Mr. Woodeson continued as farm manager. Dr. Kincanon 
made his first annual report in February, 1878, to the county court then 
in session, of his management. His report of expenses for the last 
quarter of the year, November, December and January, winter months, 
amounted to $518.23 and that he had sold farm produce to the amount 
of $596.77, being a surplus of $78.54 still in his hands. This report seems 
to be perfectly satisfactory to the court for it was the first time that the 
farm had been able to pay one-fourth and over of its expenses. Mr. 
Richard Woodeson was still manager. 

In 1879 Dr. James P. Dimmitt was appointed county physician and 
superintendent, with Daniel E. A. Price as farm manager. These gen- 
tlemen were followed in 1880 by Dr. B. H. Land as superintendent and 
Eli Wade as farm manager. This position Mr. Wade retired from in 
February, 1883, with the expectation of making Lafayette County his 
future home. The past year the superintendent has been Mr. James F. 
Land. The home has now nine tenants. It is one of the best farms in 
the county, within two miles of the county seat, and is a most pleasant 
and comfortable home for the unfortunate. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

RAILROAD HISTORY. 

ITS FIRST INCEPTION— PACIFIC RAI LKOAD SUBSCRIPTION jtso.ooc— HOW $5,000 WAS PAID- 
STOPPING FUKTHER PAYMENT-$, 50,000 T. &N. RAILROAD- THE SUBS RIPTION— 
$250,000 BONDS— tOME MORE STOCK- GETTING TO THE MEAT-CLINTON & MEMPHIS 
RAILROAD- A PROTEST-AND S'lTLL ANOTHER PROTEST— WHAT BECAME OF 'J HE 
$50,000 IF PRACITCABLE— IT WASN'T PRACTICABLE— "A D D BARKEN IDEALITY " 

RAILROADS. 

The railroad history of Henry County is one fraught with many 
mistakes and errors as well as a partial success which has cost the peo- 
ple many hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was a costly experiment 
but might have been far less so, had reason assumed control after the die 
had been cast, and Henry County had placed her credit in a manner it 
could not be withdrawn. The great benefit which has been received 
from what was known as the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, now that divi- 
sion of the Missouri Pacific railway, is certainly beyond count. Had the 
Tebo & Neosho branch, or that part running to Osceola, been allowed 
to have been completed, there is not a partical of doubt that ere this it 
would have paid its investment, notwithstanding the stealings which 
were supposed to have been going on. 

Those bonds have already been partly paid; the remainder will be. 
and yet no road. The trade that would have come to Clinton from the 
south, the opening of the coal veins and the increased value of real 
estate would have redeemed the bonds. Experience is a dear teacher, 
but its lessons are numbered. Notwithstanding the faults and the mis- 
takes of the past, Henry County must have another railroad within her 
border, and that road must enter her territory at the northwest and find 
its southern outlet in the direction of Osceola, in St. Clair County. Kan- 
sas City, which has become the metropolis of the Missouri Valley, lies 
but about seventy-five miles from the county seat of Henry County. 
That city has become the second cattle and hog market in the country, 
and it is there that the farmers and business men will secure the best 
returns for their products, and at the same time find a purchasing 
emporium for all their wants. When that opening comes Henry County, 
already far advanced, will take a more rapid stride toward the head of 
the column of agricultural counties in the state. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 263 

THE FIRST START. 

The first railroad project which drew the attention of the people 
was called the Pacific Railroad, and Henry County was called to sub- 
scribe $10,000 of the stock. This was done by a vote of the people at 
the August election, 185 1. It rested in that way for twelve months and 
probably lapsed, when the following is found of record: 

$50,000 PACIFIC RAILROAD SUBSCRIPTION. 

The following order appears of record at what was termed a " call 
term " of the county court, held on the 25th day of August, 1852, the 
people having voted at the August election in its favor. It reads: 

" Under the direction of a majority of the people of this county, 
it is ordered by the court that $50,000 worth of stock be subscribed to 
the Pacific Railroad on the part of the county, provided: That said 
road is located on the route surveyed on the dividing of the Missouri 
and Osage Rivers, known as Kirkwood Survey, passing by the high point 
of Tebo, or through the county. The county bonds for which stock to 
be issued whenever the railroad is under contract to the county line, or 
north of it, and upon the further condition that the legislature of this 
state hereafter legalizes the action of this court." 

The matter seems to have rested there until the February term of 
the county court, February i8th, 1853, when the following order was 
made: 

" Ordered that the order made at the adjourned term of the court, 
held the 25th day of August, 1852, under the direction of the majority of 
the people of this county, authorizing said court to subscribe $50,000 worth 
of stock to the Pacific Railroad, be, and the same is, hereby amended, 
so as to dispense with the condition of passing the high point of Tebo, 
or this county, but to run the Kirkwood survey through Johnson County 
on the ridge route. And it is further ordered that James M. Gatewood 
be appointed special agent to subscribe stock to the above amount in 
said railroad, for and in behalf of the county." 

William Wall, Joseph Davis and Asa C. Marvin were appointed 
agents to attend the meeting of the directors of the Pacific Railroad, 
and vote its stock. At the term of court, February, 1854, $1,100 were 
paid over, being, as the order reads, " 10 per cent of the subscription." 
The money was borrowed from the road and canal fund. A few days 
after, at the same term, the court ordered a warrant for $800 to be drawn 
in favor of Joseph Davis, the money to be paid on the call made by the 
Pacific Railroad Company, as above stated. 

BORROWING MONEY. 

A portion of the money to pay the call was borrowed of William M. 
Hall, who received the county's obligation for $500, and had turned over 



264 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

to him $914 of swamp land bonds. The balance to make up the pay- 
ment, $2,760, was borrowed of the road and canal fund. This was in Feb- 
ruary, and at the May term of the court, 1854, Asa C. Marvin, financial 
agent of the county in railway matters, brought in the receipt of George 
R. Smith, the agent of the Pacific Railway Company, for $5,000, being 
the amount of the first call of ten per cent, on the stock subscribed. 
Nothing of moment transpired until the February term, 1857, when an 
order was made restraining the sheriff from further collection of the tax 
levied for the purpose of paying interest and calls on stock taken by the 
county in the Pacific Railroad Company. The tax was the same as the 
state levy at the time, and the sheriff was ordered to pay back to parties 
already paid, and await a suit. J. Davis objected to paying the tax, and 
got out an injunction restraining the sheriff from collecting. Hence, the 
above order, which was to last until the suit was decided. 

The court in May, 1857, appointed Robert Allen commissioner, with 
full power to act, for Henry County, to vote stock, pay moneys, etc., he 
to give a bond in the sum of $20,000 for the faithful discharge of his 
duties. 

At the October term, 1858, the court ordered Robert Allen, com- 
missioner, who had the county affairs in his hands, to turn over what 
money he had collected by taxation into the county treasury, and at the 
same time suit was ordered to commence against him and his sureties, 
for the funds collected for the Pacific Railroad, and for its return into the 
treasury, as above. 

At the November term, 1858, the late sheriff, Dewitt C. Stone, 
reported in his hands funds arising from the railroad tax of $1,765.95. 
This sum the court ordered to be deposited in the county treasury. 

STOPPING PAYMENT. 

This, it seems, was not done, so at the April term, 1859, suit was 
ordered against Stone and his security, for moneys collected by him on 
a levy for subscription to the railroad company. Alexis Walmsley was 
appointed attorney to prosecute the case. This order seemed to get Mr. 
Stone and he came into court and entered into an agreement to pay 
over said money if the court would stand between him and a suit by the 
railroad company. This the court agreed to do, provided the costs and 
penalties did not exceed the amount to be paid over, to wit: $1,725.80; 
the money to be paid in by April 22, 1859. The suit was held in abey- 
ance until the above date, in case of his failure to pay over the money. 
The amount of $1,765.92 was paid into the treasury, as reported by 
Royal L. Burge, treasurer, at the May term-, 1859. 

The next item in this railroad matter, of record, was an order to pay 
Russell Hicks $400, attorney fees, in a case in the circuit court of the 
Pacific Railroad Company against Henry County. This was in 1861. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 265 

June 12, 1863, the treasurer was ordered to invest all the railroad 
funds in the treasury in county warrants, the latter to be hied with the 
clerk of the county court, to be held for the use and benefit of the rail- 
road tax fund. This seems to be the ending of the Pacific Railway 
Company matter so far as it was of any importance to the people. 

There was a correspondence opened with the company early in 
1866 to ascertain upon what terms they would transfer the stock held 
by the county, to the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company. What the 
correspondence amounted to is not of record, but in August, 1866, an 
order was made for an election to test the feelings of the people to sub- 
scribe $150,000 to the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company, the election to- 
be held September 26 of that year. The question was carried and 
$150,000 was subscribed to the stock of said Tebo & Neosho Railroad 
Company. 

$ I 50,000 T. & N. 

As a large portion of the people of Henry County are not acquainted 
with all the facts in the railway controversy, it will be perhaps best tO' 
give a plain statement, as the people have in the past years been con- 
siderably exercised over the acts of a few reckless persons, and are still 
paying the penalty in the shape of annual taxes to the gross amount of 
hundreds of thousands of dollars, the value of which they have not 
received one cent. 

When the vote was carried subscribing $150,000 to the new candi- 
date for public favor, the president of the company came forward and 
made a few suggestions to the county court. The first was to issue to- 
his company one bond to the amount of the entire subscription, and 
then coupon bonds of $1,000 each with interest at seven per cent 
per annum, payable in New York, and the interest to be paid semi- 
annually on the 1st of July and January, and to date from January i,. 
1867, "That upon the return of the single bond 150 bonds may be 
issued iHstead thereof" 

It may be supposed that'the 150 single bonds were not issued for 
the building of the railroad, that was consummated by the issue of the 
one bond of $150,000. That bond was redeemed by the issue of the 150' 
separate $1,000 bonds with coupons attached. This rather strength- 
ened the legality and further secured the final payment of the bonds. 

These suggestions, as above noted, were made in the form of reso- 
lutions passed by the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company, and pre- 
sented to the county court by its then president, Thomas L. Wilson. 

THE SUBSCRIPTION. 

The county court in session January 5, 1867, complied with these 
requests, in the following order, made of record and recorded on pages- 
474 and 475, book E. It reads: 



266 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

" In response to said resolutions and in connpliance with the vote of 
the county at a special election held on the 26th day of September, 1866, j 
it is considered and ordered by the court: That the county of Henry, 
in the state of Missouri, take and subscribe to the capital stock of the 
Tebo & Neosho railroad company, fifteen hundred shares of one hun- 
dred dollars each, amounting to the sum of one hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars, and that Rox^al L. Burge, be, and he is hereby appointed the 
agent of said county, to subscribe said shares to the capital stock of 
said company, with full power and authority to represent said county 
and transact all business of the same pertaining to said stock. It is 
further ordered that a single bond of said county for the sum of one 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, bearing date on the first day of Jan- 
uary, 1867, payable ten years after date, with interest at the rate of seven 
per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, and both principal and 
interest payable in the city of New York, be issued and delivered to 
said company for its immediate use; and it is further ordered that upon 
the return of said bond to said county, that one hundred and fifty bonds 
of said county for one thousand dollars each, payable ten years after 
date, bearing seven per cent, interest per annum, with suitable coupons 
attached, be issued in lieu of said bond, and delivered to said company in 
payment of the subscription aforesaid." 

" It is ordered by the court that Peter A. Ladue be requested to pre- 
pare a form for said bond with coupons attached, and ascertain the 
expense of lithographing the same, and report to the court at the next 
February term thereof." 

The bonds were contracted for and received, and were to be, when 
issued, signed by the president of the county court, and countersigned 
by the county clerk. The first of the single series of bonds, ten in num- 
ber, numbered from one to ten — were signed and turned over to the 
county treasurer, July 17, 1867, "as part of stock subscription to the Tebo 
& Neosho Railroad Company, by Henry County." The bonds were then 
continued to be issued, and placed in the hands of Royal L Burge, until 
the number of 107 had been issued, when the court ordered the remain- 
der at a called term of the court, held October 8, 1868, to be turned over 
to the treasurer of the railroad company, the number being from 108 to 
150, inclusive, in full for subscription to 'the Tebo & Neosho Railroad 
Company on the part of Henry County. 

After the death of Royal L. Burge, which occurred October 19, 1868, 
R. C. McBeth was made railroad attorney for the county, in the Pacific 
Railroad suit. 

$250,000 ADDED. 

In May, 1869, the county court met and subscribed $250,000 to the 
Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company in coupon bonds of $1,000 each, with 
interest, and upon certain conditions therein expressed, and levied a tax 
of 40 cents on the $100 to pay interest on the railroad bonds for the year 
1869. The principal conditions were, that the road should. run diagon- 
ally across the county in the direction of Fort Scott, and $1 50,000 of the 



I 



HISTORY OF HENRV COUNTY. 267 

bonds should not be handed over until the road was completed to Clin- 
ton, and the cars running thereon. The other $100,000 was to be 
delivered, it is supposed, when called for, as no mention was made in the 
order of retaining but the $150,000. These bonds, principal and inter- 
est, were payable at the Park Bank, in New York City, the bonds draw- 
ing ten per cent, interest, tlie interest payable semi-anmially. The bonds 
were dated June i, iS6g, with the understanding, that when the $150,- 
000 were delivered, that the coupons should be cut off to date of delivery. 

William Jennings, one of the members of the county court, was 
made county agent to subscribe the stock to said railroad, which was 
done under date of May 5th, 1869. The tax levy of 40 cents on the $100 
valuation made to meet the interest on bond subscribed, produced the 
sum of $20949.78, of which $15,280.06 was returned collected, besides 
the collector's commission and $4,879.59 delinquent. 

However, on the ist day of January, 1870, the railroad company 
wished to secure the first $100,000, which, it seems, the court had 
reserved the right to deliver at its own option. To effect this the friends 
of the road obligated themselves to the county in the sum of $100,000, 
which obligation or bond was signed by Asa C. Marvin, Richard H. 
Milton and Cyrus Newkirk, conditioned, that if the railroad was com- 
pleted to Clinton by the ist day of November, 1870, it should be (the 
bond) null and void, the company to be allowed extra time for all una- 
voidable delay. This is what secured to the people of Henry County 
the present road, first known as the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, 
(M., K. & T.) now the M., K. & T. division of the Missouri Pacific Rail- 
road. It has been an immense advantage to the people, to the advance- 
ment of the material prosperity of Henry County, and could the Kan- 
sas City road have been completed. Henry County to-day would had a 
much larger population, and her wealth would have been increased many 
hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

There is no one thing that would give so much new life, and develop 
the rich resources which now lie barren of results in Henry County, as 
a direct railroad to Kansas City. That road may go b}' the way of Har- 
risonville, or still more direct, by the way of Holden, and then an inde- 
pendent line from there, or strike the Chicago & Alton near the eastern 
border of Jackson County, and within its limits. The people then would 
have a market the equal of St. Louis, and 150 miles nearer. The road 
must be built if the people of Henry County would not have their county, 
rich in agricultural and mineral wealth, lie stagnant, while all around 
them is energy and enterprise. Delay is folly, if all that go to make a 
people prosperous, and the county advance in material wealth, is an 
object to be sought. 

At the August term of the county court, 1870, it was decided to 
deliver to the company above mentioned, the remaining bonds, $150,000, 



268 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and the presiding justice and the clerk were ordered to sign the same 
and deliver them to the proper officer of the railroad company, first cut- 
ting off the July coupons, which was done and the bonds delivered. 

With this action closed the official history of the county with the 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas, or Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company, so far 
as that road was concerned, only excepting the important part of paying 
the bonds subscribed to the road, which had ten years to run, and the 
legal proceedings attached thereto. 

The next railroad matter claiming the attention of the writer of this 
history, was called a branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad. 

CLINTON Si MEMPHIS RAILROAD. 

Notwithstanding that the tax or levy for railroad purposes had been 
raised from forty cents on the $ioo valuation in 1869 to seventy cents in 
1870, the projectors of the above road petitioned the county court for a 
subscription of $150,000 upon a petition of the names of sundry voters 
of the county, without the formality of an election, or a two-third vote 
of the people, as was made on the other road. The court, however, sub- 
scribed the $150,000 upon certain conditions and restrictions, the road 
to run in the direction of or to Osceola in St. Clair County and in the 
general direction of Memphis, and no bonds to be delivered until a con- 
tract was let which was of a kind to warrant its full performance in 
doing the grading and the masonry on the proposed line to the south 
line of the county. This proposition for subscription was made at the 
August term of the county court and was carried by two of the three 
judges, one dissenting. The same parties also requested the court to 
subscribe $50,000 to the 

CLINTON & KANSAS CITY RAILROAD, 

or to the Clinton & Kansas City Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Rail- 
road. This subscription was also made by the same two judges, one 
dissenting and whose protest is here given. The conditions of this last 
subscription was that the money was to be used within Henry County 
in the general direction of Kansas City, either through Cass County or 
through Johnson County. Hon. Joseph Hillegus, associate justice, was 
made the county agent, and subscribed the above bonds as he had the 
$150,000 previous to the Clinton & Memphis Branch. 

THE PROTEST. 

The Hon. William Jennings, presiding justice of the court, entered 
his protest to both subscriptions in the following words, recorded on folios 
357 and 358, book F, county court records: 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 269 

" First. The court is prohibited by the seventeenth section of chap- 
ter 63 of the general statutes of Missouri, from taking the stock it sub- 
scribed or to lend its credit to said proposed railroad, without having 
first ordered an election at which two-thirds of the qualified voters of 
Henry County should give their assent to said subscription. There 
having been no such election the subscription is illegal and void. 

Second Because there is no legal corporation organized under any 
law of this state by the name of the Clinton & Memphis Branch of the 
Tebo & Neosho Railroad, nor any lawfully organized corporation by the 
name of the Clinton & Kansas City Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Rail- 
road. , . , 1 • J- 4-1 

Third. Because the county court has no right to do indirectly, 
what she is prohibited from doing directly by the statutes before cited, 
namely to vote money and aid to a railroad organized since the adop- 
tion of the new constitution of Missouri, without the preliminary step 
of an election at which two-thirds of the qualified voters of the county 
should vote in favor of the subscription. 

Fourth Because by the order of the county court of last term the 
subscription was agreed to be voted by the majority of the court upon 
a petition of a majority of the tax-payers of Henry County, and there 
has been no legal or sufficient evidence produced to the court that said 
majority have so petitioned. . 

Fifth Because in view of the burdensome taxation already 
imposed on the citizens of Henry County, I consider this new tax ruin- 
ous in its tendencies and inexpedient at this time. 

[Signed.] WILLIAM JENNINGS, President. 

August 4, 1870." 

Notwithstanding this protest the subscription stood, and on Novem- 
ber 7. 1870. the court ordered to be delivered the $150,000 in bonds to 
the "Committee of construction" of the Clinton & Memphis branch of 
the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company. The next August, being August 
15, 1871, the $50,000 in bonds subscribed to the Clinton & Kansas City 
branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad were also signed and turned over 
to the "chairman" of construction committee of that road, the company 
having, as before stated in the order, "fulfilled the conditions prescribed 
and therefore entitled to the bonds." This order was made under the 
protest of Jarred Stephenson, associate justice, for he said the reason 
" because said subscription was made in violation of law and the wishes 
and interests of the taxpaying citizens of Henry County." Yet Mr. 
Stephenson was one of the justices who made the subscription to the 
road, over the protest of the presiding justice, Judge William Jennings. 
At this same term of the court an order was passed, Justice Jarred 
Stephenson again protesting, appointing John S. Kimbrough, the agent 
of the county of Henry, in all matters pertaining to the two branches, 
heretofore spoken ot, the Tebo & Neosho Railroad. The appointment 
was more especially made to act upon a petition of the transfer, by sale 
or lease of said branches, or of said stock, "to any other corporation or 
railroad company." He was fully empowered to act as his judgment 



270 ■ HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

might dictate, the only provi'^o of the court being that Henry County 
should hold stock to the same amount in any company or corporation 
said stock should be transferred. He was to cast the vote of Henry 
County and to hold his position with full power until his appointment 
was revoked by the county court. To this action Judge Stephenson as 
above remarked entered his protest in the words following: 

ANOTHER PROTEST. 

"To the above action of Judges Munson and Hillegus in appointing 
an agent to cast the vote of Henry County, I enter my protest, for the 
following reasons: * 

First — Because the said Clinton & Kansas City branch, and Clinton 
& Memphis branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad have no existence in 
law, and any subscription of stock to said branch roads by the County 
of Henry for the construction of said branch roads is void. 

Second — Because the pretended subscription made by the county 
court to aid in the construction of said branch roads was made in viola- 
tion of law and against the interests and wish of the tax paying citizens 
of this county. 

Third — Because the bonds of said Henry County, issued in pay- 
ment of said subscription to said branch roads are illegal and utterly 
void. 

[Signed] JARRED STEPHENSON." 

August 15th, 1871. 

A new company had been formed or organized under the name of 
the Kansas City, Memphis & Mobile Railroad Company, and this com- 
pany (so called) wished to get the franchise, bonds, etc., of the branch 
roads aforesaid, and the appointment of Mr. Kimbrough as agent of 
Henry County was the first step to secure said object. 

On the 31st day of August, 1871, the stockholders of the Clinton & 
Memphis branch, and of the Clinton & Kansas City branch of the Tebo 
& Neosho Railroad, held a meeting in Clinton, in which Mr. Kimbrough 
made his appearance, and he then and there voted the sale of the 
branches to the said (so called) Kansas City, Memphis & Mobile Railroad 
Company, and stated in his report that a majority of said stockholders 
so voted, and that the condition of this sale was that Henry County 
should have 2,000 shares of $100 each in the new company in place of 
the shares in said branches of an equal amount. 

The county court accef)ted the report of its agent, and also accepted 
the certificate for 2,000 shares in the new company, at the meeting of 
the county court held November 6, 1871. Mr. Kimbrough also presented 
his account for services rendered as above, and received a Henry County 
warrant for the sum of $31.31, in full of demands. The first six months 
interest on all the bonds subscribed to the branch roads were cut off and 
destroyed. They amounted to $10,000. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 2/1 

Matters for a while seemed to iiave drifted along. The tax levy of 
1871, for railroad purposes, was placed at 90 cents on the $100 valuation 
of the county assessment, but was divided, 64 cents going to the Mis- 
souri, Kansas & Texas, and 36 cents for the branch roads. "This was 
done, as an injuction suit had been commenced against the payment of 
the interest on the bonds issued to the branches. Nothing of importance 
transpired outside of the legal contest. Work toward Osceola had been 
commenced, and was finally, so far as grading, and the culverts put in, 
finished. 

On the 26th of May, 1874, there being some doubt as to the disposi- 
tion of the $50,000 in bonds delivered to the construction committee of 
the Clinton & Kansas City Branch, and there being no work done, the 
county court was asked to investigate, and if possible find out what dis- 
position has been made of those bonds. The court approved of the sug- 
gestion and appointed W. W. Gatewood, then county attorney, and 
Messrs. Parks and Gantt, to assist him, in trying, '"if practicable',' to dis- 
cover the whereabouts of the missing $50,000. They were issued 
expressly for the work to be done within Henry County, in the direction 
of Kansas City, either by the way of Cass County or Johnson County, 
and for no other purpose. They had been issued over three years and 
no work done. If the gentlemen made any report, it was not put upon 
the records. 

The same year, 1874, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas commenced suit 
against Henry County for excessive valuation, by an injunction for 
assessment purposes, and J. B. Gantt was appointed attorney by the 
county to defend it. The valuation for 1873, was $592,739, and that of 
1874, which had been handed in by the railroad company, at a much 
lower valuation, the county court refused to accept, and placed its assess- 
ment at $592,640. This the railroad company objected to, and hence the 
suit. This road, we believe, is now bonded at a cost of some $40,000 per 
mile, and this tax is but a trifle over one-third of what the company 
claims it to have cost. No doubt the road and its equipment cost over 
one million of dollars, and fifty per cent of its real value was not exor- 
bitant taxation, especially when $400,000 was given the company out- 
right by the people. The assessment for 1875, was$653,832.45, and about 
the same for 1876. In 1877, the county assessed on this same Missouri, 
Kansas & Texas road, $533,501.15 valuation, and the different townships 
on a valuation of $564,008.51, but in 1878, came down to the sum of 
$449,168.76, as the total assessed valuation of the railroad property of 
this corporation within the county. The company opposed taxation, but 
was willing to receive interest on the bonds, even if suits had to be 
brought to compel the one and reject the other. 

The old Pacific bonds, of which but part had been issued, the court 
ordered no taxes to be collected, and those that had paid taxes into the 



2/2 HISTORY OF HKNRY COUNTY. 

treasury for the interest redemption of the bonds, and held certificates, 
to come forward and get their money back. The interest fund had been 
loaned, and the treasurer was ordered to call it in and pay, after adding 
40 per cent., to those who had paid taxes and subscription previous to 
i860. This order was made in April, 1875, and renewed July, 1877. 

In the meantime the Missouri, Kansas & Texas had passed into the 
hands of a receiver, and the $400,000 subscribed to the capital stock by 
Henry County seemed to have " gone where the woodbine twineth," but 
if there was death as regards the stock, there was life in the taxation 
yet left on the property, and that increase of the taxable wealth of the 
county was where the people were destined to get their money back, if 
ever. The subscription may have been considered costly, but where the 
people, as in this case, got the road^ there was not so much lost, but 
much may be gained in the end. The people of Missouri have not and 
never will lose anything by the building of railroads. It is only where 
bonds and money have been g-iven, scoundrels have gotten away with it, 
and the roads expected having proved but a "d — d barren ideality," that 
the people have had cause to romplain. 




CHAPTER XVIII. 

ONE MILLION DOLLARS SQUANDERED— $400,000 OF STOCK 

SOLD FOR $86,585.71. 

THE RAILROAD BULL GORING THE COUNTY OX— LAW SUITS, JUDGMENTS AND MANDA- 
MUS—JUDGE GANTT APPOINTED COUNTY AGENT— H. W. SALMON VERBALLY AP- 
POINTED—THE SALE— THE PURCHASE OF BONDS, JUDGMENTS AND COUPONS-AND 
VET AFTER ALL A MILLION DOLLARS AND OVER SQUANDERED— TAX LEVY— COM- 
PROMISE-EXCHANGE OF BONDS-REDUCTION OF DEBT-FINAL COST. 

RAILROAD BULL AND COUNTY OX. 

In regard to the remark above of a willingness on the part of the 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas to receive interest and avoid taxation, the fol- 
low ing order of the court seems to bear out such a construction, outside 
of the notorious fact of a desire for under valuation when it came to the 
assessment. This order, dated October 22, 1875, reads: 

" It is ordered by the court that if William Bond, receiver of the 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, shall pay into the county 
treasury on or before the first day of November, 1875, the state interest 
tax amounting to $1,285.60, and school tax of the sum of $2,422.45, 
which is now due from said company, the balance of the tax due for the 
year 1874 will be made in two equal sums of $396.61, payable respect- 
ively on the 1st day of April and July, 1876, without interest until after 
maturity, which, if not then paid, shall draw ten per cent." 

There was a disposition on the part of persons holding Henry 
County bonds which would come due the following January, 1877, to find 
out what could be done to secure their pay, and they suggested to the 
county court a conference. Judges M. Wood and M. A. Stewart were 
authorized to see what the bondholders proposed. They went to St. 
Louis in April, 1876, and just what they reported on their return is not 
of record, but this little order can be found on page 225 of record book 
H, which reads to the point: 

" It is ordered by the court that E. Allison, county treasurer, be 
and he is hereby directed not to pay any money after this date on any 
railroad coupon of Henry County until the further order of this court. 

May 20, 1876." 

There was considerable lawing done in regard to these bonds, and 
quite a number of lawyers, both inside and outside of the county, had 

18 



274 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

received liberal fees for making defense of the county's interest, but the 
first practical result of the above order seemed to be in the purchase of 
forty-five one thousand dollar bonds for the sum of $18,058.10, a trifle 
over forty cents on the dollar. 

In the meantime, a Mr. A. H. Nicholay got judgment in the United 
States Circuit Court against the county for $25,000, and a mandamus was 
issued, compelling the county to pay, and accordingly a levy was made 
of 15 cents on the $100 valuation, to pay this judgment. This levy was 
made in May, 1878, at the time of the levy for general taxation. Judg- 
ments began to fall fast upon Henry County, nearly all the suits going 
against her. A tax became necessary, for it had been determined to 
use the sinking fund and all other funds that could be spared to pur- 
chase bonds and coupons at 40 cents on the dollar, or thereabouts, judg- 
ments or no judgment. The creditors in fact knew nothing of funds on 
hand, and would agree to wait for a new tax levy. Therefore, the court 
asked for a five mill tax to raise money to pay these judgments and got 
it, and it was enough to add to the purchasing fund a little to discount 
bonds on. Judge Wright had granted the order, and then when a new 
batch of judgments were rendered later, Judge Gantt granted another. 
However, something had to be done, and the court made a bold strike 
to get rid of the stock held in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Road, 
and secure the best price possible, and invest the proceeds in the county's 
indebtedness. There did not seem to be much outside talk about this 
move. Something near $100,000 in judgments and bonds held by those 
who had secured them, caused a desire, if possible, to tide over and save 
the county. It had defaulted on principal and interest from 1875, but 
the mandamus knew " no such word as fail." 

JUDGE GANTT'S APPOINTMENT. 

August iith, 1879, the following appointment is made of record: 

*' It is ordered by the court that James B. Gantt be, and he is hereby 
appointed agent of Henry County, in the State of Missouri, to exchange 
the stock which Henry County holds, to wit: Four thousand shares in the 
Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company, for the same amount of stock in the 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, and also that he be author- 
ized and empowered to sell said stock in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
Railway Company, and to assign, set over and transfer said Missouri, 
Kansas & Texas Railway Company stock to the purchaser or purchasers 
thereof, and said James B. Gantt is authorized to endorse said Tebo & 
Neosho Railroad Company stock in the name of said county." 

This wasn't a very strange order, and as the stock of the aforesaid 
road was of but little quotable value, it was not thought or expected 
much could be done with it. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 2/5 

Judge Gantt made his preparations to carry out this order as rapidly 
as possible, and the county court gave him a verbal order to secure as 
his assistant Major H. W. Salmon. The report of their doing is so 
important to the people that it is given here in full. 

THE CLOSING OUT. 

The final closing out of the M., K. & T. stock reduced the outstand- 
ing indebtedness of the coufity $183,301.77. The sale was supposed to 
have been made too soon, as the stock went higher the next spring, but 
judgments wouldn't waic, and as the stock went up so did Henry County 
bonds, so if loss was made on one side it gained on the other. It looks 
rather hard to see what has been paid, what is yet to be cancelled, and 
then look at its results. Still, at this time the die was cast, the matter 
has been compromised, and while it may be considered something of a 
burden, the people to-day can far easier redeem the debt than one-half 
of it could have been done six or seven years ago. Here is the report: 

JUDGE GANTT'S REPORT. 

To the County Court of Henry County, Missouri: 

I have the honor to report that in compliance with the order of this 
court, made and entered of record at the August term, 1879, ^"^^ o^'^ the 
I2th day of August, 1879, appointing me the agent of Henry County to 
exchange the four thousand shares of stock held by Henry Count}' in 
the Tebo & Neosho Railwa)' Company, for a like number of shares of the 
stock of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, and to sell 
the same for the use of said county, and in pursuance of the verbal 
instructions of the court, that I should associate with myself Major H. 
W. Salmon, to assist and co-operate with me in effecting the exchange 
and sale of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway stock. We proceeded 
to New York City, reaching there on Saturday, the 4th day of October, 
1879. We succeeded in effecting the exchange of the old stock, and the 
issuance of the new stock in the name of H. W. Salmon, on the 8th day 
of October, 1879, ^"<^ sold said new stock on that day, and the day fol- 
lowing, through the firm of S. F. Johnson & Co., No. 2 Nassau Street, 
New York City, whose statement of the sale and accounting for the pro- 
ceeds thereof, are herewith filed and made a part of this report, and is 
marked " Exhibit A." 

From these statements, it will be observed, they account to Major 
H. W. Salmon for the proceeds of seven thousand shares, instead of four 
thousand shares, the amount of Henry County's stock. This excess of 
three thousand shares is the stock of Vernon County, Missouri, whose 
agent, Judge Paul F. Thornton, accompanied us, and transferred the 
stock of Vernon County to Major H. W. Salmon, also, in order to accomp- 
lish for Vernon County the same purpose we had in view, and in account- 
ing Vernon County had three-sevenths and Henry County four-sevenths 
of the net proceeds. 



2/6 IlISTOKV or HENK\ COUNTY. 

That is to say, the whole amount received by Major H. W. Salmon, 
of S. F. Johnson & Co. was $151,525, of which amount I received of 
Major Salmon four-sevenths, or $86,585 71, and Judge Paul F. Thornton 
for Vernon County three-sevenths, or $64,939.29; so that I have had in 
my hands the said sum of $86,585.71, which sum, after deducting the 
amount of our expenses incurred in this behalf — that is, for traveling 
expenses, hotel bills and other expenditures on this account, which were 
both for Major Salmon and myself, $600 — left in my hands for investment 
$85,985.71. You will further notice that the stock was sold at from $21 
per share to $22^ per share, thus averaging the highest price that 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas stock had ever commanded in the stock mar- 
ket, as can readily be seen by the "Stock Report" compiled from the 
record of the New York Stock Exchange, covering a period of twenty 
years from i860 to 1880, which shows in tabulated form the highest and 
lowest prices this stock brought during each month since it was placed 
on the stock board of the New York Stock Exchange, which said report 
I also file herewith as a part of this report of mine, making it exhibit 
" B." 

It may be proper for me to state in this connection that this Mis- 
souri, Kansas & Texas stock declined and advanced for several weeks 
after this sale, going as low as $20 per share in November following our 
sale in October, and afterward advancing in the late winter and spring, 
until some of the counties, viz, Pettis County, sold for $30 per share. 
While on the one hand it may be a subject of regret that we did not 
hold this stock and obtain the highest price therefor, yet it will and 
must be remembered that the order of the court was made under peculiar 
circumstances. For years the stock had been considered utterly value- 
less, and even in January, 1879, was quoted at $5| per share, 
so great was the mortgage debt of the railroad and the continued 
default of the company to pay interest on its first mortgage bonds. 
When your Honors determined to sell the stock you had a two-fold 
object in view, namely; to prevent a levy and sale of this stock in favor 
of some of the numerous judgments, creditors of Henry County, who 
had obtained their judgments in the United States courts prior to your 
order, as had been done in a number of cases against other counties, 
notably Schuyler and Callaway Counties, and they entirely sacrificed the 
stock and at the same time paying out its proceeds at dollar for dollar 
on these judgments. Your order prevented this sacrifice and saved thou- 
sands of dollars to the county. Your other object was to obtain from 
this stock a fund with which you could purchase in the outstanding 
railroad indebtedness of the county while they were at a large discount. 
This you have accomplished in a large measure and whatever the result 
has been, no one can question the motives of the court, and considering 
the advance in securities of all kinds the past year, there is still no 
doubt you sold at the proper time. In carrying out the verbal instruc- 
tions of the court and furthering its purpose to invest the money received 
from the sale of this stock in buying in the outstanding indebtedness of 
the county consisting of its railroad bonds together with the interest 
thereon and the judgments obtained on the same against the county, I 
have with the aid and assistance of Maj. H. W. Salmon, whom I called 
to my assistance as desired by the court, bought Henry County bonds, 
judgments against the county, interest coupons and interest thereon 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 277 

amountin^^ in the ag^gregate to $183,301.77 buying the same as rapidly 
as I could under the circumstances, avoiding at the same time making 
any purchase that was in our opinion calculated to advance the price of 
the bonds of the county and thus increasing our indebtedness, and, as 
your Honors are aware, consulting in almost every instance with the 
court prior to making an investment. 

By reference to a detailed statement herewith filed, marked Exhibit 
"C," you will find that I have purchased with the funds aforesaid, fifty- 
one bonds of $1,000 each, of tens of 1870; fifty-four bonds of $1,000 each, 
of tens of the C. & M. Branch of Tebo & Neosho Railroad, of 1871, and 
twelve bonds, tens of 1871, of $1,000 each, of the Clinton and 
Kansas City Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, with interest 
coupons thereto attached as per statement; also judgments against the 
county on railroad bonds and coupons, and a small amount of extra 
detached coupons from bonds. The total expenditures on account of 
the purchases made as stated above together with the expenses of H, 
W. Salmon, myself and W. D. Tyler, incurrred in traveling expenses, 
telegrams and express charges, etc., amounts to $84,666.57, leaving in 
my hands $1,319.14, which sum I now here hand to the court. 

Concerning the prices paid for these bonds, I will say that the bonds 
of Henry County, as well as the bonds of other counties, and all other 
securities have advanced since this business was undertaken; caused, as 
all are aware, in a large measure by the easy money market, and the gen- 
eral prosperity of the country. 

HE BEARS TESTIMONY. 

Before closing this report I desire now and here to bear testimony 
to the skill and fidelity to Henry County, shown by Maj. H. W. Salmon 
throughout this whole business. I do not desire to arrogate to myselt 
the credit of having made the purchase of these bonds, and managing 
the negotiations with the various persons with whom we had to deal, as 
I have relied in a great measure on his large experience and extensive 
acquaintance with such matters. 

At one time we thought it best to send some discreet person to 
Kentucky, where a large number of our bonds are held, and we selected 
for this purpose Mr. W. D. Tyler, cashier of the First National Bank, of 
Clinton, and while he did not succeed in making the purchase, he obtained 
much valuable information, and his expenses, $125, I have paid as was 
agreed before hand. In conclusion, I desire, both in behalf of Major 
Salmon and myself to thank this court and its individual members for 
the uniform courtesy and confidence reposed in us in the management 
of this matter, coming as it did unsought by us. And I will only add, 
in my own behalf that every act and move I have made in the premises 
has been to subserve the best interests of Henry County. All of which 
is respectfully submitted for your approval. 

JAMES B. GANTT. 

The following are the papers referred to: 

"EXHIBIT C." 

Statement of bonds, interest coupons, and judgments purchased for 
Henry County, with funds arising from sale of Tebo & Neosho stock, 



278 HISTORY OK HENRY COUNTY. 

showing the date of each purchase, from whom purchased and the 
amount paid therefor. 

NOVEMBER I, 1 879. LOT NO. I. 

Bought of Donaldson & Fraley 22 bonds, Clinton & Memphis branch 
Tebo & Neosho Kailroad, Nos. ^6, 77, 78, 79, 80, 8 r, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 
88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96 and 97, with coupons of 1872 and subse- 
quent, paid $1 1,000. 

JANUARY 28, 1880. LOT NO. 2. 

Bought of Alfred Ennis, attorney for Portsmouth Savings Bank, 40 
bonds, lOs of 1870 issue, Nos. 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 133, 134, 135, 

136, 137. 138, 139. 140, 141. 142, 143. 144. 145. 148, 149. 150, i5f. 152, 156, 
157, 158, 166, 167, 168, 169, 182, 184, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 2^\g and 220, 
with July, 1879, coupons and those subsequent. Also three coupons of 
July, 1878, from bonds 142, 143 and 144. Also two judgments in favor 
of the Portsmouth Savings Bank vs. Henry County, in the United States 
Circuit, Western District of Missouri, Nos. 1035 and 1300, as per state- 
ment accompanying said bonds. Paid $28,368.90. 

MARCH 20, 1880. LOl NO. 3. 

Bought of the Farmers and Merchants, Hannibal, Missouri, one 
bond, No. 24. Clinton & Kansas City Branch of Tebo & Neosho Rail- 
road, with July, 1878, and subsequent coupons attached. Paid $410. 

MARCH 20, 1880. LOT NO. 4. 

Bought of W. J. McNight, four January, 1876, coupons, from bonds 
Nos. 139, 145, 149 and 150, of issue of 1867. Paid $52. 

MAY 5, 1880. LOT NO. 5. 

Bought of Donnell, Lawson & Simpson, 21 bonds, Nos. 11, 12, 13, 
14, 15, 18, 49, 50, 56 and 57 of Clinton & Memphis Branch, and Nos. 12, 
13, 14, 17, 19, 20, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 49 of Clinton & Kansas City Branch 
of Tebo & Neosho Railroad, with coupons of 1879 and subsequent 
attached, also judgment No. 1297 of E. C. Lewis vs. County, Jmie 30, 
1879, for $8,852, in United States Court. Paid $16,832.67. 

AUGUST 29, 1880. LOT NO. 6. 

Bought of Donalson & Fraley ten bonds, Nos. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 
44, 45, 46 and 47 Clinton & Memphis Branch, Tebo & Neosho Railroad, 
with coupons of July, 1876, and subsequent. Paid $7,775. 

SEPTEMBER I, 1880. LOT NO. 7. 

Bought of Donnell, Lawson & Simpson ten bonds, Nos. loi, 102, 
1.03, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 and 1 10 Clinton & Memphis Branch, Tebo 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 2/9 

& Neosho Railroad, with coupons of July 1875, a'nd subsequent. Paid 
$7,850. 

NOVEMBER 10, 1880, LOT NO. 8. 

Bought of Donalson & Fraley one bond, No. 64, Chicago & Memphis 
Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad with coupons of 1875 and sub- 
sequent. Paid $860. 

DECEMBER I, 1880, LOT NO. 9. 

Bought of Donnell, Lawson & Simpson " Patty B. Lex bonds," 
nine bonds, lOs of 1870, Nos. 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233 and 
234, with coupons January, 1879, and subsequent, together with judg- 
ment of W. R. and Patty B. Lex vs. Henry County in the United States 
Circuit Court, Western District of Missouri, No. 1,274, November 21, 
1879, for $2,570.50. Paid, $8,542.50. 

DECEMBER I, 1880, LOT NO. 10. 

Bought of Donnell, Lawson & Simpson one bond, No. 4, los of 
1870, with coupons of July 1876 and subsequent. This bond is now held 
by Donnell, Lawson & Simpson, of New York, for H. W. Salmon. Paid, 
$885. 

DECEMBER 6, 1880, LOT NO. 11. 

Bought of Donnell, Lawson & Simpson, one bond. No. 109, los of 
1870, with coupons of July, 1876, and subsequent. This bond is also in 
the hands of Donnell, Lawson & Simpson, of New York, held for H. W. 
Salmon. Paid, $915. 

DECEMBER 6, 1880, LOT NO. 12. 

Bought of James M. Avery, one bond. No. 120, Clinton & Memphis 
Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, lOs of 1871, with coupons of 
January, 1875, attached, and subsequent, and six extra coupons, Nos. 
153 and 154, July, 1874, lOs, 1871, and July, 1876, January, 1877, July, 
1877, and January, 1878; coupons from bond 24, Clinton & Memphis 
Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad. Paid, $1,050. 

Lot No. 13, W. D. Tyler's expenses to Kentucky, $125. 

Total amount expended, $84,666.57. 

"Which said report, being seen and duly considered by the court, is 
ordered filed. And now comes James B. Gantt and turns over to the 
court all the bonds, coupons and judgments as per statement in his 
report, including bonds Nos. 4 and 109, mentioned in lots 10 and 11, 
also the treasurer's receipt for balance not expended of $1,319.14. It is 
thereupon ordered by the court that James B. Gantt be fully released 
from further responsibility as agent ot Henry County in the matter 
aforesaid. It is further ordered by the court that the bonds, coupons, 
and judgments, aforesaid, and all other papers in the matter, be filed in 
the office of the clerk of this court, and that said bonds and coupons be 
and are hereby cancelled in the presence of the court, by writing the 



280 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

word " cancelled," date, etc., across the face or the signatures on the 
bonds with red ink. 

" It is ordered by the court that a warrant be drawn on the sinking 
fund for the sum of $400, payable to James B. Gantt for legal services 
on behalf of county per account, this day allowed and filed." 

This report was made to the county court and entered of record 
December 8, 1880. 

A TAX LEVY. 

The petition for an assessment made before Judge Gantt and before 
referred to was made May 16, 1881. There was no particular amount of 
levy mentioned, but enough to cover the amount of the judgments and 
costs of the suits. The order was granted May 17, 188 1, and the levy 
was made and $1,087.68 of the amount paid February 10, 1882. There 
were seven of these judgments, for which the order granting the levy 
referred. 

As it was found next to impossible to secure many more of the 
bonds at a heavy discount and the costs of a suit were expensive, one 
more effort was made to compromise the debts. The people at last 
began to realize that it was but to settle the debt and take a breathing 
spell. The strain had been going on for three or four years. .A propo- 
sition to fund the debt at seventy-five cents on the dollar was offered to 
vote upon, and the county court called a special election June 26, 1882, 
to test the feelings of the people. The vote was taken and there was a 
majority of 880 votes in favor of the proposition. In making the order 
to carry out this affirmative vote the court stated that there was a debt 
of nearly $700,000 yet to be looked after. 

The debt was to be paid at seventy-five cents on the dollar, the 
bonds, coupons and interest to be added together. The new bonds to 
be 5-2OS, that is, to run twenty years and be redeemable after five years 
at the option of the county, and to pay interest at six per cent per 
annum, payable annually instead of semi-annually. As the original 
debt was $600,000 and it has been running nearly thirteen years on an 
average, and $450,000 drawing ten per cent, the sum, if none had been 
paid, would have amounted at this time to over $1,400,000, including 
the coupons and not counting the interest upon the latter, which is 
demanded. These new six per cent bonds are payable at the National 
Bank of Commerce, New York City, and dated July i, 1882. 

The court at once acted upon the vote of the people, and ordered 
200 bonds of $500 each, with coupons attched, and 425 bonds of $i,000 
each, with coupons, for the purpose of refunding. William H. Cock was 
appointed agent to look after the funding process. Mr. Cock, as finan- 
cial agent, made October 9, 1882, the following report of his work: 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 28l 

SETTLEMENTS. 

No. I — Catherine Stark. 

Old bonds, $1,766.71, at 75 cents, new bonds $ 1,325 03 

Exchanged i bond $ i,0O0 00 

Cash for balance 325 03 

No. 2 — Grant & Grant, Davenport, Iowa. 

Old bonds, $59,088.03, at 75 cents, new bonds $44,316 02 

Net S. U. Church, new bonds 2,63 1 78 

$46,947 80 

40 bonds, $1,000 $40,000 00 

9 bonds, 500 4,500 00 

Cash 2,447 80 

No. 3— William C. Blair. 

Old bonds $24,008, at 75 cents, new bonds $18,006 00 

18 bonds, $1,000 $18,00 000 

Cash 6 00 

No. 4 — John A. Humes. 

Old bonds, $2,409.00, at 75 cents, new bonds $ 1,806 75 

Mr. Humes paid in cash 193 25 

$ 2,000 oo 
2 bonds, $ 1 ,000 $2,000 00 

No. 5— J. G. Fox, Easton, Pa. 

Old bonds, $3,785, at 75 cents, new bonds $ 2,841 25, 

2 bonds, $1,000 $2,000 00 

I bond, 500 500 00 

Cash paid 341 25 

September 21. 

No. 6— Albert Parker, judgments. 

Old bonds, $57,516.87, at 75 cents, new bonds $43-137 65 

Add cost of judgment 35^ 73 

Cash paid by Mr. Parker 3 62 

$43,500 00 

43 bonds, $ 1 ,000 $43,000 00 

I bond 500 500 00 

August 17. 

No. 7 — John B. Henderson, in part. 

Old bonds, $29,080.30, at 75 cents, new bonds $21,810 25 

Add cost of suits 94 47 

Cash paid by John B. Henderson 95 28 

$22,000 00 
22 bonds, $1,000 $22,000 00 



282 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

No 8. — Wernes & Dickinson — 

Old bonds, $2,049.50 at 75 cents, new bonds $1,537 '3 

Commission allowed '. 12 50 

$ 1.549 63 

I bond $ 1 ,000 00 

I bond 500 00 

Cash 49 63 

August 31st. 

No. 9 — Mrs. H. D. Warner, by attorney — 

Old coupons. $69.50 at 75 cents $ 52 13 

Cash $ 52 13 

September ist. 

No. 10— H. S. Mills, Kansas City- 
Old bonds, $797.50 at 75 cents, new bonds 598 13 

1 bond $ 500 00 

Cash 98 13 

August i8th. 

No. II — Mrs. Albert Blackweison, by attorney — 
Old bonds, $3,643 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,732 25 

2 bonds $1,000 $2,000 00 

1 bond 500 00 

Cash 232 25 

September ist. 

No. 12 — Mrs. A. F. Smith, by attorney — 
Old bonds, $3,643 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,732 25 

2 bonds $1,000 $2,000 00 

1 bond 500 00 

Cash 232 25 

August 19th. 

No. 13 — Brick Jones, Esq — 
Old bonds, $3,504 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,628 00 

2 bonds $1,000 $2,000 00 

1 bond 500 00 

Cash 1 28 00 

August 2 1st. 

No. 14 — H. O. Warren, New Milford, Conn., by attorney — 
Old bonds, $3,643 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,732 25 

2 bonds $1,000 $2,000 00 

1 bond 500 00 

Cash 232 25 

August 19th. 

No. 15 — Mrs. A. F. Smith, by attorney — 
Old bonds, $3,643 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,732 25 

2 bonds $ 1 ,000 $2,000 00 

I bond 500 00 

Cash 232 25 

August 19th. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 283 

No. 16 — E. B. Marsh, by attorney — 

Old bonds, $3,643 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,732 25 

2 bonds $ 1 ,000 $2,000 00 

1 bond 500 00 

Cash 232 25 

August 19th. 

No. 17 — J. B. Owsley, by attorney — 
Old bonds, $3,643 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,732 25 

2 bonds $ 1 ,000 $2,000 00 

I bond 500 00 

Cash 23225 

August 17th. 

No. 18 — Lee Hayden — 
Old bonds, $1 1,194 at 75 cents, new bonds 8,395 50 

8 bonds $1,000 $8,000 00 

Cash 395 50 

August 17th. 

No. 19 — John Baughman — 

Old bonds, $1,821.50 at 75 cents, new bonds 1,366 13 

I bond $1,000 00 

Cash 366 13 

August 17th. 

No. 20 — J. S. Owsley — 

Old bonds, $5,464.50 at 75 cents, new bonds 4,098 38 

4 bonds $1,000 $4,000 00 

Cash 98 38 

August 17th. 

No. 21 — L. P. Nelson, by attorney — 

Old bonds, $6,300 at 75 cents, new bonds 4.725 00 

4 bonds $1,000 : $4,000 OO 

I bond 500 00 

Cash 225 00 

September 2d. 

No. 22- — John B. Henderson (in part) — 
Old bonds, $12,264.00 at 75 cents, new bonds 9,198 00 

9 bonds, $ 1 ,000 $9,000 00 

Cash 198 00 

August 14th. 

No. 23— William AuU— 

Old bonds, $2,360.50 at75 cents, new bonds ^^77'^ ^o 

I bond $ 1 ,000 00 

I bond 500 00 

Cash 270 40 

August 24th. 



284 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

No. 24 — H. V. Loring — 

Old bonds, $1 1,402.50 at 75 cents, new bonds 8,55 i 88 

8 bonds, $ i ,000 $8,000 00 

I bond 500 00 

Cash ■ 51 88 

August 14th. 

No. 25 — Anthony McElroy, Springfield, Missouri — 

Old bonds, $5,256.00 at 75 cents, new bonds 3,Q42 00 

3 bonds, $ 1 ,000 $3,000 00 

1 bond 500 00 

Cash 442 00 

August 14th. 

No. 26 — Samuel Spaulding — 
Old bonds, $3,504.00 at 75 cents, new bonds 2,628 00 

2 bonds, $ 1 ,000 $2,000 00 

I bond 500 00 

Cash ! 128 00 

August 14th. 

No. 27— H. S. Wethers, Stanford, Kentucky- 
Old bonds, $1,752 at 75 cents, new bonds loH 00 

I bond $ 1 ,000 00 

Cash 314 00 

August 14th. 

No. 28— Albert Parker- 
Old bonds, $4,884.00 at 75 cents, new bonds 3,663 00 

3 bonds, $1,000 $3,000 00 

I bond s 500 00 

Cash 1 63 00 

August 14th. 

In these settlements the bonded debt had been reduced as follows: 

Total cash paid out in exchange $7,627 64 

Cash received in exchange from Nos. 4, 6 and 7 292 15 

Bonded debt reduced $7,335 49 

For the above net reduction warrants were drawn, one September 4, 
1882, for $3,000 and on October 9 one for $4,180.86 and one for $1,319.14, 
or a total of $8,000, to pay said exchange in favor of W. S. Little & Co., 
St. Louis. The difference of $664.51 was not accounted for in the above 
settlement and it probably went for commissions. 

Up to October 9, 1882, as per statement above, the old debt had 
been reduced and new bonds issued, as below: 
One hundred and eighty-six new six per cent bonds, $1,000 

each, issued in exchange for old $186,000 00 

Twenty-five new six per cent bonds, $500 each 12,500 00 

Amount new bonded debt, October 9, 1882 $198,500 00 

Add cash reduction 7,335 49 

$205,835 49 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 285 

The amount paid out in the reduction of the old debt under the 
compromise. 

Previous to the compromise the old debt had been reduced to a con- 
siderable extent by the purchase at difterent times of the railroad bonds 
at a large discount and by the payment of interest coupons sometimes 
at their face value, and again at a discount. As far as the records show 
this discount or payment of the old debt has been about as follows, not 
all of the amounts being given, but the amount of cash paid for them: 

The Nicolay judgment paid, net . $25,000 00 

Portsmouth Savings Bank, net 4.564 90 

John B. Henderson, net ^,^77 30 

Paid M. A. F\^ke as attorney, including the Dunning farm pur- 
chase (these at par) 4.703 30 

Paid on seven judgments, levy made to pay them 1,087 68 

$42,033 18 

This amount was paid at face value of the bonds and coupons and 
reduced the debt just that amount, less some cost added, the full 
pound of flesh being demanded. 

THE DISCONTINUED BONDS. 

There were quite a number of bonds and coupons redeemed, and 
while the sum paid out is found of record, the total amount of the pur- 
chase was not made of entry. 

For instance, Charles B. Wilson expended $11,946.80 in cash in the 
purchase of coupons and bonds. He gave the number of the coupons 
and bonds and his account was correct, but there were so many of them 
and of different dates that it was a good job to figure them up. Again 
an entry was made that two bonds were purchased for $700 and five 
were purchased for $2,050. These were $1,000 bonds but how many 
coupons were attached, if any, was not stated. The purchases showed 
a pretty good bargain, one being at about 30 per cent and the five at a 
trifle over 40 per cent, the over-plus, probably, being commission on 
purchase. However, the reduction of the debt can be got at pretty close. 
It is given below: 

Forty-five bonds, of $1,000 each, bought for $18,058 10 

Two bonds, of $1,000 each, bought for 700 00 

Five bonds, of $1,000 each, bought for 2,050 00 

Twenty-nine bonds, C. B. Wilson at a little over forty-one 

cents on the dollar 1 1,946 80 

Making eighty-one bonds, costing $32,754 90 

Sale of Missouri, Kansas & Texas stock invested $84,666.57, 
reduced the debt $183,301.77, but of this $117,000 only were bonds, the 



286 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

remainder being coupons, judgments and costs. So from these pur- 
chases we have a reduction of the principal, that is in bonds of $169,000, 
besides the bonds purchased by Mr. Wilson, say a full reduction of 
$180,000 of the principal; the balance being paid in coupons or interest. 
The county court have in new six per bonds $525,000. 

This it is hoped will be sufficient to redeem the old bonds and cou- 
pons at the compromise rate of 75 cents on the dollar. 

^VHAT IT COST. 

The total expense to the people of Henry County in this railway 
business, and for the present railroad facilities enjoyed by them, is here 
given and itemized. There is no disputing the figures, for they are of 
record, but probably few of the citizens of the county were aware of the 
fact, and the people will here see just what they have paid. 

Amount paid Missouri Pacific Railroad, 1852 $ 5,000 00 

Cost and interest 2,400 00 

Interest on $150,000, 7 per cent, bonds, 1867, 8 years, then 

defaulted 84,500 00 

Interest on $450,000, 10 per cent, bonds, 1870-71, 4 years. 180,000 00 

Paid judgments, cost and interest 42,033 18 

Paid purchase of bonds and coupons 32,754 80 

Paid cash in exchange " 8 000 00 

Paid attorney fees, say 10,000 00 

New issue 6 per cent, bonds 525,000 00 

So far the debt foots up $ 889, 197 98 

Before these bonds can be redeemed, 5 years interest must 

be paid, at $31,500 per year 157,500 00 

$1,046,697 98 

For this sum the people have a railroad 37 4-100 miles long, which 
is all they will ever get for this money. This is in round numbers, $28,- 
000 and a little over per mile, and notwithstanding they must pay this 
sum, they are in the same position Satan was when he took a certain 
person up into a high mountain, and offered him all the world, etc., and 
the poor d — 1 didn't own a foot of it. No mention is made of $183,000 
and odd, paid by Judges Gantt and H. W. Salmon, as the amount so paid 
was paid by sale of stock. The further exchange of bonds will be chron- 
icled as made up to the closing of this history. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

INVESTIGATION— A REPORT— A CONFESSION. 

A RFXORD OF CRIME, BRIBERY, MIDNIGHT DELIVERY OF BONDS— HOW IT WAS DONE- 
ACCOUNTS RENDERED— INVESTIGATION— THE REPORT— WHERE THE MONEY 
WENT TO— EXCEPTING $180,000— THE ENGINEER'S CONFESSION. 

HOW IT WAS DONE. 

One of the peculiar phases of this railroad bond business, was the 
persistent attack made upon those gentlemen who were engaged in an 
honest attempt to build the Kansas City, Springfield, and Memphis 
Railroad, by the manager of these branch roads, whose principal 
endeavor has since been proved, to a great extent, was to get hold of 
the people's bonds and pocket the proceeds. In this connection is given 
a couple of articles from the Clinton Advocate, whose editor at that 
time was chief fugleman of the LaDue's, and others. While, no doubt,, 
honest in his opinion and belief, he had no ground for the course that 
he pursued, of slander and abuse. He lived to see and know that he 
had been simply a dupe or tool — an instrument of designing men, and 
and like them left for other climes, and whose absence has not in any 
way been a detriment to the good people of Henry County. The fol- 
lowing is only a sample of many characteristic articles which deluged 
the people from week to week, until the grand scheme of plunder had 
been consummated, and the natural enquiry was made by the county 
court, "What has become of those bondsi'" Well, tie bonds have been 
found, but who got the money, while pretty well understood, is not a 
question that some care to agitate. 

The Railroad Bond Swindle, so called, of Henry County, stands out 
prominently and alone, as the only rascally and fraudulent transaction 
in her history, but it was sufficiently large and of a character that the 
people are willing to rest there, and that those who have left for north- 
ern or southern climes, are welcome to remain in their new homes. 

SOME HISTORY. 

The paper containing this article was dated December 8th, 1870, 
and reads: 



288 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

"Never in the history of railroads in Henry County has one been 
brought up to a point where the people can see what is to be in so short 
a space of time as the one we now write of The so called Kansas City 
& Memphis road made a power of noise in this community. Its prime 
movers, Richardson, Williams and Ferred, made a great amount of fuss 
in Henry County, but their component parts were all gas, and our argus 
eyed railroad men soon discovered the facts, and they put on foot an 
organization that meant business. Not a year ago the Clinton & Mem- 
phis and Clinton & Kansas City branches of the Tebo & Neosho Rail- 
road were formed, and to-day the bonds of Henry and St. Clair Counties 
have been sold in sufficient quantities to put the road under contract, 
(not built) southward. A large force will be put on the work east of 
Clinton next Monday by Mr. Colt, the successful and worthy contractor. 
The construction committees of these roads have worked faithfully and 
honestly since their election, and the result now shows for itself. Much 
more could be said about this road, but for the present it is enough to 
know the work will commence in good earnest next Monday morning. 
Much praise is due to D. C. Stone, A. D. Ladue, P. A. Ladue, Judge R. 
C. McBeth, Waldo P. Johnson and R. S. Graham, for the faithful manner 
in which they have put this important road in proper shape. Come to 
the dirt breaking next Monday morning, and let us all rejoice over the 
success that awaits us in the future, when we are joined with iron bands 
to the City of Memphis in the State of Tennessee." 

The above was followed by another article, headed: 

"The prayer of Clintonians has been. Oh, Lord! give us three rail- 
roads; just three, if no more; Amen. Come to the dirt breaking next 
Monday and see the beginning of the end. The progress has not been 
in vain. We have one railroad and two more certain. Hurrah for Clin- 
ton, hurrah for everybody! The 'Model Town' is hindmost to nobody." 

The Advocate, then owned and edited by Will H. Lawrence, was 
full of just such rodomontade from week to week, and as it was the lead- 
ing paper in the county at that time, it was no wonder the people were 
deceived by its constant reiteration. The hollow mockery of this is now 
plain to be seen, and the fact that these "argus-eyed railroad men meant 
business" is painfully apparent and has been for years to every taxpayer 
of Henry County. 

\VHEN THE RASCALITY STARTED. 

At the time that A. P. Ladue went to Jefferson City to recover the 
charters to these branch roads, he met the secretary of the Kansas City 
& Memphis Railroad. Mr. Ladue informed the secretary what he was 
there for, which was already known, and stated to the aforesaid secretary 
that if the Kansas City & Memphis Railroad Company would give him 
five per cent, commission on subscription and make him agent he would 
forego his purpose of getting these branch charters. The offer was 
•declined by the secretary for two reasons: first, that he had not the 
authority of his board of directors, and, second, that a commission of 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 289 

two and one-half per cent, was sufficient, and was so stated, but would 
not be accepted. The charters were secured and then commenced the 
work of destroying the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Company, 
and in that work he had the help of parties in Kansas City who, like 
Ladue "was on the make," road or no road. Twelve years have passed, 
and through the machinations of these men, life has been sacrificed, a 
million of dollars and over sunk, and with the exception that the prime 
movers of this great fraud are dead or have left the country, the people 
have no recourse and no consolation. But the bitter reality is stamped 
upon their memory once a year, as the tax gatherer makes his annual 
round. 

Many other articles, false in their character, in regard to these roads, 
and slanderous against the members of the first named road, were pub- 
lished, but there came a change. Those who were reviled stand out 
with characters unblemished, while those who instigated the slanderous 
charges are not now thought worthy of notice, and the county that once 
knew them, knows them no more. With one more article from the 
Advocate, whose editor acknowledged that he had been duped, and 
with a couple of extracts from the Kansas City Times, this report closes. 
It has been the writer's aim to give facts and figures, and naught set 
down in malice, and it is an unvarnished tale of a great wrong, which 
will serve as a warning for all time to the people of Henry County. 

KANSAS CITY & MEMPHIS RAILROAD. 
From the Clinton Advocate, May 14, 1874. 

Jackson County, thinking the suit brought by Donnell & Lawson, 
the bankers and holders of the Jackson County bonds, of this road in 
New York City, were in a close place when suits had been brought 
against them in the superior court of New York, sent Colonel S. Wood- 
son (not Silas) to New York, to do the best he could in the premises. 
He represents, after an absence of two weeks, that he interviewed the 
above bankers, counted the bonds, and found there were three suits in 
the courts there, on attachment against this road, and that a writ of 
attachment in each case had been levied on these bonds in the hands of 
Donnell, Lawson & Co. He obtained an order restraining any one from 
attaching these bonds and having them declared bonds of Jackson 
County. He thinks the bonds and proceeds of such as have been sold 
and remain on hand, are safe from the proceedings now pending in the 
courts, and must remain so until the gradation and masonry are com- 
pleted from Kansas City to Harrisonville. Having been an old friend 
of this road from its inception, we confess that now our confidence is 
shaken when we read the itemized bill brought back from New York by 
Mr. Woodson: 

19 



290 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

William F. Chittenden vs. the Kansas City & Memphis Railroad 
Company. 

Complaint on two warrants, viz: No. 165, dated June 28, 1873, to 
Amos Green, attorney for James Lullis & Co., $3,000; No. 221, dated 
January 3, 1874, to John Polk, $500. 

Complaint on two warrants, viz: No. 155, dated March 20, 1873, to 
J. E. Marsh, $1,200; No. 158, dated March 20, 1873, to John W. Polk for 
$100. 

Complaint on two warrants, viz: No. 150. dated March 20, 1873, to 
R. C. McBeth for $5,000; No. 226, dated January 29, 1874, to R. C. 
McBeth for $1,500. 

All drawn by R. T. Van Horn, president. 

John D. Stickland vs. the Kansas City, Memphis & Mobile Railroad 
Company. 

Complaint on fourteen warrants: 

No. 142, dated August 3, 1872, to S. W. Caldwell for $588.60. 

No. 143, dated September 17, 1872, to S. W. Caldwell for $1,307.88. 

No. 150, dated November 19, 1872, to S. W. Caldwell for $1,379.03. 

No. 157, dated March 20, 1873, to R. T. VanHorn for $5,000. 

No. 163, dated June 12, 1873, to P. A. LaDue for $1,550. 

No. 220, dated December 16, 1873, to W. Freeman for $789.65. 

No. 281, dated February 10, to R. T. VanHorn for $5,000. 

No. 162. dated February 10, 1874, to A. D. LaDue for $4 389.46. 

No. 233, dated February 10, 1874, to James Corington for $6/],.So. 

No. 234, dated February 10, 1874, to Henry L. Ladue for $595. 90. 

No. 235, dated February 10, 1874, to A. D. LaDue for $5,600. 

No 196, dated February 10, 1874, to Claud LaDue for $595.50. 

No. 137, dated February lO, 1874, to W. R. Freeman for $316.66. 

No. 239, dated February 10, 1874, to Henry L. LaDue for $105. 

KANSAS CITY & MEMPHIS RAILROAD. 

The Kansas City Times, speaking of'the troubles, says, in its issue 
of August 9, 1875, that, " It is not our purpose to attack or defend any- 
body in this connection, nor to shield any wrong doer from a just respon- 
sibility. But we do want the exact status of the road placed in a clear light 
before the people, so the discussion as to what can or shall be done may 
be relieved of all the rubbish of personal bickerings and idle wranglings 
about mismanagement and maladministration in the past. 

We have had enough of that. Doubtless if there had been less of it, 
the cars would have been running on the road by this time. No sooner 
was the enterprise begun than it was attacked with suits, and harassed 
with all sorts of contentions and gouges. If we must go back and fight all 
those old battles over again, the road bed will be washed away, the 
the county subscriptions to the amount of $1,050,000 will be lost forever, 
before we can get ready to take up the enterprise where it stands to-day. 
Let us take right hold here without further delay. 

Jackson, Cass, Henry and St. Clair own an unfinished railroad which 
has cost them $1,050,000, and which, as now managed, is not progress- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 291 

ing, but going" to destruction, and still costing them fifteen or twenty 
thousand dollars yearly in salaries to nominal officers of a- railroad com- 
pany which is doing nothing. What is the use of paying $5,000 a year 
each to presidents, superintendents, etc., for doing nothing.-' If the 
enterprise is dead, why not stop the cost of pretending that it is alive .^ 
Is it dead, or is only sleeping under the incubus of an unfortunate, inca- 
pable or suspected and bottled up management.''" 

MEMPHIS RAILROAD AGAIN. 

The Advocate, in its issue of August lOth says of the bill here 
appended: 

" The question is, shall the whole enterprise be sacrificed because 
the gentlemen are not paid.' Shall the counties lose the million dollars 
already invested and pay out a million and a half more in interest with- 
out realizing any benefits, because the officers of the company claim it 
is owing them a few thousand dollars.' That will be an impossibilit}- for 
the present management to resurrect the enterprise, we believe it to be 
a foregone conclusion in the minds of the people. In nearly all the 
counties a spirit of interest is being awakened, and the sine qua non as 
everywhere expressed is that there be a change in officers. The gen- 
tlemen interested know this as well as anyone, and there is no need of 
their trying to conceal the fact. How much wiser then would it be for 
them to meet these counties half way, to propose some basis of settle- 
ment, and to join with all good citizens and tax payers iu rescuing the 
road from total loss, and, if possible, to secure its completion. They 
are jointly interested in having it built, and should forego some personal 
considerations to see that accomplished." 

GETTING AT THE MARROW. 

Thus far our history of this railroad business has principally been con- 
fined to" the records found in Henry County, but a betrayed people 
started a more thorough investigation, commencing at Kansas Cit}^ and 
following the action of the company as far as Osceola. The following 
article is taken from the Clinton Democrat of December 23, 1875, head- 
lines and all; it being the report of the committee of investigation of 
Jackson County: 

MEMPHIS AND MOBILE RAI1.ROAD — REPORT OF THE COxMMITTEE 
APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE UPON THE MATTERS OF THE SUB- 
SCRIPTION OF THIS COMPANY — THE COMMITTEE RECOMMEND 
AN APPLICATION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A RECEIVER. 

To the County Court of Jackson County: 

Gentlemen: — Your committee appointed by order, dated August 
5, 1875, to investigate and report upon the matter of the subscription of 
this county, to the Memphis & Mobile Railroad Company, and the pres- 
ent condition of the affairs of said company, report as follows: 



292 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

That we called upon the superintendent of the company, Mr. A. D. 
Ladue, to examine the records, books and papers of the corporation, 
and made as full an examination as we thought necessary. Our exami- 
nation was directed mainly to the following objects of inquiry: 

First. The amount of stock issued by the company and the pro- 
ceeds thereof. 

Second. The disposition made by the directors of the proceeds of 
the stock subscriptions. 

Third. The assets and liabilities of the corporation at the present 
time. 

Fourth. The character of the past management of the road in res- 
pect to its faith and ability, and the possibility and utility of securing a 
change of the management in the interest of the bona fide stockholders. 

So far as we were able to examine them, the record, books and 
papers of the company give no sufficient history of its actual transac- 
tions. 

In the matter of stock, it appears that stock to a large amount, has 
been voted and issued for which there appears to be no regular sub- 
scription. 

The company was organized under the general law of the state, 
which required a bona fide subscription of $1,000 per mile of the pro- 
posed road, five per cent of which should have been paid in cash as the basis 
of the organization. It was required that the actual payment of this 
five per cent should be certified by three of the proposed company. 

This corporation was organized upon the basis of the following sub- 
scriptions: 

P. A. LaDue $ 10,000 

R. C. McBeth 10,000 

A. D. LaDue • 1 0,000 

W. D. Meade 10,000 

T. H. Mastin 10,000 

A. L. Harris 10,000 

R. B. Higgins 10,000 

D. C. Stone ,,. . 10.000 

G. Y. Salmon 10,000 

Waldo P. Johnson 10,000 

R. T. Van Horn 10,000 

J. W. Polk 10,000 

I. D. Hines 10,000 

J. W. Reid 5,000- 

Total $135,000 

Three of the directors certified to the above subscription, and rhe 
payment of 5 per cent, thereof in cash, under oath. 

The books of the company do not show that one dollar in cash was 
evej received by the company, either of the 5 per cent, or any of the 
balance of the subscription. 

The stock was issued and some months afterwards returned and 
cancelled, and afterward again reissued in payment of pretended ser- 
vices of the incorporators, and is now outstanding. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 293 

R. O. Boggess, upon becoming a director, received $10,000 worth of 
stock, for which nothing was ever paid. 

In 1875 one million dollars of stock of the company was issued to 
W. G. Ford, for which, so far as the books show, or we could learn from 
the superintendent by inquiring, nothing whatever was paid. 

All the above issues of stock appear to us to have been fraudulent, 
and that the issuing thereof renders them liable to severe penalties 
under our laws. 

The bona fide subscriptions are the following: 

Jackson County $ 300,000 

Cass County , 300,000 

Henry County 200,000 

St. Clair County 250,000 

Total $1,050,000 

The above were transferred from the Clinton & Kansas City branch 
of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company and were paid for in county 
bonds. The books of the company show vouchers issued to the amount 
of $869,952.69. The proceeds of the county bonds subscribed, as near 
as we can learn, are $840,000, to which add $145,000 original subscrip- 
tions, included in the whole amount of vouchers issued and not paid, 
total $985,000, leaving a deficit of expenditures less than receipts of 
$115,047.31. 

These vouchers and the books and papers fail to show the nature 
of large amounts of expenditures they represent, and in some instances 
there appears to be large monetary transactions for which no satisfac- 
tory explanation can be arrived at from an inspection either of the 
vouchers or the books. 

For instance, Mr. John W. Polk, one of the directors, seems to have 
handled $iO,coo in Jackson County, for which there is no separate 
voucher and no account whatever of the disposition of the same. It 
appears that Mr. H. M. Holden stands charged on the books of said 
company as having received and paid in full the sum of $76,000, and, 
strange to say, when called upon for an inspection of books, papers, etc., 
as former treasurer of the company, he stated positively that he had 
nothing whatever to do with any money transactions of the company; 
that he neither received nor paid out as treasurer of said company any 
sum of money whatever. 

This money spent in Jackson County is very indefinite. Item. 

Vouchers Nos. 13 and 14, for $6,000, to J. J. Mastin & Co. for con- 
tingent expenses. 

Vouchers Nos. 46, 47 and 49, for $28,000, to J. J. Mastin & Co. for 
contingent expenses. 

These vouchers, Mr. M. states, were drawn to balance various over- 
drawn accounts at the Mastin Bank. 

Voucher No. 35, for $6,500, to Mr. J. T. Crisp for contingent 
expenses. 

*We have been unable to see Mr. Crisp and, consequently, can form 
no idea as to the purpose for which this money was applied. 

It appears from the report of the committee of citizens and engi- 
neers appointed by the Jackson County Court to examine and report 



294 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

the amount of work done in Jackson County by the various contractors 
along the line of the road that in the list of vouchers issued on 
account of construction, there has been allowed to various contractors 
large amounts in excess of the original contract price, and in the aggre- 
gate amounting to about $77, ooomore than the}% the contractors, agreed 
to do for originally. 

We deem it unnecessary to itemize the vouchers issued for contin- 
gent expenses in the other counties, though it may be said that it 
amounts to a very large sum. 

It does appear, however, that of the proceeds of the county bonds, 
the following sums were paid: 

For engineering expenses. . $40,027 35 

For construction 480,938 83 

For salaries and officers' contingent expenses 200,1^0 00 

For right of way 53,022 43 

For tie and timber account 34.109 18 

Copies of these vouchers were taken and are in the hands of the 
committee. The assets of the company consist of the right of way and 
road bed so far as constructed, ties, the uncollected subscriptions and the 
Soden bond. This bond was given by the Soden Brothers upon their 
settlement with the Jackson County Court and the company for work 
done. In consideration of settlement and payment for the work done 
by them, they agreed to complete the road to Harrisonville, in Cass 
County, and gave bond in the sum of $100,000 for the completion of the 
same. The}' have not fulfilled the obligations of said bond, but whether 
a recovery can be had thereon is a question that this committee does 
not attempt to decide. 

The liabilities, so far as we can learn of any, are embraced in the 
following judgments : 

H. Hale, for $16,430 (Sj 

J; mes Campbell, for 2,490 3 1 

Soden Brothers, for 6,2 1 5 36 

W. T. Thornton 4.484 44 

Total $29,520 78 

Upon these judgments executions have been issued and are now 
in the hands of the sheriffs of Jackson and Henry Counties, who have 
levied upon the road-bed, ties, etc., and will at an early day sell the 
same unless some steps are taken to prevent the sale thereof. 

We have have been informed by Superintendent LaDue that several 
of the above judgments are fraudulent, in this, that the claims upon 
which they are founded have long since been paid, and at the time of 
their rendition nothing was due the parties obtaining them. 

It may be proper to mention in the number of liabilities, that 
$2,000,000 in first mortgage bonds have been issued, and are now in the 
hands of the Land Grant and Trust Company, of New York, for sale or 
hypothecation, as may to the directors seem advisable. It appears from 
the books that Mr. Holden, as treasurer of the company, was directed 
to have said bonds prepared, with his fac simile qx\^x2.\qA upon the cou- 
pons thereof, and authorized to select agents for the sale of same, not to 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 295 

exceed the sum of $20,000 per mile. What action, if any, in the prem- 
ises, he took, we have failed to ascertain. Our information as to the 
amounts issued, and where placed, was obtained from Mr. A. D. LaDue. 

In conclusion, your committee state that the inevitable result of 
their investigations is, that the stock of the company has been fraudu- 
lently issued and manipulated, to suit the private purposes of the man- 
agers and that the funds of the company have been grossly misapplied 
to fraudulent purposes, and wasted in extravagant payments made to 
contractors and others. It is only necessary to refer to the amount of 
expenditures for salaries and contingent expenses, as compared with the 
amount expended on the road, to show this. It could not have been a 
wise or judicious management that thus disposed of them. 

We are advised that under the circumstances the present directory 
are liable to removal at the instance of the stockholders, and that a 
receiver may be appointed, whose business it will be to collect the unpaid 
subscriptions and recover moneys fraudulently misapplied, and out of 
them pay the existing debts so far as such debts are justly due, and if 
any of them are not due, and the judgments prove to be fraudulent or 
obtained by collusion, that proper steps may be taken to vacate them. 

That thus the road bed and right of way may be saved from sacri- 
fice until such time as the reviving energies of the country and the 
demands for intercourse with the section through which this road passes 
and with which it connects, shall render possible the further prosecution 
of the work. Or if the other assets of the road prove insufficient to pay 
its just debts and it is necessary to sell the road for their payment, that 
it may be sold in a manner most favorable to the interests of the real 
stockholders, the counties that have subscribed and paid for the stock. 
A sale by a receiver might be so managed, as to time and manner, as 
to insure the best price and a purchaser by those who will be likely to 
complete the road. 

We, therefore, recommend that this county alone, or in connection 
with other bona fide stockholders cause an application to be made for 
the appointment of a receiver. J. B. YAGER, 

A. M. ALLEN, 
W. A. BROUGHAM, 

Committee. 

This report was a sort of astonisher to most of those connected 
with the matter. The papers were asked not to publish the report, 
and some did not, but a few did, and thus this history is made more 
complete. The committee, however, still investigated, it seems, and 
again is found a report, and this time, of a large expenditure of money, 
with "^^ peculiar item of " Contingent Expenses," being fearfully often. 

From the Henry Counly Democrat, of January 20, 1876. 

THE iMEMPHIS RAILROAD SWINDLE— T^VO HUNDRED AND NINETY-ONE 
ITEMS — THE MEN WHO GOT THE MONEY, AND HOW MUCH 
EACH. 

The following are the recorded expenditures of the Memphis Rail- 
road Company, as taken by the county court committee of Jackson 



296 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

County, from the stubs of its warrant books. We find the items pub- 
lished in the Independence Sentinel. We also learn from another source, 
that in addition to the expenditures here given, additional warrants 
to the amount of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars were issued, 
for which the books show no account whatever. Not even so much as 
"contingent" expenses. Read the items and do your own thinking : 

Peter Soden & Bro., contractors, Sept. 21, 1871, $30,544 00 

Thomas Corrigan & Bro., contractors, September 20, 1 871 ... . 48,212 21 

H. Hale, contractor, September 20, 187 1 1,442 25 

James Lillis & Co., contractors 7, 1 5 i 99 

Hicks, ties, September 20, 1871 1,039 5^ 

P. A. Ladue, contingent expenses, September 20 700 00 

Church Bell, right of way, September 20, 187 1 250 00 

J. M. Hughes, right of way, September 21, 1871 200 00 

G. S. Hedges, right of way, September, 21, 1871 . 200 00 

B. F. Robinson, right of way, September 21, 1871 200 00 

J. W. Polk, right of way, September 21, 1871 472 90 

J. J. Mastin & Co., engineering, September 21, 1871 8,080 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., contingent expenses, September 21, 1871 . . 3,000 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., contingent expenses, September 21, 1871.. 3,000 00 

Levison & Blythe, contingent expenses, September 23, 1871 . 29 70 

Henry County Democrat, printing, December 7, 187 1 20 00 

G. W Salmon, right of way, October 10, 1871 5,000 00 

E. DeWolf, office rent, October 16, 187 1 12 00 

J. B. Colt, construction, October 16, 1871 13,522 89 

H. Hale, construction, October 16, 1871 1 1,139 49 

F. McCabe, construction, Oct. 16, 1871 5,840 96 

B. L. Owen, tie and timber account, Oct. 16, 187 1 8,169 40 

Pay roll, engineering account, Oct. 16, 1871 630 00 

Foote & Heller, engineering, Oct. 16, 1871 I5 7o 

W. D. Lee, right of way, Oct. 16, 1871 150 00 

Western Union Telegraph, contingent expenses, Oct. 16, 

1871 23 53 

D. C. Stone, contingent, Oct. 17, 1871 1 13 00 

Frank McCabe, construction, Oct. 18, 1871 2,626 16 

Bellmyer & Small's rolling stock account, Oct. 18, 1871 2,428 30 

James Munson, right of way, Oct. 18, 187 1 150 00 

W. H. Lawrence, contingent expense account, Oct. 18, 1871 . . 350 00 

Suavely, engineering, Oct. 18, 1871 5 35 

Roberts & Brice, engineering, Oct. 18, 1871 300 68 

Pay roll. Pinks party, engineering, Nov. 4, 1871 325 00 

John T. Crisp, contingent, Nov. 4, 1871 6,500 00 

E. A. Cutler, pay roll, engineering, , 1871 793 33 

William Miller, engineering, Nov. 15, 1871 171 80 

B. L. Owen, tie and timber account,Nov. 15, 1871 18,075 5° 

B. L. Owen, tie and timber account, Nov. 15, 1871 1,260 00 

H. Hale, construction, Nov. 15, 1871 7,327 47 

Pay roll, engineering, Nov. 15, 187 1 644 00 

A. D. LaDue, engineering, Nov. 16, 1871 116 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., contingent expenses, Nov. 28, 187 1 582 10 

J. B. Colt, construction, Nov. 28, 1871 7,874 20 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 297 

Haysler & Bro.. engineering, Nov. 28, 1871 $ 12 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., contingent expenses, Nov. 25, 1871 18,305 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., contingent expenses, Nov. 28, 1871 i,355 00 

John T. Crisp, contingent expenses, Nov. 28, 1871 200 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., contingent expenses, Nov. 28, 1871 8,740 00 

E. R. Hickman, contingent, Nov. 28, 1871 54o 00 

J. J. Mastin, interest and exchange, Nov. 28, 1871 1,000 00 

Smith & Keating, engineering, Dec. 5, 1871 145 00 

John Curtis, engineering, Dec. 9, 187 1 6 93 

Salmon & Stone, contingent, Dec. 1 1, 1871 900 00 

A. D. LaDue, engineering, Dec. 1 1, 1871 430 00 

Roberts Bros., engineering. Dec. 13, 1871 5^ 75 

John H. Parks, tie and timber, Dec. 18, 1871 58 58 

J. T. Parker, right of way, Dec. 20, 1871 10 00 

Jordan & Co., engineering, coal, Dec. 20, 187 1 615 

J. R. Cline, right of way, Cass County, Dec. 23, 1871 3.290 00 

A. H. Boyles, right of way, Cass County, Dec. 23, 1871 265 00 

D. C. Stone, per John Barnhart, right of way, Jan. I, 1872. . . . 325 00 

L. J. Ferrell, right of way, Jan. i, 1872 217 50 

G. A. Champin, right of way, Jan r, 1872 150 00 

Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, rolling stock, 

Jan. I, 1872 452 00 

M. Baird & Co., rolling stock, Jan. i, 1872 7,065 00 

Third National Bank, bills payable, Jan. i, 1872 15,000 00 

P. A. LaDue, contingent, Jan. i, 1872 i,75o 00 

W. Nunin & Co., contingent, Jan. i, 1872 41 78 

R. & T. A. Ennis, contingent, Jan. i, 1872 4 65 

Jackson & Sharp Co., rolling stock, Jan. i, 1872 5,6oo 00 

D. C. Stone, contingent, Jan. i, 1872 272 50 

R. B. Higgins, contingent, Jan. i, 1872 500 00 

G. Y. Salmon, contingent, Jan. i, 1872 500 00 

J. W. Polk, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 500 oo 

Thomas H. Mastin, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 500 00 

R. C. McBeth, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 500 00 

J. D. Hinds, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 500 00 

A. L. Harris, contingent, Jan. 2. 1872 500 00 

R. T. VanHorn, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 500 00 

W. D. Meade, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 5^0 00 

H. W. Salmon, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 912 46 

G. \'V, Reed, contingent, Jan. 2, 1&72 250 00 

W. P. Johnson, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 500 00 

H. W. Salmon, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 6.325 00 

A. D. LaDue, contingent, Jan. 2, 1872 500 00 

P. A. LaDue, contingent, Jan. 2, 1 872 500 00 

P. A. LaDue, contingent, Jan. 2. 1 872 i ,793 49 

Missouri, Kansas & Texas Company, rolling stock, Jan. 2, 1872 . 473 00 

Engineering pay roll, Jan. 3, 1872 565 3^ 

F. M. Groff, right of way, Jan. 4, 1872 50 00 

James Corington, engineering, Jan. 5, 1872 I7 7° 

James Lillis & Co., construction, Jan. 8, 1872 75.879 34 

James Lillis & Co., construction, Jan. 8, 1872 794 65 

H. Hale, construction, Jan. 8, 1872 24,120 35 



298 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

H. Hale, construction, Jan. 8, 1872 $ 160 25 

J. W. Polk, right of way, Jan. 9, 1872 176 50 

J. \V. Polk, contingent, Jan. 9, 1872 780 00 

Peter Soden &; Bro., construction, Jan. 12, 1872 31,880 33 

W. P. Smith, engineering, Jan. 15, 1872 9.774 8[ 

Thomas Corrigan, construction Jackson County, Jan. 20, 1872 51.328 71 

James Lillis & Co., construction Cass County, June 23, 1872. . 2,084 ^o 

J. N. Sharp, ties, Feb. 5, 1872 960 00 

E. A. Cutter, engineering. Feb. 12, 1872 loo 00 

Western Union Telegraph Company, contingent expenses, 

Feb. 12, 1872 17 89 

W. B. Napton, Jr., contingent expenses, Feb. 12, 1872 300 00 

J. B. Colt, construction, Feb. 12, 1872 12,354 00 

Haysler & Bro., engineering expenses, Feb. 14, 1872 43 7^ 

J. R. Cline, contingent expenses, Feb. 24, 1872 3,000 00 

C. Hurst, right of way, Feb. 24, 1872 10 00 

Russel Hicks, tie and timber account, March i, 1872 2,000 00 

Western Union Telegraph Company, contingent expenses, 

March i, 1872 23 18 

W. D. Mead, contingent expenses, March i, 1872 1,000 00 

M. B. Stewart, engineering, March r, 1872 32 25 

Thomas Hensley, engineering, March i, 1872 ij 45 

Robert Allen, contingent account board of James MuUaday, 

April I, 1872 20 00 

W. L. Shankland, right of way, April 16, 1872 10 00 

Western Union Telegraph Company, contingent expenses, 

April 16, 1872 9 14 

Third National Bank, interest and discount, April 16, 1872. . . 798 25 

John J. Mastin & Co., interest and discount, April 16, 1872. . . 126 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., interest and discount, April 16, 1872 4.165 00 

J. J. Mastin & Co., engineering expenses, April 16, 1872. ... 36 27 

J. J. Mastin & Co., contingent expenses, April 16, 1872 475 54 

Thomas H. Mastin, contingent expenses, April 16, 1872 2,875 o^ 

James Lillis & Co., construction, April 25, 1872 7.879 58 

M. Baird & Co., rolling stock. May 16, 1872 7.535 00 

James Abernathy, contingent expenses, May 6, 1872 41 25 

Western Union Telegraph Company, contingent expenses. 

May 6, 1 872 9 79 

J. N. Ramsey, contingent expenses. May 6, 1872 25 00 

Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, rolling stock, 

May 6, 1872 312 05 

G. Y. Salmon, contingent expenses. May 6, 1872 200 00 

J. B. Colt, construction, May 4, 1872 41 25 

Charles Griswold, engineer, May 7, 1872. 1,650 00 

W. P. Mead, contingent account, Maj' 7, 1872 250 00 

R. C. McBeth, contingent expenses. May 7, 1872 2,000 00 

Notford, contingent expenses, May 7, 1872 143 59 

William Connor, right of way. May 7, 1872 75 00 

James Corington, contingent, May 7, 1872 7 5o 

Charles Griswold, engineer's expenses for Mayand June, 1872, 420 00 
G. W. Caldwell, grading in St. Clair County, May and June, 

1872 ^ 3,068 10 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 299 

W. C. Meade, recording of deeds and right of way. May, 15, 

1872 $ 89 00 

S. W. Caldwell, gradation in St. Clair County, July 18, 1872. . 588 60 

S. W. Caldwell, work in St. Clair County, August, 1872 1.307 88 

C. Griswold, engineering, July and August, 1872 480 53 

Stationery and printing, November 1872 I5 25 

J. E. Marsh, salary expense account, four months, November 

7, 1872 1,738 66 

Matt W. Foster & Co., stationery and printing, November 7, 

1872 ^6 12 

G. S. Case, contingent, November 7, 1872 240 00 

Keevil & Turner, contingent, November 7, 1872 75 00 

T. VV. Caldwell, work as shown by estimate for percentage, 

November 19, 1872 1-379 14 

T. W. Caldwell, balance due him on estimate under Hale con- 
tingent account, November 19, 1873 694 04 

H. Case, office rent, March 20, 1873 140 00 

Bullene & Co., contingent, March 20, 1873 60 00 

A. V. Van Epps, Hale contract, March 20, 1873 64 72 

J. E. Marsh, expenses and salary, March 20, 1873 1,200 00 

A. S. Stewart & Co., H. Hale contract, March, 1873 10 54 

R. T. Van Horn, salary, March 20, 1873 5,000 00 

J. W. Polk, expenses. March 20, 1873 loo 00 

R. C. McBeth, attorney, March 20, 1873 5,000 00 

VV. C. Meade, secretary, March 20, 1873 2,000 00 

H. M. Holden, expenses, March 20, 1873 150 00 

Cavanaugh, second class masonry, in part payments of war- 
rants Nos. 96 and 97, March 20, '73 2,1 17 07 

P. A. LaDue, contingent, June 12, 1873 45 50 

Wallace Laws, right of way, June 26, 1873 157 15 

Amos Green, attorney construction, June 28, 1873 3,000 00 

Charles McKenna, construction .=.econd class masonry, August 

15. 1873 838 50 

Philip Conroy, right of way, August 23, 1873 500 00 

Ben Anderson, right of way, August 25, 1873 89 00 

R. Floury, right of way, August 25, 1873 275 00 

Wyatt Webb, right of way, August 25, 1873 550 00 

S. H. McLaughlin, right of way, August 25, 1873 180 00 

W. P. Martin, right of way, August 26, 1873 50 00 

Edward West, right of way, August 2/^, 1873 400 00 

Oliver Cale & Co., right of way, August 27, 1873 300 oa 

Nancy Davis, right of way, August 27, 1873 75 00 

John Selt. right of way, August 27, 1873 10 00 

Thomas Ashery, right of way, August 27, 1873 40 00 

G. M. Sheldon, right of way, August 27, 1873 120 00 

J. B. Shut, right of way, August 29, 1873 loo 00 

Hugh Dixon, right of way, August 29, 1873 100 00 

G. W, Bryant, right of way, August 29, 1873 275 00 

P. J. Kelly, right of way, August 29, 1873 200 00 

G. M. Holloway, right of way, August 30, 1873 900 00 

J. M. Dillon, right of way, August 30, 1873 650 00 

H. Steiner, right of way, August 30,. 1S73 250 00 



300 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

N. Hornbuckle, right of way, August 30. 1873 $ 50 00 

Daniel Boone, right of way, August 30, 1873 66 00 

Mart Hackler, right of way, September i, 1873 1,200 00 

Marion Barnett, right of way, September 2, 1873 300 00 

W. R. Bernard, right of way, September 3, 1873 3.000 00 

I. E. Price, right of way, September, 3, 1873 200 00 

B. J. Franklin, right of way, September 4, 1873 55o 00 

John Orr, right of way, September 5, 1873 200 00 

Solomon Wyatt, right of way, September 5, 1873 650 00 

James Jessup, right of way, September 9, 1873 550 00 

Cal Caldwell, right of way, September 9, 1873 500 00 

A. B. H. McGee, right of way, November 10, 1873 4,000 00 

M. Randolph, right of way. November 12, 1873 5o 00 

Northv/est quarter of northwest quarter section 27, township 

48, range 33. right of way, November 12, 1873 200 00 

W. H. Cobb, right of way, November 12, 1873 loo 00 

Samuel Protect, right of way, November 12, 1873 1 15 00 

W. Turner, right of way, November 12, 1873 5o 00 

Brown & McSpalden, right of way, November 12, 1873 100 00 

W. Bevis, right of way, November 23, 1873 50 00 

James Jessup, right of way, November 23. 1873 100 00 

F. Weddick, right of way, November 23, 1873 loo 00 

Edward DeWolf, right of way and engineering, Oct. 18, 1873 73 -25 

Regan, right of way, Nov. 12, 1873 300 00 

J. C. Morris, right of way, Nov. 12, 1873 1,800 00 

J. W. Keefer, right of way, Nov. 12, 1873 200 00 

C. B. Piatt, right of way, Nov. 12, 1873 loo 00 

W. R. Barr, right of way, Nov. 12, 1873 65 90 

W. Renisch, right of way, Nov. 12, 1873 10 00 

A. Jenkins, right of way, Nov. 12, 1873 125 00 

P. Soden Sc Bro., construction, Sept. 30, 1873 18,349 30 

Soden & Bro., construction, Sept. 20, 1873 15,210 12 

James Campbell, engineering, Dec. 16, 1873 1.529 00 

W. R. Truman, engineering, Dec. 16, 1873 789 65 

A. B. H. McGee, engineering 1,400 00 

Karnes & Piss, contingent, Jan. i, 1874 148 95 

E. Chiles, right of way, Jan. 3, 1874 350 00 

J. W. Polk, contingent, Jan. 30, 1874 500 00 

Levi Tyler, contingent, Jan. 30, 1874 150 00 

R. C. McBeth as attorney at law and committeeman to New 

York, Jan. 29, 1874 i,5oo 00 

W. D. Meade, contingent as secretary, Jan. 29, 1874 i,5oo 00 

A. Qualmd, engineering, Jan. 29, 1874 1-999 00 

P. Soden, construction, Jan. 30, 1874 8,180 06 

Journal Company, construction, Jan. 30, 1874 64 74 

R. T. VanHorn, contingent, Feb. 10, 1874 5, 000 00 

A. D. LaDue, balance in ledger, Feb. lo, 1874 4.239 56 

H. L. LaDue, contingent, Feb. 10, 1874 594 00 

A. D. LaDue, contingent, Feb. 10, 1874 4.000 00 

Claud LaDue, engineering, Feb. 10, 1874 596 00 

W. R. Truman, engineering, Feb. 10, 1874 316 66 

James Campbell, engineering, Feb. 10, 1874 602 25 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 301 




$ 105 00 
00 
00 



90 

July 2, 1874 • J ' ' '^'' 'o^. 350 00 

W. D. Meade, right of way June 25, i874. • • • • ^^ 

Poindexter, land and right of way, Aug^ 7. i«74. • • • • ^ 

T H. J. Harris, land and right of way, Aug. 1 1, 1874 3/b 

tred Widlich, land and right of way, Aug 17, 1874 - - 

John Regan, land and right of way, Aug^i8, i874- ■ • - 3 

William Turner, land and right of way, Aug. 20, 1874 ^° °^ 

H. M. Holden, contingent, Sept 7, iW- ^^ 

R. F. Mastin, right of way, Sept. ^o, 1^74 ^^^ ^^ 

J. N. Harris, right ot way, Sept. 10 1874^ ^^^ ^^ 

Isaac Johnson, right of way, Sept. 10. ^874 i 200 00 

F. Patrick, right of way, Sept. 10, 1874^ ' ^^ 

B.F.Martin, right of way, Sept. ^ ^' '^74- -^ -^_ ^ 

Penn. (duplicate 200) right of way, Sept. 12, 1874 ^^^ ^^ 

W. H. Barr, right of way Sept. 19, i874 ^^ ^^ 

R. White, right of way, Sept. 21, i874^ • ^^^^^ ^^ 

J. J. Mastin, right of way, Sept. 25, 1874 g^ ^^ ^^ 

T. Mastin. contingent Sept. 25, '«74-^- • 00 

R. C. McBeth, right of way, Sept. 26, 874 ^ ^ ^^ 

P. A. LaDue, right of way. Sept 26, 1874 ^^^^ 2^ 

Sol Hilligus, ties, Sept 26, 1874.^ ' ;f,- V^., '.■.■. 9,'5oo 00 

W. P. Johnson, right of ^ay, Sept. 26, 1874 ^ ^ ^^ 

R. T. VanHorn, contingent, ^^pt. 26 1874 "^ ' ^^ 

A. D. LaDue, contingent, Sept. 26, 874 • '^^ ^^ 

G. Y. Salmon, contingent Sept. 26, 1874 9,500 00 

D. C. Stone, contingent, Sept. 26 1874^ ^ ^ ^^ 

W. D. Meade, contingent, ^ept. 26, 874 '^' ^^ 

A. L. Harris, contingent, Sept. 26, 874 • ^^ ^^ 

John W. Polk, contingent ^^P^-^f; ;^74. •g_^- • ; ; ^ ^^^ ^o 

Meade Woodson, right of way, Sept 26 1874 ^^ 

W. S. Parish, right of way, Aug. 28, 1874 125 00 

Mordecai Bui, right of way, Oct. 2, 1^72 _■ ^^ 

James Campbell, engineering, Oct^26, i874„ -^ • • • • ; ^ 

C. H. Nickerbocker, engineering, Oct. 26 1874 ^ 

W. H. Salmaker, engineering, Oct. 26 874 i.^^ 

H. L. LaDue, construction, Oct. 26, 1874^^ ^^^ ^ 

Claude LaDue, engineering, O^t. 26 1874.^ .- ^^ 

R. T. Van Horn, engineering^ ^""V^Ia^"^ 368 30 

James Harder, engineering. Oct. 26. ^ 874 ^ 

James Burke, engineering, Oct. 26. 1874. • • ■ ^^^ 00 

A. M. Statemaker, engineering, Oct. 26, 1874 ^^6 65 

James Corington, engineering, Oct^ 26 1874 • 

James Campbell, engineering Oct. 26 1874 52,151 24 

Soden & Bros., construction, Oct. 26, 1874- • ■ - ;^- • „ ^ ' ^ 

H L McElro;, right of way. part payment warrant No. 272, ^^^ ^^ 

entered in warrant 272, 1874. •••■-• ''V.^V 97-^' entered 
Meade Woodson, right of way, as part of warrant 272, entered ^ ^^ ^^ 

in warrant 272 



302 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

William McClure, right of way, Nov. 21, 1874 $ 50 00 

, engineering, Jan. 2, 1875 2,389 00 

M. E. Summers, second class masonry, Feb. 4, 1875 1,056 00 

James Corrington, duplicate, Feb. lo, 1875 673 80 

The Democrat, in commenting upon this astounding exposure of 
what became of the money, made the following remarks: "We also 
learn from another source that in addition to the expenditures here 
given, that additional warrants, to the amount of $180,000 were issued, 
for which the books show no account whatever. Not even so much as 
"contingent expenses." 

ONE MORE EXPOSURE. 

With one more important paper this history of wrong will be closed. 
That exposure shows the whole game, that from the start " they meant 
business." With the bribery of a county judge, whose affidavit was 
made and left for safe keeping, but is now missing, though its contents 
are not, and will not be denied. From the hasty summoning of a county 
judge to come town to sign $50,000 of the bonds, and their midnight 
delivery, the attempted purchase of men who could influence a county 
court, down to the deliberate fraud of fraudulent contracts, the whole is 
exposed, and a more sickening and dishonest record would be hard to 
find in the annals of fraud. This is the record the people of Henry County, 
who have been so foully wronged, can now understand, and if no other 
satisfaction is ever granted them, they will have the knowledge of who 
"did it." From beginning to end this record of railroad history is offi- 
cial, and it has required no small amount of labor and patience to bring 
to light the whole facts bearing on the case. Some darker spots are still 
left. The query the editor of the Democrat asks, " What became of the 
$180,000 not even entered as contingent expenses.'" is one of them. The 
closing up is the well known confession of the engineer, or that part of 
it that referred to the work between Clinton and Osceola, the contracts, 
and what came of them. The following will be found very interesting 
reading: 

THE engineer's CONFESSION— ADDITION, DIVISION AND . SILENCE — 
OR H0^V TO ROB THE PEOPLE. 

As there has been a great deal said in the past concerning the mis- 
appropriation of the funds furnished by the counties, in the shape of 
bonds, to build a railroad from Kansas City, Missouri, to Memphis, Ten- 
nessee; and as my name has been frequently mentioned as one of the 
" railroad ring," in justice to myself and to the counties concerned, I 
have decided to make a frank and full expose of all that I know about 
the past management of the road 'and the dealings of the officers of the 
company, particularly in regard their to very virtuous and honest (?) 



HISTORY OK HENRY COUNTY. 305 

disposition of the funds entrusted to their hands. It is not necessary 
for me to go into a detailed verbiage of the first organization of the com- 
pany, as that is a matter which has been frequently published and is 
doubtless familiar to the people of all interested counties. I will, there- 
fore, simply commence with my first connection with the railrord com- 
pany. I was employed by the first president of the company, D. C. 
Stone, to commence a survey of the road from- Clinton, Henry County,. 
Missouri, to Osceola, St. Clair, County, Missouri. I made a reconnois- 
ance of the line in August, 1870, and early in September of the same 
year, started a party of engineers to run a preliminary line from Clin- 
ton south, taking charge of the party in person. After reaching the 
southern line of St. Clair County I left the party in camp to await 
orders from the board and went to Clinton to attend a meeting of the 
board to be held at that time. I was then elec'-^d chief engineer of the 
Clinton & Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, with orders 
to run a line, to Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri, and to start another 
party to locate the line from Clinton south, preparatory to commencing 
work. I now come down to the time I first became convinced that 
everything was not straight. 

A. D. LADUE MAKES A CALL. 

Mr. A. D. Ladue came to me in my office and made the request that 
I fix such a price for the work, and to fix it in such a manner that the 
contractors could divide and at the same time the price would look small 
to outsiders. To this request I did not know what to say;- but directly 
Ladue getting no reply from me, he went out and that was the last I 
heard of it. This was the latter part of November, 1870. I wrote tO' 
some friends in St. Clair County to meet me at the Osage timber, near 
where the line now runs. I left in the morning and returned in the 
evening. I there met and told them just how things were. They beg- 
ged of me not to resign but to keep my position (I had made up my mind 
to resign and told them so). They said, knowing what I did, I could keep 
my position in the company and prevent any great amount of damage 
or stealing; that if I resigned some one would be appointed who would 
do the bidding of their dishonest masters, and that as they already had 
the bonds and as nothing could be done to prevent the company from 
making use of them not to resign but to do the best I could for the coun- 
ties. I came back from this interview hardly knowing what to do. I 
consulted with my friends and they also advised me not to say anything; 
that if I did my statement would be refuted by Ladue and Stone, who 
were both influential and well known men while I was comparatively a 
stranger. They advised me by no means to resign if I really had the 
good of the counties at heart. I will now proceed to show how little 
good I was able to do. 

WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO MAKE A CONTRACT. 

Mr. J. B. Colt came to me and said Mr. Ladue that he, Colt, should 
enter into a contract to do certain work at the following prices: (the 
prices were not mentioned at this time but afterwards I found out what 
they were) earth excavation 27 cents pej yard; loose rock $1 per yard;. 



304 HISTORY OF IIENRV COUNTY. 

solid rock $i 75 per yard; clearing and grubbing $70 per acre: culvert 
masonry $S-50 per yard; and that he, Colt, was to give I^adue and Stone 
two cents per yard on earth, 25 cents in loose and solid rock, and $20 
per acre on clearing and grubbing, and $1 per yard on culvert masonry. 
That he did not know what to do. and did not want to do anything that 
was not right, and said that if I would stand by him he would do 
nothing but what was right. I assured him that I would do so and that he 
could depend on me. This was the last that I heard about the contract 
until I had to make out the estimates when the prices were given me. 
The work was at least one-half done before I found out there was any- 
thing divided. 

They then told me all about it, stating that the difference between 
the first named prices and those actually paid the contractors were, after 
the whole amount had been drawn, handed back to the contractors. 
They, the contractors, drawing the entire amount, and then paying the 
difference to LaDue in his office, which was divided between A. D. 
LaDue and D. C. Stone, except the contract let to H. Hale, which I will 
explain hereafter. The contract for the first twenty miles south from 
Clinton was let to J. B. Colt, with the understanding that Captain Wil- 
liam Weaver was to have the last five miles (which was in St. Clair 
County). Captain Weaver was to have the same price Colt received. 
The contract for that five miles was a part of the first twenty, which was 
let to J. B. Colt, and had to be receipted by him to the company, and a 
separate estimate was made to Weaver. The prices Weaver received 
were the same that J. B. Colt actually received, that is, the original price 
less the bonus paid to LaDue and Stone, (they first told me the differ- 
ence Colt received), Weaver not knowing anything of this arrangement, 
but supposing that he received the amount of the original contract prices. 
We will now take the contract let to H. Hale. He had really nothing 
to do with the contract, more than to lend the use of his name for one- 
third of the profits, which was the difference between prices in the orig- 
inal contract and the prices of the sub- contractors. The prices of the 
original were the same as those in J. B. Colt's contract, and the sub- 
prices were as follows: Earth, 23 cents; loose rock, 65 cents; solid rock, 
$1.50; clearing and grubbing, $40 per acre and two-thirds of the over- 
haul; the culvert work at $4. The bridge work was let to Frank McCabe 
at the following prices: Bridge masonry, $11, and Grand River at $12, he 
paying the $3 per yard and actually receiving $8 and $9. 

THEY SCOOP $27,000. 

We will now proceed to recapitulate: First take J. B. Colt's contract 
in Henry county. 

Earth excavation, 165,383 i-ioo yards at 2c, $ 3,307 66 

Loose rock excavation, 8.672 7- 100 yards at 25c, 2,168 17 
Solid rock excavation, 4,715 4-100 yards at 25c, 1,178 85 
Third class masonry, 1.920 yards at $ i, 1,920 00 

Clearing and grubbing, 43 6-10 acres at 20, 872 00 

$ 9,446 6% 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 305 

ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Earth excavation, 30,327 3-100 yards at 2c, $ 606 54 

Loose rock excavation, 1,916 yards at 25c, 479 00 

Solid rock excavation, 717 2-100 yards at 25c, 179 30 

Third class masonry, 400 yards at $i, 400 00 



-$ 1,664 84 



H. HALE, ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Earth excavation, 65,350 5-100 yards at 4c, $ 2,614 02 

Loose rock excavation, 9,420 7-100 yards at 35c, 3.297 24 

Solid rock excavation, 3,493 7-100 yards at 25c, 8.73 42 

South Osage River, 4,642 8-100 yards at 25c, 1,160 70 

Third class masonry, 1,128 62-100 yards at $1.50 1.69293 

Clearing and grubbing, 371 78-100 yards at 30.00 1.133 40 

Over haul, 2,627 71 



$13,399 21 
Two-thirds the amount of $ 8,932 80 

FRANK M'CABE. 

Second class masoniy, 2,325 80-100 yards at $3.00 $ 6,987 40 



Grand total $26,93 1 72 

WHY I DID — WHY I D-IDN'T. 

The question will doubtless be asked why I did not make this state- 
ment before. In answer I will state, at the time I had found all these 
things to a certainty, I went to two members of the board, and to one of 
them I made a clear and perfect statement, and would have done so to 
the other had he not refused to hear me. 

The first named was Mead, of Osceola, and the last was McBeth, of 
Clinton. It was he who would not listen to me; who went to D. C. Stone 
and told him he had better stop me from telling things. Stone came to 
me and wanted to know what I had said to that director. I do not 
remember just all that was said between Stone and myself, but from that 
time on Stone was continually making threats to me that if some par- 
ties did not keep their mouths shut he would fix them; that he carried 
the thing to do it with, and would put his hand on his pocket at the 
same time. I thought at the time and afterwards became convinced 
that he meant that I was the person who must stop talking. The direc- 
tor I made the statement to told me I had better look out for my life; 
that Stone had made threats which he thought applied to me, although 
no names were mentioned. Having a family to support, I could not 
endanger my life. For this and other reasons of a similar character, 
which for prudential reasons I deem it best not to mention at this time, 
I have been induced to withhold this statement of facts from the public 
until the present time. 

[Signed] CHARLES GRISWOLD. 

20 



3o6 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



The record from 1876 to date is familiar to all. The main feature 
and acts of the people of Henry County through their county court and 
the agents have been given, and the matter is now ended, except to 
meet the principal and interest on the compromised debt. Here the 
question is left, trusting that a period of uninterrupted prosperity may 
fall upon her people until the last vestige of this great wrong, except its 
undying remembrance, shall have passed away. 




CHAPTER XX. 

THE CIVIL WAR. 

THE STORM CLOUD-A GOOD DEAL OF SORROW, ETC.-1861 HISTORIC-MEETING AT CLIN- 
TON—WHAT WAS SENT TO THE GOVERNOR— DEMOCRATIC MEETING— RESOLUTIONS 
PASSED-NEWSPAPER COMMENIS -UNION MEETINGS-THE RESULT-THE GOSPKL 
OF HATE-FEDERAL FORCES— THE GRAY PREDOMINATES— SOME LOCAL MATTERS 
—THE BRIDGING OF THE BLOODY CHASM— ALL IS PEACE— THE BLUE AND THE 
GRAY-THE HEROES WHO DIED. 

THE STORM CLOUD. 

The Lone Star State had seen her Alamo, and from the blood of 
her murdered sons came forth a glorious state with the banner of free- 
dom and independence proudly floating in the breeze. Then had fol- 
lowed the Mexican War with a large increase of territory to join event- 
ually the noble sisterhood of states. The wave of excitement caused by 
the golden discoveries of California, had come and gone, and the 
quiet which followed was like the sleep of death. But this was the hush 
before the storm, and soon the dark and ominous cloud of civil strife 
began to hover over the land. Where all was peace the demon of hate 
and fanatacism sprang up, and our country, unexampled in the world's 
history for its prosperity, was soon given over to desperate conflict; a 
struggle which was to deluge our land with blood, and which was not 
only to rend the liberties of the people, but start an era of corruption 
the like of which the world had never seen. Hundreds of thousands of 
people slain, thousands of millions of the people's money stolen. Our 
fair land was to pass through the trying ordeal of domestic strife that 
clothed our people in anguish and gloom, and which brought sorrow and 
mourning into nearly every household in the land. 

1861. 

The year i86i is historic. The hydra-headed monster, hate, had 
taken possession of the hearts of the people and could only be 
appeased by deadly conflict and carnage upon the battle field. Peace 
spread her wings and soared aloft, and the "Land of the free" once more 
attested her devotions to free institutions by sealing that devotion in 
blood. Right or wrong they attested their sincerity by sacrificing their 



308 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

lives upon the alter of their belief — fighting for principles. The battle 
was fought, victory won by the Federal arms, and those who did the 
fighting have clasped hands across the bloody chasm. The blue and the 
gray mingle in fraternal union. 

WHEN IT STARTED. 

Very many of the people, both north and south, still believe that 
the roar of the signal gun at Fort Sumter was the opening of the dread 
conflict, but it would seem from the following official record, that Boston 
was the starting point that inaugurated the terrible civil strife, and that 
her fanatics furnished the arms, they^ dared not use themselves to start 
the unholy contest. 

The following document, when submitted to the legislature at its 
session of 1860-1 by the then governor of the state, Claiborne F. Jack- 
son, for the action of the legislature, to take such steps as the good name 
of the commonwealth demanded. The first refers to the action of the 
people of Henry County, in mass meeting assembled: 

At a meeting of the citizens of Clinton, Henry County, Missouri, 
held at the court house on the night of the 20th of November, 1860, the 
following, among other proceedings, were had, to wit: 

After a speech from Judge Williams, of Kansas Territory, and other 
gentlemen, the following resolutions were adopted: 

Whereas, We have received indisputable evidence of the fact that 
the notorious Montgomery, of Kansas, has lately been receiving large 
supplies of arms, money and provisions from the East, and he has erected 
a fort and has supplied the same with munitions of war, and that he has 
collected a large band of outlaws around him, and that he has published 
that the United States District Court should not convene at Fort Scott; 
that the several United States officers in that portion of Kansas Terri- 
tory should leave the territory or be killed; that these officers have been 
compelled to abandon their official duties and flee for their lives; that 
several citizens of the county have actually been murdered, property 
plundered, negroes stolen and the border counties threatened with inva- 
sion, and open and extensive preparations made to carry the threats 
into execution, for the purpose of murder, plunder and negro stealing. 

Resolved, That a volunteer company be organized for the purpose of 
defending our own homes, and, if necessary, the western borders of the 
state. 

Resolved, That a messenger be immediately sent to the governor of 
the state with a request to provide for the purpose. 

Resohed, -Thdit Thomas E. Owen, Norval Spangler, J. C. Alexander, 
J. Davis, A. M. Tutt, B. L. Dozier, T. W. Royston. S. P. Ashby and Burt 
I-lolcomb be appointed to enroll such names as may be willing to join a 
volunteer company and to effect an organization of the same. 

Resolved, That D. C. Stone and W. A. Duncan be appointed a com- 
mittee to wait upon the governor and represent to him the emergency of 
the case, and, if possible, procure a supply of arms. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 30 

Resolved, That a committee of fifteen be appointed to inform the citi- 
zens of the county of Henry of the meeting and its purposes, of the 22d 
inst., and devise means for the same. 

Tebo — A. C. Avery, J. Davis. 

Springfield— R. K. Murrell, E. J. Warth. 

Osage — A. T. Bush, N. S. Spangler. 

Deepwater — B. L. Dozier, L. Cruce. 

Big Creek — B. L. Ouarles, J. G. Dorman. 

Bogard — Jesse Nave, B. G. Boone. 

Grand River— S. P. Ashby, W. H. Cock, J. H. Vance. 

Resolved, That a messenger be sent to Warsaw, Osceola, Lexington 
and Warrensburg, and take with them a copy of the proceedings of this 
meeting and ask their co-operation. 

Lexington — A. Raney, Hampton Winew. 
Warrensburg— T. A. Hust, M. W. Lowry. 
Osceola— B. F. Cox, H. C. Tutt. 
Warsaw — H. S. Marvin, R. L. Burge. 

I. M. CRUCE, Chairman. 
L. B. Ouarles, Secretary. 

Clinton, Mo., November 20, i860. 
Goyernor Stewart : 

Sir: I am here to inform the citizens of this place of the following 
facts ; and I have been requested to present them to you as governor of 
the state. 

The Abolitionists, under the command of Montgomery and Dr. 
Jennison, to the number of from three to five hundred, armed with 
Sharpe's rifles, dragoon sabres, navy revolvers and bowie knives each, 
have suddenly commenced a war of extreme ferocity on the law-abiding 
citizens ot Southern Kansas, in the counties of Linn and Bourbon. 

These arms arrived by the wagon load at or near Mound City, about 
one month since, in boxes marked as donations for Kansas sufferers. 
They are all new. 

Montgomery had been at Boston during part of the summer, and 
returned with plenty of money to enlist recruits. Many of his men are 
freshly imported. He has taken possession of Fort Scott and other 
towns on the border near the Missouri line. He has murdered Mr. 
Moore, a grand juror; Mr. Harrison, Mr. Samuel Scott, Mr. Hindes, and 
obliged all of the United States officers, including myself, to fiy for our 
lives. His openly expressed design in a public speech, as he said, " with- 
out concealment," is to keep possession of Fort Scott and other places 
near the state line, to prevent " a fire in the rear," while he cleaned out 
"Southern Missouri of Slaves." So far, he has carried out literally his 
declared programme. 

The citizens of Missouri on the Osage, Marmaton, and in Bates and 
Vernon, are flying from their homes into the interior. 

He boasts that he has money and arms to sustain one thousand men. 
These are faets. " Oinne pars fui." 

My court was broken up by them — the U. S. Court for the Southern 
District. I expect they have seized the records, and also the records of 
the land office, as he publicly declared he would do so. 



310 HISTORY or HENR\ COUNTY. 

I send this in haste to accompany the proceedings, etc., of a meet- 
ing of the citizens here. Yours, etc., 

J. WILLIAMS, 
U. S. District judgt', jd Judicial District of the Territory of Kansas. 

Warsaw, Mo., November 22, i860. 
To D. C. Stone : 

Montgomery is at Ball's Mill — stole a number of negroes and mur- 
dered six or eight men. Williams is here. Great excitement — meeting 
to be held to-night — company formed. J. H. LEACH. 

Warsaw, Mo., November 22, 1660. 
To General Hackney : 

Is it possible to get the military from St. Louis, say five hundred 
men armed and equipped.'' Montgomery has actually invaded the state, 
and is now near Taberville. Reply immediately. 

JAMES ATKISSON. 

The following extract from a letter written from Papin\-ille, Bates 
County, Missouri, December 2, i860, to Gen. G. A. Parsons, was also 
presented by the governor to the legislature with the others. The extract 
is as follows : 

"They have been in the state in parties, evidently for the purpose of 
stealing negroes and other property, and to murder some of our citizens; 
they have also threatened the Democratic Banner, a newspaper published 
at West Point, Bates County, Missouri; and wherefore we would state 
that our county is virtually beseiged, our lives and property being 
endangered by this band of outlaws, compelling us to be armed to repel 
an invasion, with which Montgomery has threatened us in public speeches. 
Our state has been invaded and is now in imminent danger of being 
again visited by Montgomery and his hired band. We would further 
represent that on account of the present state of affairs, general distress 
now prevails. Slave owners have sent their negroes to the interior of 
the state. 

All honest and law-abiding men of Southern Kansas have either 
left or are leaving the territory, abandoning their all to save life. 

In conclusion we would repeat to you, that we deem this section of 
Missouri in danger, which we are but poorly prepared to resist success- 
fully. We also believe that they will attack us before spring ; that this 
border has been selected as the battle ground of the two great parties, 
the one for the Constitution and the Union, and the other for Abolition 
and Disunion. 

The leaders — Montgomery and Jennison — of the latter part)- openly 
and defiantly state that their object is to steal and liberate negroes in 
Southwest Missouri, and to hang or shoot every man who opposes them, 
b^ing well armed with new and superior arms, and money supplied from 
the East; they have now possesion of Fort Scott and other important 
places near the state line, and if Kot crushed, we may soon meet them in 
our state with sufficient force to carry out their programme." 

The people of Missouri began to see that if something was not 
done that blood and carnage would soon begin its terrible work. Union 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 31I 

meetings were held in almost every county of the state, but the people, 
while favoring union to the last degree, had no love for the abolition 
fanatics who were doing all that devils incarnate could do to precipitate 
a deadly conflict. In Henry County strong Union sentiments were 
expressed as above and another meeting called. Its proceedings are 
here given: 

" DEMOCRATIC MEETING." 

" Pursuant to a previous notice a large number of the citizens of 
Henry County met at the court house at Clinton on the 9th of January, 
i860, for the purpose of appointing delegates to the Democratic State 
Convention, which convened at Jefferson City on the 9th of April next, 
when the following proceedings were had: 

Major William M. Wall was made chairman and R. K. Murrell 
appointed secretary of the meeting. 

On motion of R. L. Burge it was resolved that a committee of six 
be appointed to draft resolutions expressing the sense of this meeting; 
whereupon the following gentlemen were selected, to wit: R. L. Burge, 
L. Cruce, John A. Bushnell, J. G. Dorman, G. F. Warth and James 
Swindle. 

During the absence of the committee the meeting was addressed by 
Messrs. Marvin, Williams and Murrell upon the political questions of 
the day. The committee returned and reported the following preamble 
and resolutions: 

Whereas, The United States have advanced more rapidly than 
any other nation in all the elements that constitute greatness; and 
whereas, the administration of the general government has been in the 
hands of the Democratic party for the greater portion of that time; 
therefore 

Be it Resolved, That we have entire confidence in the principles of 
the Democratic party. 

Resolved, second. That we regard the so-called Republican party of 
the north as a sectional and fanatical one, whose avowed principles are 
directly subversive of the constitution, and whose ultimate triumph would 
be a national calamity — greatly endangering the union of the states ; and 
that we look with extreme reprobation at its attempted organization in 
our own state. 

Resolved, third, That in the Democratic party we recognize a truly 
national party, unwaveringly devoted to the rights and interests of every 
section of our common country, and to the preservation and perpetuity 
of the entire union. 

Resolved, fourth. That we hereby pledge ourselves unanimously 
and cordially to support the nominee of the Charleston convention, and 
of our state convention, which convenes at Jefferson City on the 9th of 
April next. 

Resolved, fifth. That we endorse the Cincinnati platform, adopted 
June. 1856, and the principles enunciated in the Dred Scot case. 

Resolved, sixth, That having full confidence in the ability and 
integrity of the Hon. Waldo P. Johnson, of St. Clair, we hereby instruct 
our delegates to the state convention to cast the vote of this county for 
him as our first choice for sfovernor. 



312 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Resoli'cd, seventh, That having entire confidence in the qualifica- 
tions and fitness of our esteemed fellow-citizen, Major Daniel Ashby, of 
Henry, for the office of state treasurer, we hereby instruct our delegates 
to cast the vote of this county for him as first choice for said office. 

Resolved, eighth. That while we view the recent outrages commit- 
ted at Harper's Ferry, as the fruits of the teachings and "irrepressible con- 
flict" principles of the Republican party of the north, and sincerely sym- 
pathize with and approve of the course pursued by the state of Virginia, 
we regard the union meetings recently held in the north as manifesting 
the spirit of patriotism calculated to check the disorganizing principles 
of the Abolition party, and preserve the union of the states on true 
Constitutional grounds. 

Resolved, ninth, That in view of the eminent abilities and long- 
tried services of that "wheel-horse" of Democracy, Claiborne F. Jack- 
son, we recommend him as the second choice of this meeting as a can- 
didate for the office of governor. 

Resolved, tenth, That the chair appoint seventeen delegates to 
attend a state convention at Jefferson City and cast the vote of Henry 
County in obedience to the foregoing instruction; whereupon the fol- 
lowing were appointed by the chair, to wit: G. H. Warth, A. C. Marvin, 
S. P. Ashby, J. G. Dorman, A. Walmsley, L. Cruce, William Johnson, 
Addison Bronaugh, John A. Bushnell, R. L. Avery, William M. Wall, 
John W. Williams, James Swindle, William H. Murrell, A. J. Lee, John 
O. Covington and William Paul. 

Resolved, eleventh, That each township in the county be requested 
to elect delegates to a convention to be held at Clinton on the first 
Monday in May, next, for the nomination of county officers and the 
more perfect organization of the party, and the twelfth resolution called 
for the publication of the foregoing in the Warsaw Democrat, Jefferson 
Examiner and Clinton Journal. From the latter and under date of 
January 13th, i860, the above proceedings were taken. The report was 
signed, WILLiAM M. WALL, President. 

RICHARD K. MURRELL, Secretary. 

THE journal's COMMENTS. 

"A report of the proceedings of a Democratic convention, which 
was held in this place on Monday last, January 9th, i860, will be found 
in another column. Without expressing any other opinion regarding 
the general tenor of the resolutions adopted, and which every one is at 
liberty to construe as he pleases, yet we must say that the spirit which 
dictated the eighth resolution is worthy of general imitation. We have 
not seen before in any portion of the South, a single instance of a pub- 
lic recognition of the conservative principles which prompted the recent 
Union demonstrations in the North. Can it be that Henry County has 
taken the lead of the entire South, in a movement which sound policy 
as well as common sense would suggest.''" 

The Journal also copies an article from the Jefferson P^xaminer, 
which it apparently indorses. The Journal was an independent and 
conservative sheet, with an outspoken Union sentiment, but disclaimed 
any sympathy with the Republican party. He explained that he was 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 313 

opposed to and held in contempt the teachings of the "Helper Book," and 
that he was for the Union, now and forever. The Examiner article is 
here given : 

" UNION MEETINGS." 

"Since the Harper's Ferry tragedy, Union meetings have been held 
in nearly all the principal cities of the East, and glorious, patriotic, and 
Union-loving sentiments have been freely expressed. No one can have 
any doubt after reading the proceedings of these meeting, but that there 
is a conservative element in the free states, and that that element will 
ever be found upholding the rights of the inhabitants of every portion 
of our glorious confederacy — knowing no North, no South, no East, no 
West. Still no person who has the welfare of this country at heart, can 
be so blind as not to be fully aware that there is an organization north 
of Mason & Dixon's line, the leaders of which are most corrupt at heart,, 
ready and willing — and we may say anxious — to hurl this beautiful 
fabric of ours into the abyss of darkness. 

In the present emergency, when the troubled waters roll high, when 
disaster and shipwreck stare us in the face, it becomes the imperative 
duty of every true and loyal American citizen to show by his actions — 
not by mere words^that he still cherishes a deep-seated love for the 
union of the states. Let harmony, peace and good will prevail and we 
will have — . 

' A union of lakes, 

A union of lands, ^ 

A union of states, none can sever ; 

A union heart'^, 

A union of hands 
And the flag of our union forever !* 

We hope the good work so bravely begun by our brethren of the 
East, will go steadily on without faltering until sectionalism is routed 
from our midst, and until every traitor receives the same punishment so 
justly meted out to Ossawatomie Brown and his vile accomplices." 

THE RESULT. 

These meetings and extracts show the temper of the people of 
Henry County, and of Missouri generally, at the inception of the war^ 
a feeling which afterward moderated by the comnaencing of one of the 
greatest civil wars of history. The cool and determined hatred and 
fanatacism which had assumed the leadership at the North, was met by 
an impetuous, uncontrolable temper on the part of the leaders of the 
South, and thirty-five millions of people were led to the slaughter, who 
really were conservative in their feelings and abhorred the very thought 
of a fratricidal strife. 

The people of Henry County, as will be seen, were for the Union 
from the start, and not until the signal gun of defiance had reverberated 
through the valleys and over the prairies of our grand old state, did this 
sentiment change, and the people almost unanimously joined the cause 
of the South. Not then even was disunion in their hearts. 



3-14 HISTORY OF HENRV COUNTY. 

Eighteen years have passed, and sectional feeling is fast disappear- 
ing before the light of reason and the glory of our noble confederacy of 
states. The gospel of hate and the spirit of fanaticism is finding its 
place in the grave, as its disciples are gathered by the reaper of death, 
on his annual rounds. The unholy anger of an impetuous people is giv- 
ing way to a nobler effort, for they have seen and felt that a judgment 
so weak as to be controlled by anger, is manhood debased, and that they 
have fearfully paid for their unheard of and idiotic folly. 

The war left its bitter fruits in Henry County. Devastation and 
ruin swept over its fertile fields, hatred and animosity sprang up here and 
there, and the worst element of human nature held its brutal sway for 
four long years. Peace, with its angel wings, hovered over, and at last 
settled upon this striken land, and the sorrow and desolation of the past 
and present was softened by the bright and more hopeful future. Henry 
County contributed her quota to the armies in battle array, and while 
some joined the Federal forces, by far the greater number united with 
the army of the confederac}'. Some returned, others did not, each and 
all did their duty, according to their belief 

THE FEDERAL FORCES. 

Three years or the war— December 31, 1863 — Six volunteers in the 
Eighteenth Infantry, one in the Twenty-fourth Infantry, one in the 
Twenty-seventh Infantry, nine in the Thirty-third Infanty, three in the 
First Cavalry, two in the Eighth Cavalry. Twenty-two in all. 

MISSOURI STATE MILITIA. 

Four volunters in the First Cavalry, two in the Sixth Cavalry, twenty- 
seven in the Seventh Cavalry. Thirty-three in all. 

One volunteer joined a Kansas regiment, two an Arkansas regi- 
ment, two the Third Arkansas Regiment. Five in all. 

Here was a total of sixty, who joined the federal forces up to Janu- 
ary I, 1864. Undoubtedly there were others, but still Henry County citi- 
zens were mostly in favor of the Southern cause. 

THE GRAY PREDOMINATES. 

Henry County was more devoted to the South than to the Federal 
cause, and nearly 1,000 of her sons risked their lives and fortunes to the 
cause they held most dear. One company raised at or near Windsor, 
was General Price's body guard. But the record of those who went into 
the war on the Confederate side is not to be found. The record of the 
P"ederal army can be had, but when the lost cause found its grave, its 
records were left, in most cases to neglect, or purposely destroyed. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 3^5 

While bravery and true patriotism Tiad found in the Confederate 
army thousands of representatives, they were, according to those who 
believed in the gospel of hate, but vile traitors. So the records of 
brave men are lost, and history can only be gathered from oral testimony. 
To be sure the Confederate archives are safely housed at Washington, 
but they would be of little use in local history, even if examined. Many 
dark deeds were committed in the county, and Clinton had her court 
martial, and the bullet did its deadly work. 

A son of Alfred Kimsey was shot as a bushwhacker in 1862, and 
Howard Hampton gave up his life on Shawnee's beautiful prairies. 

Clinton had a call from the notorious Colonel Jim Lane, and he was 
going to destroy the county records or carry them off, but changed his 
mind or was persuaded out of it. Then came Colonel A. M. Tutt, and 
he was also about to take these records, but did not, and at last they 
were boxed and sent by wagons to Sedalia under the charge of Judge J. 
G. Dorman, which, after several mishaps, among which was a break 
down, arrived safely within the boundary of the "Wind City." Henry 
County was not a battle field, though several skirmishes were had within 
her border, but armed men of both sides passed and repassed through 
and over her fertile fields, and devastation and ruin was found every- 
where, but not that utter wreck which followed where the contending 
hosts met in battle array and struggled for supremacy. It would require 
a volume to detail all the local happenings, and then the record would 
neither be accurate or add to the welfare of the county. Let the dead 
past bury its dead, and let the present become a beacon light for future 
progress. Dwelling on the past, and especially that which can only 
bring sorrowing reminiscence, is not the duty of the hour, and so long 
as that record cannot be furnished, because not kept, it is best to pass it 
by and look not to the past, but to the future. 

The battle for a separate republic was lost and the Union pre- 
served—an imperishable sisterhood of states. Victory crowned the 
Union army and the contending hosts shook hands across the bloody 
chasm. To be sure cowards came to the front when the strife was 
ended and preached the "gospel of hate," but the masses of the people 
have at last driven them to cover. There is a union of hearts and a 
union of hands in this year of our Lord, 1883, and the country is making 
rapid strides towards the front rank of nations. The blue and the gray, 
the flag of our Union waves over both, and if ever a future conflict shall 
call our people to arms, the gray and the blue will be found side by side, 
each in heroic endeavor for the preservation of their common country. 
They sleep side by side on many fields of battle, the living are once 
more brothers, the dead are united, and upon the graves of the blue and 
the gray are placed the garlands of victory, and memory is ever kept 
green for the loved ones dead. 



3l6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

THE HEROES WHO DIED. 

''God knows who was right, 

Ah! yes! it is true, 
And the God of the Gray 

Is the God of the Blue; 
He bore their proud spirits 

To mansions above. 
And He crowned them at last 

With his garlands of love. 

The grasses grow green 

On the graves where they lay, 
The flowers bloom alike 

O'er the Blue and the Gray; 
And loved ones tears 

Are mingled with dew, 
While with it God blesses 

The Gray and the Blue. 

In Heaven above us 

God opens his gate 
No strife or contention, 

No discord, no hate; 
The portals are open, 

And there, side by side, 
Stand the heroes of battle — 

The heroes who died. 

God welcomes them all ; 

Though in battle array 
One bore the bright blue. 

And the other the gray. 
Though one fought for Union, 

The other for State, 
One Angel of Mercy 

Guided all to God's gate. 

And there at the right hand 

Of him who is just. 
Away from the mortal 

And up from the dust, 
There, there by God's throne, 

Far away from earth's grave 
In raiments unspotted. 

Stand the true and the brave. 



Shall we, the frail worldlings, 
Who yet live and wait — 

Shall we sit in judgment. 
Or cry out in hate, 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



317 



While a father above us, 

A father all wise, 
Calls back his loved children 

From earth to the skies, 

Foigive us, forgive us, 

Dear Father above ! 
Bring back to our conscience 

The heart beat of love ; 
And while we are weeping 

For our loved ones to-day 
Let us tenderly cherish 

The Blue and the Gray." 




Y3^ 



CHAPTER XXI. 

CLINTON TOWNSHIP. 

TOWNSHIP AND CITY— ITS EARLY BOUNDARIES— WHERE IT LIES— THE METES AND 
BOUNDS OF 1873— AREA AND POPULATION— ITS STREAMS AND FOUNTAINS— TIMBER 
AND PRAIRIES— PIONEERS AND WHO CAME LATER— SCHOOLS AND PIONEER 
PREACHING— NEW ARRIVALS-ITS FIRST PHYSICIAN— PROGRESS AND TRANSPOR- 
TATION-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS— THE NEXT CHAPTER, " THE MODEL CITY." 

A SORT OF COMBINATION. 

This township may be said to be mostly included in the city of 
Clinton, for its history is pretty nearly all included in the settlement of 
the county seat, its growth and its prosperity. Originally this township 
was a part of Grand River and Springfield Townships, range line 26 
dividing them and also passing through the center of what is now Clin- 
ton Township. In i860 the boundary line of Grand River was changed 
and Clinton w^as then all in Grand River Township, and there it remained 
until the final upheaval of township affairs by the new township organ- 
ization law of 1872-3 brought it into existence. At the same time it 
blotted from the map of Henry County the name of Grand River Town- 
ship, which had existed since the county was organized, a period of thir- 
ty-eight years. Clinton Township lies in the second tier of townships 
from its southern border, and is the central township and known as 
Congressional Township No. 41, of range 26, besides a small portion of 
tow^nship 40 of ranges 26 and 25, and also of township 42 of range 25, 
having in these additions nearly three and a half sections of land added 
to her domain. This was caused by the sinuous course of Grand River 
on her eastern border and Deepwater on the southeast. 

ITS BOUNDARY. 

Composed of Congressional Township No. 41 of range No. 26 and 
the west half of the southeast quarter of section No. 31 and the west 
half of section No. 31 in township No. 41, of range 25; also commencing 
at the southwest corner of the west half of lot No. 2 of the southwest 
quarter of section No. 6, township No. 40 of range No. 26, and running 
thence east to the southeast corner of the east half of lot No. 2 of the 
northeast quarter of section No. 5; thence south to the southeast corner 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 319 

of the east half of lot No. i of the northeast quarter of section No. 5; 
from thence east to the center of section No. i; from, thence south 
to the center of section No. 12; thence east to the southeast corner of 
the northeast quarter of section No. 12, in township No. 40 of range 
No. 26, and from thence east on the center section line running east and 
west through sections 7 and 8 of township No. 40' of range 25 to right 
bank of Grand River. 

AREA AND POPULATION. 

This gives Clinton Township an area of a trifle over 39I sections of 
land, or an acreage of 25,084 acres. It is one of the best townships in 
the county. Grand River comes in from the northwest and flows diag- 
onally through the township, and on the east running nearly due souths 
being its eastern boundary for nearly three miles. In the northwest is 
Fields' Creek, in the centeh Town Creek, and on the east side Deer Creek, 
all emptying into Grand River, and on its southern boundary Deepwater 
is found passing clear across the township from west to east, emptying 
into Grand River just south of the southeast corner of the township. 
Timber is abundant all along the banks of these streams, and the rest, or 
about three-fourths of the township is prairie land. So far as the fer- 
tility of the soil is concerned, it is fully up to the average of the county, 
but for some reason, the agricultural population has not kept pace with 
the surrounding townships. In 1870 the population was not given sep- 
arately as it had not been organized, and the township of Grand River 
had been given including other territory besides Clinton. 

Clinton City had a population of 640, as given by the census of 
that year. The population of the city and township in 1880 was 3,849, 
of which the city of Clinton had 2,862, and the township 987 outside of 
the city. The growth of the city for the decade was very great, but 
the township grew but very little, being hardly a natural increase.. 

THE PIONEERS. 

Among those who made this township their home was James B. 
Sears, who settled on section 5, and his son Frank Sears, now living in 
Oregon; John Nave, on section 4; William R. Owens, on section 12; P. 
J. Byser, from North Carolina, in section 33, in 1839, ^"^ ^^1^ ^^^ former 
in 1 83 1. In fact, except the Arbuckles, Kimseys and a few others, 
these were among the first settlers of the county. The Wallaces came 
in 1836, A. W. Bates in 1837, and many others whose further history 
will be found in that of the city of Clinton and pioneer history. 

The first school was kept as early as 1833 by old man Johnson and 
he went from house to house when he first commenced. 

Addison Young, Presbyterian, was the first preacher. He preached 
as early as 1831, at the cabins of the settlers but was never a permanent 



320 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

resident of the county. Both Abraham Millice, a German, and a Metho- 
dist and Thomas Keeney, a Baptist, also held services in the settlement 
in 1832. There was not, until 1835, either a school house or church in 
the township. 

The Huntley Mill, on Grand River, on section 23, some three miles 
southeast of Clinton, was put up in 1845, ^"d for a long time was the 
only mill in all this section of country, and Huntley Mill became quite a 
noted place. 

There was no store in the township until the location of the county 
seat, but in 1836 Thomas B. and Benjamin F. Wallace started a store in 
Fields Creek Township, about one mile north of Clinton, on section 35. 
and kept it about twelve months, when early, in 1837, when town lots 
were ready to be sold, removed to Clinton and opened the first store in 
the township. The location of the county seat gave Clinton Township 
a start, and with the county seat has double the population of any town- 
ship in the county, Windsor coming next with 1,900, a little less than 
half of Clinton. 

NEW ARRIVALS. 

The first child born in the township was Ermie, a daughter of John 
Nave, born 1837. The first physician in the township who resided 
within its limits was Dr. Hobb. 

The first election in the township after the county seat was located 
was in 1837. The first election in Grand River Township, of which 
Clinton was a part, was in 1836. 

PROGRESS AND TRANSPORTATION. 

From 1840 to the present time Clinton City has outgrown the town- 
ship, and for a number of years there was nothing to break the monot- 
ony of farm life or prevent the county seat from growing. Then came 
war's alarm, when brother was to meet brother in mortal combat, and a 
once free and happy republic was to become, for a time, the seat of a 
military despotism, and the demon of hate was to hold high carnival for 
four long and gloomy years. 

But even these dread years passed away, and the sunlight of peace 
once more shed its glowing rays over the land. Then Clinton Township 
and city woke up to the future, and the dead past was left to bury its 
dead. Its transportation facilities are at this time composed of the Mis- 
souri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, which passes from the north to the 
southwest portion of the township, giving about six miles of road to the 
township, with Clinton as the station. Another road is now being built 
from Clinton to Osceola, which will have a mileage within the township 
of about three and a half miles, but will have no station except Clinton 
within the township. The local history of these roads will be found in 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 32 1 

separate chapters under railroad history, a history which is likely to 
arouse intense interest among the people of Henry and St. Clair 
Counties. 

SCHOOLS. 

The schools of Clinton Township number four, beside tho graded 
school of Clinton City, and they are all in a flourishing condition. In 
fact, if there is any one thing that has shown good judgment and an 
enlightened policy, it is the interest taken in advancing the cause of 
education. Education is an enduring monument, the foundation upon 
which the superstructure of a free republic is built. Let Christianity 
and education go hand in hand, and tyranny will find no foothold on 
American soil. 

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

Under the provisions of the new township law township officers 
were elected, but Henry County repealed the law, which was unfortu- 
nate, as by township assessment the assessed valuation of each town- 
ship was separate, and its cereal and stock production was taken. With 
the same rate of valuation this law showed the growth of each town- 
ship in the county, and its progress or decay was shown from year to 
year. In the county assessment the gross sum is given, but whether 
that increase has been in the north, south, east or west part of the 
county can only be known by days of toil and comparison. Two sets 
of officers, which were elected under that law, are here given: 

1873— NEW ORGANIZATION LAW. 

Justices of the peace — George S. Ellis, Charles S. Robinson, Ansby 
Fike, J. R. Browning. 

Supervisor — John Curtis. 
Clerk— W. L. Windsor. 
Asssessor — John H. Doane. 
Collector — David P. Daum. 
Constable — Solomon Blatt. 

1875. 
Trustee — S. D. Garth. 
Assessor — George Hopgood. 
Clerk— W. B. Calvird. 
Collector — William L. Windsor. 
Road overseer — Egbert King. 
Constable — John N. Barlow. 
Justice of the peace — Theodore W. Collins. 

21 



CHAPTER XXII. 

THE "MODEL CITY" OF THE PRAIRIES. 

SOMETHING OF THE MODEL TOWN— THE BEAUTY OF ITS SURROUNDINGS— WHEN AND 
WHERE LOCATED— STREETS, ETC.— DATE OF ENTRY OF THE TOWN SITE, 1837— POST 
OFFICE AND POSTMASTER— DEED-HOTEL AND SALOON— WHEN INCORPORATED, 
1858— ITS GROWTH IN TWENTY-ONE YEARS— THE NEW BOUNDARY, 1866— THE IRON 
HORSE-POPULATION OF CLINTON BY DECADES— WHILE A TOWN— THEN A CITY 
OF THE FOURTH CLASS— A FINANCIAL EXHIBIT- ELECTION OF 1880 AND 1882- 
ANOTHER FINANCIAL SHOWING— THE SMALL POX SCARE— SOMETHING AUTHENTIC 
—ITS FUTURE. 

CITY OF CLINTON — THE MODEL TOWN. 

Clinton, in its plat and surroundings, may well be called the "The 
Model Town." There are very few as handsomely located towns in the 
state as Clinton, and this, combined with the beautiful residences, hand- 
some churches and splendid business blocks, its flagstone sidewalks, 
make one of the most desirable resident cities in the state. Could her 
wealth be utilized within her border she would hold an advanced posi- 
tion and Henry County itself, would stand, in wealth and productive 
capacity, in the front rank of counties in the state. Fully two million 
dollars are invested outside of Henry County by her citizens, and she 
thus loses the advantages arising from this large increase of wealth, and 
the taxation it would legitimately produce. Of course this wealth has a 
right to be invested where its owners elect, but it don't speak well for 
home pride or public spirit, both of which is required to build a town 
and increase the material prosperity of the county at large. 

Right in the center of a magnificent prairie, sitting upon a natural 
elevation or crest, the " Model City" stands, bathed in the sunlight, with 
the spires of her christian temples glistening in the bright rays which 
are reflected for miles around, for upon the open prairies, far to the 
south and east, these spires which ascend toward heaven can be seen for 
many miles, showing to the traveler that where they stand rest can be 
found on his earthly journey, and in his heart they stand before him as 
a harbinger of rest, a beacon light to direct him on the journey of life, 
which passes through the narrow way, crossing the dark and mystic 
river which flows through the valley of death, but when safely crossed 
the £folden shore is found. 



HISTORY OF HENRV COUNTY. 323, 

WHEN AND WHERE LOCATED. 

The gentlemen selected to locate the county seat of Rives County,. 
although appointed by the act of the legislature, December 13, 1834,. 
failed to make that selection until the fall of 1836, or about twenty-one 
months after their appointment. 

Anderson Young and Daniel McDowell, of Lafayette County, and 
Daniel M. Boone, of Jackson County, were the commissioners appointed, 
and they made the selection of the southeast quarter of section 3, town- 
ship 41 of range 26, as the site for the seat of justice of Rives County* 
Their report was presented to the county at the November term, 1836, 
and accepted by it. 

The county court at once acted upon the report by appointing Pey- 
ton Parks county seat commissioner, with full power to plat and lay out 
the same, and to sell lots, etc. Mr. Parks called on James M. Goff, sur- 
veyor, to plat a certain portion of the quarter section, which Mr. Goff 
did with the assistance of James Gladden, Robert H. Sproull and Wil- 
liam C. George. Sixty-four lots were laid off, and the first sale of lots 
took place February, 1837. 

The first building was put up by Thomas B. and Benjamin F. Wal- 
lace. This was a store house built of logs and weather boarded, and 
into this- building they moved their store, the first in the place, from their 
location, a mile north of town. The lot was known as lot number 17. 
John Nave put up the first hotel. This was a first class structure, looked 
a good deal like a cattle pen, and was located on the ground where Ful- 
kerson & Parks' drug store now stands. He had three rooms facing on 
Franklin Street, two facing on Main, with a hallway between the last 
two rooms. Nathan Fields hauled the logs for Wallace's store, and part 
of those for the hotel. They were one story and a half buildings, or had 
a good sized loft overhead. It was not long before other buildings were 
put up by John M. Reid, B. Fand and A. W. Bates, and soon Clinton, 
became quite a village in size and appearance. 

STREETS, ETC.. 

With the letting ot the new court house, and the location or removal 
of the court from Goff's, Clinton seemed to be full of life and growing 
rapidly. In 1840, she boasted of nearly 250 inhabitants. In the plat- 
ting of the town, streets were laid out as follows: 

RUNNING NORTH AND SOUTH. 

Main Street, east side public square. 
Washington Street, west side public square. 



324 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

EAST AND WEST. 

Franklin Street, north side public square. 

Jefiterson Street, south side public square. 

First street north of Franklin was named Greene Street. The first 
street south of Jefferson was called Grand River Street. The first east 
of Main was called East Street, and west of Washington, Water Street. 
The streets around the square were marked out eighty feet wide, and 
were laid off and named in January, 1837, at the time of the platting of 
the town. So it seems the first buildings put up were completed in Feb- 
ruary, 1837, and others soon followed. 

DATE OF ENTRY. 

The quarter section upon which Clinton stands was not entered until 
December, 12, 1837, when John F. Sharp was authorized by the county 
court to proceed to Lexington and enter the same. This was done on 
the date above mentioned. 

On examination the section line was found to be west of East 
Street, and that street was just over the line on section two, and it was 
therefore withdrawn or not laid out. 

Thomas R. Wallace and John F. Sharp were appointed to superin- 
tend the building of the court house, and they were ordered to let the 
same. There were several that supposed that no one would take the job 
for $2,500, and several Calhounites were positive, but it was let to John 
D. Mercer, of Pettis County, and work begun. The brick used was 
burned on the public square. The clay was little mixed with iron, which 
made the brick of a dark color, but it was excellent brick clay. 

Thomas 11 Wallace now lives in Lexington, Missouri, and is in the 
real estate and insurance business. Benjamin F. Wallace, who was the 
first postmaster of Clinton, is now living in California. John Nave» 
Asaph W. Bates, John F. Sharp, and Robert Allen, have all closed their 
earthly career, Nathan Fields is living in Fields' Creek Township. The 
first election ever held in Clinton was for a justice of the peace for 
Grand River Township, and the election was held November 23, 1837. 

The first physician was Dr. Hobb, who was there as late as 1842. 
At the time the postoffice opened in Clinton, there had been only one 
in the county and that was at Goff's, and William Goff was postmaster- 
As Calhoun was laid out about the same time, or a little sooner, than 
Clinton, the Goff postoffice was removed to that town, and these two 
postoffices were the only ones in the county, James Fields being post- 
master of the Calhoun office. Benjamin Wallace made a map of all 
this section of Missouri in 1839 and sent it to Washington. This knowl- 
edge of the country caused him to be appointed government agent in this 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 325 

section, of the postoffice department, and he was required to appoint or 
recommend postmasters for the new offices established, and in many 
cases to locate them. He gave a bond of $10,000, on which bond were 
the names of George W. and Preston Walker, Robert Allen and Thomas 
B. Wallace. The following is the first deed of record: 

DEED OF TOWN LOTS, CLINTON. 

This indenture, made the 19th day of February, in the year of our 
Lord 1838, between John F. Sharp, the county seat commissioner of 
Rives County, and the State of Missouri, of the one part, and John Bru- 
met, of the County of Rives, of the other part, witnesseth, that the said 
John F. Sharp, on behalf of the County of Rives, for and in considera- 
tion of the sum of fifty-seven dollars to him in hand paid, the receipt 
whereof is hereby acknowledged, doth bargain, grant, sell and convey, 
and confirm unto the said John Brumet, his heirs, and assigns forever 
all the right, title and claim the County of Rives has to the following 
lots, situated and being in Clinton, the county seat of Rives County, and 
state aforesaid, to wit: Lot Number 42, fronting on the south side of 
Jefferson Street, one chain, fifty-eight links and one-tenth; thence run- 
ning back three chains and sixteen links and two-tenths; also Number 
54, fronting on the east side of Main Street, containing the same number 
of chains and links in front and length; also lot Number 56, fronting on 
the east side of Washington Street, containing the same in front and 
back, and also Number 57, fronting on the west side of Washington 
Street, containing the same number of chains and links in front and 
back, supposed to contain one half acre each, by survey, be the same 
more or less, together with all and singular, the appurtances thereunto 
belonging, or in anywise appertaining to have and to hold the above 
described lots unto the said John Brumet, his heirs and assigns forever. 
And the said commissioner, John F. Sharp, the aforesaid lots unto the 
said John Brumet, his heirs and assigns, against the claim or claims of 
all and every other person whomsoever, do and will warrant and forever 
defend by these presents. 

In witness whereof the said commissioner, John F. Sharp, party of 
the first part, have hereunto set his hand and seal the day and 3'ear first 
above written. 

JOHN F. SHARP, [se.^vl.] 
Commissioner for the County Seat of Rives. 

On which is the following endorsement: 

State of Missouri, | 

Rives County, p^' 

On the 19th day of March, 1838, personally appeared before me, the 
undersigned clerk of the county court, John F. Sharp and acknowledged 
the above and foregoing deed of conveyance to be his act and deed, for 
the purpose therein expressed, and I do further certify that the said John 
F. Sharp is personally known to me to be the same person who exe- 
cuted the same. ¥. A. PINNELL, 

Clerk. 

Recorded the above and foregoing deed and acknowledgment this 
23d day of May, 1838. F. A. PINNELL, 

Clerk. 



326 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

HOTELS AND SALOONS. 

Having a first-class hotel, other public institutions were also thought 
to be necessary and it was decided that a first-class saloon should be 
opened for the convenience of the traveling public and other callers that 
came within their gates. Mr. Preston Wise came forth as the good 
Samaritan and proclaimed his willingness to provide liquid refreshment 
for the men who were caught in the rain storm and announced that they 
were very wet, and, also, that they were very dry. Mr. Wise got a 
"dram-shop" license May 3, 1841, and the beverage could be had soon 
after at five cents a drink, or generally in those days a "ftp," which was 
a Spanish sixpence. 

There was very little to impede the growth of the town, yet Clinton 
did not grow very fast in those days. The closing out of every mer- 
chant in the county but one in 1842 give the town a set back; still immi- 
gration came in and settled up the beautiful prairies, something that in 
time would be a substantial backing for a town. A town is a convenience 
— but it is the country that makes towns and villages and supports them. 

THE lOWN OF CLINTON. 

They wanted an incorporated town in 1858, and this was the peti- 
tion: 

"Whereas a petition was presented to the court signed by sundry 
citizens of the town of Clinton in this county, praying to have said town 
incorporated, and setting forth the metes and bounds thereof, and it 
appearing to the satisfaction of the court that two-thirds of the taxable 
inhabitants of said town have signed said petition, and, also, that the 
prayer of said petition is reasonable, — It is therefore ordered by the 
court that the said town of Clinton be declared to be incorporated 
within the following metes and bounds as set forth in said petition, 
to wit: The southeast quarter of section number three, and that part of 
the west half of the southwest quarter of section two, lying south of 
Franklin Street, contained in Davis' Addition to said town, all in town- 
ship number forty-one (41), of range number 26, and to be known, styled 
by the name of the "Town of Clinton;" and the court do hereby appoint 
George H. Warth, William H. Schroeder, William H. Cock, Jerald G. 
Dorman and Andrew M. Tutt. a board of trustees for said town, accord- 
ing to the statute in such cases made and provided." 

February 6, 1858. 

Thus Clinton became an incorporated town, but at that time, it did 
not put on any metropolitan airs, or did it seem much impressed with 
its new honors, still, it was slowly but steadily improving in appearance 
as well as in population, though it was far from being a large town. 

In i860, twenty-three years after Clinton was first settled, it boasted 
•of a population of some 500. This was not a rapid growth, in fact Clin- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 327 

ton had exhibited but little energy or enterprise, being willing to float 
along with the current. 

About this time the Abolitionists of the North and the " Fire-Eaters'' 
of the South, came to an agreement to disagree, and this resulted in a 
four years' war, and to Clinton of a loss of at least half of her population. 
The following item was found in the hrst issue of the Advocate, Janu- 
ary, 1866: "Clinton has a population of 250 inhabitants, white and 
black." November loth, of the same year, 1866, the boundary of the 
town of Clinton, was defined, and it is possible it can be traced yet, if 
the doctor hasn't cut or destroyed the "peach tree" or removed the rock. 

BOUNDARY OF THE TOWN OF CLINTON. 

"The west half section No. 2, and the east half section No. 3, town- 
ship No. 41, of range 26, or in other words : commencing at a rock near a 
peach tree, in the yard and directly south of the residence of Dr. McLane, 
running east to the northwest corner of the fair ground ; thence north, 
to the township line, near one acre, owned by Charles Synder at the 
north end of Seventh Street; thence west, one mile to the line of George 
W. Hancock's, or to the northeast quarter of section 3; thence directly 
south, one mile, to the southwest corner of Oak Grove Cemetery; thence 
east, on Ohio Street, to the place of beginning." 

Here, then was the leaven which was to transfer nearly a dead town 
to life and progress, to raise her up and place her before the people as 
the " model town." The record of 1845 was duplicated in 1866, and Clin- 
ton stood at the latter date just where she had stood twenty-one years 
before in point of population. But when the white-winged angel of 
peace, which had hovered over our ill-fated country for four long years, 
found rest for its feet once more, hope took upon itself a spirit shape, 
and sank into the hearts of the people, nestling there, with whispering 
of a bright and glowing future, if manhood and womanhood would step 
to the front. Hope, indeed, told a flattering tale, but it took truth as a 
companion, and the records of the past eighteen years have proven to 
the people that they were not deceived. 

Although Clinton had no flatboats to navigate Grand River, and in 
fact that stream failed to flow nearer than two miles of her corporate 
limits, yet she took a start, and clothing herself with energy and enter- 
prise, and making " progress" her aim, she moved forward, and the cen- 
sus of 1870 gave her a population of 640. Here was a gain of over 150 
per cent, in four years. This seemed to encourage her to greater efforts. 
New business houses began to appear, handsome residences took shape, 
and she spread herself, radiating from the public square. In the mean- 
time, railroad and telegraph facilities had come to hand, she had com- 
munication with the outside world, and seemed to imbibe some of its 



328 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

metropolitan airs. The ghastly sight of board shanties, which had filled 
the public square, had all been removed, and the town felt a new inspir- 
ation at the change. 

THE IRON HORSE. 

August 23, 1870, was a day of triumph for the people of Clinton and 
they made the most of it. The bells rang out a joyous peal, the boom 
of the cannon was re-echoed from the hills and valleys and rolled ove^ 
the prairies like the voice of heaven's artillery. The people who came 
from far and near took up the shout of welcome, and amid these evi- 
dences of joy and good will came the " iron horse," the earth trembling 
at his tread, his nostrils breathing fire and smoke, bidding defiance to 
time and distance. The people had gathered three thousand strong, and 
the day was given ov«r to speech making and rejoicing. 

Colonel Boudinot of the Cherokee Nation, made an eloquent speech 
of welcome, followed by the solid Burdette, then the member of con- 
gress from this district, who gave a history of the iron horse and the 
road he travels. Then Colonel J. D. Hines, of Harrisonville, gave one 
of his brilliant off-hand speeches, and this, with some appropriate clos- 
ing remarks, ended the speaking of the day. Each one of these orators 
of the day made history. Colonel Boudinot still ranks as one of the 
ablest men of his nation and stands deservedly high in the confidence 
of his people. Of him alone we speak. It was that same year that a 
brewery was started in Clinton, but it succumbed to life's fitful fever, and 
this was about the only manufacturing establishment of which Clinton 
could boast at that date, except her splendid flouring mills. 

However, there was quite a manufacturing fever developed during 
1870 and 1871, but it did not materialize. A few meetings were 
held, some talking was done but it failed to act or germinate in the estab- 
lishing of manufactories or a manufacturing town. And this is the 
position of affairs as late as January i, 1883. With the completion to 
Osceola and to Kansas City or Holden of the present railroad move, the 
manufacturing interests may take a new lease of life, and germinate 
into something tangible. It would prove the foundation stone of a pros- 
perous future. 

POPULATION OF CLINTON. 

It is in the population of Clinton that the story of her progress is 
best told, and so the record is here given, the first few decades taken 
from local sources : 

The population of Clinton in 1840 100 

The population of Clinton in 1850 250 

The population of Clinton in i860 500 

The population of Clinton in 1865 250 

The population of Clinton, census 1870 640 

The population of Clinton, census 1880 2,868 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 329 

This last is one of the most surprising gains of any city in the 
state, a gain of within a fraction of 450 per cent, or more than doubling 
her population of 1870, every two and a half years. 

There is another important factor in this matter. Take her popu- 
lation, say 3,000, and there is probably not another city in the state 
according to the above population, that can equal her in solid wealth. 
It may not all find its way on the assessor's book, but it is here, if they 
will just figure it up. 

With a new railroad to Osceola, gas works with a pledge of paying 
$3 per thousand feet of gas for twenty-one years, there will be a 
chance to invest in lands and coal mines for an income sufficient to meet 
the expense of gas bills. So the business adjusts itself. To a new res- 
ervoir of wealth a conduit is attached which will be able to carry it off 
with equal facility. 

BEFORE IT WAS FOURTH CLASS. 

In 1876 the following list of town officers were installed for the 
year: 

Trustees — William H. Lawrence, chairman; R. C. McBeth, Frank 
S. Gobar, Henry Reihl, Martin W. Mann. 

Collector — Earnest Snyder. 

City attorney and city clerk — Samuel E. Price. 

Assessor — Charles Snyder. 

Treasurer — Harry S. Leonard. 

Marshal — Asa Smith. 

Census taker — Samuel B. Crem. 

Engineer — James B. Burgen. 

In 1872 J. G. Middelcoff was chairman of the board of trustees, and 
Dr. S. P. Jennings in 1874 and 1875. The latter year the following con- 
stituted the board: 

Trustees elected — S. P. Jennings, J. B. Colt, John Oechsli, James 
Brannum, Dr. G. Y. Salmon. » 

A CITY OF THE FOURTH CLASS. 

The election, which resulted in an almost unanimous vote for a city 
of the fourth class, having been counted, the next move was for an 
election for city ofificers. There was considerable maneuvering between 
the parties to get control of the city affairs, these parties being repub- 
lican and democratic. 

The election came off on Tuesday, April 2d, 1878, and below are 
both tickets and the vote. It was hotly contested: 



cond. 


Third. 


Total. 


54 


lOI 


252 


56 


65 


214 



330 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

WARDS. 
Mayor — 

First. 

^Blatt 97 

Bollinger 93 

Blatt's majority 38 

Marshall- 
First. Second. Third. Total. 

*Vernon 73 46 96 215 

Jones 108 62 66 237 

Jones' majority 22 

ALDERMEN— FIRST WARD. 

'^Britts 93 Snyder 98 

*Brannum 91 Hopgood 100 

ALDERMEN — SECOND WARD. 

*Hughes 52 Foote 51 

^Fyke 38 Winzenburg 73 

ALDERMEN— THIRD WARD. 

*Allison 99 Brinkerhoff 73 

*Riggins 88 Oechsli . 70 

Democrats designated by an *. 

This gave the Democrats three aldermen out of six and a Demo- 
cratic mayor, who had the casting vote in the council on a tie. 

This was claimed as a great Democratic victory, as it was believed 
the Republicans had a sure thing until the votes were counted. C. A. 
Calvird was appointed clerk. 

When the city ofificers became duly installed they very naturally 
wanted to know what kind of a prize they had drawn, and they directed 
their attention in the first place to the city finances, and found nothing 
left to speak of. The Clinton Advocate made the following statement 
•of the situation to which the "new city" had fallen heir: 

"The books of the town for the past year were posted in the aggre- 
gate, at the last meeting of the old town board, and show, April 4, 1878: 

Expense, all kinds $4,547 08 

Receipts, from all sources 3,886 21 



Warrants outstanding and unpaid $ 660 87 

Sidewalk account outstanding 584 95 

Delinquent tax uncollected 985 18 



I 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 33 1 

This showing leaves the finances of the city in a bad fix for the new 
board to take hold, inasmuch as the law under which a city of the fourth 
class operates, will not permit the issuance of warrants unless there is 
money in the treasury to pay the same. The outstanding sidewalk 
account, which is inexcusably large, will doubtless continue to outstand, 
unless there is an attempt at forced collection; and the collections will 
be extraordinarily good if there is enough of the $985.18 delinquency 
collected to meet the deficit of outstanding warrants of $660.87. The 
new board has been left high and dry with no heritage except the 
expense bills of the old, and the startling figures of $4,547.08, represent- 
ing the financial ability of the old board to — spend money, to say the 
least." 

The impression among the new city officers was, that it was not a 
very flattering state of affairs, but as they were in office, and the welfare 
of the city in their keeping, it was necessary to go to work and bring 
not only order out of chaos, but some money into the city treasury, 
wherewith to move the wheels of progress, pay the debt and start for- 
ward on the road to success. To accomplish this the new officers went 
manfully to work to build up the " Model Town," so-called. 

THE FINANCIAL EXHIBIT — 1880. 

At the close of Mayor Blatts' administration of two years, a report 
of receipts and expenditures was made, which gave a total expenditure 
for the year of city expenses proper of $2,551.36, and a total disburse- 
ment of $3,030.83, the reduction of the city debt being $479.47. 

THE ELECTION OF 1880. 

The election of 1879 was only for aldermen, and resulted in the 
choice of Albestus Moore in the First Ward, W. D. Tyler in the Second, 
and Simon Hirsch in the Third Ward. The election of 1880, was for mayor, 
marshal and three aldermen, and meant a change all around. 

For Mayor — T. W. Collins. 

For Marshal — George Hopgood. 

For Aldermen — G. Y. Salmon, William W. Bolinger George Hove- 
meyer. 

Henry S. Marvin was continued city treasurer. Egbert King 
received the appointment of street commissioner, and Samuel B. Orem 
clerk and city attorney. 

The total delinquent list, real and personal, from 1877 to 1879, 
inclusive, was reported at $3,466.23. 

The aldermen elected for 1881, were Wilson H. Bledsoe, first; Gus- 
tavus C. Hughes, second, and R. C. McBeth in the Third Ward. 



33-2 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

June 28, i88r,E. King resigned as street commissioner, and T. H. 
Rains was appointed. 

November 22, 1881, Henry S. Marvin resigned as city treasurer, and 
W. D. Tyler received the appointment. There were no other changes 
until the following spring election. 

• I 

ELECTION OF 1 882. 

The choice of city officers at this election was, for 

Mayor— W. D. Tyler, 

Marshal — George Hopgood, 

Aldermen — Daniel S. Duden, First Ward; J. S. Fenn, Second Ward,. 
W. B. Calvird, Third Ward. 

Mr. E. Marks received the appointment for street commissioner. 
The city treasurer having been elected mayor, that office was filled by 
the appointment of William H. Dodge, as treasurer. Thomas P. Bates 
was made collector, and William Elliott, policeman. 

FINANCES. 

The statement at the first meeting of the council after the election 
of 1880, was to the effect that the city debt then amounted to a little less 
than $400, and to meet this debt, current expenses, and city improve- 
ments, it would require $3,500. To raise this sum a levy was made of a 
city tax of 50 cents on the $100 valuation, and $1 poll. 

This met all expenses and the debt, and left a balance in the city 
treasury from the collector's report, April 25, 1882, of $286.93. 

The collector's return for the two years was : 

Debit $13,563 S6' 

Credit 13,276 93 



$286 93 

The delinquent list which in 1880 had footed up $3,466.23, for the 
years 1877-8-9, was with the year 1880 added, as follows : 

Personal delinquent $1,068 66 

Real Estate 998 07 



$2,066 73 

The City of Clinton, is except perhaps a hundred dollars in running 
accounts, out of debt, and the city treasury held January ist, 1883, 
$725.84, cash on hand to its credit. 



SMALL POX SCARE. 



In January, 1881, it was reported that there was small pox in Clin- 
ton and the mayor promptly called a meeting of the city council to 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 333 

verify the report from the physicians of the city, and to take prompt 
measures to confine it to as few cases as possible. The meeting of the 
council was held January 19, 1881, and the city physician reported that 
he had three cases on hand, and while at that stage of the desease he 
could not possibly say it was small pox, yet that was his belief and that 
the symptoms he thought justified him in that belief. 

This seemed to satisfy the council that the dread disease was among 
them and active steps were taken to secure a pest house and to confine 
the cases to those that had been considered in danger by coming in con- 
tact with those stricken down before the nature of the sickness had been 
known. At the next meeting of the council Hon. Harvey W. Salmon 
offered the old brick machine shop to the city, free of charge, as a pest 
house, and further supplemented his generous offer by an offer to furnish 
money needed to place it in order for the reception of the sick. The 
city accepted the kind offer with thanks and no better place could have 
been chosen while the building was capable of housing all that might be 
or should become afflicted. 

On February i, 1881, the scourge might be said to have culminated. 
Up to that time there had been seventy-seven cases of sickness, thirty 
of which had been declared small pox and of this number nine had died. 
At that date there were eleven cases still in the hospital. The citizens 
met the scourge nobly and worked unceasingly to ameliorate the condi- 
tion of those stricken with the loathsome pest. 

This noble action on the part of the citizens met a handsome 
response from the people of the county, who through their county court 
donated $500 toward the expense of the citizens in fighting the dread 
disease. 

This was the first and the last time this pest had ever invaded the 
city of Clinton, and there is not much danger for the future, though it is 
not, of course, free from the visits of strangers who may possibly have 
the disease in their system and bring it, as was done before. 

ITS FUTURE. 

The growth of Clinton has been marked the past few years. That 
is, it has been greatest since 1876, but came again nearly to a standstill 
the past year, that of 1882. Very few residences were put up and no 
business houses of any value. The opening of 1883 seems to hold out 
more encouraging prospects. The new railroad, when completed, will 
give it more life, and while many of its citizens think that outside invest- 
ment will pay them better, strangers will come and make fortunes right 
under their noses. There is no mistaking the fact that Clinton is a good 
point for trade and will be better by and by. The situation is such that 
she has a large country tributary to her, and she is far enough from the 



334 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



large markets of Kansas City and St. Louis to hold a market of her 
own. With a railroad to Holden or completion of the Osceola road 
would give her many advantages, and that outlet, the writer learns, has 
been decided upon by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company. Then 
her future is sure, if enterprise and public spirit shall be the guide of 
her business men. The city can well be called the " Model Town," from 
the beauty of her surroundings and commanding position. Let her busi- 
ness men also be known in the same manner for their public spirit, 
energy and enterprise. 




CHAPTER XXIII. 

SCHOOLS— CHURCHES— LODGES— DEATH OF GARFIELD. 

CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS— RETROSPECT— LINCOLN SCHOOL— ACADEMY— COST OF BUILD- 
INGS—NUMBER OF PUPILS— CHURCHES AND THEIR ORGANIZATIOI^S— NUMBER OF 
MEMBERS— COST OF CHURCH BUILDINGS— SOCIETIES— A. F. AND A, M.— I. O. O F.— 
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR— ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER-A. O. U. W.— DEATH OF PRESIDENT 
GARFIELD. 

RETROSPECT. 

The early school history of Clinton varies not at all from the rise and 
progress of schools in other cities. It has had its drawbacks, and it also 
has had prosperous times, and while the people can pass over with but 
little regretful feelings what may have now and then arisen in the path 
of educational progress, the public schools of Clinton stand to-day a 
proud monument to the intellectual and progressive spirit of her citi- 
zens, and a bright omen of a noble future, wherein Christianity and 
education will go hand in hand. Schools have been kept in Clinton 
since 1840, and even as far back as 1833 a school was taught within one 
and a half miles of this spot. It was a private school. Still while Clin- 
ton has grown and prospered her educational interest has fully kept 
pace. There was the regular public school kept from year to year, or 
from winter to winter, with an occasional summer term, but it was not 
until the tide of returned prosperity set in after the sickening desolation 
left by the civil war, that the real sentiment of an advanced educational 
spirit took possession of the people. 

THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL. 

In 1868 the citizens became aware that increased school facilities 
were needed and that a more extended system of education was 
demanded to meet the requirements of the age. This feeling culmina- 
ted by the erection of a fine brick school house which was finished in the 
fall of 1870, and which was thought would fully meet the demand for 
educational purposes. It is an imposing building, occupying about one 
square of ground and upon a site which gives it a conspicuous mark for 
strangers to observe. The structure was completed at a cost of 
$26,656.35. It was a building and an equipment that the people were 
justified in feeling proud of. The school opened November i, 1870, with 



336 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Prof. Johnson as principal, and the following assistants: Mrs. Will}', 
Mrs. Devlin, Miss Mary Mitchell, and Misses M. Alice and A. Warth, 
making a corps of six teachers. Progress has marked every step of its 
way, and while a kw have seemed to regret the outlay, the great body of 
the citizens would not be without this magnificent representation of 
their intellectual culture and progressive spirit of enterprise for much 
more than it has thus far cost them. 

AFTER TEN YEARS. 

For ten years the school kept on the even tenor of its way. Nine 
months' schooling was given annually to the children and youths of the 
*' Model City," and so it flourished and prospered. But the city grew 
and the demand became painfully oppressive upon the school directory 
for more room. Their beautiful school building became dwarfed. That 
which was believed would meet the wants for school priviliges for a gen- 
eration to come, had exhausted its capacity in a single decade. 

Once more was the question, what shall we do for more room.' 
There was but one reasonable or sensible answer — build. The close of 
the school year of 1880-1, clearly showed that to meet the demand of the 
coming year an addition was necessary, and steps were taken to accomp- 
lish the desired object. Work was commenced on an addition, 42x47 
feet in size, two stories high, of good and substantial brick work. It 
was completed, and with the furniture cost $6,500, which makes the 
present school building of Clinton stand in a total cost of $33,156.35, but 
there are few buildings in the state for school purposes its superior, while 
there is not a city in the state of the population of Clinton, than can 
show as fair a monument of educational enterprise as is here exhibited. 

It is not necessary to say that it is a prosperous school, and that able 
and experienced teachers have been and are employed. Its record 
speaks. That record is such that no man could throw so much as even 
a straw in its way and to its detriment, that could not be accused of the 
supremest folly. 

In 1870, six teachers were employed, and in 1882, twelve were found 
necessary to fill the required places. There is now an enrollment of 765 
scholars at the present time, and as above stated twelve teachers are 
engaged. There names are as follows: 

Superintendent — Professor C. B. Reynolds. 

Assistants— Mrs. Carrie D. Price, Mrs. F. M. De La Vergne, Mrs. 
Sallie Gardiner, Miss Fannie Garth, Miss Tillie Hart, Miss G. S. Gist, 
Miss Efifie May, Miss Jennie Kennedy, Miss Ella Highrote, Miss lennie 
Kincannon, Miss Maria Bedford. 

Here is a small city gathered daily,. yet order reigns supreme. Let 
them gather the rich fruit now offered them, that they may fill the places 
a generation to come that are filled by the men and women of to-day. 




PUP.LIC SCHOOL BUILDINCi AT CLINION. 



HISTORY OF HEXRV COUNTY. 337 

THE LINCOLN SCHOOL. 

The Lincoln Colored School of Clinton is a commodious frame 
structure, put up at a cost of some $1,500, and is comfortably finished 
and furnished. There is in this school an enrollment of 120 scholars and 
an average daily attendance of about one hundred. Two teachers are 
employed and every facility and advancement is accorded to them that 
is found in the Franklin School, which their progress demands or 
requires. The Lincoln School is well kept, well attended, and its pro- 
gress is commendable. 

CLINTON ACADEMY. 

The Clinton Academy ranks as one of the best private schools in 
this section of Missouri, its course of education being thorough and its 
success thus far almost phenomenal. 

The school was founded in 1879 by Prof VV. H. Stehl, and opened 
with a list of sixty scholars. After two years of successful work Prof 
E. P. Lamkin united with him in conducting the same for one year, 
when Prof Lamkin assumed entire control and is its present propri- 
etor. Every department is under the charge of a competent instructor, 
and the school is thorough and and practical in all its details. At the 
present term eighty pupils are in attendance, and the Clinton Academy 
has assumed a name and place among the educational institutions of 
the state. It aims to be as advanced and thorough as any similar insti- 
tution of the same grade in all its departments, which comprises in its 
course of study, the classics, scientific and normal departments, etc. 

Professor Lamkin is assisted by Prof B. F. Milton, Mrs. Hattie Mil- 
ton, and Miss Miriam Switzer. The musical department is under the 
charge of Miss Bertha Custer, a lady of rare musical accomplishments, 
and an instructor of merit and success. The Clinton Academy is in 
successful operation as the above shows, and is an honor and credit to 
the city, and should get from it a generous support. In educational 
facilities, in a high order of instructive talents, and in the handsome 
manner in which all intellectual progress is sustained, Clinton can be 
proud of the noble position she holds among the cities of the state. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Presbyterian Church, of Clinton, was organized February 17, 
1866, by a few devoted spirits and the foundation laid for the present 
influential and successful church organization. The original members 
were J. A. De la Vergne, Mrs. F. M. De la Vergne, A. S. De la Vergne, 
Mrs. Catharine Rogers, Matilda Allen, William Moore and Rebecca 
Moore. When established the church was connected with the Presby- 
tery of Osage, and its first sacrament was administered on the first Sab- 



338 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

bath in April, 1866. The first session meeting was held November 8, 
1867, at which time eight accessions were received into the church by- 
letter and confession of their faith. This meeting was held at the resi- 
dence of J. A. De la Vergne. 

For the first few years the church was irregularly supplied, and 
preaching was had only at stated intervals. The growth of the church, 
however, had become such by 1870, as to warrant it in securing the ser- 
vices of a pastor, and a call was made upon the Rev. J. B. Allen, who 
accepted, and was duly installed and faithfully performed the duties of 
his calling for some three years and over. Under his charge the church 
grew, and strengthened with its growth. The church then called the 
Rev. Rewel Dodd, who became the pastor in 1874, and continued his 
pastoral duties acceptably until 1879. 

That year the Rev. R. M. Carson was installed as pastor, but 
remained only a few months, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Jo-siah 
Moore, under whose constant care it prospered. The reverend gentle- 
man closed his pastorate in 1881, and in November of the same year 
that eminent divine and earnest Christian gentleman, the Rev. John G. 
Fackler, was installed as pastor. Under his care the church seems to 
have taken new life. To his earnest, quiet, but energetic, action, the 
good work goes bravely on, bringing many to the fold, and there they 
will remain, for his eloquence in the pulpit and the social qualities of 
the man attracts and endears him to the whole church. 

At present the congregation is without a church edifice. One was 
built a few years since at a cost of $2,500, but was sold in 1882. The 
church has some very eligible lots, upon which a new church is to be 
erected in the near future, one that will meet the demands of a growing 
and prosperous church. 

THEY WERE RECEIVED. 

In 1876 a Presbyterian church connected with the Missouri Synod 
(known as the Declaration and Testimony Synod) was organized April 
4 of the above year. This church decided upon uniting with the First 
Presbyterian Church, and thereupon presented a petition, signed by J. 
G. Middelcoff and twenty others, expressing their desire for union and 
were received. 

Present Elders— J. A. De LaVergne. J. G. Middelcoff, E. W. Snyder, 
J. P. Watkins, S. Rice and E. P. Lamkin. 

Trustees — E. W. Snyder, E. P. Lamkin, ]. T. McKee, John P. Walkins 
and Alvin Haynie. 

Its present membership is no. 

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH — AN INCIDENT. 

In the summer of 1866 the Rev. J. H. Houx, of Warrensburg, Mis- 
souri, was conducting a revival meeting at the Bear Creek camp ground 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 339 

of the M. E. Church, south, in this, Henry County, during which, on the 
Sabbath day, he was arrested on a writ sworn out by some citizens for 
violating the law of the land by preaching the Gospel, he having not 
taken the prescribed oath. This oath was known as the "Drake's Inferno." 
This fact coming to the knowledge of some of the citizents of Clinton, 
the reverend gentleman was at once invited to come to Clinton and 
preach. The following September he accepted, and came to Clinton 
and preached in the school house, and in October he again came and 
the court house being occupied the reverend gentleman preached in the 
open air under the shade of the trees back of the Riggins Hotel, seats 
having been provided, to a large audience. Mr. Houx continued these 
meetings monthly until the following February, when a series of revival 
meetings were held by him and the Rev. H. R. Smith, for some three 
weeks, resulting in many conversions, and aroused a spirit for good 
which resulted in the organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, on March 4, 1867, with the following named members: 

G. B. Bell, Joanna Ashby, Henrietta Ashby, D. M. Ray, Thomas B, 
Riggins, Nancy Riggins, J. W. Riggins, George T. Riggins, D. M. Ray, 
B. L. Owen, Frances J. Owen, S. F. Miskimmore, Mary L. Kennedy, P. 
J. Shewsbury, Julia A. Jury, Kate A. Rogers, Medora M. Rogers, R. W. 
Hendrix, Lizzie Hendrix, Elizabeth Parks, Marion B. Means, Eliza A. 
Holland, Elizabeth Wells, Rettie R. Royston, Matilda Allen, B. L. 
Quarles, Sarah A. Quick, Julia Atwood, Mary E. Fields, S. F. Williams, 
Jane Williams, C. T. Collins, Theresa Collins, Montgomery R. Tutt, 
Annie Bailey, T. C. Miller, J. W. Miller, W. W. Jackson, Rebecca L. 
Jackson, J. D. Garner, Mary T. Meece, I. Hurst, Emma Garth, Willis G. 
Rogers, Adam M. Fulkerson, Angeline Fulkerson, J. Angle, Mattie E. 
Kennedy, M. D. Collins, Rachel Collison (colored). Ruling Elders: B. 
L. Owens and B. L. Quarles. 

The church has been prosperous, has wielded a large influence for 
good in the community and has at this time 120 members. 

At the organization the Rev. H. R. Smith was asked to become 
their pastor, giving the church half his thime. The call was accepted 
in April, and he came and settled here. He continued his earnest work 
until the 26th of January, 1872, when the Lord called him home. To 
his fervid eloquence, constant care and earnest work the church had 
grown and prospered, and his loss was deeply felt. The church then 
called to its service the Rev. G. L. Moad, who accepted the pastorate, 
which he has held for a period exceeding ten years, honored and beloved 
by his flock, because of his kindly and faithful work. 

The present elders are John S. Kimbrough, B. L. Quarles, B. L. 
Owen, W. W. Jackson, S. F. Williams. 

Deacons — G. F. Warth and J. M, Weidemeyer. 



340 HISTORY OF HEXRV COUNTY. 

The first church was erected in 1868, at a cost of $3,000, but was 
condemned as unsafe in 1877. The church having grown and the con- 
gregations large a fine brick church edifice was erected the same year 
the other was condemed, which was handsomely finished and furnished, 
.all costing the sum of $9,000. Its future seems fairly bright. 

M. E. CHURCH. 

This church was organized on the first Sabbath in June, 1866. There 
-was not a numerous gathering, neither were many to join the beaten 
track, but the narrow way. " Tall oaks from little acorns grow," and 
this church resembles such growth, for while its start was weak yet it 
was healthy and held the germ of a powerful organization which to-day 
resembles the giant oak of the forest, strong and enduring, and pro- 
tected from the storm ot adversity those who came under its protecting 
care. Mr. S. Jones and Mary Jones were the first members, and they, 
with the assistance of the Rev. C. E. Carpenter, formed the organiza- 
tion. In July, 1866, four more members were added, and on March 1st, 
1867, thirteen earnest and faithful workers in the Cause of Christ had 
enrolled themselves as members. 

It has wonderfully grown and prospered. In 1867, a neatly furnished 
and handsome brick structure was erected for church purposes, 36x54 
feet in dimensions, the whole costing $4,000. There are at this time 140 
members belonging to the church. 

The following have officiated as resident ministers since its organi- 
zation, and in the order named: Revs. E. C. Carpenter, J. R. Saseen, 

Laughren, J. W. Newcomb, S. Alexander, R. R. Pierce, A. H. Heimlein 
and J. N. Pierce. 

A flourishing Sunday School, with an enrollment of 140 scholars, is 
connected with the church, under the superintendency of A. J. Blackford. 

There have been dismissed to other congregations no less than 155 
members, and from the membership of the church five ministers have 
gone forth to work, and work faithfully in the Lord's vineyard. 

METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH. 

One of the first denominations to hold religious services in Clinton, 
was the M, E. Church South, but as all who were then connected witli it 
have passed beyond the river, or moved to other sections, it is impossi- 
ble to get data and facts in regard to it. Regular services were held 
until the war, and after peace was restored the society was reorganized, 
but the records were not preserved as carefully as they should have been 
until the present administration, under the care of Rev. J. F. Robb, who 
has inaugurated a systematic record, which, if continued, the future his- 
torian will find his task less difficult. The present membership is 44. 
The society owns a comfortable frame church. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 34I 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The First Baptist Church of Clinton was organized September 16, 
1866, by the Rev. James Wood. Quite an interest prevailed at the time. 
The following- were the original members: I. N. Barlow, E. A. Barlow, 
Thomas D. Hancock, William H. Dodge, Sallie Avery, Perez S. Jennings 
and Laura Jennings. At the close of the service there came forward 
seventeen persons, who joined the church at once. The church has pros- 
pered greatly and its congregation is perhaps the wealthiest in the city. 
In 1869 they erected a fine brick edifice on a commanding site at a cost 
of nearly $20,000. The church was dedicated October 17, 1869, by the 
Rev. Thomas Rambant. The following named ministers have officiated 
in the order named: The Rev. E. T. Brown, Rev. J. W. Warder, Rev. 
George Kline and the Rev. A. Matchett. The present number of mem- 
bers is 138. 

In connection with the church is a flourishing Sunday School, with 
an enrollment of 125 scholars. It is under the superintendency of Mr. 
A. C. Avery, who, by earnest labor, has caused it to grow gmd flourish 
and become a strong pillar of the church and the foundation stone of its 
future progress. 

The present deacons are A. C. Avery, P. S. Jennings and J. M. Avery. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

The first meeting of this denomination was held in 1854, by Elder 
Phenix. Services were afterwards held by Elders Speed and Longan 
until the outbreak of the war, when, in common with other religious 
denominations, services were suspended. Of the original congregation 
only two now remain, Mrs. Conner, formerly Miss Bozarth, and Mrs. 
Ragland; W. Hancock came soon after the first organization. In 1866 
a reorganization was effected by Elder Birge, and although this denom- 
ination is rather weak in the county regular services have been man- 
tained although the church has had but two regular pastors. Elders J. 
A. Ming and N. M. Ragland. The society has a comfortable church 
edifice costing, when built, nearly $6,000. The number of present mem- 
bership is about 100. 

CATHOLIC. 

This society in 1875 erected a frame building which has cost them 
$800. 

COLORED, 

There are two colored societies. The colored M. E. Church has a 
brick edifice, and the Baptists have a frame building. 



342 HISTORY OF HEN'RY COUNTY. 

LODGES AND SOCIETIES — K. OF P. 

Desplain Lodge, No. 34. — This lodge was organized October 15, 
1874, with nineteen charter members. It continued until July 10, 1877, 
when it disbanded. This apparently ended the lodge, but some four 
years after an attempt was made to resurrect it, to renew a life which 
should never have been suspended. June 18, 1881, the project of reor- 
ganization was effected with a membership of twenty-four. The organ- 
ization at once elected its officers, and were as follows: W. W. Bolinger, 
C. C; J. T. McKee, V. C; T. W. Collins, P.; S. B. Oram, K. of R. & S.; 
F. R. Piper, M. of F.; A. Moore, M. of E.; C. H. Griffen, M. at A. Since 
that time the lodge has proven a success, it membership gradually 
increasing until it numbers at this date, January i, 1883, forty members. 
The interest taken in the order is now so strong as to preclude any idea 
of another disbandment, and its future seems one of decided promise. 
The election of officers for the present year took place January i, 1883, 
and were duly installed by C. H. Griffen, D. D. G C. The officers were: 
W. H. Carpenter, C. C; R. H. Woods. V. C; M. A. Kitchen, P.; T. P. 
Bates, K. of R. & S.; C. H. Griffen, M. of F.; D. G. Duden, M. of E.; J. 
Simons, M. at A. 

I. o. O. F. 

Clinton Lodge, No. 169, chartered May 22, 1867, had a fine hall 
handsomely furnished, being in the Fulkerson & Parks building. This 
and other buildings were burned on the night of November 19, 1876, 
consuming all of the lodge books, papers and regalia. The lodge prop- 
erty was insured, and this enabled them to start again under encourag- 
ing auspices. They received from the grand lodge a new charter, dated 
May 19, 1877, upon which were inscribed the following names as charter 
members: W. M. Doyle, W. H. Bledsoe, F. Herkert. James B. Martin, 
E. L. Foote, M. W. Mann, John N. Barlow, James P. Dimmitt, J. G. Dor- 
man, A. Gebhardt. 

The meetings are held weekly and upon Monday nights. This 
lodge owns a handsome two-story brick building on the corner of Jeffer- 
son and Grand River Streets, in the second story of which their fine hall 
is located, with parlor, ante room, etc. The lodge is now and has been 
for years in a flourishing condition, doing a large amount of good and 
relieving much distress among the members of its lodge and order. 

Its present membership now numbers 126, with thirty-two members 
past grand. 

The officers now installed are: Daniel B. Ragland, N. G.; Nicholas 
Hindern, V. G. ; W. B. Calvird, treasurer; Charles S. Robinson, secretary. 

What amount had been expended previous to the fire could not be 
ascertained, only partially and from memory, but since the new books 
have been opened there has been disbursed: 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 343 

For relief of sick members $ 599 00 

For relief of widows and orphans 442 80 

Donations 292 45 

Funeral benefits 1 50 00 

Total $1,484 25 

"And the greatest of these is charity." 

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. 

Boanerges Commandery, No. 34, received its charter June 14, 188 1, 
with the names of the following charter members: R. F. Stevenson, G. 
L. Moad, A. F. Wyckoff, J. W. Baldwin, H. W. Grantley, William M. 
Prier, W. H. Stone, W. H. Lusk, E. C. McCarty, D. C. McNeil. The fol- 
lowing officers were elected who held for the year 1882, to wit: R. F. 
Stevenson, E. C; H. W. Grantley, G.; A. Haynie, C. G.; M. A. Fyke, P.; 
G. Hornmeyer, S. W. ; W. H. Stone, J. W. ; C. T. Collins, Treasurer; I. 
N. Jones, Recorder; G. L. Moad, S. B.; B. G. Boone, Sword Bearer; A. 
M. Fulkerson, W. ; E. C. McCarty, C. G. The lodge has been fairly 
prosperous and numbers thirty-one members. For the year 1883 the 
following are its officials: H. W. Grantley, E. C; A. M. Fulkerson, G. 
A. Haynie, C G.; G. L. Moad, P.; W. F. Carter, S. W.; I. N. Jones, J. W. 
H. F. Chappelar, Treasurer; S. E. Cheek, Recorder; B. G. Boone, S. B. 
W. A. Moore, Sword Bearer; M. A. Fyke, W. ; G. Hornmeyer, C. G. 

Ci^INTON ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER NO. 73 

was instituted January 9, 1875, by Companion H. L, Tillottson, under 
the authority of Companion Rufus E. Anderson, Most Excellent Grand 
High Priest of Missouri, and chartered at a regular convocation of the 
Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Missouri, held at St. Louis October 7, 
1875, signed by Most Excellent Comp. Charles F. Seavitt, Grand High 
Priest; Comp. Joseph S. Browne, Deputy Grand High Priest; Comp, 
William R. Stubblefield, Grand King; Comp. Noah M. Givan, Grand 
Scribe; Comp. George Frank Gouley; Grand Secretary. 

The following is a list of the charter members and officers: Comp. 
Matt A. Fyke, M. E. H. P.; Comp. Benjamin L. Quarles, K.; Comp. E. 
C. McCarty, Scribe; Comp. C. H. Carpenter, C. H.; Comp William T. 
Thornton, P. S.; Comp. A. M. Fulkerson, R. A. C; Comp. J. H. Webster, 
M. third V.; Comp. James Brannam, M. second V.; Comp. Ausby Fyke, 
M. first v.; Comp. John S. Kimbrough, Treas ; Comp. James A. Austin, 
Sec; Comp. Lewis P. Beatty, G.; Comp's A. J. Dunham, J. C. Gilliam, 
G. L. Moad, and others. 

The first petitions for chapter degrees were presented January 9th, 
1875. as follows: George Y. Salmon, J. G. Middelcoff and Henry Riehl, 
of Tebo Lodge No. 68, Clinton, Mo. 



344 HISTORY 01' HENRV COUNTY. 

John Oechsli and William C. Cashman, of Clinton Lodge No. 48 1, 
Clinton, Mo., Comp. R. T. Lindsay demitted from Chapter No. 10, 
Arkansas, and a member of Tebo Lodge No. 68, petitioned for mem- 
bership. 

This chapter has prospered ever since, and is now in possession of 
a good set of furniture and an excellent paraphernalia. The following is 
a list of the officers for 1883, the members numbering forty-six: Comp. 
J. G. Middelcoff, M. E. H. P.; Comp. B. L. Quarles, E. K.; Comp. Banton 
G.Boone, E. S.; Comp. George Hovmeyer, C. of H.; Comp. Alvin Haynie, 
P. S.; Comp. William F. Carter, R. A. C; Comp. Barney Stearne, M. 3d 
v.; Comp. L P. Williams, M. 2d V.; Comp. Joseph Pollock, M. 1st V.; 
Comp. John Oechsli, Treas.; Comp. Hale Montgomery, Sec; Comp. S. 
E. Cheek, G. 

This chapter has prospered from the beginning. Its membership is 
composed of the best men in the county, and ranks high as a chapter in 
the state. Regular convocation, the first Friday night of each month in 
Tebo Lodge room. 

A. F. AND A. M. 

Tebo Lodge No. 6S, was chartered at a regular communication of 
the Grand Lodge of Missouri, held at St. Louis, bearing the date Octo- 
ber 23, 1844, signed by J. W. S. Mitchell, G. M.; Frederick L. Billon, D. 
G. M.; E. S. Ruggles, S. G. W ; J. F. L. Jacoby, J. G. W., and Richard 
B. Dallam, G. S., under the seal of the grand lodge, authorizing brothers 
Andrew M. Tutt as W. M.; John A. Tutt, S. W.; John W Williams, J. 
W., and several others to meet and work as a lodge of Ancient, Free and 
Accepted Masons. This lodge met and throve till the beginning of the 
late civil war, which caused them to suspend labor. In 1866, a number 
of the old members and other Masons, met at their old hall, and the fol- 
lowing is a copy of the proceedings of said meeting: 

Whereas, In consequence of the disturbances existing along the 
borders of Missouri, during the late civil war in the United States, the 
members of Tebo Lodge, No. 68, A. F. & A. M., were prevented from 
meeting and holding their regular communications, thereby forfeiting 
their charter of said lodge in the year 1861. The cause of these disturb- 
ances having been removed, and by virtue of a resolution of the grand 
lodge of Missouri, passed at its May session in May, 1866, restoring said 
charter, several memV)ers of said lodge met in their hall in Clinton, 

Henry County, Missouri, on the day of August, 1866, and under 

the direction of Past Master John A. Pigg, of Sedalia Lodge, No. 236, 
the lodge was opened on the third degree in due form. 

Thereupon the following officers were duly elected to serve until the 
regular election fixed by the by-laws of said lodge. G. Y. Salmon, W. 
M'; B. L. Quarles, S. W.; William A. Duncan, J. W.; W. H. Cock, Sec- 
retary; Reuben T. Lindsay, Treasurer; S. D. Garth, S. D.; George F. 
Royston, J. W.; V. O. Grant, t. 



' 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 345 

There were present, visiting, Brothers William Settles, of Wells- 
ville,"Lodge, No. 194; T. H. Dennis, Plattsmouth Lodge. No. 6; N. B.; M. 
Zener, Newport Lodge, No. 209, Indiana; T. B. Riggins, Jefferson City- 
Lodge, No. 23. 

The officers elect being present were duly installed with proper 
instructions as to their duties by Brother John A. Pigg, past master, 
aforesaid. There being no further business before the lodge the same 
was dulv closed until its next regular communication. 

W.'H. Cock, Secretary. G. Y SALMON, W. M. 

From that date to the present time, 1883, the lodge has thrived and 
experienced her "high tides" and "low ebbs," as is the custom of lodges. 
During which time she has had enrolled on her list, nearly 300 members. 
She has assisted in instituting and contributed members to six neighbor- 
ing lodges in her old jurisdiction, and still retains over ninety members^ 
and ranks among the best lodges of the state. About 1872, this lodge 
suffered a loss of their hall; having built and furnished in good order, 
the second story over the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the founda- 
tion of which settled, causing the house to crumble, and rendering it 
unsafe to meet in. The lodge then sold their interest in the lot for a 
nominal sum to the church, and has since rented hall room, and now 
occupy a room on the southwest corner of the square, nicely fitted up, 
furniture, etc., amounting to over $1,000, and are in a flourishing condi- 
tion. The officers for the current year are : Hale Montgomery, W. M.; 
W. H. Allison, S. W.; J. L Hinkle, J. W.; Harry Kemp, S. D.; George 
Rains, J. D.; L P. Williams, S. S.; Joseph White, J. S.; James Spangler, 
Treas.; J. G. Middleoff, Sec; Wesley Lowdermilk, T. 

Among old papers was found the following copy of returns sent to 
grand lodge in 1858, of work done and membership: Number initiated 
during year, 10; number passed during year, 12; number raised during 
year, 11; number admitted on demits during the year, 5; number 
demitted during the year, 8; number of deaths during the year, 2. 

Officers, 1858— J. W. Settles, W. M.; B. L. Ouarles, S. W.; S. P. 
Ashby, J. W. ; J. G. Thornton, Jr., Treas.; S. M. Shrewsbury, Sec; A. 
M. Tutt, S. D.; S. D. Garth, J. D.; W. M. Bozarth, T. 

Past Masters— Robert Allen, J. G. Morton, Jr., A. M. Tutt, W. M. 
Bozarth. 

Roll of members, 1858: B. L. Owens, M. A. Stuart, B. F. Ashby, J. 
S. D. Blevens, J. O. P. Hargus, C. E. Cruce, G. W. Cruce, R. T. Lindsay, 
Benjamin Childers, P. F. Genoway, P. B. Sharp, Thomas L. Shipp, 
William Martin, J. H. Gilliam, S. C. Washburn, W. W. Wood, G. F. 
Warth, T. B. Cummins, D. T. Terry, Daniel Stewart, J. W. Askew, C. 
K. Dodge, William H. Peer, William McCann, William H. Westfall. C. 
P. Faris, Wessley Harbert, L M. Cruce, Sof. Cruce, D. C. Stone, William 
Paul, M. R. Gillett, J. H. Webster, P. Wise, F. P. Hibler, W. H. Hines, 



34^ HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

V. O. Grant, W. W. Collins, C. T. Collins, W. J. Dunn, William Hurburt, 
W. H. McConnell, C. H. Farley, D. A. Gillespie, J. S. W. Comb. 

Stated communications on the nights of the first and third Satur- 
days of each month. 

Clinton Lodge, No. 481. — Dispensation was granted June 24, 1874, 
and their charter received under date of October 13, 1874, with the fol- 
lowing charter members: W. C. Cashman, C. M. Fyke, B. L. Quarles, W. 
Griffin, C. H. Carpenter, H. K. Davis, N. B. Riggins, M. A. Fyke, A. M. 
Fulkerson, J. P. Botkins, John Oechsli and J. Wrightman. The order has 
gradually enlarged its sphere of operations, increased its strength and 
steadily gaining in number and influence. The following members have 
held the office of W. M.: B. L. Quarles, 1875-6-7; M. A. Fyke, 1878; A. 
P. Ferguson, 1879-80; G. Hovmeyer, 188 1; A. P. Ferguson, 1882. Pres- 
ent officers, 1883: A. P. Ferguson, W. M.; E. L. Foote, S. W.; I. N. 
Jones, J. W.; J. Wrightman, treasurer; W. Ellis, secretary. 

A. O. U. w. 

There is quite a flourishing lodge of the above order in Clinton, but 
its history could not be secured, although several applications were made 
for it. 

DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD. 

When the fatal result of the assassin's work had been flashed over 
the land there came up from the hearts of the people a wail of sorrow 
from one extent of the country to the other. Every heart was bowed, 
and there was a hush for a time as if the pulse of the nation had ceased 
to beat. The man was forgotten, but the death" of a president by assass- 
ination was a severe shock, and from every hill and valley, from palace 
and hovel alike, came forth the sound of sorrow and sadness at the 
nation's loss, and pity welled up in the hearts of all for the weeks of suf- 
fering the president had endured ere death claimed him for his own. 
Clinton mourned with others at his death and appropriate funeral cere- 
monies were performed, all business being suspended. 

An eloquent and very impressive sermon was delivered by the Rev. 
J. G. Fackler. A few impressive words were spoken by the Rev. J. N. 
Pierce, a speech by C. H. Snyder, and the sorrowful event was closed 
with music and prayer. Time will pass on, but memory will cling to 
the tragic death of James A. Garfield, and the sad event will go down 
in history and mark a black spot upon the history of political struggles. 



' 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

THE BAR, PRESS, BANKS AND BUSINESS. 

THE EARLY BAR-CLINTON BAR— THE PRESS— WHO OWNED THEM— BANKS AND BANK- 
ING-THE BUSINE-SS INTERESTS OF CLINTON— THE DIRECTORY OF 1874— THE DIREC- 
TORY OF 1883— MANUFACTURES— FLOUR, CARRIAGE AND WAGON AND CIGAR— ITEMS 
OF INTEREST WHICH CALL I O MIND SEVERAL THINGS-AN INTERESTING CHAP- 
TER OF BIOGRAPHIES AMD BUSINESS -A COMBINATION OF BRAINS AND ARTIbTIC 
SKILL-INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS. 

THE EARLY BAR. 

Very few members of the Henry County bar of to-day remember 
the early practitioners, or know anything of riding the circuit. There 
was a good deal of hard work and hard riding connected with the first 
sessions of courts in this county, and in fact in nearly all the counties. 
Long and dreary rides through an unsettled country often became 
monotonous, and it was then that the legal lights of early times cracked 
their jokes and laughed long and heartily over the amusing incidents in 
their circuit. Unfortunately it is impossible at the present day to obtain 
any personal reminiscences which would, in themselves, form an inter- 
esting chapter. 

The first bar was a strong one, composed of big brained, large 
hearted, good natured gentlemen, whose rugged health and lively spirits 
added a wholesome zest to their rattling intellectual encounters and 
hard fought battles in the legal arena. 

Judge Charles H. Allen held the first circuit court at Goff's, in 
August, 1835, and William B. Almond, at that time a rising member of 
the bar of North Missouri, came before the court as circuit attorney. 
The record ofthat court has been lost. Just who stepped to the front in those 
days would be hard to tell, but among those who led in the legal con- 
tests was John F. Ryland, of Lafayette County, afterwards a judge of the 
circuit; in fact, followed Judge Allen in 1837. Then, in 1838, came Wil- 
liam McCord and the genial Dewitt McNutt, who rode the circuit and 
could get off a story in a manner that would drive dull care away, even 
if the mud was deep and the streams out of their banks. They were 
admitted to practice in the circuit court in 1838. Judge Foster P. Wright 
was also an attorney in those days, but it cannot be said that his future 



348 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

success and popularity was very discernible at that early day. Judge 
Wright has grown with his years. 

James L. English was another of the stars that shown in the legal 
firmament of those da}'s. Samuel L. Sawyer and Robert L. Stewart 
asked to be admitted and were at the July term, 1839, and in the month 
of July of the following year came Hamilton Carmichael. Waldo P. 
Johnson was an attorney at that time. There were many others that 
tried their legal ability between 1840 and 1850. William Steele was 
one. Thomas Raffin was another, and he proved a man of ability and 
secured a large practice. Mark L. Means became a lawyer in 1845, and 
many other names might be added to the list. Henderson Young and 
Robert G. Smart, both afterwards served as. circuit attorneys. These 
men were not residents of Henry or Rives County, but practiced in her 
courts. Asa C. Marvin was a resident and so was L. C. Marvin, the 
lawyer and preacher. The former was a member of both houses of the 
legislature, and the latter a member of the house and its speaker in 
1862-63. Dewitt C. Ballou, who was also judge of this circuit, was 
another who rode the circuit and rode it well. The names of those who 
came later is familiar to most of our readers, and quite a number of those 
that are here mentioned rose to a high place among the legal lights of 
their day. 

They shone as bright stars in the legal firmament ; their names have 
lived after them, and will go down in history, bearing with them bright, 
laurel wreaths of legal victories, won, or the judicial fairness which ever 
characterized those who wore the ermine. Thus has been slightly 
sketched a few of the noted names which have graced the legal forum in 
days agone, and whose memories are cherished with fervor, because of 
the proud monument they have left of noble natures and great legal 
attainments. 

CLINTON BAR. 

The present bar of Clinton is a body of courteous gentlemen, whose 
legal attainments will compare most favorably with the best lawyers of 
the state. Following will be found a list of the names, with short sketches 
of those who now constitute the bar of Clinton. 

JUDGE J. B. GANTT. 

This gentleman is a native of Georgia, having been born in Putnam 
County in that state, October 26, 1845. He commenced reading law in 
the office of Col. L. N. Whittle, one of the prominent lawyers of Macon, 
Georgia, and of that state. He graduated at the university of Virginia 
in i858, then removed to St. Louis, and was there admitted to the bar by 
Judge Rombauer, of the circuit court. After one year of practice, Judge 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 349 

Gantt made Clinton his home, reaching here July i6, 1869, and entered 
the law firm of R. Allen & Co., as a partner, the other partners being 
Judge James Parks, and William T. Thornton, now of New Mexico. Judge 
Gantt retired from the firm in 1875, and removing to Sedalia, entered 
into partnership with George G. Vest, now United States senator. This 
partnership lasted two years, when the Judge again turned his eyes 
towards Clinton, and in 1877 made this city his permanent home. In 
the year 1880, Judge Gantt received the nomination and was elected 
judge of the Twenty-second Judicial District of our state, which he has 
graced with a rare judicial judgment, and his courteous treatment of the 
bar has won him the confidence and esteem of all. 

HON. JAMES PARKS. 

In the early settlement of Missouri, no state was more largely rep- 
resented than Kentucky — in many instances her sons and daughters 
being among the earliest pioneers. 

Peyton and Almira Parks, the parents of Hon. James Parks, were 
born in Kentucky, where they were married in 1826. During the follow- 
ing year, October 28, 1827, James was born and was brought by his par- 
ents to Cooper County, Missouri, where they arrived in the winter of the 
same year. 

They remained in Cooper County until 1834, when they emigrated 
to Henry County, the same being at that time, but little more than a 
wilderness, where roamed unmolested the wild animal, and the scarcely 
less wild Indian. Being possessed of strong arms and a brave heart. 
Mr. Parks reared his home, nothing daunted, and industriously applied 
himself to the duties before him, having an abiding faith in a better 
time coming. His wife died in 1847 (September), and he, after witness- 
ing the growth of Henry County — covering a period of nearly half a 
century — also passed away in November, 1880, respected by all who 
knew him. 

James obtained such an education as was afforded by the common 
schools of Henry County (which were very imperfect at best) in addi- 
tion to what instruction was given him at home. 

In 1862 he commenced the study of law, and during the year fol- 
lowing he received the appointment of county and circuit clerks for 
Henry County, which positions he filled until January, 1867, in the mean- 
time continuing his study of the law. When his term of office expired 
he obtained a license to practice and soon worked up a good business. 
In 1878 he was elected judge of the probate court and again elected in 
1882, his term of office expiring in 1887. The judge is a member of the 
Masonic order. 



350 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

He was married December 24, 1850, to Miss Mary J. Allen, a native 
of North Carolina. They have six children, whose names are as follows: 
Almira F., Laura A., Peyton A., Mattie E., Susan and Anna A. 

HON. FREDERICK E. SAVAGE 

is the seventh child of John and Margaret (Frizell) Savage, and was born 
in Lewis County, Kentucky, August 12, 1836. His educational advan- 
tages were excellent. Besides attending the common schools of his 
county he was a student of Delaware College, Ohio, where he received 
a collegiate education. In 1856 he began the study of law under the 
instruction of J. B. Houston, Esq., at Washington, Kentucky, and after 
pursuing his studies for six months he entered the law office of S. Hol- 
brook, at Clarksburg, in the same state. There he remained for one 
year, when he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he continued to read 
law in the office of Judge William T. Wood until December, 1857, when 
he came to Henry County, Missouri, and located at Clinton, the county 
seat. In 1858 he entered upon the practice of law, continuing therein 
until 1861, when he enlisted as first lieutenant in Company A, Owens' 
Battery, Southern army. After being in the army six months he 
resigned and returned to his native state, where he resided about a year, 
when he again enlisted in the Southern army, this time joining Com- 
pany C, Seventh Cavalry, General John Morgan's command, with which 
he served as a faithful and gallant soldier until the close of the war. In 
1865 he located in Scott County, Kentucky, and commenced teaching 
school, continuing said occupation until November, 1868, when he 
returned to Clinton, Missouri, and immediately resumed the practice of 
law. 

In 1874 he was elected judge of the probate court, the duties of 
which he faithfully and ably administered for four years. He filled the 
ofifice of county attorney, one term by appointment. In May (20) 1874, 
he was united in marriage to Miss L. M. Mallory, who is a native of 
Scott County, Missouri. 

ROBERT C. MCBETH. 

The subject of this sketch, who has a state reputation in legal 
requirements, was born in Harrison County, Ohio. October 4, 1838. Here 
he was raised until his twenty-first year, having received a fair educa- 
tion, when he entered the law office of, at that time, a prominent lawyer, 
G. W. Mcllvaine, who, at this writing is one of the judges of the supreme 
court of Ohio. Judge McBeth, on the completion of his studies, was 
admitted to the bar at New Philadelphia, where he at once engaged in a 
successful practice, which he continued for some time, being prosecuting 
attorney of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, four years. At the end of that 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 351 

time, or at the close of the war, the western fever struck him and he 
came to Missouri, stopping a short time in Warsaw, Benton County, 
but finally settling in Clinton in the year 1866. He has held a promi- 
nent position at the Henry County bar for years, was for one term judge 
of the common pleas court, which had concurrent civil jurisdiction with 
the circuit court, but declining further service has since given his atten- 
tion to the law. He has secured a very lucurative practice and is at this 
time at the highth of his legal powers, a good speaker and an adept in 
legal technicalities. Judge McBeth is something of a politician, promi- 
nent in the council of the Republican party of his county and state, and 
has secured to himself a handsome competency. 

BANTON G. BOONE 

was born in Callaway County, Mo., October 23d, 1838. His father, Ban- 
ton G., was a native of Madison County, Kentucky, and his mother, 
Elizabeth Boone, was a native of the same state. He received such 
educational advantages as his own indomitable energies afforded. At 
the age of fourteen he entered a printing office in Troy, Lincoln County, 
to learn the printing business. In 1856 he became a resident of Clin- 
ton, Henry County, Mo., and soon after was appointed deputy circuit 
clerk, and held the position four years. He improved his leisure hours 
of day, with hours of night, fitting himself for the practice of law, and 
in 1859 '"'e was admitted to the bar by Judge Foster P. Wright. His 
standing in the legal profession has been gained only by hard and unre- 
mitting study. A laborious student with a clear analytical mind, clear- 
ness and quickness of perception, and prompt in application he has 
every element which combine the lawyer and counselor. Mr. Boone 
has become prominently connected with the political history of the 
state. In 1874 he was nominated by the democrats as a candidate for ^ 
the legislature, and elected by a handsome majority. He was declared 
Mie nominee of his party in the caucus for speaker, his opponents being 
General James Shields and M. V. L. McLelland. He was subsequently 
elected by a vote of ninety-six to twenty-four, J. L. Bittinger, of 
Buchanan, being his republican opponent. He proved to be a man well 
fitted for the position, and his impartiality and unpartisan conduct, 
together with his uniform fidelity to the public good won for him the 
regard of the entire general assembly. In 1872 he was a candidate 
before the convention for attorney general, and came within one-third 
of a vote of being the nominee. Politically he is a staunch democrat, 
and from boyhood he has taken an active interest in all political matters. 
He is a close student and fondly devoted to the profession of his choice, 
and his future eminence lies in the legal arena, where his natural and 
acquired qualifications opens up to him a nobler aspiration and more 



352 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

enduring fame. He was married June 4th, 1874, to Miss Irene C. 
Rogers, a daughter of the late Dr. John A. Rogers, a prominent physi- 
cian and one of Clinton's early settlers. Their family consists of two 
children, Bessie and Britts Gorman. 

MATTHEW A. FYKE, ESQ. 

Prominent among the members of the bar of Henry County is Mat- 
thew A. Fyke. He was born in Union County, Illinois, May 27, 1848, 
and is the fourth child of Josiah A. and Margaret Fyke. His parents 
emigrated from Tennessee to the former state in their youth, and were 
reared in Union County, where they were married and where they now 
reside. Matthew received a good, practical education, and in 1866, when 
eighteen years of age, commenced the study of law in the office of 
Thomas E. Merritt, Salem, Illinois. He continued the study of law for 
the period of three years. In the meantime, however, he taught school 
in order to raise funds for his own support, while completing his studies. 
In May, 1869, he was licensed to practice law by the supreme court, of 
Illinois. He practiced his profession for six months in his native count}', 
but having a desire to move further west, believing that the western 
country offered superior advantages to the ambitious and energetic, of 
whatever trade or profession, he left Illinois and came to Henry County 
in 1871, locating at Clinton, where he still resides. Industriously apply- 
ing himself to his profession his business has gradually increased until 
he now enjoys a lucrative practice. He is not only a good lawyer, but 
is a successful business man, being one of the stockholders of the Henry 
County Bank. Mr. Fyke is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and 
Commandery, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He was 
united in marriage October 19, 1871, to Miss Jennie Bennett, who was 
also a native of Illinois. Mrs. Fyke died May 2, 1873. They had one 
•child, Jennie B. 

SAMUEL B. ORExM 

is a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and he was born July 16, 
1837. His father, Jonathan Orem, a native of Pennsylvania, married 
Elizabeth Buchanan, a native of New Jersey. When S. B. was eighteen 
years of age he removed to Jersey County, Illinois, and until 1862 taught 
school. He then enlisted in Company K, Ninety-seventh Illinois Infantry, j 
and was commissioned first lieutenant. In the winter of 1863 and the spring j 
of 1864 he served as assistant quartermaster at New Orleans. At the 'i 
battle of Fort Blakely he was wounded in the leg and was in the hos- 
pital until mustered out of service in July, 1865. Until 1866 he was 
employed in the plantation department of the Freedmen's Bureau. He 
then returned to Jersey County, Illinois, and in 1868 came to Clinton 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 353 

and soon after he was appointed deputy county clerk. He also filled 
the position of deputy sheriff and deputy circuit clerk. In 1875, in con- 
nection with I. N. Jones, he published the Advocate, and after two years 
journalistic experience, he engaged in the practice of law. In 1880 he 
was elected city attorney. He was married June 11, 1871, to Miss Eliza 
E. Darby a native of New York. They have two children, Herbert H. 
and Arthur D. 

CHARLES T. COLLINS 

was born in Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, February 22, 1833, and 
reared there until seventeen years of age. During three and a half years 
of this time he was a student in Central College, Fayette. He then 
removed to Clinton and commenced clerking in a mercantile house and 
pursued this avocation until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted 
in a company of Missouri State Guards commanded by Captain Owens, 
but on account of disability he served only a short period. In the 
autumn of 1862, he went to Macon City, Missouri, residing there until 
July, 1864; then to Clay County, Illinois, where he lived one year and 
then returned to Clinton and resumed his former business of salesman 
with different firms until 1872, when he entered the law office of Fyke & 
Ladue. After applying himself assiduously for three years he entered 
into partnership with Mr. Fyke. He is a safe, reliable and successful 
attorney, and the firm of Fyke & Collins has a reputation not bounded by 
county limits. Mr. Collins was married January 6, 1868, by Miss Emma 
Moore, who died July 23, 1870. He was again married May 24, 1876, to 
Mrs. Mollie Bradley, whose maiden name was Skinner. They have two 
children: Edna E. and Birdie S. 

CLEMENT C. DICKINSON, 

one of the rising attorneys of Henry County, is a native of Prince 
Edward County, Virginia, and was born December 6, 1849. He is a 
classical scholar and was graduated from Hampton and Sidney College. 
From 1868 until 1872 he was principally engaged in teaching school in 
Kentucky. In 1872 he came to Clinton, where, for three years, he was 
engaged in teaching, occupying his leisure hours in preparing himself 
for the practice of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1876 and in the 
fall of that year elected prosecuting attorney which office he held with 
signal ability and success, until January i, 1883. As a lawyer he is a pleas- 
ant speaker and full of brilliant ideas and sound logic and he has proven 
himself a successful practioner. He was married December, 1882, to 
Miss Mattie Parks, a daughter of Judge James Parks of this city. 



23 



354 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

HANNIBAL II. ARMSTRONG 

is a native Missourian, having been born in Lincoln County, this state,, 
but may be considered a Henry County boy, having arrived in this 
county at the tender age of two years. He was born November 3, 1852. 
He is a graduate of the Kentucky State University, at Lexington, Ken- 
tucky. He finished his studies in 1871, and in 1872, entered the law 
office of McBeth & Price, where he remained for three years, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1875, and also held the office of city attorney for 
one year. An absence for nearly two years in Texas, from 1876 to 1878, 
in which he was engaged in farming, gave him, on his return to Clinton, 
greater zest for his profession, and he now ranks as one of the leading 
attorneys among the younger members of the bar. He is a rising legal 
light, a good talker, good student, and in fact endowed with those quali- 
ties which makes the lawyer and the man. He was married July 19, 1882, 
to Miss Lucy J. Harris, of Texas. 

SAMUEL E PRICE 

is a native of Ohio and he was born in Carroll County, October 26, 1841. 
He was educated at the McNeeley Normal School in Harrison County, 
that state. Having selected the practice of law as his life vocation he 
entered the office of J. C. Hance, a prominent attorney of New Phila- 
delphia, Ohio, and after a thorough preparation he was admitted to the 
bar in Carroll County. He remained in the office of his preceptor until 
the fall of 1865 and in December of that year he removed to Warsaw,^ 
Benton County, Missouri, where he practiced one year and then removed 
to Clinton, Henry County, He formed a partnership with Judge R. C. 
McBeth which continued until July, 1874, when they dissolved. In 1877 
Mr. Price associated himself with J. Blackford and this firm continued 
until May, 1880, since which period he has conducted his practice alone. 
He is careful and methodical and to this may be attributed much of his. 
success. He was married July 20, 1870, to Miss Carolina D. Smith, a 
native of Ohio. They have one son, John J. 

THEODORE W. COLLINS 

was born in Boone County, Ohio, December 9, 1843. He received an 
academic education at the Ohio Valley Academy, of Decatur, that 
state. He enlisted in the Federal army during the late war in Com- 
pany E, Tenth Cavalry Regiment, serving over one year. Seven months 
of this time was spent as drill master of Marsh's battalion. After his 
discharge he, in 1864, re-enlisted in the Fourth Ohio Regiment, which 
was on escort duty, being General Howard's body guard in the march to 
the sea. After returning home he was engaged in teaching in his native 



HISTORY OV HENRY COUNTY. 355 

State until 1867. when he removed to Macon City, Missouri, and taught 
school until 1869, devoting his leisure hours to the study of law in the 
office of Williams, Jones & Brock. He was admitted to the bar in 
Macon County, and in 1869 settled in Clinton and commenced the prac- 
tice of law. He has both talents and ability and first-class business 
qualifications which he is utilizing in carrying on a heavy insurance bus- 
iness. His mind runs more to that than law and he makes little effort 
to secure a practice in the profession. He has held the position of 
mayor of Clinton and is active in educational matters. He was married 
August 2, 1868, to Miss E. Johnson, of Pennsylvania. They have two 
children, Carl F. and Maud E. 

CHARLES A. CALVIRD 

is a native of St. Clair County, Missouri, and he was born April 27, 1854. 
His youth was spent on a farm. He commenced the study of law in the 
office of M. A. Fyke, and was admitted to the bar in Henry County in 
February, 1875, and though young in his profession, in 1878-9, held the 
office of city attorney of Clinton. His career has been one of honest, 
continued and successful effort, and he has a bright and promising future 
before him. He was married March 30, 1881, to Miss Flavia Lindsay, a 
native of this county, and a daughter of J. Lindsay, one of Henry County's 
most worthy citizens. They have one daughter, Enid. 

ALVIN HAYNIE 

was born in Winchester, Scott County, Illinois, on March 3, 1847. At 
the age of ten years his father removed to DeWitt County, Illinois, where 
the subject was raised and educated, receiving a good English education 
in the common and normal schools of Illinois. He served in the Federal 
army during the late war as a private. At the age of nineteen he entered 
the law office of the Hon. H. S. Green, a prominent railroad lawyer of 
that state, and remained two years, when he was admitted to the bar in 
May, 1868, being then twenty-one years of age. In July, 1881, after 
several years of successful practice in Illinois, he removed to Clinton, 
Henry County, and commenced at once the practice of his profession, 
where he holds a well deserved and prominent place, which his natural 
qualifications and hard study have given him. He was married Novem- 
ber 26, 1872, to Miss Olive R. Longmate. Their family consists of two 
children: William L. and Frank. Mr. Haynie has attained to the degree 
of Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity. 

ROBERT E. LEWIS, 

the prosecuting attorney of Henry County, was born in the neighboring 
county of Cass April 3, 1857. In 1866 the family removed to Callaway 



356 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

County, Missouri. He was educated at Westminster College, Fulton, 
Missouri, and while teachincr for three years pursued his law studies. On 
moving to Clinton in March, 1880, he entered the law office of Judge J. 
B. Gantt, and from whose office he was admitted to the bar in 1881. Mr. 
Lewis was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of Henry County 
at the election of 1882, and has a splendid field to develop whatever of 
talent he may possess in the high and honored profession in which he 
has made a life engagement. 

JULIUS C. JENNINGS 

first came to Clinton, Missouri, in 1871. He is a native of Kennebeck 
County, Maine, and he was born February ii, 1853. He received his 
education at the Maine Wesleyan College at Kent's Hill, that state. 
After coming to Clinton he was for several years engaged in teaching 
school and studying law with C. B. Wilson. In 1875 he removed to 
Indiana, where for two years he held the position of superintendent of 
the city schools of Covington, and the following two years a similar 
position at Russelyille, that state. In 1879 he returned to Henry County, 
Missouri, and began the practice of law, making his residence at Cal- 
houn for two years. The past two years he has made his home in Clin- 
ton, where he is steadily working into a good practice. 

EDWARD A. GRACEY 

is a native of White County, Tennessee, and he was born May 22, i860. 
He received a liberal education and commenced the study of law in the 
office of D. L. Snodgrass, at Sparta, Tennessee, at the age of eighteen 
years, and in 1878 and 1879 attended the law school at Lebanon, Ten- 
nessee, and was admitted to the White County bar in October, 1880. In 
February, 1881 he came to Clinton, Missouri, and entered the law office 
of Hon. B. G. Boone and again admitted to the bar in August of that 
year. May 22, 1882, he was appointed a justice of the peace and the 
following November he was elected to this office. From his natural talents 
and studious habits, a bright and promising future is sure to be realized. 
He was married September 6, 1882, to Miss OUie Blakemore, a native of 
Henry County, Missouri. 

THOMAS MARION CASEY. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Henry County, having been 
born in Shawnee Township, April 25, 1858. He was reared upon a farm 
and took a liking to the business, but was anxious to have a thorough 
education. In this he was supported by his parents. Having received the 
rudiments of an English education, and otherwise fitted himself in 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 357 

an advancement for a thorough collegiate course, he entered the Cum- 
berland University, of Lebanon, Tennessee, in the opening fall term, 
1877, in the nineteenth year of his age. He made rapid progress and 
graduated with high honors from the literary department in 1881. He 
returned home for the summer vacation, and in the fall again returned 
to Lebenon and entered the law department, which has become famous 
for its thorough course of studies, and the number of legal lights that 
claim it as their Alma Mater. In June, 1883, he graduated from the law 
department, received his diploma, and was admitted to the bar. Armed 
with the proof of his talents and hard study, he again returned home, 
and soon after entered the law office of the Hon. Banton G. Boone, where 
for nearly a year he has steadily pursued his legal studies, and will 
undoubtedly become a member of the bar of Henry County. 

IHE PRESS OF CLINTON. 

« 
There are but few towns of the state outside of the metropolitan 
cities which have had a more able and entertaining public press than 
Clinton. The press has done much to advance the material prosperity 
of the town and it should be encouraged by a liberal support. The 
character of the citizens of a town or city is known and judged by its 
press, and in very many cases a newspaper has been in advance of the 
people, yet the press itself has not done justice to the extent of its power 
for good, because the people with whom it lived gave it but a meager, if 
not a sort of starvation support. Let the citizens give their newspapers 
a generous subscription and advertising patronage, and in the end they 
will reap a threefold benefit. It is bread cast upon the waters, to be 
returned after many days. 

FIR.ST PAPER. 

The first paper published in the City of Clinton was known as the 
Clinton Journal, and the first number was issued April 26th, 1858. Its 
publisher was Isaac E. Olney, who remained with it until it suspended 
in the year 1861, on account of the then opening of the civil war. The 
paper might have been said to have been neutral in political matters, 
the editor devoting his time to local affairs, of town and county. He 
received the official printing of the county, and in the year 1858 received 
$49.50 for publishing the first financial statement of Henry County ever 
given to the public. Mr. Olney removed from Clinton in the summer of 
1861, to Garnet, Kansas, at which place it is said he died some years 
since. Clinton was then a small town of less than 500 inhabitants, and 
the paper, which was a seven column sheet, columns fourteen ems, pica, 
wide, was really a credit to the place. 



358 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

THE ADVOCATE. 

During the time of the civil war, no paper was published in Clinton 
or in Henry County, until January 22, 1866. The Advocate was then 
started by G. Sellers, and the same year Mr. Will H. Lawrence bought 
an interest and the firm was Sellers & Lawrence. Mr. Will H. Law- 
rence purchased the paper in 1867 and continued its editor and proprietor 
for eight years and over, leasing the office to Mr. L N. Jones, March i, 
1873, for one year. The Advocate was Republican in politics, and was 
•one of the most influential weeklies of the party in the state, and still 
continues to hold a leading position in its party and in this section of 
country. Mr. L N. Jones took charge as above stated, with W. N. Pick- 
erill as his editor. A Mr. Palmer was associated with him a short time. 
At the end of the year, Mr. Will H. Lawrence having returned, he again 
took possession from March 5, 1874. Mr. Lawrence continued its publi- 
cation until December 9, 1875, although from September 30, 1875, to 
above date, it was again in Mr. Jones' hands, as Lawrence was on a visit 
to New Mexico. On December 9, 1875, as above dated, Mr. Lawrence 
finally closed his connection with the Advocate forever and sold the 
same to L N. Jones and Samuel B. Orem. These gentlemen took charge 
and for the first time in the history of Clinton journalism employed a 
local or city editor, and it is no reflection whatever to say that neither 
•before or since has the local columns of the Advocate sparkled with 
such life and light, as while under control of Mrs. Kate M. Jones. 

Mrs. Jones had been connected with the paper for many years and 
was known far and wide as a " lightning compositor." She could set up, 
justify and correct her sticks, from 16,000 to 18,000 ems of solid nonpa- 
reil in the space of ten hours, and did set up 1,922 ems of solid nonpa- 
reil in one hour. Perhaps the av^erage citizen does not know how fast 
work that is, but a printer and those connected with newspapers know 
that there is not over one in a thousand printers who can perform that 
feat. To an outsider it can be explained as being somewhat of the 
nature of a railroad train going so fast as to make the telegraph poles 
assume the appearance of a picket fence while riding along. 

The firm of Jones & Orem continued until February 8, 1877, when 
Mrs. Kate M. Jones bought Mr. Orem's interest, and the firm's name was 
changed to I. N. Jones & Co. This continued until February 28, 1878, 
when Mr. Jones having been confirmed as postmaster of Clinton post 
office, Mrs. Jones took full possession of the office, assuming editorial as 
well as proprietary control. This continued until August 8, 1878, when 
Mrs. Jones sold the office to W. H. and J. B. Davis. These gentlemen 
remained only a little over a year, and then sold the paper to O. L. and 
C. H. Newton December i, 1879. Owing to ill health and death in the 
family of one of the proprietors, they only conducted the paper about 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 359 

nine months, when they sold it, August 19, 1880, to Mr. S. C. Mace, the 
present proprietor, who has kept up the paper to its previous standard 
•of excellence, and it is still the organ of its party in this section of the 
state. Mr. Mace came from Illinois, where he had conducted in past 
years the Greenville (Illinois) Advocate and the Belleville Republican, 
and was also connected with the St. Louis Tribune. 

Mr. Mace has a model office, well equipped with all the necessary 
material for a first class newspaper and job office, with a power press and 
one of the most beautiful little steam engines to be found anywhere. 
The mechanical department is under the charge of Mr. T. O. Smith, who 
fully sustains its character as a first class newspaper and job office. On 
January 29, 1883, the proprietor of the Advocate started a daily — a 
handsome six column newspaper, the first issued, and with bright prom- 
ises for success. 

THE DEMOCRAT. 

This paper, as the name implies, is the representative of the Demo- 
cratic party in Henry County. It first threw its banner to the breeze in 
1868, and its editor was Mr. Joshua Ladue. The paper was purchased 
by W. H. Davis in the, spring of 1872, who began to improve it, and give 
it life. He purchased a power press in June 1872, and adding other new 
material, he was soon in possession of a first class office. He was an 
aggressive editor and although on friendly personal terms with Mr. Law- 
rence, of the Advocate, the political spats w^ere often, and sometimes 
pretty severe on both sides."' Mr. Davis continued sole proprietor until 
1S74, when Mr. William T. Thornton, one of the rising young men of 
Clinton, and possessed of wealth, united with Mr. Davis, and the firm was 
Davis & Thornton. This continued until 1876, when Mr. Thornton had 
been elected to the legislature, and Mr. Davis, wishing to try his fortune 
in another business, the office was sold to Mr. Benjamin R. Lingle and 
Mr. Frank Mitchell, September 10, 1876. 

Mr. Thomas J. Lingle bought his brother Benjamin's interest August 
28th, 1877, the firm's name remaining the same until 1878, when George 
R. Lingle united with his brother Thomas, by purchasing the interest of 
Mr. Mitchell, aud the firm's name was changed to Lingle Bros. These 
gentlemen are still editors and proprietors, and the Democrat is on this 
1st day of January, 1883, stronger in influence, more solid financially, 
and enjoying a greater degree of prosperity than ever before in the his- 
tory of the paper. It has, also, its power press, all the paraphernalia of 
a model office, is published in its own building, and is wielding a strong 
and successful influence in the ranks of the democratic party. Its new 
office is situated on the first floor of the new Democrat block, and is 
one of the best arranged and convenient offices in the state. The 
Lingle Bros, attend strictly to business, overseeing in person the busi- 



360 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ness and mechanical departments, as well as the editorial. Their suc- 
cess may be attributed in a larjje measure to this close attention to 
business, combined with a practical knowledge of it in all its parts, and 
close economy in its management. The success which has thus far 
attended their efforts is well deserved, and as Clinton shall grow in pop- 
ulation and wealth, the Democrat will enlarge and keep step to the music 
of progress, and like its neighbor, continue to be an institution of which 
the people of Clinton and Henry Counties may well be proud. 

THE CLINTON ENTERPRISE. 

This paper was started in the year 1872, November 9th of that year, 
and was under the charge of L. G. Schofield, who failed to make it a 
success. He published it about a year, and then sold out, the material 
becoming the property of Will H. Lawrence. The latter took the mate- 
rial to Fort Worth, Texas, started a paper and sold out within a year. 

The Southwest Missouri Look Out was the name of a paper which 
succeeded the Enterprise, but like the latter, it soon climbed the golden 
stair. Drs. Birge and Miller were the proprietors. 

CLINTON NEWS. 

This paper first came into existence in the year 1873, by W. S. 
Walker, and like its predecessor, the Enterprise, failed to coin ducats, 
and succumbed to the inevitable. At that time Clinton was too small 
to support three papers. The News was a bright sheet, but the field was 
occupied, the expenditures exceeding its income and death or suspen- 
sion claimed it for its own. Mr. Walker removed to California. 

CLINTON INDEPENDENT. 

This paper had a fleeting existence of a little less than two years, 
and as its name indicates, was politically independent. It was a seven 
column folio and was owned and edited by R. F. Stevenson. It was a 
fair local paper and its columns showed a good advertising patronage, 
but like a few of its creed, failed to strike favorably the public pulse, and 
it became a thing of the past. 

THE MESSENGER. 

This paper is the representative of the Greenback-Labor party and 
otherwise is independent, in all matters of local importance. The first 
issue of the paper was November 7, 1881, by W. G. Church & Sons, and 
presents a neat typographical appearance. It is a seven column paper 
and is influential in the field of politics, in the faith it represents. It is 
outspoken in its belief, and has a manly independence that is a credit to 
the newspaper profession. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 361 

One other attempt to start a newspaper was made by C. F. Gates, 
and called the Journal, but it was not looked upon with favor even at the 
start, and it required but a few months to place it on the suspended list, 
as that of the dear, departed defunct. It existed about six months, but 
it cannot be said to have lived at all. The newspapers have a number 
of dead to the account of Clinton, but it may be said that those which 
have lived were the survival of the the fittest. The newspaper field of 
Henry County is now filled, and all are worthy representatives of their 
creeds and professions. 

BUSINESS PROGRESS — FROM 1 874 TO 1 883. 

The business interests of Clinton and its growth the past nine years,, 
may be seen from the statement given below. The list for 1874, was 
made out April ist, and that of 1883, on February 1st. The increase has 
been as marked as the increase of population. Still, with an agricultural 
population at this time of fully 20,000, Clinton could as well sustain 5,000 
citizens us 3,000. 

BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF CLINTON, APRIL I, 1 874. 

2 Banks. 2 Lumber Dealers. 

4 Butchers. 4 Merchant Tailors. 

2 Bakeries. i Manufacturing Confectioner. 

3 Boot and Shoe Makers. i Manufacturer Patent Riding 
2 Boot and Shoe Stores. Plows. 

I Clothing and Gents' furnishing 2 Milliners. 

goods. I News and Book Store. 

1 Confectionery. 2 Newspapers. 

4 Drug Stores. i Photographer. 
9 Dry Goods Stores. 3 Tobacconists. 

2 Dentists. 3 Tin Stores. 

I Furniture Store. 3 Saddle and Harness Makers. 

I Gunsmith and Machinist. 2 Undertakers. 

13 Grocery and Provisions. i Carriage Manufactory. 

1 Hotel. 2 Wagon Manufactories. 
4 Hardware and Implements. 4 Blacksmiths. 

3 Jewelers. i Marble Works. 

2 Livery Stables. . Total, 88. 

BUSINESS DIRECTORY, FEBRUARY I, 1883. 

3 Abstract Offices. 2 Bakers. 

3 Agricultural Warehouses. i Bed Spring Factory. 

3 Banks. 2 Broom Factories. 



362 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



3 Boot and Shoe Stores. 

6 Blacksmith Shops. 

2 Barber Shops. 

3 Billiard Halls. 

4 Boot and Shoe Makers. 

7 Clothing and Gents' Furnishing. 

4 Confectionery Stores. 
9 Carpenters. 

5 Drug Stores. 

9 Dry Goods Stores. 
2 Express Ofifices. 

1 Elevator. 

2 Furniture Stores. 

I Feed Stable and Yard. 

1 Gunsmith and Machinist. 

3 Grain Dealers. 

12 Grocery and Provision Stores. 

2 Hide and Fur Dealers. 
5 Hotels. 

4 Hardware and Stove Stores. 
2 Job Printing Offices. 

4 Jewelers. 

4 Insurance Agents. 

2 Livery Stables. 
I Sale Stable. 

5 Lumber Dealers. 

3 Merchant Tailors. 



6 Meat Markets. 

1 Marble Yard. 

4 Musical Instrument Dealers. 

2 Flouring Mills. 

3 Millinery Stores. 
I Custom Mill. 

1 Notion Store. 

2 News and Book Stores. 

3 Newspapers. 

2 Photograph Galleries. 
I Painting and Glazing. 
1 Produce and Commission. 

1 Queensware Store. 

2 Restaurants. 

5 Real Estate Dealers. 

4 Tobacconists and Cigar Manu- 

factories. 

3 Tinware Stores. 

3 Saddlery Hardware and Harness 

Stores. 

4 Sewing Machine Agencies. 

7 Wine and Beer Saloons. 

1 Stone Yard. 

2 Undertakers and Coffin Ware- 

rooms. 
2 Wagon and Carriage Manufacto- 
ries. 



PROFESSIONS. 



8 Physicians. 
2 Dentists. 
17 Lawyers. 



8 Preachers. 

I Judge of the Circuit Court. 



THE BANKS OF CLINTON— SALMON .1- SALMON, BANKERS 



This is the oldest banking institution in Clinton, and one of the 
pioneer institutions in west Missouri. Even its present quarters put 
you in mind of olden times. There is a musty look about which tells of 
long use and rather cramped quarters, but its looks indicates solidity 
and its inside business docs not belie its looks. It is run b\- business 
men and managed by shrewd financiers. 

On December i, 1866, Salmon & Stone opened a banking house 
u}K)n the public 'jquare of Clinton. It was mixed in among a lot of law 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 363 

rookeries that even the staid old county court judges couldn't stand any 
longer and they ordered them to leave, and not stand upon the order of 
their going but go at once. For a week or so Clinton had the appear- 
ance of a moving city, and she more than doubled her stabling facilities 
in that two weeks. Well in one of those old shells the now famous 
banking house of Salmon & Salmon cut both its wisdom teeth and eye 
teeth. They had an old iron safe, some three chairs, a pine counter and 
was looked upon as having rather a stylish outfit in those days. They 
have, however, outgrown ali that, and like the United States treasury of 
the present time, they have to get more room to hold their money, and 
so the old safe has been changed for a vault, a late style of safe with 
time locks. 

FH^M AND CAPITAL. 

The firm was composed of George Y. Salmon, Harvey W. Salmon 
and DeWitt C. Stone. The capital stock was $50,000 and its business 
opened about as soon as its doors. Its circle of depositors was not con- 
fined to Clinton or to the boundary line of Henry County, but was the 
principal banking house covered by four counties. The business of the 
firm increased, and it remained under the name of Salmon & Stone for 
some seven years, or until January i, 1873, when DeWitt C. Stone, retir- 
ing, his interest being purchased by the Messrs. Salmon, the firm's name 
was changed to Salmon & Salmon, the partners being George Y. and 
Harvey W. Salmon, brothers. Mr. D. C. Stone removed to St. Louis 
soon after, and died April 7, 1877. 

From the above beginning the business has grown and prospered, 
and what it is and how it has advanced may be gathered from the fol- 
'lowing financial exhibit of the bank at the close of business on the 15th 
day of December, 1882, as given for publication: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security . .$338,381 14 
Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate secur- 
ity 28,750 00 

Overdrafts by solvent customers 7-371 07 

Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price . . 11,000 00 

Due from other banks, good on sight draft 25,530 53 

Real estate at present cash market value 3,ooo 00 

Furniture and fixtures i,500 00 

Checks and other cash items 470 23 

Bills of national banks and legal tender United States notes 24,000 00 

Silver coin i.i49 35 

Total $44^152 32 



3^4 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock paid in ■ $ 50,000 00 

Surplus fund 40,000 00 

Undivided profits 28,849 4^ 

Deposits subject to draft at sight 257,370 84 

Deposits subject to draft at given dates 64,1 17 92 

Due other banks and bankers 814 15 



Total $441,152 32 

Its average deposits now reach $400,000 a year. 



FIRST NATIONAL BANK. 



This bank was started under the name of the Clinton Savings Bank, 
October 5, 1871, and made its first financial statements of its liabilities 
and resources, January 18, 1872. This statement was from commencing 
of business, as above stated, to January i, 1882, and was as follows : 



LIABILITIES. 



Capital Stock paid in $24,500 00 

Deposits on time 12,252 35 

Deposits on collection 1 1,626 02 

Interest and exchange 1,387 07 



$49,765 44 
RE.SOURCES. 

Bank building and vault $ 5,335 60 

County warrants, coin and stamps 338 33 

Licenses, taxes and expenses 754 36 

Loans and discounts 30,360 82 

Due from other banks 3,046 75 

Cash on hand 9.929 58 



$49,765 44 
The bank continued in business as a savings bank until February 
28, 1882. William H. Cock was its president, and C. C. Jones, cashier. 
At the above date, or on March i, 1882, the First National Bank 
opened its doors to the public as successor to the Clinton Savings Bank, 
with a paid up capital of $50,000, William H. Cock being its first presi- 
dent, and C. C. Jones its first cashier. It had a fair business start and 
has steadily grown in strength and in the confidence of the business com- 
munity. 

In 1875, July 1st, its exhibits of liabilities and resources were: 

RE.SOURCES. 

Loans and discounts $ 49,885 60 

Overdrafts 420 8q 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 365 

U. S. bonds to secure circulation $ 50,000 00 

Other stocks, bonds and mortgages 18,148 26 

Due from approved reserve agents • 1,004 -i 

Due from other national banks 538 53 

Due from state banks and bankers 2,490 23 

Real estate, furniture and fixtures 8.367 93 

Current expenses and taxes paid 1,005 80 

Premiums paid 5,535 06 

Checks and other cash items 131 87 

Bills of other national banks 2,955 00 

Fractional currency (including nickels) 55 47 

Specie (including gold treasury notes) 264 or 

Legal tender notes 5'500 00 

Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer, 5 per cent, of circu- 
lation 2,250 00 

Due from U. S. Treasurer, other than 5 per cent, redemption 

fund ; 5,900 00 

Total $154,452 86 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock paid in $50,000 00 

Surplus fund I3,500 00 

Other undivided profits 8,222 64 

National Bank notes outstanding 45,000 00 

Individual deposits, subject to check 19,873 90 

Time certificates of deposit 7>042 85 

Due to state banks and bankers 813 47 

Bills payable 10,000 00 

Total 1 54.45 1 S6 

The growth of the bank will be seen from the above, and the exhibit 
made January i, 1883, which is here given : 

RESOURCES. 

Loans and discounts $122,398 94 

Overdrafts 2,448 25 

U. S. bonds to secure circulation 50,000 00 

Other stocks, bonds and mortgages 1,871 40 

Due from approved reserve agents 7>^^7 73 

Due from state banks and bankers , 81 66 

Real estate, furniture, and fixtures 27,55 1 03 

Current expenses and taxes paid 3-839 33 

Checks and other cash items 120 oo 

Bills of other banks 7,000 00 

Specie 2,626 20 

Legal tender notes 6,ooo 00 

Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer (5 per cent, of circula- 
tion) 1,650 00 

Total 233,154 54 



366 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock paid in $ 50,000 00 

Surplus fund 3 5, 000 00. 

Undivided profits 5.673 26 

National Bank notes outstanding 45,000 00 

Individual deposits subject to check 58,038 42 

Demand certificates of deposit 27,764 52 

Due to other national banks 2, 106 82 

Due to state banks and bankers 4.571 52 

Notes and bills re-discounted 5,000 00 

Total $233,154 54 

The following have been presidents and cashiers of the bank in the 
order named, the last being the present officers of the bank: 

When Organized — W. H. Cock, president; C. C. Jones and J. M- 
Avery, cashiers. 

A. C. Avery, president; W. D. Tyler, cashier. 

J. G. Dorman, president; W. M. Doyle, cashier. 

J. M. Avery, president; W. D. Tyler, cashier. 

HENRY COUNTY BANK. 

This is comparatively a new institution for public favor, having been 
organized in April, 188 1, but did not get ready for business until June i, 
1881. It then opened its doors with a paid up capital of $25,000 and all 
the paraphernalia of a banking house for a sound and progressive bank- 
ing business. Its stockholders and directors represent some of the most 
prominent citizens and wealthy and active business men. Its first pres- 
ident was A. P. Frowein and W. D. Tyle"^, cashier. It does a general 
banking business and pays special attention to collections. 

Directors — James Brannum, G. C. Haysler, J. W. Middlecoff, S. Blatt, 
A. P. Frowein, S. E. Cheek, M. A. Fyke, A. M. Rhodes, Joseph White. 

Present Officers — James Brannum, president; A. M. Rhodes, vice 
president; A. P. Frowein, cashier; W. B. Calvird, assistant cashier. 

Its liabilities and resources, January i, 1883, were as follows: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security. .$71,486 84 

Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security, 4,941 65 

Overdrafts by solvent customers 2,681 1 1 

Due from other banks, good on sight draft 95 10 

Furniture and fixtures ^,^33 39 

Checks and other cash items 229 00 

Bills of national banks and legal tender United States notes, 15,001 00 

Gold coin i.540 00 

Silver coin 530 80 

Total $98,138 89 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 367 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock paid in $25,000 00 

Surplus funds on hand 3-500 00 

Undivided declared dividends 3-429 97 

Deposits subject to draft at sight 40,395 40 

Deposits subject to draft at given dates H. i53 95 

Due other banks and bankers 1 1,659 57 

Total $98,138 89 

CLINTON POST OFFICE FROM 1837 TO 1883. 

The post office of Clinton was opened in the spring of 1837, and 
Benjamin F. Wallace was its first postmaster. The office was kept in 
the store of Wallace Bros, on the north side of the square, and on the 
northeast corner. It was not much of an office in those days, the salary 
for the first ten years never reaching $100 per annum, and the first few 
years scarcely amounted to anything. The postmasters who have rep- 
resented this office are here given, with years of their appointments: 

POSTMASTERS OF CLINTON. 

1837, Benjamin F. 'Wallace; 1847, Asaph W. Bates; 1853, Thomas 
H. Rogers; 1857, William H. Schroder; i860, John Vance; 1861, J. G. 
Dorman; 1862, Benjamin Whiting; 1864, Dr. G. M. Britts; 1866, Wil- 
liam Weaver; 1868. Phillip Zeal; 1872, John W. Fyke; 1875, Daniel H. 
Sullivan; 1878, I. N. Jones. 

The growth of the office h^s kept pace with the growth of the city 
and county, and' of late years seems to have rather advanced beyond 
that point. The number of pieces mailed in a period of seven days in 
December, 1879, was 4,865, while in the same time in 1880 was 8,418. 
Here was a pretty lively gain in twelve months, being nearly 75 per 
cent. The number of lock boxes in 1880 was 162, and call boxes 214, in 
use, and the office was made an international money order office April 
1st, 1880. Money can be sent through this office to Great Britain and 
Ireland, Germany, France and Algiers. An effort was made by the 
writer to get later statistics, but it failed. Why he knows not. 

MANUFACTURES — WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE. 

Clinton in this respect is rather behind the age, and her population 
can only increase as the county increases, unless there is an effort made 
to build up manufactories. These bring people, consumption is 
increased and production is advanced in a corresponding ratio. This is 
a legitimate enterprise and brings wealth to the county and people 
instead of carrying it sway. It enlarges the market for home produc- 



368 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

tion, and the skill of the mechanic is added to the cost of production, 
and this is secured for home benefit. 

The first steam flouring mill in Clinton was owned by William W. 
Wall & Son, and was called the Tebo Steam Mill. It commenced oper- 
ation in the year 1858. The present Tebo Mill is something of a con- 
trast to the mill of 1858. The first had two run of burrs, both for custom 
work, the present mills would hardly care to run in that style. 

TEBO MILLS OF 1883. 

The mill is owned by James Brannum, and was erected in 1868. 
Since then it has been improved, by putting in place the latest patents 
in milling machinery. It has now five run of burrs and three sets of 
rolls for making the patent flour. It is exclusively a merchants mill, no 
custom work being done. Its capacity is 160 barrels of flour every 
twenty-four hours. In connection with the mill is a fine wheat elevator 
40x50 feet in size. The mill proper is built of brick and stone, 40x60 
feet, and a packing addition 32x80 feet. The mill complete represents 
a capital invested of $50,000. 

CLINTON MILLS. 

This is another first-class mill, so far as its appointments go. It is 
a frame structure 40x64 feet in size, has two run of burrs, and like the 
first named is a merchant's mill. It was erected in 1867 by J. G. Mid- 
delcoff, who is still its proprietor. The mill has a capacity of sixty bar- 
rels of flour per day, and is represented by an investment of $10, coo 
besides working capital. 

CIGAR MANUFACTORIES. 

This is an important branch of business in Clinton and probably 
few of its citizens are aware of the number of cigars manufactured in 
their own city, and this item will be both news and information to a 
large number. 

ELK CIGAR FACTORY. 

This is the oldest establishment in Clinton and was started in 1874. 
This factory makes nineteen different brands of cigars, from the pure 
Havana down through the grades to the common cigar. There are 
employed ten to fifteen hands the year 'round and 400,000 cigars are 
turned out annually. The proprietor is John G. Thume. 

The cigar manufactory of Strong & Pechstein, in the Democrat 
Block, is the largest manufactory in the city. They employ from twenty 
to twenty-five hands, run sixteen tables, and their books show an actual 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 369 

number of 601,250 cigars for their year's work, that of 1882. They have 
some thirty, different brands, and prices range from $2.50 to $65 per 
1,000. They commenced business in 1878, and their sales book also 
showed over $600,000 sold during the year. They have some $9,000 
invested in their business and propose to turn out over 1,000,000 cigars 
for 1883, January showing a little over 70,000 for the month. 

HUTCHINSON & KITCHEN, 

•manufacturers, are exclusively in the line of cigar manufacture. They 
show a bona fide number of 450,000 for the year 1882, and for 1883 pro- 
pose to reach fully 600,000 cigars. They invest in machinery and work- 
ing capital some $6,000. They make some fifteen different brands, work 
•nine tables and prices range about the same. They opened business 
May 1st, 1881, and they have so far been trying to keep up with their 
■orders, without being compelled to solicit. 

G. D. ELGES 

•is the manufacturer of fine Havana and domestic cigars, and while not 
■doing a large business is keeping three hands steadily employed, and 
last year turned out 125,000. He started business October 4th, 1880, 
and has put about $1,000 into his business. Mr. Elges is a mechanical 
genius and has invented a new patent cigar mould, which saves both 
time and money. He has in this patent invested some $1,500, and he is 
now manufacturing a large number. The work is done in St. Louis, and 
ihe is likely to come out with a handsome sum of money. 

GRAND AGGREGATE. 

The grand aggregate then, is in round numbers 1,576,250 cigars man- 
ufactured in Clinton in the year 1882, while that of 1883 is likely to 
■exceed two and one-quarter millions. So much for this department of 
manufactures, and it is a pity that the manufacturing interest of Clin- 
ton is not more varied and progressiv^e. 

CARRIAGE AND WAGON MANUFACTURE. 

The carriage and wagon manufactory of Peter Alfter was started 
in January, 188 1. Mr. Alfter carried on the business for one year, when, 
on January i, 1882, he took in a partner, and the firm since then has 
been known as Alfter & Moser. They are both practical mechanics and 
make a specialty of carriages and wagons, also buggies, and have in con- 
nection a large repairing department and blacksmithing. They have 
.$6,000 invested and their sales last year were between $10,000 and 



370 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. ', 

$12,000. They are now working ten hands, and the demand for their 
work will compel them to increase this number the present year. 

JOHN OECHSLI, MANUFACTURER. 

This gentleman has probably the largest carriage and wagon manu- 
actory between St. Louis and Kansas City at this day, and yet he 
started in 1870 with nominal or small capital. The firm name was 
Oechsli & Kilmer and so continued until January i, 1882. Since that 
time the business has been conducted by the gentleman whose name 
heads this article and who is sole proprietor. This business is not 
exclusively given to fine work such as carriages, buggies, etc., which he 
s making a specialty, but his farm wagons, plows and harrows have a 
wide reputation for first-class work of the kind. He has also a large 
blacksmith and repairing shop in connection with his work, as also a 
paint shop. He turns out his work complete. He has a working and 
invested capital of $10,000, and his sales for 1882, reach the sum of 
$22,000. He has on hand from sixteen to eighteen men constantly 
employed. 

There are several other large blacksmith shops which do a good 
business of ironing of wagons, etc., besides their regular work, but can 
scarcely come under the name of manufactories. 

ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

Ermie A. Nave, now Mrs. Hall, claims to have been the first child 
born in Clinton, and her birth is given as February 12, 1834. As Henry 
or Rives County was not then known, and Clinton itself being still in 
the womb of the future, it is safe to say that the lady is not so old by 
three years as she claims to be. In fact, Mrs. Hall must have been born 
in 1837, and without doubt was the first child born in the city. The 
third room of the celebrated, of that day. Nave's Hotel, on Franklin 
Street, has been credited with the place of her birth. 

They have a place on the west side of the town called *' Lover's 
Leap." All first-class towns, with hills and ravines close by, have a Lov- 
er's Leap. 

The Clinton Silver Cornet Band was organized in 1869 and became 
quite a noted band of musicians. Their second set of instruments cost 
$1,000. It flourished for about six years. It is dead. 

August 22, 1872, the Adams Express Company's office, in Lock's 
grocery, was robbed of $1,080. The thieves got in through the cellar. 
No recovery. 

A hook and ladder company was founded in Clinton January 24, 
1873. It is not now known where the company or the ladder is. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 37.! 

In 1872 Clinton was honored by having one of her citizens, Hon. 
Harvey W. Salmon, elected treasurer of the state. 

The election of 1874 resulted in a general assembly which again 
honored Clinton by chosing Hon. Banton G. Boone as speaker of the house. 
In June, 1875, on the 28th, H. S. Reynolds, past grand master of 
Illinois and then grand patron of this state, visited Clinton and organ- 
ized a chapter of the Eastern Star Lodge of Masonry. About sixty-six 
wives and daughters of Masons were enrolled as members of Magnolia, 
No. 99, next to the largest in the state. The officers were: B. L. Quarles, 
worthy patron; Mrs. William Thornton, worthy matron; Mrs. John Fike, 
worthy assistant matron; Mrs. Peeler, treasurer; J. N. Cook, secretary; 
Miss Cora Garth, worthy conductress, and Miss Blanche Stewart, worthy 
associate conductress. 

The fire of November 19, 1876, resulted in the greatest loss of any 
fire the city ever had. It destroyed several buildings on the northeast 
corner of the square, east side, the Fulkerson & Parks building being 
one of the finest in the city and three stories high. Fulkerson & Parks 
lost on building about $15,000 and on drug stock $7,500, insurance 
$15,800; Dr. Dimmitt, surgical instruments and library, $800; Clinton 
Cornet Band, instruments, $300; furniture, etc.. Odd Fellows, insured, 
$500; furniture, etc., A. F. & A. M., $1,200, insurance, $800; Heckles' 
saloon, $300, insured; the building belonging to Dr. Williams, $500, 
insured for $300; Samuel Williams' loss, $500, no insurance. Goods in 
the express office were destroyed upon which were charges amounting to 
$75; value of goods not known. This was the principal damage. The 
heat broke some glass and other light damages were sustained, but not 
of any great value. Take it altogether and it was the most disastrous 
conflagration that ever visited Clinton since its incorporation. The fire 
was believed to have been the work of an incendiary. 

The Clinton Literary Club was organized in the fall of 1876. Pey- 
ton Parks was president; Royal J. Burge, vice president; S. Sherman, 
secretary, and C. C. Dickinson, treasurer. It has ceased to exist. 

October 3, 1876, John Spranck, a German, was killed by the cars 
near the residence of John P. Watkins. 

A board of trade v/as organized in Clinton, December 19, 1877. 
Judge Dorman was made chairman; Jason Blackford, secretary. Every- 
body who had a spare dollar could join. Twenty-five members enrolled 
themselves. Judge Dorman was elected president and C. C. Dickinson, 
secretary. It then gradually passed out of existence. 

February 14, 1878, the people of Clinton voted upon the proposition 
to become a city of the fourth class. The vote stood 133 in its favor to 
one against. 

Asa Smith, a cooper by trade, while going to his dinner, May 29, 
1878, during a storm, was struck by lightning and killed. 



'•^Z HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The following additions to the town and city of Clinton, have been 
added since her original boundary was formed: Smith & Sullivan's, 
Berry's, Allen's, Avery's, Weaver's, Vail's, Berrigman's, Cruce's, Roger's, 
Davis', Fair Ground, Railroad, Williams' ist and 2d, McLean's ist and 
2d, Mean's ist, 2d and 3d, and Boyer's ist, 2d and 3d. 

On the night of September 4, 1881, the St. Stephen's Hotel was 
burned. It was an old landmark, having been erected in 1848, by Joseph 
Davis. 

About 2:30 o'clock Thursday morning, December 28, 1882, flames 
were discovered in the rear portion — next to the railroad track — of the 
frame livery stable,' formerly occupied by James Duncan, on the east side 
of the square. It spread with great rapidity, and the entire block of 
frames adjoining on the south, occupied by S. Hirsch's wool and hide 
house and saloon; R. H. Allison & Co.'s agricultural implement store; J. 
C. Seifred's meat market, and Irvin Couse's grocery store, were destroyed. 
The fire was the work of incendiaries. 

The old Pollard building, owned by Messrs. Frowein Bros., was 
erected about forty years ago for a hotel, and occupied by Bates, Rogers, 
Bush, Estes, Pollard and Gilbert. A few years ago it was remodeled, 
and since then occupied as business stands. This removed another of 
the old landmarks of the city, but it is hardly one the citizens will regret. 

In February, 1883, Clinton voted for the erection of gas works with 
but one single vote against it, so that the summer of 1883 will see the 
"Model City" lighted by gas. In the early fall of 1882 a time ball was 
established in Clinton, and her people since have run their business and 
commerce and end their toil by true time. 

The spring of 1883 will, also, commence the work for a railroad to 
Osceola, in St. Clair County, the business men of Clinton having con- 
tributed the depot grounds at a cost of $5,000. If the road is finished 
to Osceola the coming summer, the merchants and business men have 
made the best investment of their lives. 

The opening of the year 1883 is full of bright future, and material 
progress has a firm foothold in Clinton at this time. A commenable 
public spirit has started, and none too soon. Let it be fostered. 

CLINTON'S PRESENT BOUNDARY. 

With the numerous additions to the City of Clinton, her boundary 
lines have been frequently changed. At this time the city limits cover 
the area within the compass of one and a half miles on each side, or 
one and a half miles square. This area is described as follows: 

The east half and the east half of the west half of section 3; the 
west half and the west half of the east half of section 2; the northeast 
quarter and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 10; the 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



373 



northwest quarter and the west half of the northeast quarter of section 
II, all in township 41, range 26. 

This boundary was made of record July 31st, 1881, and is the pres- 
ent area of the city. 

DISTANCES. 

The distrance from Clinton to Chicago is 462 miles; St. Louis, 227; 
Kansas City, 80; Sedalia, 40; Windsor (County), 19; Calhoun, 12; Lewis 
Station, 7; Ladue, 6; Montrose, 12; Appleton City, St. Clair County, 20; 
Osceola, St. Clair County, 28. This is by railroad. Two points, how- 
ever, are not yet connected at the distances named. The first, Kansas 
City, and the other Osceola, but are likely to be within the current year. 




CHAPTER XXV. 

WINDSOR TOWNSHIP. 

WITHIN THE REALMS OF CIVILIZATION— ITS AREA— FIRST SETTLERS-DEATH BY LIGHT- 
NING-PROGRESS—DARKNESS TO LIGHT— ORGAN IZA1 ION— WORTH REMEMBERING 
—COAL FIELDS— BIG COAL BANKS— STONE QUARRIES— HEALING WATERS— TRANS- 
PORTATION-AN OLD LANDMARK GONE- TENNESSEE BAKER-THE FIRST BRICK 
RESIDENCE IN HENRY COUNTY-ITS DESTRUCTION BY FIRE. 

WITHIN THE REALMS. 

This township is the northeastern one of the county, and while it is 
mostly composed of high, rolling prairies, it has also a large amount of 
timber which line the banks of Tebo Creek, its east fork and their 
branches. Tebo Creek itself runs due south within less than half a 
mile of its western border, but rises in the north part of Windsor Town- 
ship, having two branches that unite after passing some two miles 
through the northwest corner, just over the line in Tebo Township. One 
large branch rises in the center, nearly, of the township and empties 
into Tebo Creek nearly three miles from its southern boundary. 

The East Fork of Tebo Creek rises in the north and east part of the 
township, and passing south along its eastern border, it turns west, pass- 
ing clear across the township to its southwestern corner, within about 
one and a half miles of its southern line. 

The township, as can be seen, has plenty of wood and water, and is 
divided into about three- fifths prairie and two-fifths wood land. Its soil 
is rich, its prairies susceptible of a high state of cultivation, and as a 
stock and cereal country has few superiors. It is bounded on the north 
by Johnson County, east by Benton County, south by Springfield, and 
west by Tebo Townships. It is five miles wide on its southern side, and 
on its north side it is six miles wide, taking in one square mile of what 
should be Tebo Township. It is seven miles north and south. It com- 
prises a congressional township of thirty-six square miles, and has an 
area of 23,040 acres of land. 

When the county was organized, the present Windsor Township was 
a portion of Tebo, the latter township comprising in its territory one- 
fourth of the county, Windsor's bounds were first made at the May term 
of the county court. May 8, 1868. Windsor was then declared a voting 
precinct. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 375 

FIRST SETTLERS. 

Windsor Township was one of the first settled portions of Henry- 
County. In fact, no portion of the county can claim an earlier white 
man's settlement, and on Tebo Creek and its east fork were first found 
the cabins of the white man. They roamed the woods as the red man 
did before them, and the ring of the woodman's ax and the sharp crack 
of his rifle soon became familiar sounds where all before had been a 
wilderness and the Indians were lord of all. 

Quite a number of settlers came in the year 1830, and while pros- 
pecting parties had traversed Henry County and hunters and trappers trod 
its rich prairies and hunted in its wooded dells as early as 1828, there were 
no actual settlers until 1830. Old Ben Kimsey and John Brummet came 
in 1828, but they staked their claim just over the line in Johnson County, 
but Thomas Kimsey, his son, located a little further south and found a 
home in this country in 1830. Kimsey settled on section i. It is 
hard to say who was the first man who put up his cabin. Thomas Mat- 
thew, James Arbuckle and Isom Brummet all came the same year. There 
were no less than seven families who found a home in the county in 
1830. The Arbuckles settled just west and southwest of Windsor. In 
183 1 William Ogan settled on section i, John Woodward did the same. 

Thomas Anderson, the first blacksmith in Henry County, settled 
near where Windsor City now stands. 

In 1832, came James Woodward, Amos and Benjamin Goodin, Isaac 
N. Hughes, Obediah Austin, Thomas Parazette, Robert Gladden, Joseph 
Bogarth, Joseph Means, R. S. Means, Colby S. Stevens, and in 1833, W. 
H. Ham, Mrs. J. G. Ogan, and others. There was quite a number followed 
in 1834, '35, '36, '37, '38 and '39, their names being found in the old set- 
tlers' list in the early settlement history. 

These were the men who formed the pioneer band of the northeast, 
and stamped the era of civilization upon the broad prairies and the wooded 
bottoms of Windsor Township, and laid the foundation of a future that 
has since blossomed into a more perfect day. Hunting in those days 
was both a pastime and a necessity. Game was plenty, deer and turkey 
being the most abundant, but wolves were also thick, and night was 
sometimes made melodious by their howling, and cattle, sheep and hogs 
seemed to think that around the cabin of their owner was their safest 
place. 

DEATH BY LIGHTNING. 

Probably the first death in the townshsp and county was that of 
Joseph Bogarth, who came early in the spring of 1832. Joseph Means 
and Joseph Bogarth had been some distance up in Pettis County on busi- 
ness, and on their return while crossing the prairies north of Windsor 



376 HISTORY 01' HENR\ COUNTY. 

were overtaken by a heavy rain storm. Joseph Bogarth and his horse 
were killed by lightning, and Mr. Means riding by his side struck sense- 
less. Whether his horse had been hurt he did not know. 

When Mr. Means recovered his senses he found his companion dead 
and also his horse, while his own horse was a few yards distant, quietly 
feeding on the rich prairie grass. He managed to secure it and ride 
home and give the sad tidings of the fate of his companion. 

This occurred August 19, 1832, and Mr. Bogarth was buried about 
half a mile southeast of Windsor City. Mr. Means was some weeks 
recovering from the effect of the lightning stroke. 

PROGRESS. 

As one of the oldest settled portions of the county, Windsor Town- 
ship continued to increase in population. Its broad prairies became dot- 
ted with farm houses, the cattle literally roamed its thousand hills, and 
progress, civilization and Christianity, hand in hand, welcomed others 
and gave promise of future wealth and contentment. The new settlers 
coming in moved further south, and a few of the early ones had reached 
the banks of the main channel of Tebo Creek, then known as Spring- 
field Township, having been cut off of Tebo Township in May, 1834. 
The country for miles and miles south and west was a beautiful pano- 
rama of nature, such as delighted the eye and quickened the pulse of 
those who gazed upon its wild beauties, and those who came west to 
make their homes made no further progress towards the setting sun. 
What lay before them satisfied their longings and desires, and this Eden 
of the Southwest was quickly peopled by those who not only compre- 
hended the beauty of the landscape, but were aware of the richness of 
the soil which required but a modicum of labor to bless them with an 
abundant harvest. 

Henry T. Douglas and wife came in 1835, the former from Howard 
County, Missouri, the latter from Lincoln County, Kentucky; S. S. John- 
son, from Woodson County Tennessee; W. R. Taylor, Jefferson County, 
Kentucky, and R. F. Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, the former in 1838 
and the latter in 1839; Daniel Palmer, of Garrett County, Kentucky; B. 
F. Williamson, of Tennessee, and others settled in this township in 
1840. From this time until its organization, in the year 1868, as above 
stated Windsor Township increased steadily, but in the census of 1870 
it was enumerated as a part of Tebo Township. Its voting precinct was 
called Bellemont, and was so known in i860, at which time it was one 
of the nine voting precincts of the county. 

The census of 1870 and 1880 compared shows the heaviest popula- 
tion in Windsor Township, while a part of Tebo Township. Of course 
the same routine of pioneer life was the fate of the earlier settlers of 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 377" 

Windsor. Miles had to be traveled to reach a postoffice, Boonville and 
even Mt. Vernon, on the Missouri River a few miles below Lexington,, 
in Lafayette County, were visited for supplies, and the trade was deer 
and coon skins, venison hams, honey, now and then a wolf skin, andi 
they got everything in exchange which was then demanded of a mer- 
chant suitable to a pioneer's life. From 1840 to i860 was an era of pros- 
perity, not rapid, but none the less sure because it came gradually, by- 
honest toil and economical lives. 

DARKNESS TO LIGHT. 

Where the wild game once roamed free and undisturbed, are now 
being filled up with lowing herds. There was little to disturb the 
monotony of pioneer life, or the onward march of material progress, 
until the dark days which were ushered in in the year 1861, and which 
culminated in this township as with others, in deserted homes, destruc- 
tion of property, loss of life and a hatred engendered by passion and 
despair. For four long and bitter years, bitter in the sorrow, the troubles 
and the struggles for life, the people found no advance or progress. In 
many cases the labor of years had been swept away, and when peace 
once more found a resting place, desolation had marked with a merci- 
less hand almost the entire country. But while all was desolation 
around, peace gave hope, and with hope came courage, and the people 
rallied to the work of taking unusual care of what was left, and witb 
renewed exertion once more commenced the battle of life. It was not 
long before strong hearts and willing hands began to show their work,, 
and hope fluttered with joyous wings over the hearts and homes of the 
people. The people of Windsor Township were showing undaunted cour- 
age and unlimited endurance, and her rich soil gave a hearty and health- 
ful response to her sons of toil. 

ORGANIZATION. 

While the town was really bounded by imaginary lines as a voting 
precinct her true and present organization came in 1873, under what was- 
called the new organization law. In the spring of that year, the county 
having been divided into nineteen municipal townships, Windsor being 
one, her boundaries were described as follows, and was called: 

NO. I WINDSOR. 

Composed of congressional township No. 43, of range No. 24, except- 
ing sections Nos. 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31, in said township and range. Also- 
including sections Nos. 31 to 36 inclusive, in congressional township No.. 
44 of range 24. 



378 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

BANNER TOWNSHIP. 

Politically it is the banner Democratic township of the county, 
•giving two-thirds of its votes to the Democracy to one-third to the 
Republicans. 

POPULATION. 

In point of population it is the second, Clinton Township only 
•exceeding it. In comparison with that township it shows a greater agri- 
•cultural population. The population of the township in 1880 was exactly 
1,900. including the town of Windsor which was given at 872. There is 
nothing in this growth and position that Windsor need be ashamed of 
Still had the capital city of this township become the county seat of 
■"Meadow" County, just to what her growth and pride would have 
reached at this day would be hard to determine. 

WORTH REMEMBERING. 

That the first school kept in this township was in the fall of 1833, 
and the first teacher, Colby S. Stevenson, who came from Christian 
County, Kentucky, and was one of the two first justices of the peace, after 
the organization of this county, for Tebo Township, a part of which 
Windsor then was. It was an old deserted cabin, a school building 
proper not being erected until 1835. This cabin was on Tebo Branch, 
near the bank, and about two and one-half miles south of the present 
town of Windsor. 

The first preacher was a Methodist circuit rider, the Rev. Millice, 
who preached for several 3^ears, his first appearance being in the summer 
of 1832. He was quite a favorite of the old pioneers, and they always 
gave him a hearty welcome when his rounds brought him to their cabins. 

The nearest postofifice was Muddy Mills, that was some miles 
beyond the present site of Sedalia, in Pettis County. 

William Gladden, who came in 183 1, was a large powerful man, a 
great wrestler, a splendid shot, a thorough hunter, and like all large 
men thoroughly good natured. He was a great favorite of the Indians^ 
being more than a match in the above feats of arms and strength of a.ay 
of their tribe. He was called " Big Man Billy," and had lots of offers to 
become a full-blown Indian chief of the Shawnee tribe. He declined 
their seductive offers, but was always on friendly terms and on hunting 
■expeditions an Indiam wigwam was as likely to be his home as any 
place, if it was found on the line of his travel. 

The first doctor who practiced his profession in Henry County was 
probably a Dr. Sappington, of Saline County. He paid visits to settlers 
as early as 183J, but the first resident physician was Dr. Thurston, who 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 379 

settled near Calhoun in 1835. There was also a Dr James Hogan, who 
settled near Calhoun and practiced a short time in the county and in 
the township, now Windsor. He, however, did not remain long-, but 
removed, leaving the field of practice to Dr. Thurston. 

The first school house, as before mentioned, was erected in the fall 
of 1835, and the winter of 1835-36 a three months school was taught. 
Thomas Irason was the teacher and it being a subscription school he got 
$1 per scholar and "boarded round." This was not making a fortune^ 
but it secured a living. 

The first child born in Windsor Township was a negro child, a girl, 
and named Julia Ann Sherman. She was born in June, 1832, and is now 
living in Windsor, at the age of fifty-one years. The father of the child 
lived to be 105 years old. They both, also the mother, belonged to the 
family of Robert Means. 

The first store patronized by the people of Windsor Township was 
that of Hall & Fletcher's, on Tebo Creek, about five miles from Wind- 
sor City, established early in 1835. The same year Fields' store was 
started at Gofif's, and was in full blast in September, at the time of the 
meeting of the first circuit court in Henry County, which was held at 
William Goffs house. 

The first horse mill was started in 1835, and a water mill was estab- 
lished on Tebo Creek in the year 1842, but this is not certain, nor could 
the exact location of the mill be ascertained. 

The first town or village located in Windsor Township was in the 
year 1855 and called Belmont, and was founded by R. F. Taylor and 
Mr. Majors. 

COAL FIELDS. 

While much has been said of the richness and fertility of the soil of 
Windsor Township, and the fact that water is plentiful, and where 
streams are not found wells can be dug to the depth of from fifteen to 
to fifty feet and water found in abundance, and therefore is a good stock 
raising country, yet with this wealth to be found on the surface there is 
much more and fully equal in magnitude under the surface in the exten- 
sive coal veins which underlie almost the entire township. 

The best and it is believed the largest veins are north and west of 
Windsor, but with the exception of the southeast part of the township, 
coal can be found in almost any other section. Coal is found on sections 
3, 8, 13, 20, 28, 32, 33 and 35 in township 43, range 24, and on sections 
34 and 35, in township 44, range 24, these latter beingthe famous mines 
once owned by the Pacific Coal Company, so-called. Then there was 
the Osage Mining Company, w^ho worked a vein within one mile of 
Windsor City. This Osage Mining Company was a part and parcel of 
the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company. This was a good 



38o HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

vein, but being some distance from their railroad they sold the tract, 
consisting of ninety acres of coal land for $36,000. There was rumored 
some pretty fine work by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Company. 
After selling this tract, they opened at Lewis Station, a mine that they 
had previously secured, some twelve miles from Windsor, on their line of 
road. They sank a shaft 120 feet deep and found a four foot vein of very 
good steam coal. Previous to this they had sunk shaft and found a twenty- 
two inch vein, about four miles from Calhoun, but they left it, let the 
lease lapse, and opened the Lewis Station bank, calling it the Osage, No. 
I. The railroad company then raised the freight on coal so high, it is 
said, that the company who purchased the coal bank at $36,000 was 
compelled to quit mining, and finally sold their property to other parties 
for $12,000, and left the county in disgust. This latter company tried 
it awhile, and they too quit, and at this time a solid vein of coal, only 
forty feet below the surface, and five feet thick, lies undeveloped, to 
satisfy the rapacity of a railroad company that has control of transport- 
ation. If this is true, and it is scarcely to be doubted, for it is common 
talk, there ought to be a way to prevent this discrimination, which vir- 
tually blocks the spirit of enterprise, and withholds the resources of a 
county from development and sale. 

The shaft near Calhoun is now being worked by John Gedway and 
T. C. Morse, but filling only the wants of a local trade. 

BIG COAL BANK. 

There is, about three and one-half miles from Windsor, a coal bank 
by the above name. It is probably one of the most valuable mines of 
bituminous coal in the state. It lies, the first vein, but thirty feet below 
the surface, and the vein is five and one-half feet thick, with a heavy 
slate covering sixteen feet in thickness, making a roof self-supporting. 
This vein is what is known as steam coal, and is of a first quality and 
burns with a bright clear flame, and being free from iron makes no 
clinkers. This, however, is not the most valuable part of this wonderful 
mineral development. The state geologist once stated there were two 
veins of coal, one underlying the other, through that section, but gave 
as his opinion that there was quite a wide space between the veins, and 
made no mention that the lower vein was of a different quality. When 
the first vein was struck, and five and one-half feet found to be its thick- 
n.ess, no further attempt was made to reach the other vein or examine 
it. Five and a half vein of solid coal would last a good while, as it was 
traced for a good distance. 

The past summer, however, W. S. Bray, J. H. Haines and J. Ellis 
formed a partnership to work or operate the " Big Coal Bank." At the 
bank and where the vein had been developed, they purchased 120 acres 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 38 1 

of this coal land, and then tracing the vein, leased of other owners 460 
acres more for twenty years, with right of renewal. They seem to think 
they have got the bulk of the ground, but this is extremely problemat- 
ical. That they have covered by purchase and lease a very valuable 
mineral property is true enough, and that which they have secured lies 
nearest to transportation, and therefore not liable to much opposition is 
also true, but the veins extend far beyond and some day will be found 
valuable, and means of transportation furnished to meet the require- 
ments of so much hidden wealth which must find the light of day. 
Even railroad magnates will have to bow to his majesty, for coal will be 
king, and the black diamond will show its power. 

The leasing and purchase of this valuable bed of coal by the above 
named gentlemen was not on account of that five and a half foot vein 
of steam coal. On clearing away the debris, preparing to mine the vein, 
they cut below it through a shale or slate of about one foot in thickness, 
and just below that they again struck coal. This rather surprised them. 

They investigated a little further and it soon became apparent that 
it was an entirely different kind of coal, and the one foot of shale was of 
a uniform thickness, distinctly separating the two veins. It soon became 
apparent that the second vein was the one spoken of by the geologist, 
but instead of being several feet below, was only one foot, and of a far 
more valuable quality, being no more nor less than a bona fide vein of 
gas coal, six feet in thickness, and apparently following in its course the 
upper vein. This fact being thoroughly proven, led to the above pur- 
chase and lease, and the present year this mine of wealth will be opened. 
Very little of this gas coal is found in this section of the state, and the 
coal so far mined in this county and in Bates and Vernon, only show 
steam coal. Here there is a vein or veins of coal eleven feet six inches 
in thickness, and might be called surface mining, as the bottom of the 
lower strata is less than fifty feet below the surface. Windsor Township 
is rich alone in having this vein within her borders, and yet it is but an 
item of her wealth. 

STONE QUARRY. 

On section 32, of township 44, range 24, a fine stone quarry has been 
found, which shows a splendid quality of building stone. It has not been 
worked only for local consumption, as it is some distance from railroad 
transportation, but it will at some future day become a valuable property 
to its owner, 

HEALING WATERS. 

Henry County is known as one of the healthiest portions of the state 
of Missouri, but that an additional inducement may be held out to suffer- 
ing humanity, she has her celebrated mineral spring of crystal healing 
water. 



382 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

On section 29 in Windsor Township will be found a chalybeate 
spring, whose waters are of a highly medicinal nature, ranking with 
some of the noted springs of Saline County. At this time, beyond the 
facts above stated, the spring is left to bubble and run without let or 
hindrance. So far the people of Windsor Township feel healthy enough 
without recourse to this spring to give them life, and to this fact may be 
attributed the careless indifference to this fountain of health lying within 
their border. But the spring is there, it has come to stay, and when 
called upon will give up liquid life that others may live. 

TRANSPORTATION. 

Windsor Township is secure in her transportation facilities, -the Mis- 
souri, Kansas & Texas Railroad entering at the northeast corner of the 
township, and, running southwest, leaves the township about one and a 
quarter of a mile from its southern boundary. This leaves no part of 
the township to exceed three miles from the road, except the extreme 
southeastern section and the northwest corner of the township. In this 
respect it has the advantage of all the townships, except Clinton, in the 
county at this date. It will tiius be seen that Windsor Township has all 
the elements of mineral and agricultural wealth. It is the home of cat- 
tle, sheep, hogs, horses and mules. Blue grass is indigenous to her soil, 
transportation at hand, and man, labor and judgment alone is needed to 
develop her magnificent resources. 

AN OLD LAND MARK GONE. 

In 1856 a gentleman from Tennessee by the name of Baker, com- 
menced the erection of the finest residence in Henry County. It was a 
three-story brick residence, placed upon a rising knoll, which gave him 
a maginificent view of the surrounding country, for it was in the midst 
of an extensive prairie which stretched for miles and miles, and its sur- 
face rising and falling in gentle undulation like the swells upon the 
bosom of the sea. It was about one mile from the town of Windsor- 
The old man had several daughters and he was a good entertainer, and 
his home was known far and near for the great hospitality of its owner, 
and the lively and entertaining ways of his daughters. Standing as it 
did, upon an eminence, it became a guide and landmark of those who 
traversed the vast prairies, for roads were few and far between prior to 
the war, and the castle of "Tennessee" Baker, as he was called, became 
the beacon light of the traveler, for the neighbor who perhaps lived ten 
or twenty miles away. On the night of December 14, 1877, the house 
took fire and burned to the ground, little being saved. It was the first 
brick residence in the county outside of Clinton. 



f 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

CITY OF WINDSOR. 

WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED— BY WHOM— NAMING THE TOWN AND POSTOFFICE— A FEW 
YEARS L-VTER-IN 1870— THE INCORPORATION OF WIND>^OR TOWN— ELECTION IN 
1873— TOWxN' OFFICIALS FROM 1873 TO 1878- CITY OF WINDSOR -FOURTH CLASS— 
ELtClTON OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, OCTOBER 15, 1S78- CITY OFFICERS FROM' 
187S TO 1883 — FINANCIAL — CHURCHES - LAUREL OAK CEMETERY— LODGES AND 
SOCIETIES— POSTMASTERS OF WINDSOR-OLD SETTLERS REUNION AND PICNIC- 
NEWSPAPERS-PUBLIC SCHOOL— BUSINESS INTERESTS-SAVINGS BANK— MANUFAC- 
TORIES-ITEMS— GENERAL NOTES-BIRD'S EYE VIEW. 

WHEN IN WAS FOUNDED. 

R. F. Taylor, the founder of Windsor first located in 1839, on sec- 
tion 5. He purchased the ground upon which the City of Windsor now^ 
stands, in the year 1852, and platted the town three years after in 1855. 
A Mr. Majors also joined in the plat, adding a portion of his land to 
that of Mr. Taylor. The lots sold pretty well ranging from $5 to $15 
per lot, according to location. Some going even higher. Deer were 
afterward killed within the limits of the town site. But this did not 
last long. The ring of Tom Anderson's hammer and anvil, while music 
to the few citizens, was not to the wild game of the forests and prairie, 
and they soon gave it a wide berth. The town grew, and soon addi- 
tions were made. Mr. Taylor added two additions, Majors one, Foster 
added two, also, and Mercer's Addition will be found within its present 
limits. Windsor City at this time covers considerable ground and will 
not need to enlarge itself for several years to come. It is now one mile 
by one and a quarter miles within its corporate limits. The town was 
gradually improving until i860, when it could boast, at the age of five 
years, of a population of 250 to 300. The war " left its traces there," 
and the devastation was so great that that was about all the "harness"' 
that was left, so far as the town itself was concerned, and when the fear- 
ful conflict was ended Windsor had but little to brag of in the way of 
business, or, in fact, anything but a hopeful future. 

The town was first called Bellmont, then an attempt was made to 
call it Spring Grove, and Mr. Robert D. Means, having been a reader of 
English history and taking a fancy to the name Windsor, in reading of 
Windsor Castle, he urged that name. The majority ruled against himi- 



384 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and the town was called Belmont, but as there was a post office already 
in the state by that name, they let Mr. Means have his way in naming 
the post office, Windsor. When confusion arose from a town by the 
name of Belmont in one part ot the state, and a post office in another, 
the postal authorities suggested a change. Then the Spring Grove 
champion sprang to his feet, and in a beautiful speech, which called forth 
the highest praise named the town Spring Grove. It was a splendid 
effort, but unfortunately for the Spring Grove advocate, orator and 
statesman, there seems to have been another before him, and Spring 
Grove No. 2, was not allowed by the department. It was Mr. Robert 
Means' time now to act, and in a handsome effort, he proved that there 
was no better name for the town, as well as the post office, than Wind- 
sor Castle, but being anxious for harmony, he was willing to compromise 
on plain "Windsor," leaving off the "Castle" in the name of the town, as 
it had been in the post office, and as he sat down said, "there isn't much 
of a castle in looks, about these log cabins and frame shanties, anyhow." 
And this is the history of Belmont, Spring Grove and W^indsor, in naming 
the "Future Great" of Henry County, known in "Meadow" County his- 
tory as the "Battam." 

A FEW YEARS LATER. 

Even as late as 1867 Windsor exhibited unmistakable signs of hav- 
ing passed through a period of hard times and depression. It had the 
appearance, in some places, as if it had been struck with a mighty cylone. 
and the debris was anything but a hopeful sight to an enterprising man- 
However, dazed as they were, they began to slowly recover. The people 
were not dead, and in 1868 the town began to show life, and a spirit of 
industry began to assert itself By the year 1870 it had doubled its 
population over that of 1865, having about 550 within its corporate 
limits and boasting of the following array of business houses that year, 
(1870): Five dry goods stores, two drug stores, two hotels, two black- 
smith shops, two hardware stores, two family groceries, two millinery 
stores, two tin shops, two shoe shops, one harness shop, two butcher 
shops, one feed store, two lumber yards, three wagon makers, two paint 
shops, one land agency, two lawyers, three physicians, seven preachers, 
two churches and no saloon. 

The next few years mark a steady progress both in population and 
business, until the people began to feel their importance in no small 
degree. They voted solidly to make their fast growing village an incor- 
porated town, and about this time (1873) the Meadow County craze was 
having full swing. 

INCORPORATION OF WINDSOR. 

The town of Windsor presented a petition to the county court 
through its attorneys, Messrs. McBeth and Price for its incorporation, 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 385 

with memorandum of its metes and bounds and police regulation as the 
law directs. The petition was granted, as follows: 

The same being heard by the court and being fully understood, and 
the court being satisfied that two-thirds of the taxable inhabitants of 
the town of Windsor, within the metes and bounds sought to be incor- 
porated, have signed the petition, and therefore that the prayer of said 
petitioners is reasonable. 

It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed and the court doth 
declare that the " Town of Windsor," in the county of Henry and state 
of Missouri, and the territory within the following metes and bounds, to 
wit: 

Being in sections one (i) and two (2) and twelve (12), in township 
43 of range 24, beginning at the quarter section corner between sections 
I and 2 in township 43 of range 24; thence east 20 chains to the north- 
east corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 
i; thence north 7 98-100 chains; thence south 76" 5' east 4 77-100 chains; 
thence north 36'' 10' east i 52-100 chains; thence south 45'' east 7 chains; 
thence south yi"' 20' east 3 34-100 chains; thence south yf' 50' east 
12 37-100 chains; thence north 47'' 5' east 8 70-100 chains; thence south 
39 ' 50' east 7 78-100 chains; thence south 3 50-100 chains; thence south 
24' 30' west 6 73-100 chains; thence south 45'' west 8 34-100 chains; 
thence south 23" 40' east 18 47-100 chains to corner of lot 11 (VV. May- 
er's estate); thence south 54" west 4 82-100 chains; thence south 33"' 30' 
west 9 95-100 chains; thence south 20 chains; thence west 29 48-100 
chains; thence north 6 58-100 chains; thence north 44'' 30' west 29 60-100 
chains; thence north 26" 5' east 13 85-100 chains; thence west 8 61-100 
chains; thence north i 58-100 chains; thence east 3 16-100 chains; thence 
north 15 55-100 chains; thence west 2 chains; thence north i chain; 
thence east 2 chains; thence north i 87-100 chains to place of begin- 
ning, be and the same is hereby duly incorporated under the name and 
style of the " Inhabitants of the Town of Windsor." 

And the court doth further appoint and designate C. C. Morse, J. W. 
Gray, W. J. Colbow, W. J. Livingston and W. B. Pomeroy, inhabitants 
and householders of said town, as a board of trustees of the " Inhabit- 
ants of the town of Windsor," to continue in office as such trustees until 
their successors are elected and qualified. 

February 5, 1873. 

The board above named met February 8th, and organized by select- 
ing W. J. Colbow as chairman, and appointing Charles A. Clark, clerk, 
and A. Cliff Clark, marshal. 

ELECTION APRIL, 1873. 

The law required a town election in April following, and therefore 
the above officers' terms expired when a new board was elected. The 
election came off and resulted in the choice of the following named gen- 
tlemen for the ensuing official year, and who were sworn in April 19, 1873: 

Board of Trustees — W. J. Colbow, chairman; M. L. Stafford, W. J. 
Livingston, Robert M. Funk and J. W. Gray. 

25 



386 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The board then appointed the following local assistants: Treasurer, 
Edwin Bass; clerk, Terrall Rainwater; marshal, Allen Stewart; assessor, 
James Douglas; collector, W. T. Glover. 

On October i6, 1873, Terrall Rainwater resigned as city clerk, and 
Thomas W.Lovelace appointed, who also served as street commissioner. 

OFFICERS APRIL, 1874. 

Board of Trustees — W. T. Glover, chairman; Samuel Schwab, W. J. 
Livingston, Robert F. Steele and Robert M. Funk. 

There was in the town treasury at the opening of the new board, 
$74.82. and new fiscal year. 

Clerk — T. J. Lingle. 

Treasurer — J. W. Gray. 

Marshal and Street Commissioner — G. F. Shook. 

Assessor and Collector — William Goforth. 

OFFICERS APRIL, 1875. 

W. J. Colbow, chairman; W. J. Livingston, Samuel Schwab, Frank 
M. Ham, and Robert M. Funk. 
Treasurer — W. H. Ham. 
Clerk— W. S. Shivel. 
Marshal and street commissioner — N. K. Chapman. 

OFFICERS APRIL, 1876. 

W. J. Colbow, chairman; W. T. Glover, Robert M. Funk, Frank M. 
Ham, E. N Jerome. 

Clerk— W. S. Shivel. 

Marshal and street commissioner — R. C. Agee, 

Treasurer — W. H. Ham. 

OFFICERS APRIL, 1 877. 

W. J. Colbow, chairman; W. B. Pomeroy, B. F. Smith, J. C. Beedy, 
J. M. Douglas. 

Clerk— W. S. Shivel. 

Treasurer — W. H. Ham. 

Assessor and collector — H. C. Churchill. 

Marshal and street commissioner -R. C. Agee. 

Attorney — R. F. Steele. 

The tax assessment for town purposes was two mills and the poll 
$1.00. 

G. L. Neale was licensed to sell wine and beer for six months from 
Jr.ne 6th, 1877, on the payment of $100. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 387 

Mr. Steele was removed from the office of prosecuting attorney at 
the meeting of November 30th, 1877, and N. K. Chapman appointed, 
aad he entered into a contract to take half of the fines collected as his- 
salary as such prosecutor. The salary for 1878 was fixed at $50, pay- 
able quarterly. 

OFFICERS APRIL, 1 878. 

J. C. Beedy, chairman; H. Harnsberger, Elias Hughes, W.J.Liv- 
ingston and Robert M. Funk. 

Clerk— W. S. Shivel. 

Attorney — N. K. Chapman, for one month, and O. L. Smith the- 
remainder of the year. 

Marshal and street commissioner — W. J. Smith. 

Assessor and collector — William Mann. 

Treasurer — Robert Ragan. 

CITY OF THE FOURTH CLASS. 

At the meeting of the board of trustees, held August 6, 1878, a' 
petition was presented asking for the organization of Windsor as a city 
of the "fourth class," and for an election to test the feeling of the people. 
The council reported action as follows: " Be it enacted by the board of 
trustees of the inhabitants of the town of Windsor, that the inhabi- 
tants of the town of Windsor, be declared, from and after the adoption 
of this ordinance by a majority of the legal voters of the corporation of 
Windsor, organized and incorporated under the provision of the stat- 
utes of Missouri," passed and approved May 15, 1877, and entitled 
"An act for the government of cities of the fourth class." 

WINDSOR CITY ELECTION. 

The election came off October 15, 1878, and the following names 
composed the first mayor and aldermen of the city of Windsor, the 
entire straight Democratic ticket was elected: James M. Burress for 
mayor; E. N. Jerome, marshal; aldermen, First Ward, E. Bass, and M. A, 
Owen; Second Ward, David Black, Frank Ham; Third Ward,M. L. Stafford 
J. C. Beedy. This ticket was opposed by what was called the Citizens' 
or Prohibition ticket, but the Democracy won in the "prohibition strong- 
hold" by a majority of nearly fifty. O. L. Smith was appointed clerk;: 
R. O. Ragan, treasurer; N. K. Chapman, attorney; O. N. Jerome, street 
commissioner and marshal; T. O. Williams, collector. The first Tues- 
day of each month was made the regular time of meeting. At the 
regular meeting, October, 1878, O. L. Smith was made collector, assum- 
ing the duties of clerk and collector. 



388 1 1 IS TORY OK HEiXRV COUNTV. 

On the nth of March, 1879, O. L. Smith, resigned, and T. O. VVil- 
:liams was appointed clerk and collector. 

OFFICERS, 1879. 

Mayor — Edwin Bass. 

Aldermen — First Ward, R. F. Taylor, one year; First Ward, M. A. 
•Owens, two years, chairman; Second Ward, R. Cahill, two years; Second 
Ward, F. M. Ham, one year; Third Ward, M. L. Stafford, one year; Third 
Ward, J. C. Beedy, two years. 

Marshal — E. N. Jerome. 

Clerk— W. S. Shivel. 

Treasurer — R. O. Ragan. 

Assessor and Collector.— T. O. Williams. 

Mr. Williams served as clerk of that term and the next, Shivel not 
appearing as such, and at the June term, 1879, June 3d, John S. Kelley, 
having been appointed, entered upon his duties of city clerk, June 17, 
1879. 

OFFICERS, 1880. 

Mayor — Edwin Bass. 

Aldermen — First Ward, R. F. Taylor, two year's; R. M. Majors, one 
year; M. A. Owens, removed from the city; Second Ward, W. H. Crum ; 
Third Ward, M. L. Stafford. 

OFFICERS, 1 88 1. 

Mayor — R. F. Taylor. 

Aldermen — First Ward, R. W. Majors, chairman of the board, J. B. 
Brame; Second Ward, R. Cahill; Third Ward, B. E. DawSon. 

Marshal— John W. Hall. 
Treasurer— R. O. Ragan. 
'■Collector — James D. Baker. 
•Clerk — John S. Kelley. 

OFFICERS, 1882. 

"Mayor — A. L. Clinkinbeard. 

.Aldermen — First Ward, B. F. Smith; Second Ward, W, J. Living- 
ston; Third Ward, F. M. Ham. 

Marshal— John W. Hall. 

Treasurer — R. O. Ragan. 

Collector^ — James D. Baker. 

Clerk — John S. Kelley. 

At the adjourned meeting of the city council July 6, 1882, Mayor 
Clinkinbeard resigned his office of mayor, R. Cahill removed from the 
city and I. E. Sobey was elected to fill his unexpired term. Marshal 
Hall also resigned, and Samuel W. Majors appointed. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 389 

President R. W. Majors, of the city council, served as acting mayor 
until July 20, 1882, when W. J. Colbow, having been elected took his 
seat. At the retirement of Mayor Taylor, he was presented with a gold' 
headed cane and a pair of gold spectacles. 

FINANCIAL. 

In April, 1874, the treasurer of the town of Windsor, Edwin Bass^ 
made a statement that there was in the town treasury $73.81. Fronn 
that time until 1880, the financial exhibit of the town and city of Wind- 
sor, were not found of record. Just how the financial affairs were con- 
ducted was really not known, and what became of the funds from year 
to year, has probably never been fully ascertained or explained. There 
was a balance in the treasury reported April i, 1879, o^ $85-54> but the 
treasurer reported a city indebtedness of nearly $300. 

On March 2, 1880, John S. Kelly, city clerk and clerk from the pre- 
vious June, made the following official statement of the city's financies;: 

Received from all sources $465 3^ 

Paid city indebtedness $279 96 

Current expenses 96 47 

$376 45 

Balance in treasury $ 88 95 

To this was added railroad tax 855 

Judgment in favor of city I5 3<^ 

Total on hand . $112 80 

The balance in the treasury March 3, 1881, was $248.62, and on 
March 9, 1882, $487.64. The city is out of debt and has a handsome 
balance in the treasury, which is being used for street and other improve- 
ments of the city. As now managed it will not be long before Windsor 
will be one of the neatest cities in the state, as it is now one of the most 
growing and thriving. 

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WINDSOR. 

Pleasant Grove Baptist Church was one of the first church organi- 
zations in the township, dating back to 1853, before the town site of 
Windsor was known. It was really organized as a church that year, 
dating from October 29, 1853, but for several years previous meetings 
had been held until they found themselves numerous enough to have 
stated preaching. The original members were W. A. Gray, B, F. Goodin,. 
David Home, W. C. P. Caldwell, Weeden Major, Nancy Major, William* 
Major, Ann Major, John L. Major, Eliza A. Major, James Major, Martha 
Major, Charles Major, W. H. Davis, Wiley Parker. The church was 



390 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

removed to Windsor in 1867, and called the First Baptist Church of 
Windsor, having been first located about a half mile southwest of Wind- 
sor, on section 1 1. 

Previous to the late war, from 1854 to 1856, Rev. W. A. Gray had 
charge, he being followed by Rev. A. D. Landum for two years, and Rev. 
Benjamin F. Goodin from 1858 to i860. The Rev. W. P. C. Caldwell 
and Rev. E. W. Kilbuck each served a short term, when the war caused 
a temporary suspension. It did not fairly regain itself until its removal 
to Windsor in 1867, as above stated. 

The Rev. B. F. Lawler, however, took charge in 1865, and for ten 
and a half years he gave earnest and faithful work to build up his church 
and to spread its influence for good throughout the city and county. 
Under his administration the church progressed, and in 1870 the organ- 
ization erected a handsome and substantial frame church, which cost 
complete some $3,000. In 1876 the Rev. D. N How was called and 
remained pastor for a year and a half, or to January, 1878, when the 
present able divine, the Rev. R. H. Harris, was called. The church was 
dedicated in 1870. 

There is a flourishing Sunday School attached to the church, which 
has an attendance of eighty scholars and is under the superintend- 
ency of W. J. Colbow. This, with a membership of 150, shows that it 
is prosperous, with every reason to believe that it will continue so. 

The Tebo Baptist Association was organized at this church. 

THE M. E. CHURCH 

of Windsor was organized in the year 1869 with the following original 
members, viz: Ebenezer Culver and wife, John Cole and wife, Elisha 
Culver and wife, Stephen F. Robinson and wife, William Huston and 
wife, Jacob Haman and wife, Joseph L. Dunn and wife, Charles Elliott 
and Elizabeth Elliott. 

The Rev. William Powell was called to the pastorate, and he was 
followed in the order named by the Revs. E. H. Smith, who was unfor- 
tunately killed by lightning while on the circuit in 1871, James A. Little, 
S. Ing, John H. Lutz, R. H. Hanson, John H. Gillispie, A. P. Sallaway 
and the present popular and able pastor, the Rev. William DeMotte. 

The present place of worship was erected in the fall of 1870, and was 
•neatly furnished at a cost of $1,200. It is a frame building. Its mem- 
bership is forty-six. One of the most flourishing Sunday Schools in 
Windsor is a part of the work of this church, under the charge of N. C. 
Keyes, superintendent. With a pleasant parsonage of six rooms, and 
the church out of debt, it has a promising and useful future. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 39I 

WINDSOR CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 

was first organized August 8, 1868, and from that date seems to have 
been successful in building up a strong and influential congregation, and 
a pillar in the Christian world. The original members of the organiza- 
tion were H. P. Sloan, Samuel Swisher, Isaac Pettijohn, Miles Caldwell^ 
I. N. Sanborn, W. B. Pomeroy, John G. Sloari, Delia Sloan, Abby Petti- 
john, Flora A. Sanborn, Mary L. Sanborn, Emma G. Pomeroy, Mrs. M. 
Caldwell, Mrs. S. T. Tate, and Mrs. M. A. Swisher. 

The church has grown until now it has one hundred members, and 
its future may be told from the growth of the city. 

The year following its organization, the church erected a handsome 
edifice and finished and furnished the same in a neat and substantial 
manner. The total cost was $1,600. 

Its first pastor was the Rev. George R. Hewling, who, accepting 
another call, remained but a few months, being succeeded by the Rev. 
John M. Bowers, who remained in charge for two years. At the close of 
his pastorate, the Rev. John G. Bailey was asked to accept the pastorate, 
which he did in 1872, and still continues earnestly and faithfully in the 
discharge of his important duties. 

It has grown from the small number of fifteen to one hundred mem- 
bers, and not only this, but its Sunday School is large and flourishing, 
having in the school a roll of one hundred pupils. The school was first 
placed under the superintendency of John H. Knapp and has been regu- 
larly kept since it started. The present superintendent in charge is Mr. 
A. C. Gould, and he is faithfully and steadily performing his work of love 
and usefulness. 

At this time the church and school are in a flourishing condition. 
It has grown under the Rev. Mr. Barley's charge, and is still so pros- 
pering that the coming summer or fall (1883) it is in contemplation 
to erect a more commodious edifice to meet the demand for more room, 
the present church being too small to comfortably seat the regular con- 
gregation. There is little doubt, but Windsor will ere a year passes have 
a beautiful new church edifice of which it may be proud. 

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. 

It was some years before the organization that preaching was first 
held among its members. For a number ot years the circuit rider or 
preacher came among them as his time and duties called him, and the 
original members of the church, which became organized in 1853, had 
service or preaching held at their cabins. The Rev. W. W. Jones and 
Rev. W. Pitt were both preaching from time to time as far back as 1840 
to 1845, and continued to do so up to nearly the time of the organiza- 
tion of the church in the year 1853. 



392 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The school house, erected some half a mile west of the present 
town site of the city of Windsor, was used as a church for three years 
after its organization. The church, as before stated, organized in 1855 
under the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the orig- 
inal members were. Dr. W. T. Thornton and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Tay- 
lor, Mr. and Mrs. Horning, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Means, Mr. and Mrs. 
Benjamin Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. John Bell, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel 
Duncan, Mr. and Mrs. James Baker, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Beimers and Miss 
Baker. 

With this early membership the church has grown and strengthened 
with increasing years, until at the present time it numbers something 
over a hundred members, and its influence for good has become wide- 
spread and with increasing lustre from year to year. Its first pastor at 
the organization at the old school house was the Rev. J. M. Kelley. He 
officiated there only one year, when he was succeeded by Joseph Wood, 
and the latter by the Rev. Bond. Then came the dark days of civil 
strife, the teachings of Christ were thrown aside and fanatacism and the 
gospel of hate held undisputed sway and ruled the hour. It was not 
until the white-winged angel of peace had once more settled over our 
broad land, did the church hope for success, or men's hearts open to the 
teachings of Him who died that a world might be saved. So for many 
years church progress became slow, and the evils which were engendered 
were hard to eradicate from men's minds. 

In the year 1875 the Rev. J, M. Kelley, who twenty-two years before 
had been their first pastor, was called to the charge and under his min- 
istration the church once more started into life, grew and prospered. 
For nine years did this noble follower of Christ perform his duty, hav- 
ing no desire but to perform his whole duty and pray that his labors 
might be crowned with success. That prayer has been granted and he 
has retired from the charge with the esteem and love of grateful hearts. 

The church commences the new year, 1883, with 100 members, and 
its future unclouded. The present pastor is the Rev. Eugene Springer, 
who brings to his work a strong faith and a willingness to labor. The 
Sabbath School which is connected with the church, numbers fifty schol- 
ars, and is under the charge of James Baker, as superintendent. The 
church building, which is 30x70 feet in size, is the oldest in the city, hav- 
ing been erected and dedicated in the year 1856. Its cost was about 
$3,000. With the parsonage the property is fully worth $4,000 at this 
time. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

The members of this denomination of the Protestant Church found 
at the close of the war of 1861-65, that they numbered enough to form a 
church organization, and they took steps to carry it out. The result was 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 395 

the " Christian Church," of Windsor, which has been and is now one of 
the most prosperous churches in Windsor, and one of the most influen- 
tial for good. 

Its original members cannot be all given, but the following were a 
portion of those who joined in its organization: William Steele, Fannie 
Steele, Mary Shadburne, William Gilliland and wife, H. T. Douglas, Cath- 
erine Douglas, Nancy Douglas, J. M. Douglas, Warren Goodin and wife, 
and Daniel Douglas and wife. 

The church has grown until now it has no members. The congre- 
gation in 1874, erected a neat frame chapel, furnishing the same neatly 
yet substantially, at a cost of $1,000. 

The pastors who have officiated as such were first, Rev. James Ran- 
dall, then the Rev. James Sapington, Rev. Henry Speed, Rev. Charles 
Patterson, Rev. N. M. Ragland, and the present and past year, the Rev. 
S. K. Hallam. 

It has the largest Sabbath School attendance in the city, having 116 
pupils on its roll of membership. This is under the very successful super- 
intendency of Dr. B. E. Dawson. At this time there is nothing to dim 
the brightness of its future. 

MOUNT ZION CHURCH 

is of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, and was organized 
April 15, 1855, at the residence of Robert D. Means. Those who joined 
in the organization were, R. A. Brame, R. D. Means, William H. Ham, 
Anna Brame, Susan E. Means, Susan Ham, W. R Witten and wife, Mrs. 
Sarah D. Means, mother of R. D. Means, and Mary E. Brame, daughter 

of R. A. Brame. 

The Rev. Fines Washington organized the church, and the Rev. 
James Martin was secretary and first pastor of the church. The church 
organizatian has been kept up with varying success, but still holdmg 
fast to its organization. The next minister was the Rev. Mr. Hogan, 
who seemed to have been the last regular pastor of the church. The 
church at this time has no stated preacher of its own. Neither is it yet 
provided with a church building, but the members, who now number 
forty, have hopes, ere long, of not only being able to erect a comfortable 
church, but to again secure a regular pastor. 

They have no Sunday School. The present elders of the church 
are R. A. Brame, R. D. Means, and William H. Ham. 

LAUREL OAK CEMETERY. 

This is a handsome piece of land containing some six acres, regu- 
larly laid out in lots, sixteen feet square, with walks of three feet in width, 
and no less than three driveways through the ground. In this beautiful 



394 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

spot, gently undulating is Windsor's "City of the Dead." Here all meet 
on a comnion level, and all will rise when Gabriel's trump shall sound. 
Bathed in the soft moonlight it is indeed an enchanting ground, standing 
in the circle which has been laid out in its center, and a beautiful view 
can be had. The monuments and headstones take a fantastic shape and 
imagination seems enthralled. Here they rest, where the grapes grow, 
and the flowers sing a soft, low requiem, as they are gently wafted by 
the passing breeze over their lowly head. Yes, Laurel Oak Cemetery is 
a beautiful spot, and the citizens of Windsor City have taken pride in its 
adornment. 

The purchase of the ground was made and a company incorporated 
April 29, 1872. It was laid out and surveyed March i, 1871, by J. H. 
Knapp. The incorporators were W. J. Colbow, T. W. McKinley, B. F. 
Williamson, J. R. Chappel and Edwin Bass; the latter sleeping his last 
sleep within its sacred enclosure. 

AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR. 

This lodge was organized February 23, 1881, and the members initi- 
ated in the mysteries of the order by Deputy Supreme Commander J. 
M. Burress, at their place of meeting. Good Templars' Hall. 

The charter members were R. M. Funk, George W. Goodlet, Isaac 
E. Sobey, I. W. Mitchell, R. O. Ragan, J. M. Burress, E. B. Phillips, 
Wyatt Simpson, John A. Gedney, S. W. Mitchell, W. H. Walker, F. M. 
Ham, John A. Calfee, E. D. Stearns, D. L. Daniels, M. V. Beedy, W. M. 
Nelson, John Q. Barnes, W. C. Barnaman. B. W. Huey, J. E. Baugh, 
George L. Neale, George F. Pickerill, and W. H. Ellis. 

The following officers were then elected and duly installed : R. M. 
Funk. C; George W. Goodlet, V. C; S W. Mitchell, O.; J. M. Bur- 
ress, P. C; Isaac E. Sobey, Secretary; I. W. Mitchell, Collector; R. O. 
Ragan Treasurer; E^. B. Phillips, C; W. H. Walker, G.; Wyatt Simpson, 
W.; F. M. Ham, S. 

Trustees — John A. Calfee, John A. Gedney and D. L. Daniel. 

The lodge is in good condition, has a neat and handsome furnished 
hall, and is destined to grow and become influential for good, as the popu- 
lation of the city increases. 

Present officers, 1883 — Isaac E. Sobey, C; J. H. Hines, V. C; B. 
W. Huey, O.; R. N. Owsley, Sec; W. H. Walker, Col.; R. O. Ragan, 
Treas.; E. B. Phillips, C; W. M. Nelson, G.; F. M. Ham, W.; W. C. 
Barnaman, S. Trustees — Calfee, Goodlet and Mitchell. The member- 
ship numbers twenty-six. 

A. O. U. \v. 

Amazon Lodge, No. in, was established on February 27th, 1879, by 
Brother William R. Shern, D. W. M. W., and with the following charter 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 395 

members: J. B. Brame, P. M. W.; John A. Calfee, M. W.; R. L. Shad- 
burne, G. F. ; J. L. Shelton, O.; George L. Neale, Recorder; H. H. Harns- 
berger, Fin.; George J. Shelton, Receiver; J. D. Melvin, G.; S. B. Baugh, 
I. W.; J. W. Taylor, O..W. 

The order is in a flourishing condition, and numbers January 1st, 
18S3, thirty-five members. 

Present officers— W. G. Crum, M. W.; J. S. Kelly, F.; A. L. Down- 
ing, O.; George, L. Neale, Recorder; A. L. Clinkenbeard, Fin.; J. H. 
Hines, Receiver; A. E. Bridges, G.; F. M. Ham, I. W.; J. W. Mclntier, 
O. W.; George J. Shelton, P. M. W. 

I. O. O. F. 

The lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted at 
Windsor May 20th, 1868, by the R. W. G. L. of Missouri, with the fol- 
lowing officers and members, viz: S.J. Colton, N. G.; E. N. Jerome, V. 
G. ; Henry Lip, Treas., J. M. Burress, Sec; Joel Beeler, I. G.; E. Lewis, 
W. The present membership of the lodge numbers twenty-three, and 
the present officers, January ist, 1883, are: B. W. Huey, N. G. : W. E. 
Jerome, V. G.; Jackson Sympson, Treas.; J. P. Stewart, Sec, and E. N. 
Jerome. W. 

GOOD TEMPLAR LODGE. 

This lodge was organized In November, 1865, by William Cotton. 
The original members were Robert D. Means, John Landman, Silas 
Turner, Joseph Turner, James Turner, William Steele, William H. Ham, 
L. S. Emett and his two daughters. Holly and Ettie, and James Good- 
win. The order has built a fine hall, known as "Good Templar Hall,'' 
and the lodge has flourished since its inception. They have done much 
good both by precept and example, and now number a few over lOO 
members. The future of the order is very bright and promising. 

A. F. & A. M. 

Windsor Lodge No. 29, received its charter June 2, 1866, with the 
names of the following gentlemen embodied thereon as charter mem- 
bers: James A. Scribner, Joseph Fisher, J. A. Hughes, A. M. Mclntire, 
Jerry Yancy, Joel Yancy, William Steele, G. Q. Foster, James D. Baker, 
R. W. Major, H. T. Douglas, James C. Caldwell and Perry Wetzell. 

Officers: James A. Scribner, W. M.; Joseph Fisher, S. W.; J. A. 
Hughes, J. W. 

The order has, since its first organization, been in a flourishing con- 
dition, and at this time is fully up to, in membership and influence, the 
demand upon it. The future is certainly one of brightness, and it has 
now become powerful for good in the community, which position may it 
long continue. 



396 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The present officers are: J. W. Brown, W. M.; R. C. Ragan. S. W.; 
I. E. Sobey, J. W.; R. F. Taylor, Secretary; R. W. Major, Treasurer; N. 
T Gray, S. D.; W. Humphry, J. D.; H. T. Douglas, Tyler. These are 
the officers installed for the year 1883. 

WINDSOR POSTMASTERS. 

The first who acted as postmaster of Windsor was Jefferson Means. I 
He held the office some three months, from August, 1852, until Novem- cj 
ber, 18, 1852, when Richard F. Taylor, who had been appointed, having jij 
received his commission, took charge of the office and held the same i 
until the year 1862. ' 

That year Mr. King became postmaster, or rather Mrs. Egbert King, I 
and she took the postoffice over in Pettis County, some two miles from j 
Belmont, as the town was called, and kept it there until near the close i 
of the war, in 1865. ; 

January 10, 1865, Mr. L. S. Emett received his commission, and he I 
lost no time in taking possession and removing the office back to Bel- '. 
mont. Mr. Emett received a salary of $170 from January, 1866. Mr. i 
Emett died in 1872, and his son, Lewis W. Emett, then acting as deputy, | 
continued, his mother having been recommended to succeed her hus- 1 
band. Mrs. Mary Emett's commission was dated September 7, 1874, 1' 
and the office salary from 1872 had been $540 per year, which tells the jj 
growth of the town in a marked degree. 

In April, 1875, Mr. Walter T. Glover, and an old and popular citizen, 
received his commission as postmaster of Windsor, and is still holding \\ 
the position, having been in office nearly eight years. He has proven an | 
able, prompt and accommodating gentleman. 

OLD settler's REUNION AND TICNIC. 

The largest gathering ever seen at Windsor was on the i6th day of 
September, 1882, when some 3,000 people gathered together for picnic 
recreation and a reunion of the old settlers of the county, and some join- 
ing them over the line from Benton, Pettis and Johnson Counties. 

At half past nine the Windsor Cornet Band headed the procession, 
followed by the order of the Legion of Honor, then the old settlers, 
order of Good Templars, with the people efi masse, stretching out nearly 
a mile behind. After marching through the principal streets they pro- 
ceeded to Beaman's Grove, a beautifully shaded lawn, when they came 
to order under the direction of Col. G. W. Goodlette, the marshal of the 
day, who, with a few appropriate remarks, gave way to the introductory 
speech of the mayor of Windsor, which was received with applause. It 
was neat and appropriate to the occasion, and introduced the orator of 
the day, the Hon. John I. Martin, deputy grand commander of the A. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 397 

L. of H., of St. Louis, whose eloquent speech was preceeded by an earn- 
est prayer from the lips of the Rev. E. B. Phillips. 

The speech of Mr. Martin was a literary gem, sparkling and elo- 
quent, with a fine display of oratorical power, combined with a voice of 
great volume and of singular sweetness. He was listened to with the 
deepest interest, and his peroration was a splendid effort, which went to 
the hearts of his hearers. 

The next was a piece appropriate to the occasion, well delivered by 
Mr. Mack Goodlett, and a speech by the eloquent Colonel P. H. Shel- 
ton, closed the forenoon proceedings, and dinner was announced, and it 
was most heartily enjoyed. Like the feast of old, it not only fed the 
multitude, but there were basket after basket full still left, and no one 
was turned away hungry. 

Colonel William H. McLane, of Clinton, and Major B. F. William- 
son made speeches after dinner full of the reminiscences of olden times, 
full of pathos and humor, which came right home to the hearts of the 
■" old settlers." 

Mrs. S. A. Brown read in a clear, magnetic voice the reminiscence 
of " Will Carlton," and some excellent music was rcRdered by Miss 
Tennie Williamson, J. R. Bush and J. D. Linsay. Dr. J. W. Gray then 
stepped forward and made a short and exceedingly eloquent speech, 
which was received with with a universal expression of favor. This 
closed the exercises of the day, and the multitude dispersed, feeling 
thoroughly satisfied, knowing that they would cherish this reunion in 
their hearts, and which would prove to them a pleasant memory for 
TTiany long years. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

The Lingle Bros, commenced the publication of the Windsor Cou- 
rier in the year 1870 and continued about four years. On the closing 
out of the Courier Messrs. Hitchcock & Keyes started the Helmet in 
1874 and continued not quite two years. Upon the ruins of the latter 
paper Mr. W. H. Walker started in January, 1876, the present Windsor 
Review, which commenced its eighth volume this January, 1883, in a 
very prosperous manner. It is ably supported by the Windsorites, is 
one of the brightest rural papers in the state and ever ready to sound a 
bugle note in praise of the city of its adoption. May its future prove 
as prosperous as its past has been successful. 

WINDSOR PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

While Windsor Township can boast of having one of the two first 
schools taught in the county, Windsor City can also come to the front 
with the fact that it has also one of the two finest brick school buildings 



398 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

in the county, the Clinton Graded School building only exceeding it in 
cost and size. 

Windsor City was only a village of two years of age when Mr. 
Robert D. Means and a few other enterprising citizens put their shoul- 
ders to the wheel and put up a large fine log school house, the first 
named furnishing most of the money part. 

The school was a private, or subscription school, and when com- 
pleted Miss Ann Allen took possession and taught the first school and 
several terms after. Mr. George N. Pierce became the second teacher, ijj 
The school house was used as a church for several years. | 

The history of the Windsor school from i860 to 1870 was like all fl 
the others in the county. Demoralization, poverty, destruction of prop- 
erty, having caused a suspension, and required years for recuperation. \ 
In fact the entire state succumbed, and even the state school fund was 1 
withheld for several years after the war, and not until the session of the i 
general assembly, after the election of B. Gratz Brown took action, was* ] 
the school fund replaced which had been wrongfully perverted in pre- i 
vious years. A state certificate of indebtedness of $900,000 was voted : 
to reimburse the state school fund. The Windsor school began about J 
the above date to exhibit new life. The people submitted to a local tax l 
without grumbling, but as the town grew rapidly it was found that a 1 
large building was a necessity, and a still larger one would be in demand il 
in the near future. In the spring of 1877 the people of the school dis- i- 
trict, composing the town of Windsor, voted to raise $2,500 toward 
building a school building to meet the wants of the community. In 
1878 they voted $1,000, and in 1879 $500 more was raised, making $4,000. 
The school board, however, had appointed a building committee, and 
they had purchased material and had the building under way, so that it 
was partly occupied in the winter of 1878-79. The size of the new 
school building was 34x60 feet, with a vestibule of 18x34 feet, used for 
school purposes, all two stories high and divided into two rooms above 
and below. The building was a good substantial brick, and costing 
when completed and furnished $4,800. 

The school board was composed of the following named gentlemen: 
W. J. Livingston, president; R. R. Majors and J. C. Beedy. Mr. N. C. 
Keyes was clerk. 

In 1882, the demand for more room became imperative, and a second 
building nearly equal to the first in size, was added at a cost of $3,400. 
The school board, through their building committee, took pride in thor- 
ough work at a reasonable cost, and they succeeded in erecting for less 
than $10,000 a school building, that in solid work, in the number of pupils 
it will seat, and in its handsome and substantial finish, cannot at this 
time be duplicated for much under $15,000. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



399 



The district contains 450 children of school age, an enrollment of 
380, and a regular attendance of something over 300 scholars. 

The present board of trustees are, J. C. Beedy, N. L. Stafford, 
George J. Shelton, Robert O. Ragan and Samuel Schwab. Mr. J. P. Allen 
is secretary. 

The present corps of teachers are, Professor W. H. Smith, county 
superintendent of schools, and an able educator, principal, assisted by 
Miss Kate Salmon, Miss Sally Gray, Mrs. S. A. Brown, Miss Minnie 
Keisor and Miss Ellen Douglas. The school opens in January, 1883, 
with a full average attendance, and every evidence of present and future 
prosperity. 

WINDSOR'S BUSINESS INTERESTS. 



Bass & Kelly, dry goods. 

Schwab, boots and shoes, and gro- 
ceries. 

Harnsberger & Ragan, dry goods. 

Livingston & Sons, dry goods. 

A. L. Clinkenbeard, jeweler. 

Colbow & Lewis, hardware. 

Gray & Son, groceries. 

James Douglas, grain dealer. 

W. J. Douglas, groceries. 

Cannon & Keys, groceries. 

Foster & Wall, groceries. 

Wall Bros., furniture. 

Melvin & Berry, furniture. 

Smith & Funk, drugs and medi- 
cines. 

H. B. McCleverty, real estate dealer. 

Miss Nannie C. Parks, millinery. . 

Miss Jennie Hooker, millinery. 

John Burnell, millinery goods. 

Delaney & Co., lumber merchants, 
Isaac E. Sobey, manager. 

W. J. Goforth, architect and builder. 

E. B. Phillips, carpenter and 
builder. 

Neale & Huey, photograph gallery. 

S. N. Floyd, confectionery. 

Baugh & Campbell, billiard hall. 

Mrs. McGee, boarding house. 

Allen & Lindsay, attorneys and 
insurance aeents. 



Parker & Son, dry goods and cloth- 
ing. 

H. C. Churchill, drugs and medicines. 

Hines & Co., dry goods. 

Shelton & Owsley, groceries and pro- 
duce. 

Stafford & Livingston, grain dealers. 

A. F. Wyard, harness and saddlery. 

N. E. Carpenter & Co., saddlery and 
harness. 

L W. Mitchell, groceries. 

Phillip Stair, hardware and stoves. 

Schwab, Majors & Owens, grain 
dealers. 

E. H. Mitchell, news, books and sta- 
tionery. 

Mrs. Moser, millinery and dress 
making. 

W. H. Ham, real estate and notary. 

Bailey, Sanborn & Morse, fruit evap- 
orator and fruit dealers. 

J. C. Beedy, lumber merchant. 

J. A. Calfee, grain and fruit. 

Arthur M. Morgan, notion store. 

Harris Owens, marble yard. 

Withers & Wesner, confectioners. 

O. Smith, restaurant. 

Shelton, Strauss & Bass, stock 
dealers. 

N. K. Chapman, attorney. 

William Tryon, building mover. 



400 HISTORY OF HKNRV COUNTY. 

Waller & Black, attorneys. George W. Tryon, insurance agent. 

Dr. G. VV. Givens. Dr. Benjamin E. Dawson. 

Dr. Benjamin F. Smith. Drs. T. G. & R. L. Shadburne. 

Dr. John B. Brame, dentist. Dr. Moser, dentist. 

Bass House, James H. Bass, pro- Windsor Hotel, James Swisher, pro- 
prietor, prietor. 
William Moreland, meat market. Sylvester Cotton, meat market. 
Berton & Collins, livery and sale Mr. Richardson, livery stable. 

stable. Whittaker & Smith, barbers. 

C. S. Fogg, shoe shop. William Bull, shoe shop. 

Charles Robinson, novelty shop. G. W. Crawford, painter and glazier. 
Addison Cahill, painter. James Gillum, carpenter. 

John Chambers, carpenter. Isaac H. Glassburn, carpenter. 

Jackson Sympson & Son, fine iron Frank M. Ham, blacksmithing. 
work and blacksmithing. William Barnaman, wagon maker. 

An elevator company with a capital of $50,000 has been incorpor- 
ated, and will build the coming spring an elevator of 150,000 bushels 
capacity; also warehouse 50x100 feet, and all necessary machinery, shell- 
ing attachment, etc. 

WINDSOR SAVINGS BANK. 

This, the only banking institution in the city, received its charter 
January 17th, 1877, and in the following February opened its doors for 
business. Its first directory and list of officers who started it on the road 
of financial success, were: 

Directors— J. C. Beedy, V. K. Hines, R. W. Major, C. C. Morse, 
Emanuel Wolf, Henry C. Churchill, R^ M. Funk, J. H. Hines, W. J. Liv- 
ingstone, James M. Wall, George J. 5helton, E. J. Grippen and J. R. 
Chappell. 

Officers — J. C. Beedy, prest.; Emanuel Wolf, Sec; R. W. Major, 
.cashier. 

The stock of the bank is mostly owned by parties in and near town. 
Every share of the $50,000 capital is taken. Recently various improve- 
ments have been made in the building owned by the corporation, and 
also in the interior arrangements of the same. A fine fire and burglar 
proof vault has been built for the better protection of the money and 
■valuable papers. This vault is of hard brick, built in with cement, and 
is about 6x8 feet on the inside. It is provided with double doors made 
by the celebrated Mosler Safe and Lock Company, Cincinnati. In the 
vault is one of Hall's burglar and fire proof safes, with two combination 
locks. We believe that this bank is absolutely burglar proof, as the 
vault and safe combined will defy all the assaults that may be made upon 
•them. Neither is it possible to force the cashier to open the safe, from 
■the simple fact that it is impossible for him to do so alone. The combi- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 4OI 

nation that opens the doors, of which there are four, are each one in 
possession of different parties, thus rendering it impossible for any one 
to open the entire set alone. An addition to the building is also being 
built. This is to be used for the directors' room, and will be quite a com- 
modious appartment, being sixteen feet long. The bank has been a suc- 
cess from the start and has the full confidence of the community. Its 
last financial statement, December 31st, 1882, is given below: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security. .$31,315 06 

Loans and discounts undoubtedly good on real estate security 11,129 80 

Overdrafts by solvent customers 605 39 

United States bonds on hand 

Other bonds and stocks at their present cash market price. . . 

Due from other banks, good on sight draft . . . 5,182 17 

Real estate at present cash market value i,372 05 

Furniture and fixtures 729 00 

Checks and other cash items 106 26 

Bills of National Banks and legal tender United States notes 4.400 00 

Gold coin 800 00 

Silver coin 872 60 

Exchange maturing and matured 



Total $56,512 >3 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock paid in $15 ,000 00 

Surplus funds on hand 12,658 JJ 

Undivided declared dividends 

Deposits subj^t to draft — at sight 26,156 16 

Deposits subject to draft at given dates 2,698 40 

Due other bands and bankers 

Expenses now due 



Total $56,5 1 2 33 

THE WINDSOR STEAM FLOURING MILLS 

•do a large business, grinding some 60,000 bushels of wheat annually, 
having four run of burrs, and also grind largely of corn, the brand of 
meal standing A i. The mills were erected in 1872 and are now owned 
by Erastus Weaver. 

THE WINDSOR CUSTOM MILLS 

are owned by W. G. and E. C. Crum. They have two run of burrs, and 
their mills are furnished with all late improvements. They do mostly a 
custom business, but still do a large exchange business in flour and meal 
ifor grain. 

36 



402 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

BRICKYARDS. 

W. H. Gray has a fine brickyard, the clay around Windsor being of 
a fine quality and making a bright red brick. He has a capacity to 
make anywhere from 100,000 to 1,000,000 brick, according to the demand. 

W. M, Smith is similarly situated and has all the paraphernalia of a 
first-class brickyard. 

These gentlemen also make the pressed brick. 

BROOM FACTORIES. 

The Star Broom Factory was started early in the fall of 1882 by Mr. 
L. A. Watson. The straw or brush is raised in the county, and Mr. Wat- 
son is turning out some fifty dozen brooms per week, ranging in price 
from $2 to $3.25 per dozen, and finds his chief market in St. Louis and 
Kansas City, but has customers in nearly all the towns around. 

The Pickerell & Douglas Broom Factory also opened in the fall of 
1882, and are at this date, January, 1883, turning out from forty to fifty 
dozen per week, with orders increasing on them. They find about the 
same market as the first named, and like them will increase their facili- 
ties to meet the demands of trade. 

This closes the account of the present manufacturing interests of 
Windsor, but there are flattering prospects of an important increase. 

ITEMS. 

There are sixty-three business houses in Windsor: six manufac- 
tories, one bank, two hotels, five lawyers, two insurance agents, five 
physicians, two dentists, one Good Templar hall, and not a single saloon, 
five churches, one graded school building, one newspaper, two justices 
of the peace, Squire R. F. Taylor and Squire William Goodin. The 
township of Windsor has eight district or public schools, the largest 
number of any township in the county. 

GENERAL NOTES FROM THE WINDSOR REVIEW, JANUARY, 1 883. 

The Windsor Savings Bank was founded in the winter of 1877. 

In its seven years existence the Review has missed one is.sue, 
caused by death in the family. 

Windsor has trebled her population and more than quadrupled her 
valuation in seven years. 

History repeats itself. Seven years ago W. J. Colbow was mayor 
of Windsor, a position he again holds. 

For the first nine months the Review was run on an old-fashioned 
Novelty press, printing one page at a time. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 403 

Mr. J. W. Agee and Miss Ellen Douglass then kept the village 
school — a task now keeping busy six good teachers. 

Seven years ago Windsor thought herself well supplied, musically, 
with two pianos and a few organs. Now there are twenty-four pianos 
in town and an organ in nearly every house. 

The old building on Main Street, east of W. J. Livingston's resi- 
dence property, now used as a dwelling, is the first store house put up 
in Windsor. It was put up by Mr. R. F. Taylor, still a resident of the 
town, in 1853, and used as a store house and postoffice. 

Something remarkable is that in the seven years there has been but 
one fire of any consequence in the city limits. This was the dwelling of 
G. L. Neale which was destroyed in the fall of 1880. A few slight-^ 
blazes have at times startled our people somewhat but not as much as 
they should be. 

The Windsor Cornet Band, now broken up, was organized in Sep- 
tember, 1876, and composed of the following members: W. J. Colbow, 
J. Regal, S. Schwab, N. C. Keyes, J. K. Chambers, D. McGee, E. N. 
Jerome, William Moreland, William Major, F. C. Livingston, J. S. Dun- 
can, E. R. Glover, W. J. Ham, W. H. Walker. 

SHIPMENTS. 

The following is a statement of the business done at this station, 
Windsor, for five months, from August i, to December 31, 1882: 

CAR LOADS FOR\VARDED. 

Apples 31 

Logs 6 

Coal 61 

Flax Seed 47 

Wheat 3 

Oats 27 

Cattle 81 

Sheep 13 

Hogs 27 

Broom Corn 118 

Scrap Iron 2 

Lumber i 

Corn 40 

Total 457 

TICKET AND FREIGHT RECEIPTS. 

Amount Ticket Sales $ 5.463 20 

Amount Freight Receipts 8,645 00 

Total $ 14, 108 20 

J. A. FULTZ, Agent. 



404 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY 
bird's EYE VIEW. 



Windsor has a beautful location about one half mile from the rail- 
road depot, on rising ground, which overlooks a vast expanse of prairie 
in all directions, richly dotted with magnificent farms, neat farm houses 
and well- filled barns. It is something worthy of notice, for it tells 
plainly of an energetic, enterprising and moral people. Windsor 
is settled with such, and with her handsome High School building, 
some splendid residences that would grace a city counted by its tens of 
thousands inhabitants, and many fine ones, her neat churches, and fine 
brick business blocks, Windsor can be proud of all. Thirty years ago 
where all this stands, a city of enterprise, deer roamed and the turkey 
could be found. Wolves howled out their melodious song, and all these 
were hunted and killed where to-day civilization has planted itself, and 
material progress marks an era of its own. What its future maybe, none 
can tell, but that it will be one of progress, lighted by the steps of a 
moral and Christian people, none need doubt, and to that which we be- 
lieve, will be its course, it is left to its bright future. 




CHAPTER XXVIl. 

DEEPWATER TOWNSHIP. 

WHEN SETTLED— ITS EARLY PIONEERS-ITS TERRITORY— DEEPWATER ORGANIZED— 
ARRIVALS— POST OFFICE— GERMANTOWN— WHEN SETTLED— HOW IT GREW— ITS 
POPULATION-ITS RANK— ITS BOUNDARY UNDER THE NEW LAW— ITS FIRST ELEC- 
TION OF OFFICERS— WHO THEY WERE- THE CITY OF MONTROSE— ITS FIRST INCOR- 
PORATION AS A TOWN— THE FIRES OF 1872 AND 1875— AFTER THE FIRE— FINANCIAL- 
SOME TOWN OFFICERS— HOW THE MARSHAL GOT RICH— CITY OF MONTROSE— FIRST 
MAYOR— CHURCHES— SCHOOL AND LODGES-BUSINESS-SHIPPING-WILLIAM TYREE, 
THE OLD PIONEER. 

WHEN SETTLED. 

This township was settled in 1835 and the first settler was a man by 
the name of Morris. He settled on Deepwater Creek on section 7. 
Another by the name of Shelton settled about two miles down the creek 
on section 5- These were the first two. 

The Graggs came in 1837, so also did William McCown. John C. 
Stone came in 1839, but late in the year William Tyree, the oldest man 
in Henry County, now living at the age of ninety-two years, settled on 
section 18. Henry Walbert and his sister, Elizabeth, settled on section 
4. John Schmedding lived with the Walberts, and in the next year, 
1840, married Elizabeth Walbert. The marriage ceremony was at the . 
residence of the bride's brother and was performed by the Rev. Amasa 
Jones. This was the first wedding in the township. 

The township was then called Grand River, but an influx of settlers 
in 1839 and 1840 caused a new township to be formed, called "Deepwa- 
ter." 

The township is noted for its beautiful prairies, high and rolling, its 
wooded streams, rich soil and its productive capacity. It lies in the 
extreme southwest corner of the county, and fully one-half of the town- 
ship is tributary in the way of trade to Appleton City and the other half 
to Montrose. A branch of Deepwater rises, with numerous heads fed 
by springs, in the west and southern central part of the township, and, 
running east, leaves the township near the center on the east side. 

Main Deepwater enters the township from Bates County a little 
over three miles from its southern border, and passes through to the 
northwestern part of the township, and, with its branches, gives an 
abundance of water for all farm purposes. The stretch of prairie which 



406 1 HISTORY OF HENR\ COUNTY. 

covers two-thirds of the township in a body running from the northeast 
to the southwest, sloping from the divide, both eas^ and west, is as 
pretty i piece of tillable land as this or any other county can boast of, 
and is free from the hard pan which underlies so much of the prairie 
land in Uie southeast portion of Bates County. 

Th^ township is now six miles square, being a congressional town- 
ship, bi|t when taken from Grand River Township, or as originally 
organized, it was composed of all of the present townships of Deep- 
water, Walker, a part of White Oak, all of Bear Creek, and a portion of 
Davis, Clinton and Fairview. A month latter the line was changed, 
leaving out Clinton and Fairview. It was a pretty good sized township 

and remained so for years. Here is its first organization: 
1 * 

' ' DEEPWATER. 

Thetownship was organized in July, 1840, and its metes and bounds 
were defined with the following order: "Ordered that an additional 
township be taken off of Grand River Township to be called "Deep- 
water," as follows: Beginning at the county line of Van Buren County, 
(now Cass) on the divide between Grand River and Deepwater; thence 
down said divide in a northeasterly direction to the range, line between 
25 and 26 (in August following it was changed to range line between 26 
and 27); thence south to the county line; thence west to the southwest 
corner of Rives County; thence to the beginning." 

The first election was at the regular annual election in August. 
The judges were John C. Stone, Alexander Gragg and William McCown, 
and the election precinct was the house of Alexander Gragg. Who 
was elected or to what offices was not of record. Mr. Alexander Gragg, 
however, was appointed a justice of the peace for the township on the 
following June, 1841. 

ARRIVALS. 

In 1842 quite a number of settlers had moved to the township. At 
that time Deepwater was the principal point of settlement all along its 
banks, and much of which is now Walker Township, was located with 
claims, the new comers following the stream, sometimes going a half a 
mile or more from it, but keeping water and timber in close compan- 
ionship. In 1857 Dr. Stewart built the first house at Germantown, and 
Jacob Goldsmith had the first store there the same year. This store 
was in a little frame building Dr. Stewart put up for his office and Mr. 
Goldsmith moved into it. The doctor then put up a larger building into 
which Goldsmith moved. The town was built on Mark Stewart's land. 
The doctor's residence was some 200 yards from the place where this 
new store was located, and Mr. Goldsmith boarded with the doctor. 



.; HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 407 

A person by the name of McClenhan also moved there,., and it 
became quite a settlement and eventually a town. John H.{ Austin 
bought a lot something like a half acre in 1857 ^^^ P^id $38 for'it. 

Deepwater Post Office was first opened at John C. Stone's, tn 1850- 
His cabin was some three miles east of Germantown, on sectior^ i. He 
held the office for, some five years, when John H. Austin took it to his 
cabin, on section 34, now Walker Township, until i860, when James 
Gates, from Kentucky, took it and located it at his cabin on sedtion 22, 
two miles north of Austin. It remained there two years, and it was 
returned to Mrs. Austin's, a widow, where it remained late in 1864. The 
office was removed to Germantown, with Edwin Taylor as the first post- 
master. He was at the time a mail contractor on a " star route," but that 
was a good many years ago, before " Brady and Dorsey " had kchieved 
greatness and notoriety. The post office was still called Deepwater, and 
its name was really never changed. The office was, however, discontin- 
ued. Germantown is now dead, but it had once a living history. What 
was death to Germantown was life to Montrose, and this life and death 
was caused by the location of the then Tebo & Neosho Railroad, now the 
Missouri, Kansas and Texas Division of the Missouri Pacific. 

William Tyree was the first man to settle on the open prairie, and 
it took six yoke of oxen to break them. The Indians roamed through 
the country for several years after the white settlers made it their home, 
but they were never troublesome. 

The first church was a Catholic Church, built on Mr. Schmedding's 
land, about one and a half miles from where Germantown was afterwards 
located. 

Deepwater Township settled up steadily. There was no rush of 
immigrants, but as the years passed by, it attracted the attention of pros- 
pectors, who invariably made it their home when farming was their 
desire. 

VILLAGE OF GERMANTOWN. 

When the village of Germantown started in 1857 the Catholics 
removed their church there. The southwestern portion of the township 
did not settle up until several years later. 

Germantown, however, became quite a village, and it was the busi- 
ness point of quite an extensive scope of country. The settlers on the 
eastern side of Bates County done most of their trading there, and it 
probably suffered less than most villages during the civil war. There 
was not much — only a store or two and a half dozen families — to tempt 
the cupidity of either the Jayhawkers or the Bushwhackers. Until 1870 
Germantown seemed to have a bright future, but the location of the rail- 
road three miles away gave it its death blow. 



408 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

At that time, 1870, the village had three general stores, one furni- 
ture store, two grocery stores, one drug store, two blacksmith shops and 
one saloon. 

When Montrose was located the town moved bodily over to the 
station and only one grocery store of all the business houses remained, 
and that was the last of this old settler. 

The Catholic Church, the old stone church, still remains there, and 
has since been enlarged and improved. The history of this church was 
promised the writer, but for some reason has never come to hand, 
although twice sought. This may also be said of the Methodist Church 
North, Catholic and Baptist Churches of Montrose. The "Stone Chapel" 
was organized by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1866 at Ger- 
mantown. In 1869 the name was changed to "Camp Branch," and in 
April, 1871, to the Montrose Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The 
building at Germantown was purchased by the Catholic congregation at 
that place, and this is the church which was added to and otherwise 
improved. 

HOW IT GREW. 

Deepwater under its old boundary of three or four of the present 
sized townships, improved about as rapidly as any section of the county. 
It was the second township in point of population in the county in 1870. 
It then had a population of 2,055. At the census of 1880 it contained 
1,652 inhabitants, after a territory equal to three congressional town- 
ships had been taken from it. It is now fourth on the list, being led 
first by Clinton, then Windsor and Tebo, the latter having but seventy- 
three greater population. In 1872 it was divided into two voting pre- 
cincts. In 1871 Montrose was founded, and in 1872 it had its first fire, 
on the night of September 14th, burning Chamberlain & Co.'s agricul- 
tural warerooms — loss $4,000; Boyd & Bro.'s dry goods — loss $5,000; 
the city scales and two stacks of hay. The fire was supposed to have 
been the work of an incendiary, who first robbed and then set fire to 
Boyd's store. Their money drawer was found during the following day 
in Kerr's lumber yard, minus its contents. In 1873, under the new town- 
ship organization law, its metes and bounds were thus given: 

NO. 16, DEEPWATER. 

Composed of all of congressional township No. 40, of range No. 28. 
The first election under the new law and within its present bounds, 
resulted as follows: 

Supervisor — M. A. Stewart. 
Clerk— W. F. Carter. 
Assessor — Van Brown. 
Collector — Joseph Patton. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 4O9 

Constable — William E. Bundy. 

Justices of the Peace — E. Z. Davis, George W. Dunn. 

The township is settling quite fast and its capital city, Montrose, is 
considered one of the growing cities of the county, and a shipping point 
of considerable importance. Its history is here appended. 

TOWN OF MONTROSE. 

is located on a part of sections 13 and 14, on lands of Joseph Patton 
and D. C. Cross. Mr. Brad Robinson built the first house and also was 
the first merchant in the place, but was soon followed by the greater 
part of the business houses of GermanttDwn. The town started out 
with quite a population, receiving most of the inhabitants of German- 
town, as above stated, and the business concentrated at that point. It 
fairly started in 1871 and in 1872 was well under way as a thriving town. 
It continued to grow until the night of March 24, 1875, when what is 
known as the "big fire" took place which swept Kansas Avenue from 
Fourth Street to the railroad, the main business block of the city, 
destroying eleven business houses and their contents, aggregating 
nearly $75,000. It seemed like a death blow, but the business men met 
their fate like veterans and at once went to work to rebuild their waste 
places, and regain their fallen fortune. Just one year before the town 
had been incorporated and the records of the year were burned. The 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church records were destroyed, and the post- 
office lay amidst the burning ruins. But never say die while heart and 
brain and willing hands were left and Montrose arose from her ashes. 

INCORPORATION OF MONTROSE. 

The petition for the incorporation of the "town of Montrose," was 
presented to the court for action July 23, 1874, and the court granted 
the prayer of the petitioners the same day, in words following: 

"Now at this day comes Joseph Capehart, attorney for petitioners, 
and presents to the court here a petition signed by more than two-thirds 
of the taxable inhabitants of the town of Montrose, in said Henry County, 
Missouri, setting forth the metes and bounds of their town and com- 
mons, and praying that they may be incorporated, and a police estab- 
lished for their local government, and for the preservation and regulation 
of any commons, appertaining to such town. And the same coming 
On to be heard by the court, and the same being heard and fully under- 
stood, and the court being satisfied that two-thirds of the taxable inhabi- 
tants of said town of Montrose, within the metes and bounds sought to 
be incorporated, have signed the petition here for, and that the prayer of 
said petitioners is reasonable. It is therefore ordered adjudged and 
decreed, and the court doth declare that the town of Montrose, in the 
county of Henry and state of Missouri, and the territory in the follow- 
ing metes and bounds, to wit: 



410 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Commencing at the southwest corner of section 13; (township and 
range not stated); thence due east 48^ yards to Mr. Patton's land; thence 
north 96I yards; thence east lOif yards; thence north 100 yards; thence 
east 290 yards to the quarter section line; thence north on said line 660 
yards to the half mile line; thence west on said line, crossing into section 
number 14, 880 yards; thence south 880 yards to section 23; thence south 
on said line of section 23, 220 yards; thence east 440 yards to section 
line dividing sections 23 and 22; thence on said line 220 yards to place 
of beginning, be and the same is hereby duly incorporated under the 
name and style of the ' Inhabitants of the Town of Montrose,' and the 
court doth further appoint and designate J. G. Thorton, J. D. Cox, W. W. 
Childs, W. H. Merrick and J. B. McKay, inhabitants and householders 
of said town, as a board of trustees of the inhabitants of the town of 
Montrose, to continue in office as such trustees until their successors are 
elected and qualified." 

From that day the town grew and prospered, and after the fire again 
took a start, which it has kept up, and it still maintains itself as the third 
business station on the road in the county. They have a fire about once 
a year, but the one of 1872, and that of 1875, are the only ones specially 
remembered. 

AFTER THE FIRE. 

The board of trustees met March 30, 1875, and took into considera- 
tion the general situation. They caused a synopsis of the records of the 
preceding year to be written up from memory so far as possible, to 
remedy the loss by fire. 

A jail was built for $87 by John Culbertson, and a public well was 
dug by the city and a force pump purchased by the business men and 
property holders. The pump was guaranteed against frost and $30 was 
paid for it, but it froze solid, and this somewhat disgusted the purchas- 
ers and showed them how far a pump man would go to effect a sale and 
a sell. 

The town trustees also investigated the origin of the " big fire," and 
summed up their verdict as follows: 

" That the fire originated in the post office through the use of a 
defective stove." 

The citizens' verdict was, the stove was attended by a " defective 
man," and the two together may be said to have been the real cause of 
the fire. Like almost all similar cases, the " two defectives" lost a good 
deal less than anybody else. 

FINANCES. 

The board of trustees also examined their financial standing after 
the fire, and their statement is given below: 

J. Culbertson, calaboose $ 87 00 

W, H. Davis, printing 23 oo 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 4II 

Trustee's salary $ 61 00 

Trustee and clerk (both one) 20 00 

Total debt, April 5, 1875 $191 00 

The old board of trustees were re-elected, except J. D. Cox, who 
was succeeded by William F. Carter, but there were a dozen changes or 
so during the year, both among the trustees and the appointments of 
the board. A sort of a chronic fit of resignation possessed them. 

They collected a tax of $q6, and the old board of trustees who held 
longest deducted $10 each from their account, and two others who had 
only earned some $2 and $3 each contributed this sum to the general 
fund and bankruptcy was driven off. There were some few changes and 
resignations in 1876, but not so bad as the previous year. 

The most serious trouble was with the town marshal. This official 
got a salary the first year of $10, and having commenced to build a fine 
residence befitting his station, he found himself short, and, cormorant 
like, wanted his salary raised He did not plead in vain, and he got 
$1.50 per month that year, that of 1877. 

The town election was held in April, 1877, and the following consti- 
tuted the board: Joseph Lennartz, Chairman; William Drummond, T. 
A. Murray, E. Z. Davis and Robert Mesic. 

The latter also clerk. 

T. A. Murray, Treasurer. 

E. Z. Davis, Collector. 

E. B. Suggs, Marshal. 

William M. Kerr, Assessor. 

1878. 

Trustees — E. Z. Davis, J. B. Alspach, William J. Strawn, Thomas A. 
Murray and Dr. Charles H. Watkins. 
Charles H. Watkins, Treasurer. 
E. Z. Davis, Chairman. 
Thomas A Murray, Clerk. 
William J. Strawn, Assessor and Collector. 

1879. 

Elisha Blew, Chairman. 

C. H. Watkins, Treasurer. 

O. F. Johnson, Clerk. 

J. B. Alspatch and L. P. Klutts, all trustees. 

John Howard, Marshal 

In 1878 the town marshal again came to the front and got an 
increase of salary. This time about $30 per year, but in 1879 the board 
of trustees were satisfied that he was accumulating too much wealth, 



412 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and promptly reduced his salary to $2 per month, allowing him the 

privilege of paying his own board and washing, as usual. Mr. John 

Howard was the marshal, and he stuck it out that year, but in 1880 he 

closed down on the board, and demanded $50 per annum or no marshal. 

He got it. 

1880. 

The election returns were as follows, for trustees : 

Elisha Blew, Chairman. 

John Key, Treasurer and Trustee. 

Henry Walfert, Collector and Trustee. 

O. F. Johnson, Clerk and Trustee. 

J. J. Knowlton, Trustee. 

John Howard, Marshal, 

The meetings of the board that year were about half the time signed, 
O. F. Johnson & Co., clerk, getting his clerkship slightly mixed. 

The year 188 1 opened with some real progress. Many good build- 
ings were erected, and the fire of six years before, if not forgotten, at 
least was not thought of, only in connection with a little more prudence 
and caution. The finances of the town began to improve, the marshal's 
salary was raised to $10 per month, in lieu of $10 per annum, the salary 
of its first year. The new board was: James Lennarts, chairman; Leon- 
ard Bell, J. W. Dawson, Vincent Gwynn, and George W. Dunn, the lat- 
ter being also clerk. This was another year of resignations and changes. 

FINANCIAL. 

Taxes received for the year ending April 5, 1882 $446 70 

On hand, April 188 1 99 40 

Total $546 10 

Paid out 496 37 

Balance $49 73 

TRUSTEES, 1882. 

J. J. Knowlton, J. B. Alspach, W. I. Strawn, J. H. Vicars and George 
W. Dunn. 

James H. Vicars, Chairman. 

G. W. Dunn, Clerk. 

J. J. Knowlton, Treasurer. 

W. I. Strawn, Collector, and elected Marshal at $16 per month. 

A petition was presented to the board of trustees at their June 
meeting, 1882, to submit to the citizens the proposition to form a city of 
the fourth class. It was favorably acted upon, and the town, July 24th, 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 413 

divided into two wards. The election came off September 4th, 1882, 
and carried pretty unanimously. A ticket for mayor and councilmen 
was put forth, and elected at the same time. The ticket which gave the 
first offices of the city government was as follows: 

CITY OFFICERS ELECTED. 

George W. Dunn, Mayor. 

Aldermen — J. W. Murfield, J. B. Alspach, A. E. Daswell and Joseph 
Lennartz. 

A. E. Daswell, President. 

T. C. Linn, Clerk. 

H. S. Marvin, Treasurer. 

W, C. McDonnell, Marshal and Street Commissioner. 

Salary mayor $ 50 

Each alderman 25 

Clerk 50 

Marshal 300 

The first meeting of the city council was September 12th, 1882. 

CHURCHES. 

The first church erected in Montrose was the Baptist Church, it 
being removed from Germantown almost bodily in 1871. This same 
church was blown down in 1882, when a heavy wind storm passed over 
the city. It has been again rebuilt, and a very neat place of worship is 
furnished the congregation. There is a Catholic Church, put up a few 
years since. This is not a large, but pleasantly located church. 

The Methodist Church has no church edifice of its own, but is in a 
flourishing condition with strong hopes of being able to erect a church 
before many months have passed. The promises of a more extended 
history of these churches have failed to reach the writer. 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

was established in 1871, the Rev. Benjamin F. Powelson being its first 
pastor. He was followed by Rev. William Newton in 1873; Rev. R. 
Dodd, in 1874; Rev. James Watkins, in 1879, and the present pastor is 
the Rev. James Allen. The church has a membership of forty-five and 
has a handsome church building erected at a cost of $1,400. 

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

was erected in 1872 at the cost of $1,500. The church has been stead- 
ily growing since its organization. At the " big fire " in March, 1875, 



414 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

the church papers and records in the possession of Mr. J. G. Thornton, 
clerk of the session, were burned with his store and contents. The 
membership of the church at the time was sixty-one, and the board of 
elders were James Patten, J. G. Thornton, Adam Shamberger and James 
Gilbert. 

Board of Deacons — Robert Mesic, Isaac Langley, and E. Z. Davis. 

The church was dedicated July ii, 1876, and the dedication sermon 
was by the Rev. Moad, of Clinton. 

JANUARY 1883. 

Deacons — Isaac Langley, Hugh Patton. 
Elders — J. V. Ingles, Joseph Patton, James Gilbert and J. G. Thorn- 
ton, j 
Its membership now numbers 105. d 

,i 

M. E. CHURCH, .SOUTH. i 

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, numbers a membership of ' 
thirty, with a large attendance. The denomination are now erecting a : 
handsome and substantial place of worship, which is expected to be ' 
fully completed first of April. Finished the cost will be $2,000, and when 
furnished something over that sum. The church was organized in 1876, 
and its first pastor was the Rev. R. H. Shafer, and followed in the order 
named by the Rev. Bathurts, T. D. Payree, and S. P. Sicloll. The present 
pastor is the Rev. Mr. Briggs. i 

EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. i 

] 

The first school taught under the auspices of the Montrose School ! 
Board was in 1870 in an old house in the woods, one mile south of the 
town. A Mr. Black was the teacher. 

In 1871, Mr. Ching taught in a house, which stood near the present \ 
site of the depot. He also taught a term in the Baptist Church. The 
building was destroyed by the cyclone in April 1882. In the winter of 
1872, a Mr. Wheeler and Miss Ada Taylor taught in a warehouse, near 
the English House. Mr. Wheeler was discharged on account of intem- 
perance. The Presbyterian Church was the next building used as a 
school room, Mr. Powelson and Mattie Parks being employed as teachers 
In 1873, the present building was erected by Mr. Culbertson, of Illinois- 
Mr. Hanna was the first teacher, and he was succeeded by Mr. Powel- 
son again, assisted by Miss Effie May. He was employed again, but 
taught but a short time, there being some dissatisfaction. Mr. Parks 
finished the term and continued in the school for three years. In 1879, Mr, 
Head was employed with Miss Mary Gathright as assistant, but the former 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 41$ 

only a short time, Mr. Milton completing the term. The latter was fol- 
lowed by W. H. Smith, who succeeded in grading the school and secured 
the adoption of the rules and course of study. He was succeeded by J. M. 
Thompson, and in 1882 Mr. J. Meyers, with M. T. Lyim, and Miss O. 
M. Gorham were employed. Mr. Meyers was discharged at the end of 
three months, he being the fifth teacher discharged from the Montrose 
schools in a space of ten years. The school is at present under the man- 
agement of G. K. Madison. 

The district was extended in 1878, to include some contiguous ter- 
ritory. 

The enumeration for the last three years has been in 1880, 192 
scholars, in 1881, 200, and in 1882, 216. 

The school building is a large 'two story frame building, two rooms 
above and two below, with a vestibule. It is not yet quite finished, but 
to this time, $1,800 have been expended. To complete it as it is intended, 
will require nearly, if not quite, $500 more. It is situated on a hand- 
some lot, and convenient, being centrally located in the city. 

In addition to the graded school there are five other public schools 
in the township, all in a progressive condition. 

A. O. U. w. 

Beacon Lodge, No. 148, was organized in Montrose, August 11, 1879,. 
with the following charter members: E. W. Berry, J. J. Knowlton,W. R. 
Smoot, James Bennett, H. W. Fennimore, Al. Booher, D. C. Cross, G. 
W. Dunn, O. D. Allison, William Drummond, A. E. Daswell, Andrew 
Wall, Charles H. Watkins, William Johnson, William Clagan, Seth Cald- 
well, Sol. Kahn, Mathias Hagman, Matthew Mitchell, Louis Hutchinson, 
William Vance, Peter Niggly, G. W. Kountz, J. O. Clark, L. P. Slaughter. 

OFFICERS. 

E. W. Berry, M. W.; J. J. Knowlton, P. M. W.; W. R. Smoot, G.; 
H. W. Fennimore, F. S.; Andrew Wall, Receiver; A. E. Daswell, 
Recorder; James Bennett, Foreman; D. C. Cross, Overseer; William 
Drummond, I. W.; Al. Booher, O. W.; Charles H. Walkins, E. P. 

The Beacon Lodge united, or amalgamated, on August 11, 1882, 
with St. Clair Lodge, No. 104, of Appleton City. The membership at 
Montrose is eighteen. Election for officers of the order took place at 
Appleton City, January 3, 1883. A further report of the order will be 
found in the history of Appleton City, in another part of this work. 

In 1880 a paper was started, called the Montrose Village News but 
it was published but some three or four months and then suspended. 
Doubtless the town would support a weekly paper, giving good evidence 



4l6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

of ability to publish local news. It would prove of great value to the 
town. 

ITS SHIPPING INTERESTS. 

The following shows the shipments from Montrose from September 
1881 to September 1882, just one year. It is a handsome showing and 
and taken by A. E. Das well from the books: 

No. Cars. 

Cattle • 223 

Hogs 145 

Horses 2 

Sheep 4 

Flax seed 71 

Wheat 25 

Oats 16 

Corn 5 

Broom corn 19 

Iron 2 

Household goods 5 

Machinery i 

Total 518 

Station receipts from freight and tickets $36,000 per year. 

MONTROSE BUSINESS HOUSES. 

J. K. Whitehead & Son, hardware, J. G. Thornton, druggist. 

implements and furniture. Dr. Schilling, M. D. and surgeon. 

G. W. Dunn, lawyer, real estate W. A. Campbell & Bro., shoe shop. 

and insurance agent. Wright & Coles, dry goods and 
O. F. Johnson, hardware and furni- clothing. 

ture. W. E. Ford, barber. 

R. A. Guynn, druggist. T. M. Miller, butcher. 

L. P. Klutts, harness shop. Dorman & Son, dry goods. 

R. D. Coleman, confectioner. P. Applenalp, saddlery. 

Mrs. W. Balderson, millinery. T. M. Miller, groceries. 

Misses Feland, dressmakers. Mrs. A.Gardner, milliner and dress- 

F. M. Curtis, groceries. maker. 

H. S. Marvin, banker. J. H. Vickars, real estate agent. 

George Coleman, notion house. J. B. Mackay, druggist. 

William Kloer, blacksmith. V. Moseman, wagon maker. 

Dr. E. S. Moad, physician and Dr. C. H. Watkins, physician and 

surgeon. surgeon. 

D. B. Watts, photographer. D. M. Giltner, barber. 

J. W. Murfield, confectioner. J. Emert, watchmaker. 

Misses Sparks & Tucker, milliners. Baum Bros., dry goods and clothing. 

G. A. Van Hall, saloon. Sol. Kahn, dry goods and clothing. 



■HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 417 

O. F. Johnson, grain dealer. J. D. Erhart, restaurant and 
S. Paxton, grain dealer and eleva- baker. 

tor. S. Pettit, hotel. 

Ed. Taylor, liveryman. W. Y. English, hotel. 

S. Paxton, miller. J. J. Knowlton, miller. 

J. J. Knowlton, lumber yard. Blew Bros., lumber yard. 

W. A. Best, wagon maker. W. H. Balderson, blacksmith. 

BANKING HOUSE OF H. S. MARVIN & CO. 

The following is a statement of the financial condition of the bank 
at the close of business on the 15th day of December, 1882: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security.. .$ 3,471 65 

Due from other banks good on sight draft 5,323 02 

Furniture and fixtures 584 25 

Checks and other cash items loi 00 

Bills of national banks and legal tender United States notes, 2,374 00 

Gold coin 25 00 

Silver coin 605 93 

Total $12,484 85 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital stock paid in $ 5,000 00 

Undivided profits 27 33 

Deposits subject to draft, at sight 7,257 52 

Deposits subject to draft, at given dates 200 00 

Total $12,484 85 

It is mentioned previously that the Baptist Church was destroyed 
by a wind storm in 1882. This storm also destroyed the Campbellite 
Church, the business house of Mr. Gragg and two residences, one o^ 
which was completely destroyed, no portion being found. This was the 
most violent storm ever experienced by the city. 

In closing the history of Deepwater, we cannot do better than to 
give a short biographical sketch of Mr. William Tyree, one of its earl- 
iest settlers and the oldest man now living in Henry County, who will 
reach the age of ninety-two years on June 10, next. Not only this but 
he is a remarkable man, and his health and strength is wonderful for 
one of his years. The article is taken from the Henry County Demo- 
crat of August, 1882. 

William Tyree was born in Amherst County, Virginia, June 10, 1791. 
He was taken to Tennessee while yet an infant, grew up there, and about 

27 



4l8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

1820 was married to Anna Manning. His family was one of the three 
families who moved to Cooper County, Missouri, in 1829. In those days 
emigrants often carried all their effects on horseback and moved that 
way. Mr. Tyree once saw a woman leading a cow on which were packed 
her bed and two children. But this party of emigrants had quite an 
aristocratic outfit. They made up a four-horse team, attached it to a 
large wagon to haul the goods and feeble ones of the party. They num- 
bered twenty-one persons in all. Mr. Tyree had $2 left when he reached 
Missouri. 

After two years' residence in Cooper County Mr. Tyree moved to 
Johnson County and lived there until 1839, when he moved to the south- 
west part of Henry County and settled on the south side of Deepwater 
in what is now section 18, township 40, range 28. He set up a black- 
smith shop, it being the only one for an unknown distance southwest ol 
Clinton. The houses of those days were, of course, without windows, as 
glass was very scarce. They were log cabins with puncheon floors and 
roofed with shakes. 

Provisions were plenty, as deer, turkeys, wild honey and wild fruit 
were abundant. Stock lived the greater part of the year on the range, 
and what grain was needed was easily raised. Hogs would multiply and 
grow fat on the mast alone. They kept sheep, raised flax and cotton 
and manufactured all their wearing apparel. To be sure, their market 
was not very good, but that mattered little, as they raised all they 
needed, and taxes were low. The greed for the almighty dollar was not 
so universal as now. People were all sociable, and a friendly spirit 
existed among the pioneers. 

Mr. Tyree divided his time between farming, blacksmithing and 
hunting. He has killed and brought home five deer in a day. One fall 
he killed five bucks before he missed a shot. People came great distances 
to his shop to get plows made and sharpened. He made a plow for a 
man named Gilbert that turned a furrow two feet wide, and as he was 
plowing with it on the south side of Osage River, three miles below 
Papinville, he brought to light a ton of iron that had been buried by a 
mission party, who had there met with Indian troubles some years before 
Harmony Mission was established. Mr. Tyree bought considerable of 
the iron at five cents per pound. There were some guns with it ruined 
by rust, but the iron was of excellent quality. 

Scmedding at Germantown, two miles away, was the nearest neigh- 
bor in Henry County. Hiram Snodgrass, over in Bates, was only a quar- 
ter of a mile away. There were only fifteen or twenty houses in Clin- 
ton. 

On account of so much sickness in the family, Mr. Tyree in a few 
years moved away from the creek to the high prairie, near where he now 
lives, three miles southwest of Montrose, and that immediate neighbor- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 419 

hood has ever since been his home. Plenty of Indians were about, but 
they gave the settlers no trouble. 

When the civil war came on Mr. Tyree favored the south, but the 
family were not unanimous, as one son, William, went into the Confed- 
erate army, and one, Levi, into the home guards. Being seventy years 
old at the outbreak of the war, he did no military duty. 

He yet retains his faculties to a remarkable degree, shoots his rifle 
with the same unerring aim as of old and does not use glasses to aid his 
sight. Three years since he got a ten dollar prize at the fair at Apple- 
ton City for presenting the scalps of ninety rabbits killed by himself A 
few weeks since he walked four miles to the timber, cut and split eighty- 
eight rails, and walked back, reaching home at four o'clock. He- 
remarked to the reporter that he could easily have made out the lOO,. 
but for the walk that tired him. He challenges any man living who is 
over seventy years old to compete with him in shooting, walking, and 
rail making. As he was ninety-one June 10, 1882, this is offering heavy 
odds. Mrs. Tyree died March 3, 1875- They raised six children. 

The first, Elizabeth, is now Mrs. Stewart, who lives in north Mis- 
souri. The second, Levi, lives near his father. The third, William, was 
killed in the southern army. The fourth, Joseph, lives with his father, 
Jerry and Francis were both killed by lightning. 




CHAPTER XXVllI. 

TEBO, SHAWNEE AND FIELDS' CREEK TOWNSHIPS. 

TEBO— HISTORIC— PIONEERS OF 1830 TO 1835— THE NORTH CAROLINA COLONY— POPULA- 
TION AND BOUNDARY THE OLD SETTLERS OF TEBO— CALHOUN— BOUNDED IN 1836 

— AMBITIOUS-ITS FIRST SETTLERS, STORES. ETC—INCORPORATION OF CALHOUN— 
THE GREAT FIRE— HANDSOME LOCATION— POSTMASTERS— BUSINESS- PROFESSIONS. 
SHAWNEE— THE GARDEN SPOT OF HENRY COUNTY— ABOUT i83i-THE NAME— SHAW- 
NEE MOUND— CHURCHES, SCHOOL AND BUSINESS-HUNTINGDALE— WHEN FOUNDED 
PRESENT BUSINESS— THE CHURCHES OF THE TOWNSHIP— LODGES- ITS HOUNDARY. 
FIELDS' CREEK— ITS METES AND BOUNDS-AREA IN ACREb— ITS STREAMS, PRAIRIES 
AND WOOD LANDS-EARLY PIONEERS-IHE FIRST STORE— ONE OF THE NORTH 
CAROLINA COLONY— OTHER SETTLERS -CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES-ITS 
POPULATION IN 1880 

TEBO TOWNSHIP. 

This township is historic. It once composed all of Johnson and 
Henry Counties and took in half of St. Clair, but in May, 1834, it was 
turned into Springfield Township by the Lafayette County Court, and it 
remained Springfield until May 5th, 1835, when the first county court, 
sitting at Henry Avery's, changed it back to Tebo and gave it a 
boundary which covered one-fourth of the present county of Henry. It 
was one of the four original townships, of which Rives, now Henry, was 
composed. The first settler was Henry Avery, July lOth, 183 1, settling 
on section 10. It is hardly necessary to follow in detail the rise, pro- 
gress and the settlement of the township. Being one of the original 
four, much of its history will be found in the pages of the old settlers, 
and in the official part of Henry Count}^ history. 

There were the Barkers, Wades, Averys, Palmer, Nash, Fields, 
Wileys, Askins and a few others, who gave to Tebo a solid advance in 
prosperity, and led the van of civilization in Henry County. It is one 
•of the largest townships in the county as now formed, covering an area 
■of nearly seven miles square, one section in the northeast corner being 
taken off and placed in Windsor Township. This gave it forty-eight 
sections of land, or 30,720 acres. 

Coal crops out in eight sections, but veins underlie nearly the whole 
township. Tebo Creek and its branches, west branch of Tebo and Little 
Tebo Creek, with their small tributaries, just cover the whole township. 
Innumerable springs are found and water is everywhere that it is wanted. 
Timber in abundance lines the streams, and prairies spread themselves 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 42 1 

over the remaining portion of the township. It is a big stock country, 
for the grasses grow indigenous. Water abundant, corn a great crop, 
would give it the home of the stock raiser, unless he wanted to go to 
Texas and purchase a whole county. 

The first election ever held in the county was in this township, in 
August, 1832, at Alfred Askins' house. The second was at Avery's. The 
third was at the house of Colby S. Stevenson, at the August election, 
1S36. 

Addison Young was the first preacher, but both Henry Avery and 
Colby S. Stevenson were ministers. The first school was taught by Mr. 
Stevenson, a private one, in the southeast portion of the township in an 
old log hut. In 1835 a log school house was erected, and the school 
was largely attended for those days. The house was built in section 16 
on the farm owned now by Dr. John Bronaugh, and was first taught by 
Benjamin L. Durrett. 

The scholars who attended the first school were, J T. Barker, Eliza 
Ann Barker (now Mrs. Covington), R. L. Avery, William L. Avery, P. 
G . Avery, Robert Wade, Pleasant Wade, Fennel Wade, John Wiley, Rob- 
ert Brummet and Alexander Brum.met, the last two children of John 
Brummet, who lived in Johnson County, about half a mile from the 
county line. They came about five miles. There were other scholars 
to the number of thirty in all, and one dollar per scholar was charged for 
their tuition. 

NORTH CAROLINA COLONY. 

There was little to mar the serenity of the people in those early 
days. Settlers came in slowly and staked their claims, ready to pur- 
chase when the land came into market, which it did in 1838. The larg- 
est arrival, and which created a small ripple of excitement, was the North 
Carolina Colony. They came from Rockingham County, North Caro- 
lina, and some were formerly Marylanders. The colony halted at Sardis 
Church, and* from there they scattered, but mostly settling in Henry 
County. The arrivals were Richard Wall and family. Mason C. Fewell 
and family, Benjamin Wall and family, Dr. R. Z R. Wall and family, Wil- 
liam Howerton and family, John C. Stone and family, A. Potts and fam- 
ily, Isaac Monday and family, Mrs. Sarah Lindsay and family. 

Of these Benjamin and Dr. R. Z. R. Wall, went over the line and 
settled in Johnson County. Isaac Monday made Jackson County his 
home a few weeks later. Richard Wall settled in Big Creek Township, 
A. Potts in Walker, John C. Stone in Deepwater, William Howerton and 
Mason C. Fewell, remaining in Tebo, Mrs. Sarah Lindsay and her sons, 
in Fields' Creek. This colony arrived in the vicinity of the Sardis Bap- 
tist Church, November 22, 1839, and by spring were all located as above. 
This colony has left its mark in the early history of the county. They 



422 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

came with some means and were able to take up a good deal of land and 
they did so, the descendants of the Walls and the Lindsays owning 
thousands of acres at this day of some of the richest of Henry County 
land. They came in wagons the whole distance, and crossed from Ken- 
tucky into Illinois September 20, 1839, ^"^1 were then two months and 
two days reaching the Sardis Camping ground. 

rorULATION, ETC. 

In 1850, Tebo Township then still one-fourth of the county, had 
1,164 in population, and in i860 boasted of the number of 2,407. In 1870 
this had still increased, although partly curtailed, 3,308, including the 
town of Calhoun, its capital city. In 1873, its present boundary was \ 
defined and the population in 1880 was 1,725, which also included the \ 
town of Calhoun. The district was No. 2, and the township called "Tebo," \ 
and its boundaries were given as follows : ] 

"Composed of all of congressional township No. 43, of range No. 25, 
and sections Nos. 31 to 36, inclusive, in congressional township No. 44, 
of range No. 25, and sections Nos. 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31, in township No. 
43, of range No. 24." \ 

This as stated is its present boundary, and its area is given above. 
The township has been a progressive one and has, agriculturally speak- 
ing, held its own. i 

In 1878 the following article was printed in the Clinton Advocate ! 

and will prove of interest : | 

1 

THE OLD SETTLERS OF TEBO. i 

Clinton, Missouri, May 5, 1878. \ 

North of the village of Calhoun in this, Henry County, there is an | 

area of country that is at once beautiful to the eye. It is undulating \ 
prairie, interspersed with timber along the many branches of the Tebo. 

The soil is rich and productive for grain raising, pasturage, all kinds of ; 

grasses, fruits and vegetables, is unsurpassed in this western country, j 

and is one of the most delightful regions for the abode of man. This ' 

section was settled some forty odd years ago, by rather a remarkable | 
class of men, of a lively temperament, richly endowed with micntal and 

[personal advantages; kind and hospitable, anticipating all the wants of j 

a visitor or stranger, the old settlers of this section were far above the 1 

average of pioneers. All were well to do and independent, but none of j 

them very rich. There were, some ten or fifteen years ago. Judge Berr}-, ' 
Major Wall, William Wall, Dr. James Wall, William Fewell, M. C. 

Fewell, Drury Palmer, R. Allen, Judge Avery, J . C. Vanhoy, Green 1 

Avery, Elijah Wiley, Daniel Hastings, Mark Finks, Dr. Thornton and { 

A. Askins, who have all "gone to that bourne from whence no traveler j 
returns." Who can fill their places.^ There are left behind, Peyton 

Parks, A. C. Legg, Seymour Stone, Colonel G. W. Squires, John Lit- ; 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 423 

tlepage, William Bricker, Jeff Bronaugh, and others, who, in the course 
of nature, must soon follow. Can their places be supplied? We see 
all around us our good citizens falling one, by one, like leaves in autumn. 
■In the district referred to there are many buildings, fruit and shade trees 
and shrubs, that were built and planted by the hands of those that have 
passed away They stand as monuments of taste and industry to the 
early settlers. The poet said' 

" Alone I walked the ocean strand, 
A pretty shell was in my hand; 
I stopped and wrote in the sand 

My name, the day, the year. > 

Onward from the beach I passed, 
A lingering look behind 1 cast, 
I saw the waves come rolling high and fast, 
They washed my lines away." 

AN OLD SUBSCRIBER. 

This list is worthy of record, and the township speaks, in its great 
development, of the character of its early settlers. 

One other thing to be added to this are its schools. Tebo Town- 
ship has seven district schools, and the houses are of a neat and sub- 
stantial character. There is but one township which has a larger number^ 
Windsor, which has eight. The township is growing steadily, both in 
population and wealth, and will always stand among the leading town- 
ships of the county in its stock and cereal productions and in the moral, 
intellectual and enterprising character of her prosperous citizens. 

HICKORY GROVE CHURCH. 

The Hickory Grove M. E. Church was organized August 16, 1874, 
by the Rev. John A. Murphy, whose earnest endeavor and active work 
became a success. The original members were: Theressa J. Anderson, 
Andrew J. Bailey, John Wilson, Mary S. Bailey, Martha Crabtree, Mary 
A. Dickey, William G. Dickey, Harriet Wilson, Rev. Robert H. Lee, 
Susan Lee, Brunetta Lee, John Noble, Elizabeth Noble, Lou Wilson, 
Narcissa A. Wilson, John Wiley, Cynthia Wiley, William Coppage and 
wife, John W. Coppage, Leonora A. Coppage, L. J. Coppage and John 
W. Wilson class leader. 

The church has increased in influence and also steadily increased in 
membership, which now numbers eighty. The Rev. John A. Murphy, 
who was so instrumental in its organization, took charge of the infant 
congregation. He was followed in the order named by the following 
earnest workers in the cause of the church, viz: Rev. B. Margison, Rev. 
Thomas Wallace, Rev. Wilber L. King, Rev. J. P. Cobb, Rev. J. J. Hill, 
Rev. J. J. Keller, Rev. William S. Woodward, Rev. Wilber L. King with 
Rev. N. M. Dowdy as assistant, and at present the Rev. John Y. Busby 
and Rev. A. L. Huston. 



424 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

They have built themselves a neat frame church, plainly but com- 
fortably finished, at a cost of $600. As before remarked, the church is 
prospering, and in connection therewith they have a flourishing Sunday 
School numbering some fifty pupils. It is under the superintendency of 
Alma Houts, who has given his earnest supervision to the good work. 

SARDIS-BETHLEHEM, 

The Sardis-Bethlehem Old School Baptist Church were united May 
19, 1866, but the old "Sardis Baptist Church" of Tebo Township is one 
of the old landmarks of Christianity, like the early settlers the pioneer 
of churches of Henry County. 

The early settlers of that township were its first members, and they 
were of that good old stock who labored with both hands and hearts, 
and the dawn of civilization was lighted on its way by the Christian 
example and fortitude of as noble a band of pioneers as ever blazed the 
path of progress for generations to follow. 

WHEN ORGANIZED. 

The Sardis Baptist Church was organized on May 4, 1839, ^^^ ^^ 
old log school house on Tebo Creek was their first place of worship, and 
in all respects it was a primitive one, but looks had little to do with 
those who came together to worship the name of the Lord. 

Nature itself, its prairies and the woodlands, the shaded rills and 
rippling brooks all told of the great Jehovah who reigned on high, and 
man could find a place to worship if his heart was in the work. In the 
summer the trees of the forest shaded many an assembly who had 
gathered together to commune in the spirit and hear the word of God. 

Among the original members of this church were the following" 
familiar names of the old pioneers of Tebo, viz: Elder Henry Avery, 
John W. Williams, John Brummet, Benjamin G. Parker, Valentine Bell, 
and sisters Susan Hudson and Nancy Williams. Mrs. Williams is the 
only one of this band of worshippers at this date and is the widow of 
Major John W. Williams whose name is mentioned above. There are 
at present forty-three members belonging to the church. In 1839 Rev. 
Henry Avery and Rev. James Fewell were joint pastors and they were 
followed by Rev. William C. Garrett, Rev. James Warder, Rev. C. M. 
Reed, and Rev, J. E. Goodson, present pastor. In 1856 a frame church 
was built at a cost of $600 and is still in use. The church has steadily 
grown with the growth of the neighborhood and stands now as a 
landmark of olden times and a link connected with the generation of 
to-day. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 425 

CALHOUN. 

This is one of the old settled towns in the county, in fact was located 
about the time Clinton was, and was the latter's rival for the county 
seat. When Henry, or Rives, County was organized then came the 
county seat question and as there were no houses o*r cabins either at 
Clinton or Calhoun, it seemed to the Tebo and Springfield Township 
settlers that they had a chance for the prize, as Goff' s was soon after the 
county seat. It was more than likely that Calhoun would have secured 
the prize, as at that time about 415 of the settlers lived north of Grand 
River, but for one fatal effect, it was too far from the center of Rives 
County, as organized by the general assembly. Even Benjamin and 
Thomas Wallace wanted it at their store, about a mile north of the 
present location, but the commissioners having found the center stake 
they located it as near to it as possible. 

LOCATED IN 1835. 

James Nash located the present town of Calhoun in 1835, but there 
was nothing really done until the next year, when the county commis- 
sion began to look around for a location for the county seat of Rives. 
Mr. James Nash then stepped forward and secured the services of John 
S. Lingle to lay out his town, named it after South Carolina's great 
statesman, John C. Calhoun, and finished up by donating two acres for a 
public square. This was received by the town of Calhoun, and the 
square was promptly laid out enclosing about one acre and wide streets 
on each side of it, and thus it stands to this day. The location not being 
central enough to secure the seat of justice, the Calhounites made no 
further effort after the location was made. They had not progressed so 
far as their later neighbor, in trying to make a county for themselves. 
No, Calhoun is not Windsor. 

However, as soon as Calhoun was laid out the rush from Goff's, the 
then county seat, took place at once. James Fields, who had a store at 
Goff's, and one of the first in the county, moved to Calhoun and put up 
the first house within its classic limits. Hall and Gletcher, William and 
John Goff all got there and established business in the winter of 1836-7. 
Fields, Hall and Fletcher opened each a general store, and the Goffs a 
grocery. Then in the summer came Mr. McCormick, who opened a dry 
goods and grocery store. These were the first buildings erected. James 
Fields built his cabin just under the hill in the Tebo bottoms, north 
of town. The Goffs remained at their old home, coming to town 
to do business. The fall of 1837 and the following winter brought others, 
and although it was not the county seat, it did a good deal more 
business. 



426 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The town plat covered forty acres, as laid out by Mr. Nash. There 
were never any particular sales of lots. James Gladden owned several 
and Henry D. Lewis the same. The first lot sold that there is any 
account of was purchased by Benjamin L, Duriett, who taught the first 
school in the new school house in 1835, and he bought it of H. D. Lewis 
for $18 cash, May 11, 1837; it was lot fourteen. Then on June 12, 1837, 
James W. Fields bought lots three and ten, for which he paid James 
Gladden $25 cash in hand. The record of other sales could be given, 
but these were the first of record. 

The first tavern license was granted to John Taylor, who paid $20 
license, November, 1845, and the first saloon to Matthew Arbuckle, in 
February, 1846. The first postofifice in the county was at Goff 's, from 
1835 to 1837, when William Goff gave it up, and James Fields was 
appointed postmaster and the ofHce moved to Calhoun. The Clinton 
postoffice was established the same time. 

The first election at the town of Calhoun was in 1844, the county 
court ordering the August election of that year to be held then. 

Dr. W. Thornton was the first physician, settling in the county in 
1835, and at Calhoun soon after it was laid out. 

The fall of 1837 the citizens secured a teacher for the winter nn the 
person of Miss Lucy McCord, whe taught two or three terms. 

Calhoun has had a few additions, Mr. Squires laying out two, but 
it won't need any more at present. 

It was not until 1857 that Calhoun was made into a separate school 
district, when by order of the county court in June of that year it was 
so designated, and the incorporators were W. S. Holland, D. H. Pigg. L 
R. Dupree, James A. Tutt, G. W. Smith, E. R. Givens and Thomas Sal- 
lee, and the town was organized for school purposes, the incorporators 
meeting June 6, 1857, ^or that purpose. In 1861 the district was enlarged 
by adding the east half of section 6 to its boundary. 

While there had been preaching at the houses of the settlers, there 
was no stated preacher at Calhoun for a number of years. 

The civil war then coming on, Calhoun felt its effects, and like other 
towns took years to recover from that blow. 

In 1866 she took a start and began to show signs of a waking up, 
the country around being rich, and the farmers recovering also from the 
shock of the civil war, began to trade at the old place. New business 
houses went up and those already there weie filled with goods, and by 
1870 very much of the old time trade had been regained and the future 
wore a promising outlook. 

INCORPORATION OF CALHOUN. 

The town having become ambitious, her citizens concluded that its 
incorporation would be a good step toward achieving future greatness, 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 427 

and they presented their wishes to the county court of Henry County 
February 10, 1870. Upon the reception of their petition the following 
order was placed of record: 

" Whereas, A petition was this day presented to the court signed by 
sundry citizens of the town of Calhoun, in the county of Henry, pray- 
ing to have the said town incorporated and setting forth the metes and 
bounds thereof, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that 
two-thirds of the taxable inhabitants of said town have signed said peti- 
tion, and also that the prayer in said petition is reasonable, it is there- 
fore ordered by the court that the inhabitants of said town of Calhoun 
be declared to be incorporated within the metes and bounds as set forth 
in said petition, to wit: 

Beginning at the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of the 
southeast quarter of section No. 36, township 43, of range 25, running 
north 320 rods; thence east 320 rods; thence south 320 rods; thence 
west to the place of beginning, and to be known and styled by the name 
and style of the "Inhabitants of the Town of Calhoun." And the court 
doth hereby appoint Tower Thomasson, Joseph Hairrell, J. W. Minish, 
William Gutridge and F. J. Agnew as a board of trustees for said town, 
according to the statutes in such cases made and provided. 

This seemed to give new life and the citizens went to work to build 
up a town. 

The great industry of Calhoun is her pottery business. The clay 
is of fine quality for earthen ware and she ships an immense quantity 
annually. She has now six potteries in full blast, and jugs of all sizes, 
crocks, also, and milk pans, and in fact every description of earthen ware 
is manufactured here and shipped by the car loads. 

In 1874 a union church was erected costing, including furniture and 
all complete, not far from $1,500. The Methodist, Baptist and Pres- 
byterian were the three denomination which took part in its construc- 
tion. This is yet the only church building in the town. 

The school house is a neat frame building and very well furnished. 

It has a two-story brick hotel, which is one of the best buildings in 
the town, and quite a fine number of new brick business houses have 
been erected since the great fire of 1877. 

THE GREAT FIRE. 

The " Great Fire," so-called, which took place on Monday night, 
December 3d, 1877, was a sad blow to her enterprising business men, 
who suffered by the calamity, and to the whole town. 

It was discovered about fifteen minutes before eleven o'clock, by 
James Hahn from his residence. Alarm was given, and citizens rushed 
to the scene. The fire was then burning briskly in the southeast corner 
of the Grange store, where it is supposed to have originated. The build- 
ings being old and dry as tinder wood, were consumed very rapidly. 



428 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

rendering the stocks of merchandise contained in them almost a total 
loss. The entire block was consumed, consisting of four buildings, in 
which business was done by Henry Slack on north corner, the Grange 
store next, then J. O. Edmonson and James Finks on the south corner 
of the block. 

LOSSES. 

Mr. Slack's loss was about $ 1,000; $50 in merchandise and books 
saved. No insurance. Building belonged to Mrs. S. P. Harper, not 
insured. 

Grange Store, owned principally by Judge Wood, R. Z. Fewell, 
Max McCann, and Drury M. Palmer. Estimated loss, $4,000. Insured 
for $3,000; occupied Masonic Hall building, which was a total loss; no 
insurance. 

J. O. Edmonson occupied his own building; insured for $1,000; his 
stock was quite large, on which he had $1,000 insurance. He saved part 
of his stock, but probably lost from $4,000 to $5,000. 

Col. Jim Finks lost nearly his entire drug stock — loss about $2,000. 
Insurance expired a few days before. The building belonged to John 
Gutridge. Not insured. 

This conflagration obliterated the principal business block of the 
town. 

A PROMINENT SITE. 

Calhoun is very handsomely located between the branches of 
the Tebo Creeks. West Tebo rising on one side and Tebo Creek on 
t'he other, and though not exactly in the forks of these streams, is beween 
them, and they almost touch the town limits on both sides. On the 
east side there is a stretch of bottom land, nearly a quarter of a mile 
wide, but on the west she lies on the bluffs overlooking the stream, per- 
haps a quarter of a mile away. She lies on the top of this divide, the 
land sloping both ways to the streams on each side of her. From her 
eyrie, thus perched upon a hill, she has a splendid view to the north of 
her; but all around, except that one point of the compass, she is barred 
from an extensive view by the heavily wooded banks of the streams just 
mentioned, they coming together about two and a half miles south of 
the town, and about one mile between the streams. It is high and healthy 
and very pleasant places for residences are found all over the city. The 
principal business is done around the square, with a few business houses 
on the first block leading from the square to the depot. The potteries 
are on that street, or some three of them, and one near the station. The 
principal hotel is also on this street, between the square and the depot. 

Calhoun has been growing of late, and the last two years has shown, 
more solid advancement than for any previous five years. It has some 



HISTORY OF HENRV COUNTY. 429 

very good brick blocks, and her potteries draw a large trade. Her popu- 
ulation in 1880 was 492, and at this time will not vary much from 600. 

POSTMASTERS. 

1837, James W. Fields; 1846, Matthew Arbuckle; 1856, John A. 
Bushnell; 1858, James A. Tutt; 1861, Edwin Taylor; 1862, Isaac W- 
Minis; 1869, Samel Jennings; 1872, R. A. Michael; 1875, Joseph Ryan; 
1877, N. H. Tillman; 1879, Charles E. Gunn, present postmaster. 

The silver cornet band of Calhoun is one of its institutions, and the 
band is noted for rendering excellent music, and is called upon from far 
and near when good music is wanted. It was first organized in 1869, and 
is an honor to Calhoun aiid the county. 

BUSINESS HOUSES. 

J. O. Edmondson, general store. J. W. Gutridge, general store. 

J. W. Keyser, general store. Charles E. Gunn, general store. 

John R. Pigg, general store. C. Harryman, groceries. 

M. C. Fewell, groceries. Dennis Maher, groceries. 

H. Slack, groceries. J. Keyser, groceries. 

Max McCann, drugs and medicines. W. H. Gutridge, drugs and medicines. 

Colbow & Lewis, hardware Mclntyre & Butler, hardware and 

Edmondson & George, hardware, furniture. 

saddlery and groceries. Kinsinger & Gunn, grain dealers. 

McNeece Bros., grain dealers. Aurand &Delany, lumber merchants. 

H. Slack, coal dealer. Kinsinger & Goodrich, Calhoun 
Mrs. Bettie Palmer, millinery. steam flouring mills. 

H. S. Thomas, music store. Mrs. M. Harper, dress making. 

Mrs. Snell, dress making. J. W. Morris, photographer. 

Haines & Askins, stock dealers. D. H. Pigg, saw mill. 

Mrs. Holcomb, boarding. Calhoun House, W. F. Doty, prop'r. 

Isaac W, Minis, barber shop. Adam Schramm, barber shop. 

James Trinnear, shoe shop. T. J. Harryman, meat market. 

Joseph Cease, bakery. Hill & Sons, blacksmithing. 

O. Reeves, blacksmithing. C. A. Hill, wagon maker. 

Morgan & Laughlin, brick yard. R. W. Hendrix, brick yard. 
John Medberry, livery and sale John Huffman, broom factory. 

stable. N. Snell, carpenter and builder. 

James W. Burke, saloon. Reeves & Kirkpatrick, pottery. 

Amelia Rabine, pottery. Dawson & Son, pottery. 

G. A. Jegglin, pottery. Damron & Miller, pottery. 

Underwood & Son, pottery. R. Trevey, physician. 

J. W. Gra\-, physician. John H. Bronaugh, physician. 



430 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

G. W. Holcomb, physician. Charles Harryman, physician. 

J. W. Thomas, veterinary surgeon. T. O. Williams, attorney. 

SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP. 

is the north central township of the county, and steps to the front as 
the handsomest body of land in Henry County. It is one vast beauti- 
ful prairie, fringed here and there with lines of timber that relieves the 
eye and gives zest, when passed, to another and still another wide 
expanse of gently undulating prairie as beautiful to the sight, and as 
picturesque in appearance as the fondest artist of nature could wish. 
Spotted here and there over this magnificent landscape, lies well culti- 
vated fields, luxuriant homes and handsome dwellings, which at once 
stamp upon the passing stranger the fact that the residents of these 
beautiful lands are an intelligent and energetic people who, knowing 
that labor and wealth go hand in hand, put their head and hands to 
intelligent work, and then assume the comforts and pleasures that wealth 
brings them with a generous, but not lavished manner. 

Shawnee Township is bounded on the north by Johnson County, on 
the east by Tebo Township, on the south by Fields' Creek, and on the 
west by Big Creek Township. It is seven miles in extent, north and 
south, and six in width, having forty-two sections of land, being all of 
congressional township No. 43, of range 26, and one mile on its north 
border of congressional township 44 of the same range. It is one of 
largest townships in the county, and has an area of 26,880 acres of land. 
Honey Creek rises in the northern and western part of the township, 
Cottonwood in the center, and Fields' Creek in the south and the head 
waters of Little Tebo in the southeast. All these streams rise within 
its border but assume no size of any moment until they pass beyond its 
limits. These streams and their numerous small heads show innumer- 
able small and never failing springs of crystal water, and this is what 
gives it the character not only as one of the best cereal raising town- 
ships in the county but it is also unsurpassed for stock. 

The people of the township have coined wealth from these high, 
rolling and well drained prairies, and the gently sloping woodlands on 
the banks of the creeks. 

ABOUT 183 I. 

Shawnee, or the present township of that name, was one of the 
early settled portions of the county. Ezekiel Blevins first settled in the 
township in 183 1, and Preston R. Blevins was born in the township the 
following year. He is now a resident of Davis, or Blevins, Township, 
and a prominent citizen of the county. George W. and Pleasant Walker 
settled on the Blevins place in 1833, having first settled on section 16, 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 43 1 

Fields Creek Township in 1832, and bought out Ezekiel Blevins the next 
year. 

Much of the early history of this township is embodied in that of 
the old settlers in the first few chapters of this history. The Walkers 
were believed to be the wealthiest settlers that had come to the county 
in those pioneer times. On section 4 of this township was where Little- 
berry Kimsey located the first water mill in Henry County. Samuel 
Cox, of Virginia, settled on section 24 in 1832. Alfred Kimsey, from 
Tennessee, came in 1833; Benjamin Barker, another old settler, staked 
his claim in 1832, and around these old pioneers clustered others; but all 
have left the stamp of their energy and enterprise upon their descend- 
ants, and so "Old Shawnee" stands out as a "beautiful monument" of 
an enterprising and moral people. 

THE NAME. 

While under the jurisdiction of Lafayette County, Shawnee Town- 
ship was first known as Tebo and Davis Townships, being divided on 
range line 26. This was in 1830, and wholly in Tebo Township, Lafa- 
yette County, in 1832. It remained Tebo until May, 1834, when it was 
called Springfield Township, the line being on its west border. 

In the spring of 1835 Rives County, now Henry, having organized* 
the county court made four townships, and the dividing line between 
Big Creek and Tebo, the names given the two northern townships, was 
again range line 26, and Shawnee was once more divided half and half, 
one part being in Big Creek and the other Tebo. It came into exist- 
ance in 1873, being one of the group made under the provision, of the 
new township organization law. 

The school of those days and the early preachers are chronicled in 
the early settlement or pioneer history. At this time Shawnee Town- 
ship has five public schools, all in a flourishing condition. The first post 
office in the township was Shawnee, established about i860. This was 
nearly three miles west of the present village of Shawnee Mound. The 
postmaster was William Gillespie, and the post office was kept at his 
house. He continued postmaster during the war. 

SHAWNEE MOUND. 

After the late civil war the postoffice called Shawnee was removed 
to its present location and called " Shawnee Mound." Its first postmas- 
ter was Frank Crook. He was followed by D. B. Lambert, and the latter 
succeeded by Edward Reynolds, the present postmaster. 

Shawnee Mound is not a city. It would not under any circumstan- 
ces be taken for Kansas City, or even Clinton, the " Model Town," but 
notwithstanding it has one general store, the firm being Walls & Rey- 



432 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

nolds; one hardware store, Moore & Elliott, proprietors, and one black- 
smith shop, by S. H. Elliott. This constitutes its business interests. 
Two physicians are located here. Dr. B. B. Barr and Dr. J. W. Bronaugh, 
and their circuit extends over a good portion of Johnson County and 
Tebo and Big Creek Townships, as well as Shawnee. They hold a cen- 
tral position, and being eminent in their profession they hav^e an extended 

practice. 

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Shawnee Mound, was 
organized in September, of the year 1869. Quite a number gathered to 
secure this organization, and its first members were, Mary Moore, James 
Kimsey, Mary J. Guion, Elizabeth Ann and Jane Sharp, Ida Snyder, 
Mary Wade, F. W. Crooks, Ellen Thrasher, George M. Casey. P. W. 
Moore, Arminta Kissell, L. Friland and Emeline Hinton. It was long 
.after ihe organization of the church that active steps were taken to 
secure the erection of a church edifice, and in 1871, they had succeeded 
■in building a very substantial place of worship, frame, at a cost of $1,900. 
The church has steadily grown in membership and influence, and is in a 
favorable position for future growth and earnest work in the cause it 
advocates. The present membership numbers sixty-five, and the follow- 
ing have been active pastors of the church since organized, viz: Rev. 
Benjamin F. Thomas, Rev. Finice King, Rev. Y. W. Whitsit, Rev. J. C. 
Littrel and Rev. J. H. Houx. 

The Sabbath School is in a flourishing condition and now has on its 
roll 106 scholars. The superintendent is Mr. Jacob Wolff 

On€ of the schools of the township is located here, and with these 
<:onveniences and the rich country around Shawnee Mound may yet 
become a city of the fourth class. 

THE CAPITAL. 

Huntingdale may be thus designated, perhaps being in reality the 
largest village in the township. Like Shawnee Mound it is not an exten- 
sive city, but it is an enterprising little village of perhaps at this time, 
•one hundred inhabitants. It was first made a voting precinct November 
II, 1865, when it was so designated by the county court, the polls being 
removed from Kimseyville. It was then a portion of Big Creek Town- 
ship, or rather was within the limits of that township. It is rather pleas- 
antly located on the prairies, with a sweeping view north, south and 
east, while on the west the belt of timber which lines Cottonwood 
Branch breaks into view in that direction. The first house built in what 
is now Huntingdale, was by Aaron Kahn, in the year 1855, and he also 
located his store there, and was its first merchant. The first physician 
was Dr. Royston. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 433 

Its first postmaster Benjamin Quarles, now the efficient county clerk 
of the county. Then followed in the order named : William Swindle, 
George Royston, David Urie, and V. J. Moore, the present postmaster. 

BUSINESS. 

Mr. V. J. Moore is the merchant of the village and keeps a stock of 
general merchandise which means every kind of business but a drug 
store. 

Mr. E. W. Drake has the last named business in charge and keeps 
a full supply of drugs and medicines. 

A. Bahing, blacksmith shop. 

William Cheesman, wagon manufacturer. 

Joseph Winkler, saw mill. 

S. G. Ingram and J. F. Crew, carpenters. 

The medical profession is represented by Drs. E. C. and W. P. Roy- 
ston, old, able and extensive practitioners. 

MT. ZION BAPTIST CHURCH. 

The organization of this church was effected in 1855 and was the 
first church at Huntingdale. The members who formed the church were 
James Potts, William Molton, Granville Cross, F. C. Brown, Isaac 
Anderson, James Ross, Lemuel Page, Aaron, John and Reuben Morgan, 
James William and Henry Page. The church has been a successful one 
and has grown steadily with the growth of the town and county. It has 
now' a membership of eighty-two, and can well be said to be in a flour- 
ishing condition. 

Its pastors have been the following in the order named : Revs. 
William White, James Teas, Adams, William Oden, James Woods, Kil- 
patrick, O. Tompkins, Thomas Briggs, A. M. Cockrell, John Denton, and 
the present pastor is the Rev. Samuel Victors. 

The church building at Huntingdale is a union church, erected in 
the year 1870, at a cost of of $1,800. It is a frame edifice, plainly but 
neatly finished and furnished, and is used by two other denominations. 

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. 

This church was organized in 1869 by a few devoted spirits, who 
felt anxious for a church organization of their own. The first members 
were D. Mclntyre and wife, Eliza Royston and John Huston and 
wife. The organization soon attracted others and the church has grown 
and prospered and has at this time a membership of forty, with earnest 
attending congregations. The meetings are held in the Union Church. 

The pastors who have officiated are, first the Rev. J. B. Woodridge, 



434 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. i 

Rev. William Pitts, Rev. Murphy, Rev. M. Margison, Rev. Williair. | 
King, Rev. Peter Cobb, Rev's Busby and Houston. 

I 
M. E. CHURCH. 1 

The Huntingdale M. E. Church was located in the town in the year 
1871, and started out with a fair number to effect its organization. The 
members were J. R. McMillon, L. Cook; M. A. Waugh, William Paul, D.^ 
F. Leek, E. Barnum, D. King, P. Gilbert, W. J. McFarland, A. C. Comer.j 
Rev. J. S. Nelson, Rev. Henry A. Tolan. The church has grown andi 
prospered, and has increased its membership in the twelve years past to 
160 members. It has and is doing an important work, and its influence 
is widespread and constantly increasing. j 

The clergymen who have officiated as pastors are the following: j 
Rev's W. H. Van Winkle, Samuel Jones, John H. Gillispie, E. A. Porter,: 
H. H. Dunlavy, A. L. Walker and G. A. Deitrich. This denomination! 
also worships in the Union Church. ' 

I. O. O. F. I 

Carrsville Lodge No. 281, was organized at Carrsville June 7, 1873, 
with the following charter members: J. S. Barnhill, H. C. Ragland, L. A.j 
Wisley, Luther Cook, J. D. Dean and T. J. Carr. It remained at Carrs-' 
ville until 1877, when it was removed to Huntingdale. They own aj 
good frame hall over Moore's store and it is handsomely furnished. Its- 
present officers are: F. M. Anderson, N. G.; Labe Walker, V. G.; E. D.| 
Webb, Secretary. It has a membership of fifty. 

This about finishes the history of the township, and below will bej 
found its boundary and number, as entered of record: I 

NO. 3, SHAWNEE. 

" Composed of all of Congressional Township No. 43 of range No., 
26, and sections Nos. 31 to 36, inclusive, in Congressional Township No. 
44 of range 26." , 

When the enterprise of its citizens is added to its magnificent 
domain, its wealth of fertile soil, the value of its blooded stock and; 
annual increase of its cereal productions, it is easy to see that Shawnee 
Township will hold her advanced position against all comers. ; 

fields' creek township — ITS METES AND BOUNDS. ] 

i 
The boundary of this township is easily defined, it being officia\\y> 

given as being "composed of Congressional Township No. 42 of rangd 

No. 26." ; 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 435 

When Rives County, now Henry, was first organized it was divided 
into four townships, and the territory now comprising Fields' Creek was 
divided in the center on range line 26, one-half being in Grand River 
and the other half in Springfield Township. It remained thus until i860, 
when it became a part of and was included in Grand River Township, as 
it was that year organized and boundaries defined. It was a part of that 
township until the great change of townships in 1873 under the new 
township law, when it first came into being and was known as " Fields* 
Creek" Township, with its boundaries as above given. Grand River 
Township, which up to that time and from the date of the organization 
of the county had been one of the municipal divisions of the same, was 
blotted from the map and its northern portion or most of it given to this 
township. 

AREA 21,000 ACRES. 

While so far as the township of Fields' Creek was a new township, 
and is at this time but ten years of age, the township was one of the 
earliest settled portions of the county. It is six miles wide from east to 
west, and five and a half from north to south, taking in on its northern 
border a portion of the fractional township, which is a trifle less than 
half a mile wide and running from east to west across the county. It 
has an area of 21,000 acres, mostly prairie land, which will equal in pro- 
ductive quality any other portion of Henry County. The township is 
pretty well supplied with timber, a fine forest lining the banks of Fields' 
Creek and Town Creek. Still in the matter of fuel it is well supplied, 
for its coal veins which underlie its surface will probably not be 
exhausted for ages to come. The prairies are of a rich and mellow soil, 
not rolling, but undulating sufficient for drainage purposes, and slope 
from the divide near the center of the township toward the creeks above 
mentioned, which travers, from north to south, the eastern and western 
sides of the township. Fields' Creek was first named " Lake Creek," 
after one of its first settlers, George W. Lake, and is still the name found 
on the map of the government survey. But the citizens got to call- 
ing it Fields' Creek, after Mr. Joseph Fields, the first settler who located 
on its banks in section 10. The stream enters the township near the 
center from the north, running southwest for nearly three miles, then 
south, passing into Clinton Township, and empties into Grand River. 
It has several small branches that waters the southern and northwestern 
portions of the township. Town Creek takes its name from Clinton. 
This stream rises in the northeastern part of Fields' Creek Township, 
and its three branches unite and run nearly due south, passing near Clin- 
ton and emptying into Fields' Creek about one-fourth mile from Grand 
River. In speaking of going to Clinton the people always called it 
going to "Town," and the name was thus given the stream. The town- 



43^ HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. i 

ship itself, like the creek of the same name, was named after Sheriff ( 
Fields. 

Mr. Joseph Fields was one of its first settlers, and came early in the : 
year 1832. He was afterwards the first sheriff of the county, receiving j 
'Jiis commission from Governor Dunklin, and was dated August 4, 1835. j 
Mr. Fields in the following March, 1836, was killed by his horse falling j 
on him. While going from Clinton to his home, his horse stepped into 1 
quite a deep hole, which threw it and Mr. Fields, the horse being on top. '. 
He was found completely paralyzed, and died from his injuries. The 1 
year 183 1, George W. Lake came and drove his stake on section 20. He j 
was the first settler in the township, and a prominent citizen of the ; 
■county for many years. Then there was William and Isaac Swift, men j 
of energy who settled, the former on section 33, and the latter on section , 
17. They were soon followed by Joel Milton, on the same section, and , 
Peter Huntsman, on section 19. John F. Sharp settled on section 23, ; 
and was afterwards county judge and county seat commissioner. These j 
pioneers all came from Virginia. In 1834, Nathan A. Fields, brother of i 
Joseph, settled on section 31. He was appointed deputy sheriff by his ] 
brother, and his appointment was approved by Judge Charles H. Allen, of 
the Sixth Judicial Circuit, on September 23, 1835, and he was acting sheriff 
from the death of his brother until the August election in 1836, when 
Robert Allen succeeded as the first elected sheriff of Henry County. I 

Mr. Nathan A. Fields is now the oldest living settler of the town- 
ship, and bears his years well. I 

The first school house built in the township was in the fall of 1835, ' 
and was a joint effort of the neighbors. The school was a subscription 
school, and was situated on section 16. The ne.xt school of note was in ! 
1854, when a school building for its use was erected on section 19, and 
used both for a church and school. 1 

In the spring of 1836, Thomas B. and Benjamin F. Wallace came to | 
the township, and settled on section 35, about one mile north of Clinton, j 
but before the county seat was laid out. They built themselves a log j 
store room and opened the first store in Fields' Creek Township, and j 
■probably the last also. They remained there until the county seat was I 
located, when they removed to Clinton. At the time they started there 
were four other stores in the county. Fields' Creek, being near the 
county seat, which is just over her border on the south, remains an agri- > 
cultural township. 

The same year, 1836, a saw mill was built on I''ields' Creek by ' 
Thomas Swift and son, and was on the south line of section 20, where 
the creek crosses that line. It was used quite a number of years. There 
was quite a number of settlers came in during the years from 1837 to 
1840, and quite a large quantity of land pre-empted. A Mr. Brown, who 
settled in the township in 1835, sold his claim to Mr. Swift in 1S37. Mr. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 437 

Swift's wife was the sister of Chief Justice Taney, of the United Statesf- 
Supreme Court. 

In 1839, quite a large colony from Rockingham County, North 
Carolina, arrived in Henry County, and camped on section 3, in Tebc 
Township, near where the Sardis Church and school house in that town- 
ship now stands. The names and destination of this colony will be found 
in the records here given of Tebo Township. From that point they 
scattered. Mrs. Sarah Lindsay, of Fields' Creek Township, was one of 
this colony, and she had her family with her. Mrs. Lindsay settled ons 
section 10. They came in wagons across Kentucky and Illinois, via St. 
Louis, and arrived at their camping ground, as above stated, September 
20, 1839. Mrs. Lindsay and sons on selecting the homes on section 10, 
prepared arrangements for the pre-empting and entering of a large 
quantity of the fertile prairies of Fields' Creek Township, and her sons 
attended to it. They succeeded admirably in securing a large body of 
valuable land. These farms lie in sections 8, 9, 10 and fractional sectioR^' 
3, with small tracts in other sections. 

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. 

The Methodists in the neighborhood of the Fields Settlement united' 
together and put up a church in the year 1857. It was not an expensive 
structure, but cost in the neighborhood of $600. It was called the 
Methodist-Episcopal Church South. It was located on section 10, and! 
the original members were James Lindsay and wile, James Lottspiech, 
wife and children, Mrs. F. Adamson, Rev. Durant and wife, and a few- 
others whose names were forgotten. 

The first minister was the Rev. Durant, and he was followed in 1858^ 
by Rev. J. Headly. The latter was succeeded by Rev. Henry Webster 
in 1859 and by the Rev. J. C. Thompson in i860. At the close of the 
latter's ministration, or, rather the following year, owing to the effect of 
the civil war, church matters were brought to a stand and preaching sus- 
pended. It was not again organized until 1865, when the Rev. Warren? 
Pitts was called to the pastorate and remained an earnest worker for 
three years. 

A call was then made in 1868 on the Rev. J. B. H. Woodbridge, 
who accepted the charge and held it until 1873. He was followed by the 
Rev. Murphy in 1873, and the latter by Rev. Marvanson in 1875, whose 
services were retained only one year. The church had grown smaller, 
many of its first members had passed to a happier home, others had 
removed and the church finally closed up at the end of the last men- 
tioned year. The building still stands, but only a wreck, for it is sadly 
out of repair. Its resurrection is not expected. Its membership never 
exceeded twenty 



438 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The old school house on section i6, which was erected in 1835, is 
not now in existence, but others have taken its place. There are quite 
a number now living in the township who received the rudiments of their 
education at the old log school house, and it has a firm and cherished 
hold in their memories. There are now four schools in Fields' Creek 
Township, as reported by the superintendent, and they are all well 
attended with an average of six months schooling a year. The teachers 
the present year are especially able, and the progress of the pupils is 
rapid. The rising youths are intent on culture and have had the good 
taste to form literary and debating societies. The Young American 
Club hold their meetings at the school house in school district No. i, a 
really fine building, and an honor to the county as well as the district. 
The president of this society in 1870 was Jesse Sharp, and A. C. Comer 
was the secretary, E. M. Morton, who taught the school that winter, 
was the editor. The debating club at the Comer School still exists, or 
rather it is generally organized each winter. The winter of 1882-83 
finds it promptly " on deck," and its meetings are not only spirited but 
show no small talent for oratory among its debators. 

The Evening Star literary society is another which is well advanced 
and if regularly conducted will show steady improvement. As there 
are quite a number of talented members connected with this society 
they should see to it that it shall not be surpassed by any, either at 
home or abroad. 

Taking it altogether Fields' Creek Township, in the richness of its 
soil, in wealth according to population, and in the brightness of its 
future prospects, will compare favorably with its sister township, for all 
of which her citizens have cause to be proud. The population of the 
township in 1880 was 852. 




""^51/ '"^^ \3^ 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



BOGARD, BIG CREEK, HONEY CREEK, AND WHITE Ox\K 

TOWNSHIPS. 

BOGARD-THE NORTHWEST-ORGANIZED 1857 AND 1873-IT HAS 30,155 95-100 ACRES OF 
LAND-ASA HENDRICKS ITS FIRST SETTLER-MRS. MARV TAYLOR, FIRST CHILD 
BORN IN THE TOWNSHIP— LAKES— URICH-LOCATION— SETTLEMENT AND BUSI- 
NESS— SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES— POLITICAL— POPULATION-BIG CREEK— TOWN- 
SHIPS 44 AND 43, RANGE 27—26,880 ACRES— ITS STREAMS AND WOODLANDS— ITS 
ORIGINAL BOUNDARY— EARLY SETTLERS, i83i-A GRAND OLD TOWNSHIP— NOKRIS 
FORKS-CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND LODGES-HONEY CREEK— BOUNDARY— SMALL 
SETTLEMENT— POPULATION— SLOW OF GROWTH-ITS PIONEERS— SCHOOLS— WANT 
OF PROGRESS— WHITE OAK— THE SMALLEST TOWNSHIP— GOOD LAND AND WATER 
PLENTY— SETTLED IN 1838— COAL— CYCLONE— SCHOOLS— POPULATION. 

BOGARD TOWNSHIP. 

This township lies in the northwest corner of the county and was 
first organized as such at the August term, 1857. ^^^ described as fol- 
lows: 

"Ordered that all that portion of the county lying between Grand 
River and Big Creek, in Henry County, Missouri, be declared a separate 
township lor all municipal purposes, and that the house of Asa Hen- 
dricks be designated as the voting precinct, and the same be known by 
the name of Bogard." 

This boundary gave it a sort of triangle, and at the same time extend- 
ing into a portion of what are now White Oak, Honey Cr^ek and Big 
Creek Townships, and what was formerly apart of Big Creek Township, 
when the county was first divided ihto municipal divisions. May 5, 1835. 

The township, with some few changes remained as above described, 
until the new township went into effect in 1873, when Bogard Township, 
as one of the nine which then composed the municipal divisions of the 
county was changed. Instead of being one of the nine, it was then made 
one of nineteen, and its boundaries were described as follows, being 
known as No. 5 : 

Composed of all of congressional township No. 43, of range 28, and 
sections Nos. 31 to 36, inclusive, in congressional township No. 44, of 
range 28; also embracing all of the territory north of the south half of 
sections Nos. 7, 8, 9. lO, 11, and 12, in township No. 42, of range 28. 

This gives it a trifle over seven and four-fifths miles in extent, north 
and south, and six miles east and west, with an area of 30,155 95-100 



440 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

acres, the principal part of which is as handsome a body of prairie land 
as can be found in the county. Grand River touches its southern border, 
and Knob Creek and its main branch, Black Oaks and other streams 
emptying into Grand River, waters its southern part. Big Creek from 
the northeast waters the northern part and on these streams and branches 
will be found all of the timber supply. There has been very little coal 
yet found in the township, except on sections 22, 15, 10, and 13, and 
while there may be some small veins in other sections, so long as wood 
is cheap it will not pay to work them. The old Shawnee Trail passed 
through this township, and the tribe had a few wigwams on the banks of 
Big Creek, while serving them as a hunting ground. 

ITS FIRST SETTLER. 

Asa Hendrick, of Brown County, Kentucky, was the first white man 
known to have built his cabin in the township. He settled on the east 
half of the northeast quarter of section 16, and also staked out his claim 
on the northwest quarter of -section 15. He came in the spring of 1837, 
built his cabin and planted a patch of corn, kept his rifle loaded and laid 
in his supply of meat for winter use. His nearest neighbor was Judge 
Smith, living nearly four miles distant, nearly due west in Cass County. 
Judge Smith at that time was plain Mr. Smith, and a pioneer like him- 
self. His neighbor on the north was Mr. Jonas Turner, who lived in 
Johnson County. This continued until fall, when John Scroggs and 
Joshua Page moved into the township. This latter was a minister of the 
Christian Church, and preached the first sermon, and afterward many 
others in the township, at an old log school house that was reared as an 
educational institute in the year 1838. Miss Mary Page, now Mrs. Tay- 
lor, was born in 1838, and the first white child born in the township. 

The school house above referred to opened as a school in the winter 
of 1838-9, and Rev. Joshua Page was the first teacher. Settlers came in 
from nearly everywhere, and in this respect Bogard has the most cosmo- 
politan citizens of the world, who at last found homes in the county. 

Not only are the states and Europe well represented, but a large 
immigration from Canada have found homes, and their cabins and dwell- 
ings now dot many beautiful prairie sites of this rich township. Agri- 
culturally speaking, it is one of the best in the county. 

Its market now is more at Holden than at Clinton, but while good 
roads last the county seat has the preference. There are three small 
bodies of water in the township, which have been designated lakes. 
Those in the northeast part of the township, on sections i and 2, being 
called Horseshoe and Goose Lakes respectively, and the one in the 
southwest corner, found on the northwest quarter of section 7, township 
42, range 28, called Little Lake. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 44I 

There never have been any towns or villages in the township unless 
Urich, first known in iS/t, may be called such. It is located on the 
southeast quarter of section 22, and being centrally located, may be 
termed the capital of Bogard Township and its only village and post 
office. 

URICH. 

Urich is located on the southeast corner of section 22 and was 
founded in April, 1871, by H. C. McDonnell, and H. C. McDonnell & Co. 
built the first house at the above date. In the spring of 1872 they opened 
a very general stock of merchandise, and being the first and only store 
in the township, they did a good business with the rich farming com- 
munity by which they were surrounded. A tew more settled that year, 
and in the following year they sold out to T. W. Wells. 

Mr. Wells became the first postmaster, and has held it to 1883, being 
succeed by Browning Stewart the present year. Mr. H. D. Rogers started 
the first blacksmith shop; William Green, carpenter, and J. W.Jones, M. 
D., was the first physician. Twelve years later, January i, 1883, the 
business directory of Urich reads as follows: 

J. A. Wells & Son, general merchandise. 

Miller Bros., general merchandise. 

F. C. Tisdale & Co., general merchandise. 

Stewart & Co., drugs. 

J. J. Miller, hotel. 

O. E, Wallace, physician. 

John Powers, physician. 

John Hisey, blacksmith shop. 

Ed. Murphy, blacksmith shop. 

They have a very neat and comfortable school house, which has also 
been used for church purposes for several years, and they have now five 
school districts in the township, each with a good, comfortable frame 
house, and all the necessary furniture for primary teaching. Schools are 
kept up some six months in the year, and are well attended, the number 
of pupils being fully up to the average. The township improved quite 
rapidly during the years 1870 and 1871, and increased its population. 
Over 5-000 acres of fine prairie land was fenced and placed under culti- 
vation in the former year alone. 

The little towns of Wadesburg and Grant, just over the line in Cass 
County, were quite well patronized before Urich came into being on 
account of a steam saw and grist mill, besides a union church which was 
occupied alternately by the Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and 
Christians, and was built by them, and these little towns have yet some 
trade from the west side of Bogard and White Oak. They were founded 
about 1867 or 1868. However, when Urich was founded it secured the 



442 HISTORY OF HENR\ COUNTY. 

trade and still holds more of it than either Holden or Clinton. The 

town will grow and thrive and in 1890 will be dignified by having its 

population given, and finding itself with a local habitation and a name 

in the records of the census of that year. A coal bank lies within a 

half mile of the town on section 22, and others will be found on sections 

10, 13 and 15, and perhaps in other places. Urich is not destined to 

want for fuel. 

CHURCHES. 

The oldest church is the Urich Baptist Church, which was organized 
many years since and was known as Mount Pleasant Church, and was 
located in the southwest corner of the township on Knob Creek. It 
was removed to Urich in 1875, and they worshipped at the school house 
house above mentioned for two years. In 1877 they erected their pres- 
ent handsome little church at a cost of $1,200. The church has always 
been well attended and prosperous and has at this time a membership 
of sixty-five. Its pastors have been in the order named : Revs. Obe- 
•diah Tompkins, A. M. Cockrell, Thomas Briggs, I. Tompkins and John 
L. Uenton. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH 

was organized February 3, 1877, at the Urich School House, called by 
the name of Miller School House. Its first members were : J. A. Wells, 
P. A. Wells, G. T. Watkins, A. M. Watkins, William Briscoe, Fannie 
Briscoe, J. J. Corwine, Amanda Corwine, Mary Corwine, Jennie Robinson 
and Nancy Lotspeich. 

Those who have officiated as ministers are, first, the Rev. Ragland, 
Rev. Cunningham, Rev. Mathews, and the Rev. J. A. Elliott. The pres- 
ent membership is twenty-eight. In the year 1880 they erected a 
church edifice, frame, at a cost of $1,200 and is neatly and plainly fur- 
nished. Their membership is small, but they make up in zeal and their 
meetings are well attended. They hope to profit, both by deeper inter- 
est in church affairs, which seems to be growing, and by the new comers 
to their faith. 

Brushy Church was organized by S. Brown, in February, 1877. The 
names of the original members are as follows: John Mickelberry, 
.Sarilda Mickelberry, Joseph Gerard, Melvina Gerard, Henry Eller, Levina 
EUer, Jefferson Burke, G. I. Burke, Fredrick Walby, Fredrick Seigle, 
Charles Seigle, Augustus Walby, Martha Walby, Ann Roads, Hannah 
Roberts. 

The names of pastors up to this date are, Rev. S. Brown, Rev. Jos- 
eph Timmons, Rev. J. R. Evans, Rev. W. P. Bowman. 

The church was built in i88o, and cost $1,200. The present mem- 
bership numbers seventy. A Sabbath School conducted by Daniel Gar- 
rison, superintendent, is connected thereto; number of pupils, sixty. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 443 

POLITICAL. 

The first voting precinct in the township was at the house of Asa 
Hendricks, and remained there for several years. When its boundaries 
were defined under the new organization law, the voting place was 
removed from Hendricks' to school house No. 2. about one mile west. 
The township is republican by from thirty to forty majority, it giving 
the county ticket an average of thirty-eight republican nnajority. For 
justice of the peace it elected one democrat and one republican. Its 
local vote will be found in the chapter devoted to elections of 1880 and 
1882, which is given at 125 republican to 8y democratic votes in the 
township. 

POPULATION. 

The population of Bogard Township in 1870 was 1,1 1? 

In 1880 1,195 

Increase 78 

This would show a gain of only seventy-eight, but in the census of 
1870 was included all the territory between the forks of Grand River 
and Big Creek to the Cass and Johnson County line. Much of this ter- 
ritory was taken from her by the new organization law, which is now its 
prescribed bounds. 

With her fertile prairies and enterprising and industrious popula- 
tion, Bogard will grow and prosper. It is an agricultural township, with 
so little waste land as to be almost imperceptible, and it requires but 
work and intelligent cultivation to make it the garden spot of Henry 
County. 

Let the hands of industry, culture and progress guide her, and her 
future is not doubtful. 

BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

This is one of the north border townships, having Johnson County 
on the north, Shawnee Township on the east, Honey Creek on the south 
and Bogard Township on the west. It lies principally in township 43 of 
range 27, but has on its northern border a strip one mile wide added to 
it from township 44 of the same range, the sections being from 31 to 36 
of the last township inclusive. This gives it a dimension of seven miles 
north and south and six east and west. It has forty-two sections of land, 
or an area of 26,880 acres. 

Honey Creek and its branches waters the entire east side, while Big 
Creek does the same for the west. The branches from these two streams 
reach to the center of the township, so that with the numerous springs 
it is abundantly watered, and its timber supply sufBcient for all practical 
purposes, its timber belt lying along its running streams. 



444 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

It is among the largest townships in the county, and ranks with the 
best in the richness which characterizes the soil of its magnificent prai- 
ries and the depth of the alluvial deposits found in the bottom lands of 
its creeks and streams. 

ORIGINAL BOUNDARY. 

Big Creek was one of the four townships organized when Henry 
County put on the robes of official life and secured a local habitation 
and a name (Rives) among her sister counties in the state. It then was 
composed of about one-fourth of the county, its west line being Cass 
and Bates Counties, Johnson County on the north, range line 26 for its 
eastern border and township line 42 being its southern limit. 

This gave it all of Bogard, Big Creek, half of Shawnee, Honey 
Creek and White Oak, and one-quarter of Fields Creek. This was in 
May, 1835. This line, however, was changed a few years afterward, in 
1840, as follows: 

" Ordered, that Big Creek Township be altered as follows: Beginn- 
ing north at a point opposite Huntly's mill on Grand River; thence fol- 
lowing the divide between the waters of Honey and Lake Creeks, to the 
county road leading from Clinton to Warrensburg; thence along said 
road to the county line of Johnson County, including Childers in said 
township, and that the above boundary along the road be the eastern 
boundary of said township." 

Its first voting precinct was at the house of Thomas Kimsey, at the 
August election, 1836. In 1858 the Kimsey School House was desig- 
nated as its voting place, and that was afterward changed to Kimseyville. 
November i ith, 1S65, the county court ordered the voting precinct to be 
removed from Kimseyville to Huntingdale. 

EARLY SETTLERS. 

Littleberry Kimsey came in 1830, so did Abner Martin and his two 
sons, George W. and Baker Martin and George Bounds in 183 1, Wil- 
liam H. Anderson, Major Isaac Anderson and Esau Prewitt in 1832, and 
the latter settled on section 13, as also Daniel Chitwood, a son-in-law of 
Prewitt's. In November, 1833, Abner Martin died, the first death in the 
township, and his two sons and George Bounds were made administra- 
tors, and the appraisers of the estate were William H. Anderson, Esau 
Prewitt and Littleberry Kimsey. Then later came Henry Lotspeich. 
1835, William F'ox, William Bidwell, John Swift, Joe and P^dward Ander- 
son and others. While this was one of the first settled townships in the 
county, and as Davis Township and then Tebo, while under the juris- 
diction of Lafayette, it did not settle fast from 1835. 

The immigrants located nearer to the county seat, within striking 
distance of a place of trade. Still, take the township of Big Creek as it 



HISTORY OF HENKV COUNTY. 445 

now stands, and it is certainly a splendid body of land, rich in all that 
pertains to cereal productions and the prolific yield of grapes. It is like 
some others purely agricultural, having a couple of post offices and a 
store or two. The people, while patronizing those stores to a certain 
extent, do their largest trade at Holden. The county seat is of course 
attractive, and official business calls them there, but the best roads run 
to Holden, and in bad weather it leads in che trade. Norris Forks is at 
present little besides a post office, but it is centrally located, and is des- 
tined to become quite a village when the thousands of acres of land now 
idle and unproductive shall be populated with an enterprising and pro- 
gressive farming community. This, and this only, is what is needed to 
make Big Creek one of the richest agricultural townships in the county. 
With a steady, but not rapid increase. Big Creek gained in population 
and wealth, and is fairly prosperous at the present time. 

The Big Creek of to-day has been largely shorn of her proportions 
of earlier days. In 1873, the county was reorganized in townships, mak- 
ing nineteen, when before there only been nine. In this new arrange- 
ment Big Creek was composed as follows: 

NO. 4. BIG CREEK. 

"Composed of congressional township No. 43, of range No. 27, and 
sections Nos. 31 to 36 inclusive, in township No. 44, of range 27." 

This is her present dimensions and is blest with a moral and enter- 
prising population of about 1,200. In 1880 the population was 1,038. 

In the cause of education she is fairly prosperous and has fine 
school buildings to accommodate the growing youths or children of 
school age. A more perfect account of the schools of Henry County 
will be found in the school history in another part of this work. 

The settlers of this township, like all of the pioneers, had their ups 
and downs of life, of troubles, trials and vexations, and from the wild 
region of half a century ago, now stands noble farm houses, and civ- 
ilization has marked it for its own. This is Big Creek Township of 
to-day. 

NORRIS FORKS. 

The village of Norris Forks lies in the southwest corner of section 
10 and is the only village in the township, if it can be called such. It 
is surrounded by a rich agricultural country and in a well to do farming 
community. It took a start in the world in the spring of 1875, in the 
erection of a store house by Mr. B. T. Moore. The first residence was 
put up by Mr. Nathan Moore, son of the first named. Dr. L. A. Wisely 
built and started a drug store, and in 1879 J. A. Overby put up another 
business house, making three in all. Its first ph\-sician was Dr. T. T. 
Thornton. 



446 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Norris Forks was a necessity, and it is now a great convenience to 
the neghboring country. While the past eight years of its existence has 
not given it the position of a city of even the fourth class, there is no ] 
reason to doubt that in time it will reach that postion. When Big Creek 
Township shall have more of its rich soil under cultivation, and becomes | 
more densely populated, the central position of Norris Forks will give it i 
a healthy growth, and a prosperity befitting its surroundings. -^ 

UNION CHURCH. 

i 
The Carrsville Union Church is located on section 13, township 43, 

of range 27, near Petersburg, and is owned by the Baptist, Reformers, 

Methodists and Presbyterian denominations, and its total membership as 

above is about one hundred. 

The Rev. A. M. Cockrell, Baptist, was the first pastor, and others have 

held since. The church was erected by the above denominations jointly | 

in 1880, and cost $700. It is a frame structure plainly built and neatly | 

furnished. The church is gradually growing and its influence for good ] 

increasing. i 

I. O. O. F 3 

I 

Laurel Lodge, No. 402, was organized February 22, 188 1, the anni- i 
versary of the birth of the Father of his Country, so-called, at Norris, j 
Big Creek Township. Its charter members were : L. A. Wisely, C. F. 
Altman, N. Kizer, R. E. Mansfield, J. W. Gilliam, J. B. Dunham and J. | 
W. Victor. , 

Officers— C. F. Altman, N. G.; J. B Dunham, V. G.; R. E. Man.sfield, 
Sec; L. A. Wisely, Per. Sec; J. W. Victor, Treas. 

The order has found a pleasant field for its labor, and it is slowly 
but steadily gaining in growth and influence, and is likely to continue 
on the road of successful lodges. The officers elected and installed for 
the year 1883 are as follows: M. R. Gillette, N. G.; W. A. Stansberry, 
V. G.; C. M. Morgan, Secretary; R. E. Mansfield, Per. Secretary; Milo ! 
Spaulding, Treasurer. 

A. F. & A. M. . 

Agricola Lodge No. 343, of A. F. & A. M., is one of the most pros- ! 
perous lodges in the county. It is located at Petersburg, Big Creek 
Township and its charter was granted October 12, 1870. Its charter i 
members were, J. H. Webster, W. M.; L. P. Beatty, S. W; M. R. Gillette, 
J. W. ; D. C. Mclntire, Treasurer; E. S. Campbell, Secretary; J. B. How- 
erton, S. D.; A. J. Dunham, J. D; A. M. Butcher, Tyler; and G. W. Beck, 
J. H. McCann, George W. McKee, and several others as members. ! 
They have a neat hall, some 36x40 feet in size, frame, which was put up 1 
at a cost of $700. It is all paid for and the hall is handsomely furnished. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 44/ 

It has a membership of fifty-eight, with money in the treasury and 
loaned out. It promptly acts out the tenets of its faith, contributes to 
deeds of charity and takes care of the welfare of its members. 

Its present officers are: S. M. Lane, W. M.; L. P. Beatty, S. W.; J, 
W. Lane, J. W.; N. D. Lane, Treasurer; P. D. Lane, Secretary; J. B. 
Howerton, S. D.; S. M. Thompson, J. D.; J. C. Gilliam, S. S.; P. H. How- 
erton, J. S.; T. W. Dean, chaplain, W. A. McMahan, Tyler. 

HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

Honey Creek when laid out under the new township organization 
law should have made Grand River its southern boundary, but the county 
court thought otherwise, and the result, although going by section and 
quarter section lines, crosses Grand River no less than eight times. The 
township contains a little less than twenty-eight and a half sections of 
land. In area it has i8,ii6| acres. 

It is nearly all prairie; the timber there is lying on the north side of 
Grand River and on Honey Creek, which divides the township nearly in 
the center from about one and one-fourth mile of its northern border,, 
running almost due south, emptying in Grand River. 

Honey Creek waters its northeastern section, and Big Creek, com- 
ing down from the northwest, unites with Honey Creek, when it forks 
near the north line of the township. 

This is the most thinly populated township in the county, having in 
1880 but 480, and probably does not, January, 1883, exceed 500. The 
township, though the land is fertile, has exhibited less enterprise than 
any other township in the county, even according to its population. 
Certainly, its thrift has not been proverbial. There is considerable of 
the land in the township owned by non-residents, which will account in 
a measure for its slow progress. 

While there may be coal in the township, none has yet been devel- 
oped. Its agricultural resources are equal to any, and needs but enter- 
prising and active settlers to make it one of the most productive town- 
ships in the county. 

SCHOOLS. 

In 1878, it had three school districts, and it now has four, and they 
are all well attended. The township had but a few settlers up to 1840, 
and since then it has improved rather slowly. John Dixon was one of 
the first settlers in the township, and probably the second water mill in 
the county was put up by him. This mill was in operation in the fall 
and winter of 1838-9. It was largely patronized,, persons coming from 
twelve to fifteen miles as customers. Its present boundary is given: 



448 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. ,; 

NO. 7, HONEY CREEK. fj 

" Commcncinf^ at the southeast corner of section number 36, in con- ' 
gressional township number 42, of range 27, and running from thence 
north to the northeast corner of fractional section number i, in said 
township and range; from thence west to the northwest corner of frac- 
tional section number 6, in said township and range; from thence south ; 
to the northwest corner of section number 30; from thence east to the i 
northeast corner of said section; thence south to the southwest corner ' 
of the northwest quarter of section number 29; thence east to the north- | 
east corner of the southwest quarter of section number 29; thence south j 
to the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section number 29; ■< 
thence east to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 1 
number 28; thence south to the center of section number 33; thence east J 
to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section number 34; 
thence south to the southeast corner of the southeast quarter of section , 
number 34; thence east to the place of beginning." j 

I 

■| 

NOT FLATTERING. 1 

Here is really a good township of land, well watered, good and ' 
healthy climate, and why is it that it ranks as one of the least energetic 
townships in the county, with little encouragement in the future.^ There 
is something wrong somewhere, and the few citizens that now live 1 
within its border should find out what that wrong is and apply a remedy 
at once. Without one single exception it ranks in population, wealth, i 
energy and material progress, at the very bottom of the ladder. With | 
the exception of having a well watered stock and grain township and a , 
•rich soil, Honey Creek has little to be proud of. ' 

i 

WHITE OAK TOWNSHIP. 

This township lies on the western border of the county, its western i 
border being Bates County. It is the smallest township in the county, ' 
embracing but twenty-seven sections of land or an area of 17,280 acres. 
Its boundary is as follows: 

"Composed of congressional township No. 42, range No. 28, e.xcept 
so much territory as lies north of the north line of the north half of 
sections No. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, in said township and range. May, 
1873." 

Grand River passes through the northeastern portion of the town- 
ship, and White Oak Creek, which rises just south of the southwest cor- ; 
ner of the township, runs from southwest to northeast and empties in 
■Grand River. j 

Grand River also passes west, through the northern tier of sections, ' 

and this, with White Oak Creek and its branches, waters the town- ] 

1 
ship. The land is good, three-fourths being prairie with an abundance j 

of timber along Grand River and the ocher streams. In quality of soil I 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 449 

and richness of production it is up to the average in the county. It has 
no town or village within its limits, being, as far as settled, purely agri- 
cultural. It has one post office, Lucas, located in the extreme south- 
west corner of section twenty-one. It was not settled until 1838, and 
patronized a town called Grantville, in Cass County, by those who 
lived on its western side. This town lays northwest of the township 
and but a little way from the line. Coal has been found in sections 35 
and 36, in the southeast corner of the township, but there is doubtless 
a good deal of coal in this township. There is not, however, any devel- 
opment of the "black diamond" at present and probably will not be 
for years to come. The township, while being the smallest in size in 
the county, ranks second from the bottom according to population, lead- 
ing Honey Creek Township eighty-five in the census of 1880, which 
gave White Oak a population of 1565, and may possibly have 600 at this 
writing, January, 1883. It was declared a voting precinct May 8, 1868, 
and it might be said that this was the first recognition of the township 
of White Oak. Its boundary now is as given on the first page of its 
history. * 

WIND STORM. 

Quite an incident occurred on August, 21, 1873, when a violent 
wind storm lifted the house of Martin W. Cox completely from its 
foundation, carried it some sixteen feet and set it down again right side 
up. Not a dish was broken or one of the family hurt. The house was 
allowed to remain right where the storm left it. 

The school districts in this township number three. No. i being 
located on section 21, near its north line; No. 2 on section 26, on the 
southeast quarter; and No. 3 on section 29, on the north side of the 
northwest quarter. They are all frame buildings, comfortably finished 
and furnished. 

The township has suffered a good deal from its non-resident land 
owners. At one time nearly half of the township was in their possession. 
To a large extent the land was held and is now held at too high a figure 
to bring immigration. It has no towns of its own and its distance to 
market, combined with high prices of its land has retarded its growth 
to a very great extent. When its land owners show a disposition to take 
a fair price for their holdings, White Oak will take a start and progress 
will mark her pathway. 



29 



CHAPTER XXX. 

WALKER, DAVIS AND PRES. BLEVINS TOWNSHIPS. 

WALKER— WHEN BORN— ITS AREA— WHEN SETTLED— DR. AMASA JONES— SOME FAMILY 
HISTORY-FIRST SCHOOL AND CHURCH— ITEMS— CHURCHES— IN MEMORIAM— REV. 
A. SPRAGUE— DAVIS- WHEN LOCATED — AREA AND POPULATION — STREAMS, 
PRAIRIES AND WOODLAND— SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES— LADUE— ITS BIRTH— BUSI- 
NESS IN 1872— CHURCH-SCHOOL— BUSINESS OF 18S3— DAVIS TOWNSHIP FIRST SET- 
TLERS—HER GROWTH AND PR )SPERITY— "PRES. BLEVINS"— A DISCOVERY-NEW 
TOWNSHIP— IT WILL NOW BE KNOWN— GOV. BLEVINS— HIS POWERS, ETC. 

WHEN IT WAS BORN. 

This township came into existence in the spring of 1873. It was 
originally a part of Grand River until 1840, and then became a part of 
Deepwater until the date above given, of its organization, which is given 
as follows: 

NO. 15, WALKER. 

"Composed of all of congressional township No. 41, of range No. 28." 
It is bounded on the north by White Oak, east by Davis, south by 
Deepwater, and west by the Bates County line, and being a congres- 
sional township is six miles square, with an area of 23,040 acres of pretty 
good land, about two-fifths of which is timber. The timber mostly lies 
in the south half of the township. The banks of Deepwater are heavily 
wooded, while Brushy Branch, Grand Daddy's Branch, and Camp Branch, 
show a large supply of timber. Deepwater lies upon its southern bor- 
der, covering about two-thirds of the distance, where Brushy Branch 
empties in it. after passing through nearly the whole of the west side. 
Grand Daddy's Branch rises in the north and passes through the center, 
while Camp Branch waters the entire eastern side. It is one of the best 
watered and wooded townships in the county. There has been a fine 
coal vein found on section 16, but has not been developed. There is 
undoubtedly plenty of coal to be found in the township, there being 
plenty of indications. 

It had a population in 1880 of 1,102, which is exclusively a farming 
community, there being no towns in the township. It was during the 
Grange movement one of the strongest in favor of it in the county, the 
farmers of the township believing in the principles of the Grange or 
Patrons of Husbandrx-. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 45 f 

WHEN SETTLED. 

The first white man who located in the township was an old man by 
the name of Greenup and he came in 1835. He did not have many 
nei^^hbors. The nearest was two miles and the next five. He belonged 
to the pioneer stock, loved a frontier life and was not satisfied when set- 
tlers began to locate all around him, as they were doing in 1837 and 
1838. 

In the spring of the latter year Dr. Amasa Jones, a prominent 
preacher, who had been connected with Harmony Mission since 182 1, 
came through that part of the county, and was so pleased with Green- 
up's place, who had settled on section 34 near the banks of Deepwater, 
that he offered to purchase his claim. In fact, Greenup seeing him so 
pleased, offered to sell, and he was at once taken up, just what he had 
been wanting for a year or so. Dr. Jones was about the first settler of 
the township, with the exception above mentioned. He had a large 
family, and on his locating he was soon followed the same year by John 
H. Austin, a teacher at Harmony Mission. 

Dr. Jones on leaving the mission had taken his family with him, and 
one of them was named Miss Jane M. Jones. Mr.. Austin secured him- 
self a quarter section of land adjoining the doctor's, and then invited 
Miss Jones to become the mistress of his cabin, and so early in" the year 
1839, Miss Jane M. Jones became Mrs. Austin, the ceremony being per- 
formed by her father. The writer of this history called to see this old 
lady, who, though nearly seventy years of age, was in good health with 
all her faculties seemingly unimpaired. This was the first marriage in 
the township, and was considered quite an event at the time, but the 
wedding trip was short, her new home being only about a quarter of a 
mile from her father's. They didn't go off on the cars, neither was her 
new home a brown stone front, with a mortgage attachment, but the old 
lady said " that she didn't see how she could have been any happier than 
she was." After twelve years of wedded life John H. Austin passed to 
his eternal home. Mrs. Austin, still his widow, at three score years and 
ten, is calmly waiting to meet him, who had her first and only love, upon 
the golden shore. May she meet him to part no more when He shall call 
her home. 

Both Dr Jones and Mr. Austin settled on section 34. A Mr. James 
Gates settled on section 22. A portion of the Gragg family, Mr. M. 
Gragg and Robert Gragg, also settled in this township in 1839. George 
Cowen and Joe Harness settled the same year. Quite a number of set- 
tlers came in 1840, 1841 and 1842, so that in the latter year there was 
quite a large settlement along the banks of Deepwater, on Camp Branch 
and on Brushy Branch. 



452 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

FIRST CHURCH AND SCHOOL. 

The first church organization was the summer of 1840, under the 
lead of Dr Jones. A meeting was held, as many others before had 
been, under the spreading branches of a tree, and there a church was 
organized, with five members besides the doctor, of the Old School Pres- 
byterian denomination. Two years after, in 1842, Dr. Jones built a 
church of adobe brick on his farm, and this was not only the first church 
in Walker Township, but in the western part of Henry County. And, 
perhaps, as a building purely for church purpose, the first really in the 
county. School houses and churches had been the rule. This church 
was a leading church for years. The doctor preached constantly, but 
did not confine his labors to this church alone, but the " good word " was 
carried by him from cabin to cabin in all that country round. 

The first school taught in the township was in the year 1845 in a 
log school house, located on Dr. Gates' farm, and built by him. It was 
taught by a young lady from " York State, ' Miss Cynthia Robards by 
name, now wife of Dr. Toucey, of Bates County. She taught a four 
month's term with twenty scholars, and gave satisfaction. The first who 
received a United States patent for land was Dr. Jones, in 1843. 

All the lumber used in the township was hauled from Booneville, but 
it must be admitted that very little was hauled. They did get some, 
however, and also four-light window sash. But the sturdy fashion was 
puncheon floors, clapboard doors and mud and st^ck chimneys. 

The grangers of this township believe in education, and they have 
six district schools within the township. They are all frame houses. 
and six months schooling is taught annually. The attendance is above 
the average. 

OLD TIME LEADERS. 

The next preacher after Dr. Jones was the Rev. William Loor, of 
the M. E. Church. Dr. Jones, as was stated, was a doctor as well as 
preacher, and following him was Dr. M. A. Stewart, who was county 
judge in 1873 to 1881. The third doctor was Dr. Gates, and the fourth, 
Dr. Walker. 

The first mill in the township was the Huntley Mill, on Grand River, 
It was not in the township, but it was the mill the settlers of the town- 
ship patronized. A saw mill by horse power also was kept up for two 
years, by Mr. M. Gragg. 

The first justice of the peace was John H. Austin, in 1839, and he 
also was the first constable of the township. The next justice was Alex- 
ander Gragg, of Deepwater proper. Walker being a portion of the tov'n- 
ship. This is in 1842. 



HISTORY OF HENRV COUNTY. 453 

MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, DEATHS. 

The first death was that of Peg^y, the wife of Robert Gragg, who 
died the year they came, in 1838, of cancer, and was buried in Camp 
Branch. The second death was that of William Gragg, son of Robert, 
in 1839, thus losing wife and son within about a year. The son's age was 
about thirty years. 

The first marriage was that above stated of Mr. Austin and Miss 
Jones. The second was that of Miss Walbert, but was within the pres- 
ent town of Deepwater. The third was in the winter of 1839, being that 
of Miss Elanda Gragg and George Cowan; fourth that of Mary Ann 
Gragg and William B. Poage. The former by Esquire Bedwell, and the 
latter by Dr. Jones. They were sisters of the Rev. R. M. Gragg. The 
latter were married May 9, 1844. In 1845, Robert Gragg and Miss Peggy 
Gragg were married, the latter his cousin. These were the early mar- 
riages. 

M. E. CHURCH. 

The Brushy M. E. Church was organized in October, 1866, and 
located on Brushy Creek, on north half of the west half of the southeast 
quarter of section 29. The class was organized by the Rev. Jesse 
Bright, at the Adobe Church, the old church erected by Dr. Jones. The 
original members were: Jacob Covey and wife (class leader), Joshua 
Covey, Priscilla Hunt, Verlinda Hart, Sarah B. and Mary E. Hart, Mrs. 
Paralia Walker, Mrs. Laura Covey, and Mrs. Melinda Covey. After the 
organization the congregation Vv'orshipped at the Brushy Creek school 
house, but a few steps from where the church now stands, until they 
erected their present church edifice in 1872. The building is frame and 
cost $800. The church was never dedicated, probably through neglect. 
There is at present a membership of 140, but at the time the church was 
built there were 95 members. Death and removals have been the cause 
of some changes. The first pastor was the Rev. Robertson, the Rev. T. 
S. Bennefield three years, and then the Rev. A. Warren, two years, 
under and during whose ministry the church was erected; in 1874, Rev. 
A. Anderson, three years; 1877, Rev. T. S. Bennefield, one year; Rev. H. 
H. Dunlavy, two years; in 1880 Rev. J. R. Criss, who died December 7, 
1880, and was succeeded by the Rev. J. R. Reader, temporarily, until 
March 1881, when they secured the Rev. Isaac N. Entwisle for one year; 
he was then succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Pingrey, who still retains 
pastorate. 

The principal incident connected with the church was the revival 
of October, 1880, under the charge of the Rev. J. R. Criss. The meet- 
ing continued, resulting in forty conversions and thirty accessions to 
the church. Three camp meetings, all largely attended, were held in 
186S, 1869 and 1871. 



454 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

CAMP BRANCH M. E. CHURCH. 

This church is one of the oldest in the township, having been organ- 
ized as far back as 1850. The original members were Malcolm Gragg 
and wife, Robert M. and Nicholas Long and wife, Allen Ing and wife, 
Ellis White and wife and Jonathan Smith and wife. The church grew 
and had a membership of forty. They have no church, but use the 
school house in their neighborhood. Those who have officiated as pas- 
tors are the following, in the order named: Rev. Jonathan Smith, Rev. 
Ellis White, Rev. R. M. Gragg and Rev. William Kinney. Present mem- 
bership, forty. 

The township at this time is settling slowly. Along its creeks and 
branches are found the largest farms, leading out and taking in much of 
the rich and fertile prairies. There is a large amount of excellent farm- 
ing land to be had cheap, and few persons can find a better location than 
there is in this township. The lands are low in price, market is con- 
venient and school and churches at hand, which is enough to show that 
it is and will be a desirable settlement for farmers. 

The man who more than others stamped his individuality upon the 
people of the township, as also of Deepwater, was Dr. Amasa Jones, the 
eminent Presbyterian divine. We can close this article with no better 
reading than a short biographical sketch of this early pioneer. 

IN MEMORIAM. 

Amasa Jones was born at Rindge, Cheshire County, New Hamp- 
shire, April 28, 1796, and died at Deepwater, Henry County, Missouri, 
April 17, 1870. His father's name was Asa and his mother's Mary. He 
was one of a large family, nearly all of whom have preceded him to the 
world of spirits. He remembered his Creator in the days of his youth 
and in early life became a follower of Jesus. The consecration of him- 
self to the service of his Master was whole-hearted. In answer to the 
inquiry, " Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do.-*" God spread out before 
him the mission field. In his endeavors to discern the indications of 
Providence to duty he was made to behold the broad field for Christian 
enterprise among the benighted heathens of all nations of the earth. 
These researches, laying the foundation of characteristic benevolence 
and self-denying toil, resulted in the resolve, " Here am I, Lord, send 
me." He desired to teach the heathen and to lead them to Christ. 

On February 15, 1821, he was married to Miss Roxana Stearns, of 
Ashburnham, Worcester County, Massachusetts. In a few days after- 
wards he set out with a number of others to go to a mission field of the 
then Far West by an overland route, there being then but few facilities 
for traveling. He came out under the auspices of the American Board 
of Foreign Missions, and became an assistant missionary at the Har- 
mony Mission, a station established on the Marais des Cygnes, about 
three miles from its mouth, and in the extreme western part of the then 
new state of Missouri. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 455 

This was then the home of the Osage Indians. His labors there 
were principally in the school. His letters spread upn the pages of the 
Missionary Herald, of the years 1825 and 1835, inclusive, amply testify 
to his devotion to the cause of civilizing and christianizing the Indians. 
He attained to other spheres of usefulness. He devoted much of his 
time, spared from the school, to the study of theology. It seemed nec- 
essary for him to study medicine also. Dr. W. N. Belcher, now in New 
York, was for six years the physician of the station. But his health fail- 
ing, he was required to quit the post. Foreseeing this step, and know- 
ing Mr Jones' general adaptation to the work, Dr. Belcher recommended 
that he prepare himself, and he studied medicine under the doctor for 
some time. But the taking care of souls was a higher sphere of life and 
duty for him. He was ordained and set apart to the ministry of the gos- 
pel at Harmony Mission, October 12, 1830, by the Arkansas Presbytery, 
having been licensed to preach a few years before. He ever had a real- 
izing sense of the grave responsibilities of the office. But his soul was 
fired with fresh hopes and nobler aspirations. But as the white man 
advanced the red man receded, and in 1835, the Harmony Mission Sta- 
tion was abandoned. The old site is still discernible near Papinville, Bates 
County. Dr. Jones moved with his family, his wife and two daughters, 
Mary and Jane, to Deepwater, then in Rives County, where he procured 
a tract of land and opened a settlement. A church was soon organized 
and he took charge of it as pastor, and continued so till July, 1867, when 
Rev. B. F. Powelson was associated with him. He preached the word 
in many places throughout this region, and the old settlers can well tes- 
tify to his attachment to the croSs of Christ and zeal for the glory of God. 
He went about doing good, and was successful in winning many souls to 
Christ. He was quite successful in the practice of medicine, and con- 
tributed much towards ameliorating the sufferings of mankind. 

He was an earnest, self sacrificing, indefatigable laborer in his Mas- 
ter's vineyard. He sought not — desired not — compensation for his toil, 
from among the stores of earth. His practice as a physician, and the 
results of his own ingenuity and industry secured for himself and family 
a comfortable living and ample provision for old age. 

He was a student all his life — assiduous and unrelaxing in his efforts 
in early life, and determined, fixed ever in his purpose, to acquaint him- 
self with the movements of mankind, in the various spheres of life, and 
specially to keep himself posted in regard to the progress of the church 
of Christ. He was a close reader, and though he had never seen the 
great improvements of the age, remaining at his post on the frontier, 
yet he had a fair knowledge of these things, and his descriptions of them 
were astonishingly accurate. His independence of mind and originality 
of thought, shaped and drawn out, no doubt by necessity, were evi- 
denced in quite a number of productions, material and immaterial. He 
looked with favor upon the progressive spirit of the age. But he set his 
face against countenancing, in any way, the great evils of the world. He 
refused to enter upon any compromise with intemperance, profanity or 
Sabbath breaking. He was unflinching in his devotion to the great prin- 
ciples of Christianity, and sought in every conceivable way the establish- 
ment and perpetuity of truth, and the maintenance of the right. He 
labored among all classes faithfully for the sowing of the precious seed, 



456 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

for the culture of the tender vines, and for the maturity of the fruits of 
the Spirit. 

He oftentimes seemed impatient in sickness— desiring to be in his 
place with God's worshippers, and fearing lest his absence should prove 
a hindrance to the cause of Christ. His zeal thus carried him some- 
times beyond the capabilities of the flesh. The last Sabbath he spent 
on earth was one of special exertion and anxiety to him. It was the 
Sabbath preceding the meeting of his own Presbytery and a neighbor- 
ing Presbytery among his people. He wanted the people to be inter- 
ested in these things. He longed for this meeting. He wished to see 
the last vestige of separation carried away, and the two branches of the 
Presbyterian Church inseparably united. He longed to greet the breth- 
ren once more, and congratulate them on the acccomplishment of so 
noble a work. As Simeon to see Christ, so he longed to see the run- 
ning together of these kindred streams. He was desirous to share with 
his people the promised feast of love and joy. He attended ser- 
vices in the morning, and a prayer meeting in the evening, where he 
made an earnest appeal to sinners to come to Christ. In his last days, 
the lew appeals he attempted were exceedingly earnest. The fire glowed 
fervently on the altar of his love. His soul yearned for the salvation of 
those who surrounded him. His conversation indicated a ripening for 
heaven and glory. For many months he seemed to be amid the scenes 
of the Delectable Mountains and the land of Beulah. He was near 
Christ, and could well call upon his friends to come to him. And yet his 
soul longings were " Nearer my God to thee." 

While subject to temptation and danger, he kept his armor on, and 
when death came it thus found him. His last foe was conquered; and he 
breathed his last breath out sweetly reposing on the bosom of the Con- 
queror — Him whom he delighted to serve while upon the earth — Him, 
who called him to come up higher — Him, whom he now adores with the 
hosts of heaven. Jesus called him. He was ready — willing to go. His 
longings had been satisfied beyond expectation. The latest intelligence 
assured him that the ark of the covenant was being carried forward, that 
his youngest granddaughter was singing a song of praise to Christ's 
redeeming love, and that his brethren, in the glorious light of the re-united 
church, had seen each other face to face, and sung, as they emerged from 
the shadows of separation, "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Chris- 
tian love, etc." His face seemed radiant in the light of his triumph. The 
conflict was over. Victory blazed out upon the banner of his faith. VIC- 
TORY made resplendid the cross, and rendered altogether lovely the dying 
Savior. He triumphed in him who burst the gates of death. It was 
enough. "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according 
to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." And heaven 
opened its portals. He is gone! — 

" Gone to begin a new and happier story, 

The bitterer tale of earth now told and done. 
These outer shadows for that inner glory 

Ex;hanged forever — O thrice blessed One! " 

The earthly Sabbath, gave place to the eternal Sabbath. He sleeps? 
— " not dead, but sleepeth." 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 45/ 

" He is not tasting death, but taking rest, 

On the same holy couch where Jesus lay. 
So soon to awake all glorified and blest, 

^Vhen day has broke and shadows fled away. 

The funeral services were held in the Adobe Church, (a building- 
the deceased had erected during his life,) in the morning of the i8th, 
the room being crowded to its utmost capacity. Rev. Mr. Paige, of 
Springfield, delivered a sermon, and was followed, in brief and touching- 
addresses by Rev. Mr. Brown, of Neosho, and Rev Mr. Requa, of Lone 
Oak, and a contemporary with Mr. Jones among the Indians. The 
corpse was taken from the church to its place of burial, one mile east of 
Germantown, preceded by the members of the Osage and Southwest 
Missouri Presbyteries and followed by a large concourse of friends. 

" And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed 
are the dead, which die in the Lord from henceforth; yea saith the 
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow 
them." ' ' B. F. P. 

Germantown, Mo., April 28, 1870. 

DAVIS TOWNSHIP. 

This township, so far as the quality of the soil is concerned, and its 
magnificent landscape, is the equal of any township in the county. 
From a prominent point on what is called "Mound Prairie," can be seen 
one of the prettiest sights, both as regards the beauty of the landscape 
and the richness of the waving grain in the summer season. This tells 
of a soil of surpassing richness and a population of enterprising people. 
There is not, perhaps, as much thrift in the southern part, but the land 
is fertile, and its future need not be uncertain. 

There is undoubtedly an abundance of coal in the township, but it 
is scarcely developed at all. In 1877 and 1878 a mine was worked, and 
probably is now, but not much beyond home consumption. Coal has 
cropped out on sections 21 and 22, and there are indications in quite a 
number of other places, so that on the question of fuel there is no cause 
for alarm for several generations to come. 

AREA AND POPULATION. 

In 1873 the county court gave this as the boundary of the township: 

NO. 14, DAVIS. 

" Composed of all of congressional township No. 41, range No. 27." 
At the same time they defined the bounds of Honey County, follow- 
ing, or nearly so, the line of Grand River. In doing this they left out 
all of sections 30, 31 and 32, all of 33 except the northeast quarter, the 
southwest quarter of 29, and the south half of section 34 in township 
42, range 27. 



< 

458 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

This ought to have been added at the time to Davis Township, but 
it was not, and if it has not been added since, there are about four and a 
half sections of land which may have a tangible existence, but has no 
name. This spot will be named and treated at the end of this sketch. 
It has not, however, interfered with the progressive spirits living there 
in a corner by themselves, barred on two sides by Grand River and the 
other two sides by township lines. 

If this territory belongs to Davis Township and it was so intended 
probably, if not so stated, the township has a landed area of 25,920 
acres, mostly prairie land, watered by Grand River on its northeastern and 
northern border, and on the south by Deepwater Creek. Of the five small 
branches that empty in Grand River and rise within the township Elm 
Branch and Fishing Hollow are the two largest, but are still small 
streams. Camp Branch empties into Deepwater in the southwest cor- 
ner of the township, and Willow Branch and one other near the center. 
The township is fairly watered, has but little timber, lying, what there 
is, principally on Grand River and Deepwater. 

Its population in 1880 was 1,074, o( which 140 was claimed by 
LaDue, a railroad station in the southeast corner of the township. 

SCHOOLS, ETC. 

The township is divided into six school districts, with a good and 
substantial frame school building in each district. At the Willow Branch 
School House, sub-district No. 3, located on the northeast quarter of 
section 29, there has been for quite a number of winters a debating 
school or society kept up, called the Willow Branch Debating Club. 
This is a feature to be commended and worthy of emulation by other 
schools throughout the county. 

LADUE. 

is situated on the M. K. & T. division of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, 
and both in name and location is unfortunate. While the name is not 
regarded with any great degree of favor by the people of Henry County, 
its location being nearly midway between Clinton, the count}' seat, and 
the enterprising town of Montrose, its business is called away by these 
towns, but it is a good deal more than a flag station on the line of road. 
The report that the conductors on the road say that when a man stops 
ofif at this station that he is a fugitive trying to hide, or a lunatic, is not 
true so far as the writer can ascertain. Two conductors have at least 
denied the soft impeachment on being interrogated. They both, how- 
ever, would wind up their remarks with, "But," with a look so expressive 
and at the same time so terrible that our investigations went no farther. 
Yet this town, or \'illage, had in 1872: one dry goods or general store, 



I 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 459 

Kepsby Gragg, Wright «& Co., one of whom was postmaster; one grocery 
and provision store; one blacksmith and wagon shop; one cooper shop; 
one boarding house; one saloon and eight dwelling houses. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

This church was organized in 1866, in Davis Township, and some of 
the original members were William Davis and wife, and four of their 
children, Henry Settles. William Briggs and his wife Rebecca, Albert 
Briggs and his wife Lucy, Dr. A. P. Bowman and wife. When LaDue 
became located, the church was removed to that place, and is now known 
as the " LaDue Christian Church." In 1878, a neat and substantial frame 
church building was erected at a cost of $850, and this congregation has 
a pleasant place of worship. The pastors have been Rev. J. W. Kellar 
and Rev. William Bridge, and they have been mostly transient, Rev. W. 
P. Dorsey the last. The church has now eighty members. Elders, 
Henry Settles, Dr. A. P. Bowman and William Davis. 

One of the most pleasing and instructive incidents of the church was 
a public debate, on the part of the church- by the Rev. W. P. Dorsey, and 
his opponent the Rev. Williams, of the Baptist denomination. It came 
off in August, 1882, and lasted a week. The church is exercising a 
strong influence for good which is constantly extending. 

1883. 

Notwithstanding the fact that LaDue lies between two good busi- 
ness points, it is gradually growing, and its business more rapidly than 
its population. The fact is, the country is rich around it, and the farmers 
in good circumstances. Then the business men are energetic, and don't 
propose to be undersold by anybody. This fact being pretty well known 
it has secured a handsome trade. There are in LaDue: 

R. M. Bolton, drugs and medicines. 

S. H, Jones & Son, drugs and medicines. 

Smith, Steck & Co., general store. 

G. F. Rock, general store. 

E. L. Fahnestock, general store. 

One stock dealer. 

Dr. Joseph Noble. 

One good school building. 

The Christian Church. 

It is quite a shipping point, hogs, cattle, corn and flaxseed being 
the leading articles, while hides, tallow, provisions, etc., fill up, in all, 
over 100 car loads per annum. 



460 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. J\ 

The first store started in LaDue was by Joshua Gates in the fall of 

1870. He was followed by Claiborn Dowell with the first residence. In ! 

virtue of having a store Joshua Gates became the first postmaster. He ' 

was followed the next year by H. M. Wright, who only held it a short . 
time, and Mr. A. E. Gragg took it of Gragg, Wright & Go. In 1873 it 

was turned over to Mr. E. L. Fahnestock, who has retained it since, I 

being the present postmaster of the town. j 

In 1880 LaDue had a population of 140 and it will now reach 200. j 

It is not expected to become a very large town, but as a railroad station i 
and trading point it will prove a great convenience and is likely to hold 

its own. J 

WHEN LOCATED. * 

The town was laid out on the land of William Davis in the year j 
1870, and has about eighty acres in the town plat. The growth of the I 
town has been since the arrival of the railroad. ! 

THE FIRST SETTLER. ] 

The first settler in Davis Township was Ezekiel Blevins, who really j 
settled in our new township, " Pres. Blevins." He located on section ! 
32, removing from section 16, Shawnee Township, where he had settled 
in 1832, and sold his claim in 1833. R. P. Blevins, called " Pres." Blev- 
ins, was a shouting infant less than six months old, and is to-day 
the oldest male child born in Henry Gounty. Others soon followed and 
the north half of Davis Township and along the banks of Grand River 
some of the earliest and best of the old pioneers located, and they 
stamped the native energy and integrity of their character upon their 
descendants. Davis Township's prosperity lies in the energies of her 
sons, the land is there beautiful to the eye, and labor will make it blos- 
som like the rose. 

"PRES. blevins" TOWNSHIP — A NEW DISCOVERY. 

A new discovery has brought to Henry Gounty another township. 
Having found four and one-half sections of land without a local habi- 
tation, or a name, but surrounded on all sides by municipal divisions, 
the writer has given it the name of "Pres. Blevins" township, after the | 
first white male child born in Henry Gounty, Preston Blevins, and also 
rom the fact that he is one of the largest land owners in the new town- 
ship, as well as an honored and well known citizens of Henry Gount}-. 
Davis Township, as will be seen iw the foregoing pages, was made by 
the county court in 1873 the size of a congressional township, while 1 
Honey Greek Township followed, a measure, the windings of Grand ! 
River, leaving the southwest corner without being defined. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 
IT WILL NOW BE KNOWN. 



461 



The good citizens of " Pres Blevin " supposed they belonged to 
Davis, but it is not so recorded, or was not January ist, 1883, and it has 
been outside the pale of legal civil life for all these years. Having found 
it and christened it, it will now be known as " Pres. Blevins." It is 
bounded on the north and east by Grand River and Henry Creek; south 
by Davis and west by White Oak Townships. It has four and one-half 
sections of splendid prairie land, except that which lies on Grand River, 
which is well wooded. Is has both wood and water in abundance, and 
about as live and energetic a farming population as any township in the 
county. 

GOVERNOR BLEVINS. 

There is no government land in the township, or any legal govern- 
ment for that matter, but R. P. Blevins is hereby appointed " governor," 
until such time as his successors shall be elected and qualified, with full 
power to act and to send for persons and papers. 




CHAPTER XXXI. J 

1 

OSAGE, FAIRVIEW AND BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIPS. \ 

OSAGE— THE GREAT SOUTHEAST— WHO SETTLED IT— OSAGE TOWNSHIP IN 1858 -CONS- j 
VILLE— nS TWIN SISTER— METES AND BOUNDS IN 1858 AND 1873— CORN AND STOCK— i 
POPULATION— FIRE AT BROWNINGTON-CHURCHES— SCHOOL— BUSINESS. FAIRVIEW 
—CENTRAL LOCATION-ITS STREAMS— WOOULAND-THE FAMOUS 'I' EN MILE PRAIRIE 
—ORIGINALLY— THE ORGANIZATION OF 1873— OLD SEI'TLERS-ITS COAL FIELDS- 
RAILROAD FACILITIES— SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. BEAR CREEK— METES, BOUNDS j 
AND AREA— WATER AND TIMBER— GAME— WHEN ORGANIZED-SCHOOL-OLD SET- j 
TLERS- PROGRESS— ITS FUTURE. ] 

THE SOUTHEAST. ;! 

The first settlement in Osage Township was in 1835. To be sure, ! 

this settlement was neither large or extensive nor did it grow rapidl}'. 1 

Captain Royster, now deceased, Alexander Bowles and Whit. Mulhol- ^ 

land — these were all that can be named of the settlers who came in 1835, j 

but there was George Bowles, William Stewart, David White, Mont- ' 

gomery Wright, John Johnson and Reuben Good, who came in 1836-7. < 

James Smith came in the latter year, while Overton Parks was a settler | 
of 1835 or the spring of 1836, and John Thornton in 1837 or 1838. These 
were the principal early settlers. 

At this time Osage was a part of Springfield Township, and it I 

remained such until 1858. Judge Hillegas, who was county judge for a ] 

number of years, settled in this township in 1856. I 

In 1858, as above mentioned, the county court created Osage Town- , 

ship and gave it the following metes and bounds: I 

"Ordered, That a municipal township be established within the fol- ] 

lowing boundaries, to wit: ! 

Beginning at a point on Grand River, where the county line between ' 

Benton and Henry intersects said river; thence south to the corner of I 

the county; thence west along the county line dividing Henry and St. ! 

Clair Counties to where the range line between ranges 26 and 27 inter- i 

sects the county line; thence north along said range line to where it j 
intersects Deepwater Creek; thence east down the main channel of said 

Deepwater Creek to where it intersects Grand River; thence down the 1 

middle of the channel of said river to place of beginning. . 

And that the house of George W. Bowles be constituted and ' 

declared the voting precinct of said township, and that said township ; 
be known and called by the name of Osage Township and that the same 
be certified forthwith." 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 463 

This was at the May term of the county court, and the first election 
was the annual August election of that year. 

The first ferry across Grand River was kept by John T. Thornton, 
who was born in Virginia in the year 1800, and who, coming to Missouri, 
settled in Osage Township, Kenry County, a few miles below Browning- 
ton, in i<S39. This has since been known as " Thornton's Ferry." Mr. 
Thornton has been deaf and blind for thirty years, is now eighty-three 
years old, and lives with his widowed daughter, Mrs. A. R. Everett, in 
Brownington. He has been a noble, self-sacrificing pioneer, known only 
to be respected by all. He loves to talk over the reminiscences of the 
past, for those associations and their recollections are vivid to him even 
now. 

The second ferry in the township was kept by David White, at the 
crossing of Grand River, near Brownington, and was called " White's 
Ferry," When Consville was laid out, in 1867, by Captain J.L. Consollis, 
the ferry was still called White's Ferry. 

CONSVILLE. 

In the laying out of this village the name of Consville was given it, 
as was also the postoffice and Capt. Consollis became the first postmas- 
ter. He put up the first store and was the first merchant, keeping what 
was called a general stock, and doing considerable business from the 
north as well as from the south of Grand River. After the war the vot- 
ing precinct was changed from the Widow Bowles, George W. having 
died, to the house of John Mohervies. 

r 
BROWNINGTON. 

The town of Brownington was first located in the year 1869, and 
joined that of Consville and was laid out by William M. Doyle. This gen- 
tleman moved a store building upon the location and opened the first store. 
He had, however, a partner, Mace Avery, and the firm was Doyle & 
Avery. Mr. James Comer put up the first residence and moved therein 
and was the ''oldest inhabitant." The same year a school house was 
erected, which was also the church of the place. This, however, was a 
subscription school at first. It was made a public school, by purchase, 
in the winter of 1870-71, and Miss Mattie Parks was the first teacher. 
The first school was taught by Miss Kate Watkins, on the completion 
of the school house in the winter of 1869-70. This, as we said before, 
was a private or subscription school. 

METES AND BOUNDS. 

In organizing Osage Township its metes and bounds included all 
of the present township of Fairview. its western line being range line 



464 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

between 26 and 27. running to Deepvvater Creek; thence following that 
Creek to Grand River and down that river to the Benton County line. 
When the county court reorganized the county in 1873 Fairview Town- 
ship was taken off of Osage and the latter was left with the following 
dimensions: 

NO. 19 OSAGE. 

"Composed of so much of township No. 40 of range No. 25, as lies 
on the right bank of Grand River, except the territory laying north of 
the line running east and west through the center of section No. 7, and 
the west half of fraction of the southwest quarter of section No. 8, in 
said township and range. Also all of township No. 40 of range No. 24, 
laying south of Grand River and north of the Osage River." 

This boundary breaks it up into many fractional sections, but it has 
in round figures a trifle over forty-seven sections, or about 30,200 acres 
of land. It is rather a rough township with hills and bluffs along the J 
Grand River and on the Osage, in the southeast. In the south and ^ 
southeastern part it reaches into a fine prairie, and for a stock township 
it is not excelled in the county. Sheep, cattle and hogs cannot find a 1 
better country, go where you will. It is largely devoted to cattle and j 
hogs and should be to sheep. The soil along the bottoms is very deep \ 
and very rich, and the prairies are fully up to the average. Corn is the \ 
staple crop. The settlers are in need of a little more energy and pride. ; 
A good many live in cabins that are simply a disgrace, and it is not j 
necessary, in a large number of cases. In fact they have means to build 1 
comfortable houses, and it is not to the credit of some of them in ignor- 
ing both comfort and looks for the sake of the almighty dollar. j 

POPULATION — FIRE. ' \ 

The population of Osage Township in 1870 was 828. This also ^ 
included Fairview Township. In 1880, the census showed a gain of ; 
nearly 200, after the township of Fairview was taken off, it having a 1 
population of 1,010. This is as rapid an increase as any agricultural . 
township in the county, showing that it has been recognized as a good 
stock country, and a corn growing district unsurpassed. j 

On Sunday night April 11, 1875, the largest fire ever experienced in ^ 
Brownington occurred. It was discovered about four o'clock in the 
morning, and was in the large dry goods store of Robert Redding. The [ 
post office was kept in the same building, and the loss in stamps was 
about $90, besides all the fixtures belonging to the office. Mr. Redding's ; 
loss was considerable, though an insurance of $3,725 was carried by him ; 
on his stock. There is considerable coal in the township, and quite I 
considerable is being mined, that is for home consumption. When the 
railroad from Clinton to Osceola shall have been completed to Brown- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 465 

ington, these mines will be valuable. The Hobbs' coal bank is now being 
worked on section 30, about one and a half miles southwest of the town 
of Browning. The developments of this wealth will add much to the 
advancement of the township, as well as its little but enterprising capi- 
tal — Brownington. Something may be gathered of the stock interest, 
and corn raising by the following item taken from a correspondent's 
letter to the Clinton Democrat. It says: 

T. H. Atkins and O. M. Potts have purchased from Peeler & Kirk- 
ley 104 head of cattle, average weight 1,200 pounds, and upwards of 150 
head of hogs, average 275 pounds. The purchasers will ship the best 
of the hogs and feed the remainder for the June market. They have 
about 8,000 bushels of corn on hand which they will feed. .The sale 
aggregates a total of about $7,500. This is a sample of what the stock- 
men are doing in good old Osage. 

BROWNINGTON. 

This village, as before stated, was first settled in 1869, although it 
may be stated as being settled in 1837, ConsolHs being its founder, as at 
this day the two places are one. It lies south of, and about one-half 
mile from Grand River, and is directly on the line of the Clinton & 
Osceola Railroad, which is expected to be completed to the latter town 
during the present year, 1883, and will probably become the largest and 
most important station on the line of the road between the points named. 
It had in 1880, a population of 251, and now numbers fully 300, if not 
over. 

CHURCHES — BUSINESS. 

The Brownington Presbyterian Church was first organized in 1873 
but the church was not erected in the village until 1880. They now have 
a neat frame structure, erected in the last named year at a cost of $1,000, 
being 30x40 feet in size, and substantially but plainly furnished. Its first 
preacher was the Rev. J. F. Watkins, and has a membership of about 
sixty. 

BUSINESS INTERESTS. 

Doyle & McFarland, general merchandise. 

O. M. Potts, general merchandise. 

Sheldon & Payne, general merchandise. 

Ellington & Bros., drugs and groceries. 

A. H. Camp, shelf and heavy hardware. 

J. J. Stevens, drugs and medicines. 

Henry C. Bowles, Brownington Hotel. 

Peeler Bros. & S. L. Kirkly, stock dealers. 

Dr. Taylor, Dr. Hardeman, Dr. Stevens, Dr. McGlade. 

30 



466 HISTORY OF HENRY COJNTY. I 

MT. ZION M. E. CHURCH. j 

On the southern section line between sections 25 and 36, being^ 

however, on section 25, Mt. Zion M. E. Church is located, within about , 

a mile of the St. Clair County line, and in township 40 of range 25, and | 

a little over a quarter of a mile from the range line between 25 and 24. 

It is the oldest church in the township, and first organized way back in ! 

the fifties. Not all of the original members can be given, but the fol- \ 

lowing are among those who first joined: J. A. Gilkey and wife, D. S. 

Walker and wife, David Walker and wife, Judge J. Hillegas and wife, ' 

Henry Hubbard and wife, Sol. Breitenstein and wife, M. J. Hillegas and 

wife, John Morewise and wife, Jesse Sheppard and wife, and Linsey 1 

Retting. The members at last raised a subscription of $1,000 and ; 

erected their church edifice on the spot above described, in 1872. It is j 

30x40 feet in size, and a good, comfortable place of worship. The church j 

is still well attended by good sized congregations, and is in a good con- 1 

dition and exercises a strong moral influence for good. Its first pastor ' 

was the Rev. Dr. Wendall. 

SCHOOLS. 

When first organized into school districts Osage was given one in 
each congressional township of which it is composed, being parts of 1 
township 40, of ranges 24 and 25. In 1878 it boasted of six public | 
schools and in 1883 it has twelve. In educational matters it is up fully i 
with the most advanced of her sister townships, and if they take but ' 
little pride in dwelling houses, they are strongly in favor of educational 
progress and are ready to meet the expense promptly and cheerfully. ' 

With a full average attendance and a six months term, the children ! 
of school age are rapidly advancing in their studies. The future of the : 
township in its educational facilities is assured and when a railroad shall ■ 
pass through her territory, so that her people will have transportation 
to the outside world and can speak by the electric wires, Osage Town- ' 
ship will develop rapidly, and her advance, progress and material pros- 
perity is likely to astonish her municipal sister, and here she is left until 
the day of resurrection shall come, and she stands forth disenthralled. 

FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP, ' 

is one of the center townships of the county, east and west, its southern 
border lies on the St. Clair County line, and is in size a congressional 
township of six miles square, excepting a portion of its northeastern and ^ 
northern border caused by the sinuous course of Deepwater Creek, | 
which takes off two and three-fourths sections of land, making its area ^ 
21,280 acres. It is at least four-fifths prairie, with quite a heavy body of ' 
timber on the banks of Deepwater, which flows through and along its j 
nortbet-n border. ' 



HISTORY OP^ HENRY COUNTY. 467' 

Cooper Creek flows in from the center of the south part of the town- 
ship, and with Coal Branch waters the eastern portion. Minson Creek 
rises in the south center and runs north, and Marshall Creek, the largest, 
comes in on the west about two and a half miles from its south line, and 
running northeast, empties into Deepwater. White Oak Branch is in 
the northeast corner. 

With these streams there is plenty of water for all farm and stock 
purposes, but, with the exception of Marshall, none of the branches 
amount to much. 

ORIGINALLY. 

While the county was under the civil jurisdiction of Lafayette 
County, Fairview Township was a part of Springfield Township of the 
latter county. When Rives, now Henry, County was organized the 
township was divided on range line 26, one-half being in Grand River 
Township and the eastern half in Springfield, as named by the Rives 
County Court. 

The "Ten Mile Prairie," so called, starts in this township, which is 
noted for its baautiful undulating surface, the luxuriant growth of its 
grasses, the depth and richness of its soil and its prolific yield. 

The township came into being in the great division of the county 
in 1873, when nine townships were made nineteen. Its boundaries are 
described below: 

NO. 18, FAIRVIEW. 

" Composed of all of Congressional Township No. 40 of range No. 
26, excepting the east half and northwest quarter of section No. i, and 
the north half of sections Nos. 2, 3 and 4, and lot No. 2 of the north- 
west quarter of section No. 5, and lot No. 2 of the northwest quarter of 
section No. 6, and the northeast quarter of section No. 12 in said town- 
ship and range." 

OLD SETTLERS. 

The township was not settled as early as the more northern or east- 
ern portions of the county. Albert Dunning and James McNew, who 
came in 1839, seem to have been the first settlers, or among the first. 
There were a large family of the Dunnings and they followed Albert the 
next year and in 1841. They were Truman Dunning, Young Dunning 
and Henry Dunning and families. Robert McFarland came in the fifties, 
and so did William McKee, Thomas Hamilton and A. Cleveland, John 
Tade, Daniel and Joseph Rhodes and James Cook. They settled on and 
represented nearly all parts of the township. There are no towns 
or villages in the township, and it had a farming population in 1880 of 
848. There has been some new settlers siixre then and the township at 
this time has probably 1,000 in population. It is certainly one of the 



468 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. '^ 

best agricultural townships in the county and when the new railroad to 
Osceola is built, will not be far off from a station. Its northwest por- | 
tion is but from two to five miles from LaDue Station, while Browning- 
ton, within a mile of its central eastern portion, will give railroad facil- ' 
ities to the entire east side, from one to four miles, or fully half of the 1 
township. I 

Coal has been found on sections 12 and 13 and at other places, and ' 
Coal Branch was given the name in the southeast, because of coal 
exposure. Undoubtedly the east half of the township is well underlaid i 
with coal, and it is claimed with veins from six to twelve feet in thick- ; 
ness, but as yet is undeveloped. 

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. . j 

They have one Dunkard or German Baptist Church, located on sec- j 
tion 6, in the northwest corner of the township, the other denominations | 
in the township have the use of the school house for service. The Dunk- I 
ard Church was built in 1879, but was organized several years before. 
The members of the church united for its erection, and is a neat and | 
plain place of worship. Its pastors have been Rev. J. Studebaker and J 
Rev. Jacob Fahnestock. The church is in a flourishirg condition. There 
are six districts or public schools in the township, which is about the ^ 
average in the county. They are all well attended, with yearly advance- ; 
ment, very plainly to be seen. The average attendance being nearly j 
forty to the school. The future of the township looks favorable for a | 
good immigration, and it needs but earnest hearts and willing hands to ' 
return fourfold to its industrious inhabitants. In the future aggregate of 
agricultural wealth, according to her population, Fairview will not be 1 
behind her municipal sisters. 

BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

This township is No. 17, of the series of nineteen townships organ- 
ized in 1873, which now constitutes the municipal divisions of Henry 
County. It is bounded on the north by Davis, and east by Fairview 
Townships. On the south is St. Clair County, and west, Deepwater 
Township. It has thirty-six sections of land, being a congressional 
township, six miles square, or an acreage 23,040 acres. 

Bear Creek is the principal stream within its border. It flows in on 
the west side, near the center, north and south, passing diagonally and 
with a sinuous course towards the northeast corner, where it empties 
into Deepwater, about three-quarters of a mile from its eastern bound- 
ary, and near the northern line of the township. Deepwater touches the 
northeast corner of the township. Marshall Creek passes from west to 
east, clear across its southern side. These, with Trap Branch, which flows 
into Marshall Creek, constitute its water privileges. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 469 

Springs also abound, and water can be had almost anywhere at a 
depth of from twelve to forty feet. 

Timber is abundant on Bear Creek, while a plentiful supply of fuel 
can be had from Marshall Creek and Trap Branch. Along Bear Creek 
the land is broken, and there are a few places not easy of cultivation, but 
the bottom lands are rich, with a soil so deep as to be comparatively 
inexhaustable. The prairies are rolling rather than undulating, with 
some level stretches, and again rising to a height that gives a beautiful 
view of the surrounding country. 

Its description as given by the county court is: 

NO. 17, BEAR CREEK. 

" Composed of all of congressional township. No. 40, of range 27," 
and this is still its proportions. In 1880, it had a population of 817, and 
has slowly increased the past three years. It is a good stock township, 
especially in its northern and southern portions, and there is no better 
corn land than the lands of Bear Creek, lying upon the divide between 
Bear Creek and Marshall Creek. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- 
road runs about three and three-quarter miles through the northwestern 
part of the township. Montrose is its principal post office, though the 
northeastern portion go to LaDue. 

SCHOOLS, ETC. 

This township, also, has six school districts, with good school 
buildings in all of them. They assess no taxes except in an occasional 
demand, the township, county and state school fund being found suffi- 
cient for school purposes. The average school term is from four to six 
months, with a good average attendance. A Methodist Episcopal 
Church is located on Bear Creek, section 10, and on the northwest quar- 
ter. It has been organized a number of years, but the present church 
was not erected until 188 1, at a cost of about $1,500, its first pastor being 
the Rev. King. It is exercising a large influence for good, and has every 
prospect of increasing in membership and spreading a strong moral and 
christian example over a large extent of country. 

Bear Creek Township has no village or post office within its borders. 
Cereals and stock raising is the business of its population. 

OLD SETTLERS. 

It was settled in 1838 by a few enterprising spirits, and it was not 
long before others followed. The Teays, Gutridges, Fahnestocks, Kings, 
Stillwells, Brownings and Eppersons were among those who settled up 
its valuable lands. In those early days Bear Creek Township proved 



470 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

one of the best for game in the whole southern part of the county. Bear 
Creek bottoms seem to be fairly alive with game. The prairies would 
be full during the day, and at night the wooded bottom lands would be 
their haunts. The musical howl of the wolf was almost of nightly 
occurrence. Bears were often found, but the wild turkeys were found in 
droves. The early pioneer found little trouble to supply his winter's 
meat. 

There are very few more productive townships in the county than 
Bear Creek, and what it needs are men of brains and brawn to settle 
her prairies and woodland, and make what is now waste land a land of 
increased productiveness and wealth. 

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. 

This church is one of the early organizations of the county, dating 
back to 1842, some forty-one years ago. It was not a large congrega- 
tion that inaugurated the church, but they were earnest workers in the 
good cause. Not all of the original members' names can be remem- 
bered now, but among them were Alexander Gragg and wife, Macon 
Gragg and wife, Peter Strieker and wife, John Gragg and wife, Samuel 
Dickinson and wife, George and Elizabeth Gutridge, Bluford Marchant 
and wife, Mrs, Clayton, James E. Taylor and wife, Ferdinand Somers 
and wife, James Wilson and wife and Samuel McAhee and wife. The 
church has not very rapidly progressed, and while it does not number a 
very large membership, yet is strong and steady in the faith and spread- 
ing surely, if slowly, an influence for good. Under the earnest work of its 
present pastor, the Rev. Briggs, of Barton County, it will continue to 
■exercise a spirit of brotherly love and true Christianity in its sphere. 

Their church building is an old one now, having been erected in 
1855. The building is 45x35, frame, and cost $700. It is substantially 

finished. The first preacher was the Rev. McDaniel, and its first 

presiding elder, Rev. Jamison. This record shows that all through the 
troubles and trials of years it is yet a beacon light to earthl}- mortal, 
.showing them the true path which leads to life everlasting. 



CHAPTER XXXIL 



LEESVILLE, SPRINGFIELD, DEER CREEK AND BETHLEHEM 

TOWNSHIPS. 

LEESVILLE— A TOWNSHIP OF 1873 -ITS BOUNDS— PIONEERS OF 1835 TO 1840— COAL AND 
STONE— CENTENNIAL 1876— PIONEER HISTORY— OLD TIME IMPLEMENTS— THE FIRST 
CHURCH— SCHOOLS, ETC.— TOWN OF LEESVILLE-WHEN FOUNDED AND BY WHOM- 
CENTENNIAL ADDRESS-1876 TO 1883— LODGES— COLESBURG— ITEMS— SPRINGFIELD— 
BEFORE IT WAS A COUNTY— THE METES AND BOUNDS OF i860 AND 1873- ITS EARLY 
SEITLERS— MT. OLIVET CHURCH— SCHOOLS— POPULATION— COAL— STONE — DEER 
CREEK-FIRST SETTLEU— THE NEW COUNTY SEAT— GOFF'S— STORES- POSTOFFICE— 
THE FIELD OF COAL-POPULATION, SCHOOL AND CHURCHES-LEWIS STATION- 
FIRST BUILDING— BUSINESS-SHIPPING— POSTMASTERS— BETHLEHEM -ORGANIZA- 
TION-AREA FINE FARMS-EARLY SETTLERS-ITS CHURCHES-THEIR PROGRESS- 
ITEMS OF INTEREST— ONWARD— SCHOOLS— ITS BOUNDARY. 

LEESVILLE TOWNSHIP. 

This is one of the largest townships in the county, lying on the 
eastern border, joining Benton County. It is very irregular in its 
southern boundary, being separated from Osage Township by Grand 
River, 

NO. II, LEESVILLE. 

"Composed of all of congressional township No. 41, of range No. 
24, and all of congressional township No. 40, of range No. 24, lying 
north of Grand River." 

This boundary was established when the new township organiza- 
tion law went into effect in 1873. This gives it an area of a little over 
forty-six and a half sections of land or 29,773 41-100 acres of land. The 
central and southern portion is a splendid prairie, while the north and 
along the west side is hilly and wooded. Tebo Creek waters the north- 
ern portion of the township from west to east and has four small 
branches, which are not large enough to be named. Grand River, as 
above mentioned, is its southern line, well wooded and rather rough 
with Cedar Creek as its principal tributary, running several miles from 
northwest to southeast and flowing into Grand River. According to 
population it is one of the wealthiest townships in the county and one 
of the oldest settled. It belongs to the era of 1835 and many of its cit- 
izens are known in the official record of the county. While its agri- 
cultural resources are the equal of any so far as its lands have been 



472 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

improved, it has other means of wealth in its extended coal fields and 
stone quarries. In the northeast part of the township coal underlies 
nearly all of it, and veins of excellent coal are known to exist in sections 
8, 17 and 18, but it is probably not too much to say that one-third of the 
township is thus favored. Stone quarries of an excellent building stone 
crop out all over the township. A saw and grist mill is found on sec- 
tion 4 and a saw mill on section i. Its principal resources are now corn 
and stock. Cattle and hogs are staple articles of production along with 
corn. 

EARLY PIONEERS. 

In the southern part of the township was the Parks' Settlement, 
which might be said to have been the first, but was so soon followed by La- 
bon Pigg and others, that they, too, claim to be among the first. B. D. 
Parks settled on section 33, Labon Pigg on section 32, John A. Pigg, on 
section 21, but removed to section 20. Then John Parks, Reuben Parks, 
William Parks, Benjamin Putnam and Pattison Gordon, who settled on 
section 15, all came in 1835, and all settled in the south central and 
western portions of the township. For awhile Chesley Jones, who came 
in 183 1 or 1832, Joseph Potter in 1833, but Chesley Jones lived in Spring- 
field. Thomas Jones also lived in the township in 1836, and settled on 
section 26, but removed in 1837 to Springfield Township. John Ander- 
son, in the fall of 1835, and that fall and winter came J. P. Turner, James 
Y. Parks, David Logan, William Witherspoon and Jesse Bunch. The 
last named, while given as coming that year, must have come in 1833 
or 1834, but did not find just where he settled. There were quite a num- 
ber came in 1837. John Potter settled on section 3. John Anderson on 
section 2, David Collins on section 10. Cornelius East, Thomas Stewart, 
F. and Drury Reaves and Andrew Sisk, were among the arrivals. When 
the year 1838 is reached, that old pioneer preacher, Rev. Daniel Briggs, 
came and settled on section 10, and organized the Tebo Church and was a 
man of mark, who left the impress of his strong, rugged nature upon the 
social and religious character of the people. Richard James, Sr., S. 
Peeler, James and John Carleton, are among those who located. Henry 
L. Pigg and James W. Pigg, who afterwards removed to the township, 
were born on section 25, in Tebo Township. David Collins also came 
in 1838. Thomas and Robert Briggs came with their father, Daniel W. 
R. Radford, James H. Renfro, and Talbert Kellsy completing the list. 

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, LEESVILLE, JULY 4, 1 876. 

The following is taken from the address read at the centennial cele- 
bration at Leesville, July 4, 1876, giving an account of the early settle- 
ment of that township, and the quaint dresses worn and tools used in 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 475 

pioneer days. The address was prepared by a committee, the following 
constituting its members, viz: James D. Acock, James Carleton and 
Thomas Briggs, and from it has been selected such extracts as would 
bear upon the early history of the township. 

WEARING APPAREL. 

In those days the wearing apparel of the old pioneer was similar to 
that worn by our first parents in the Garden. Pants, hunting shirts and 
moccasins, made of well dressed buckskin, the border of which was always 
adorned with a beautiful fringe of the same material, a cap made of a 
fox or coon skin, with a tail suspended as an ornament, and thus in his 
native garb would those hardy and industrious pioneers go forth to earn 
an honest livelihood by the sweat of his brow. The females, wives and 
mothers, likewise prided themselves in their skill in manufacturing their 
own dresses, from the cotton or flax spun and wove by their own hands. 

On the farm was the old Gary plow, with its famous wooden mould 
board, as our main dependence, with paddle attached to remove the dirt 
which would accumulate on the mould board. The old bar shear was 
commonly used in breaking the prairie sod, to which would be five or six 
yoke of oxen. The single shovel plow was also used, but especially the 
weeding hoe, which was thought indispensable for every plowing of the 
corn, and was called the "Old Standby." 

The old style wagon, with its wooden spindle and its heavy iron 
and woodwork, were the only wagons in use. The mills used were 
horse mills, one being in Springfield Township, and one in Benton 
County. These were both draft mills, and we can testify from personal 
experience that with two good horses they would grind a grist of one 
and a half bushels of corn in two and one-half hours. Going to mill 
mill was considered a day's work. The pioneers denied that they ever 
balanced their sack on their horses back with a stone in one end and 
corn in the other. We could write many pleasing incidents with regard 
to the old relics of the past, but we forbear= " Peace to their memory." 
Roads they had none, and schools were few and of a primitive grade. 
In 1840 there was not a church in the township. But times have changed 
and a better day has dawned. The old log school house with its pun- 
cheon floor and seats have given way to our modern school houses, 
with all the comforts and paraphernalia of advanced progress, with 
competent teachers and tuition free to all. 

OLD TIME IMPLEMENTS. 

The old Gary and bar shear plow has given way to the improved 
plow of the present day; the old single shovel to the sulky riding and 



474 HISTORY Ol" HENR\ COUNTY. 

walking cultivators; the reaping hook, scythe and cradle to the har- 
vester and the combined reapers and mowers. 

The improvements for the household is no less wonderful. Our 
mother, wife and daughter have given up the old hand loom, flax and 
cotton spinning wheels for more modern manufacture, and the needle 
and thimble for the marvelous sewing machine. The wash board, which 
has broken so many constitutions is fast giving way to labor saving 
machines. The old style cooking by the open fire place, in bake ovens, 
skillets and frying pans is past, and the beautiful and handy cooking 
stove now graces our kitchens. To look back to the primitive style of 
living of the old pioneer, the labor which had to be performed, and this 
era of mechanical invention that assists the laboring men and women of 
the present day, we can well express our feelings in words of love and 
praise of our lot, while our thoughts revert to our fathers and mothers 
and the labor of their hands which was so well and nobly performed. 

This township, while known as Grand River Township, was the first 
in the county to ask the county court not to grant a dramshop license in 
the township. The petition was presented to the county court May 26, 
1853, and granted by the court. 

In the early days Warsaw, Benton County, was their principal trad- 
ing point until Leesville started in 1854. When they first went to the 
latter place Warsaw itself could boast of but one store. This was espe- 
cially the case of those settlers who lived south and east, even to the 
to the north line of the township. A few settlers who lived on the west 
side patronized Hall & Ketcham, on Tebo Creek, and also [ames Fields, 
at Goff's, and the Goff post office was one of the institutions they also 
patronized, although correspondence was not brisk at twenty-five cents 
for each letter. Still, a post office was a great convenience, if they did 
not use it often; when they did want it they wanted it as bad as any- 
body. 

THE P'IRST CHURCH. 

The first church in the township was the Tebo Baptist Church, loca- 
ted on section 10. It was the work of Daniel Briggs and a few earnest 
men and women, to whom the solitude of the vast wilderness and their 
own preservation from danger caused them to look to Him as their pre- 
server, and were anxious to rear a temple, even if only a primitive one, 
that they might worship him in spirit and in truth. 

Among the original members were Daniel Briggs and wife, Caroline 
Butler, William Butler, John Anderson, Mary Putnam, Robert Briggs 
and Zachariah Fewell. The building was of logs and erected in 1841, 
and this was their only church building. 

In 1855 they put up a neat frame church, 26x40 feet, at a cost of 
some $600. Mr. Daniel Briggs was its first pastor and remained so until 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 475 

his death, which took place December 24, 1863. Its second pastor was 
another pioneer, the Rev. William A. Gray, and he was followed by the 
Rev. J. L. Briggs. The present pastor is Rev. Thomas Briggs who has 
served since 1871. The present membership is 112, and the church is 
progressive. 

SCHOOLS AND POPULATION. 

Leesville Township has six school districts and each have a good 
frame school house with such necessary fixtures as to give a thorough 
education so far as the grade extends. In fact Leesville is fully up in her 
educational facilities with her sister townships. 

In population she is only exceeded by four townships in her agri- 
cultural population, having 1,253, with about seventy of that in the 
town of Leesville. Her soil is rich enough to attract immigration, and 
she should make an effort to increase it. More settlers means less tax- 
ation and greater prosperity. 

TOWN OF LEESVILLE. 

The town was laid out by A. J. Lee and John French, in the year 
1854. It was stated that French built the first store and Lee the first 
house for a residence, but while French helped Lee it was Lee's building 
and he occupied it as the first merchant. He also became first post- 
master and for want of a better name called it Tebo, after the township 
of a few years back. At the organization of the county it was Springfield. 
The next residence was built by Dr. Hill, who thus claims to have been 
the first physician; the second or near the same time was Dr. Lansdown. 

The same year A. Dempsey built a residence and a blacksmith shop 
and opened business, much to the gratification of the farmers around. 
There was but little to increase the growth of the town for several years, 
the population growing only as the country around demanded it. D. B. 
Reavis' was the first family in town, and the second building, the Lee 
store being first. Reavis had a horse power saw mill, and after sawing 
enough for his own dwelling sawed the lumber for A. J. Lee's house. 
These two buildings are still standing, old landmarks of pioneer times 
and primitive style of architecture. 

The first school was taught by Robert Briggs in 185 [. It was not 
in Leesville, but near the Tebo church. There was no school in Lees- 
ville until a few years later. 

The post office remained at Tebo until 1857, when the name of the 
town having been settled, the name was changed to Leesville, and Mr. 
Lee remained postmaster until he closed out his business in i860, and 
was followed by William L. Pigg. 



476 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

From the centennial address, 1876, we give an amusing account 
of the effort to give the town a name, and some of the names offered 
seem to relate to the pioneer's hard lot. The following is the article: 

CENTENNIAL ADDRESS 1876. 

In the year 1854 D. B. Reavis put up a circular saw mill near where 
the old carding machine now stands, and shortly afterwards sold to 
Andrew Jackson Lee one acre of land, and he erected the building now 
occupied by J. R. Baugh as a drug store for a store, and for many years 
sold goods in the same. Not long after he also erected the house now 
occupied by Mr. Sweitzer for a residence, and the following year the 
place was laid off into town lots and sold to the highest bidder. The 
town improved rapidly and gained considerable notoriety and import- 
ance. 

As the village was nameless the citizens got together and decided 
to give it a name. One proposed " Centreville," another " Starvation 
Point," (this man had gone without his dinner), another " Pinch-him- 
slyly," still another " Hardscrabble," and again " Nigger Head," but at 
last we settled unanimously on the name of " Leesville," after its illus- 
trious founder. Before the coming of the late war, it was thought by 
some if we could secure a railroad, and have people and houses enough, 
Leesville would soon compete with St. Louis and other large cities. But 
alas, the cruel war and other essential matters, prevented Leesville from 
becoming a great city. 

In 1870, the town had two dry goods stores, one drug store, two 
blacksmiths and wagon makers, and a few other business houses. They 
have a large school house, built in i860, which will seat some 300 people. 
The first teacher was Dr. Raum Travis. They have no church building, 
but the school building above mentioned is used for church purposes. 
They have four denominations, viz: Campbelite, Methodist, Baptist and 
New Light. The school of Leesville is in a flourishing condition at this 
time, and has an enrollment of 130 pupils Leesville is only about one 
and a half miles from the Benton County line, and she has considerable 
trade from that section of country. Notwithstanding we still have left 
two full dry goods stores, whose shelves are well filled with seasonable 
goods, a flourishing drug store, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, 
a boot and shoe shop, and last, though not least, two physicians, that 
can easily cure all the aches and pains that flesh is heir to. A statistical 
table of the town would show about the following facts: 

Store houses and shops 9 

School houses and family residences 20 

Families 19 

Number of inhabitants 70 



I 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 477 

From this it can be easily seen there is yet some room for growth 
and improvement. 

ITS BUSINESS AND LODGES. 

In 1868 F. G. Reavis built two stores and did business in Leesville 
for two years and then sold out. 

Anderson & Scully keep a heavy stock of merchandise of all kinds, 
being known as a general store, and have been at it for the past ten 
years. 

Winchel Skeek keeps dry goods and groceries, and has been there 
two years. 

J. H. Baugh & Brother, drugs, one year, and now postmaster. They 
have two blacksmith shops, with a wagon and repair shop connected 
with one of them. 

In 1880 Leesville was given a population of seventy, and that won't 
vary much from the present number. The town boasts of one lodge of 
which the following is given as its position at this time: 

A. F. & A. M.— LEESVILLE LODGE NO. 406, 

was established October 16, 1872, on which day its charter was dated. 
Its charter members were Bird D. Parks, William Collins, Richard Hud- 
son, C. A. James, Robert O. Ragan, Paton B. Logan, John Venlemans, 
Jesse R. Halford, James W. Harvey, H. H. Hamberger, William Parks, 
and R. D. Lawler. 

Its first officers were: Bird D. Parks, W. M.; John Venlemans, S. W.; 
William Collins, J. W. ; H. H. Hamberger, Treasurer; William P. Baker, 
Secretary; Robert O. Ragan, S. D.; S. B. Parks, J. D.: Peter B. Logan, 
Tyler. 

The present officers are: John Venlemans, W. M.; William Parks, 
S. W.; S. B. Parks, J. W.; C. Anderson, Treasurer; W. T. Hill, Secretary; 
W. D. Banks, S. D.;'s. H. Randall, J. D.; John Hall, Tyler. 

COLESBURG. 

This little village was first settled in 1859, ^^^ went for sometime 
by the name of Cole's store. He closed his business in 1861, and J. D. 
Galbreath occupied the same building until 1867. Jesse Halford was 
the first postmaster and the postoffice was called Galbreath. This did 
not happen until 1867. The next building was a drug store, and was 
kept by Dr. J. H. Bronaugh, now of Calhoun, who was the first physi- 
cian as well as druggist. George Nyrup opened the first blacksmith 
shop in 1859. The town has not grown much of late years but it holds 
the trade of the country around. 



478 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. "; 

The name of the post office was changed in 1880, from Galbreath to j 
Colesburg, and is thus known. The business of the little village is car- 
ried on by 

Duden Brothers, general merchants. 1 

Mock & Owens, drugs and medicines. ] 

Jesse Halford, blacksmith. 

Duden Brothers, blacksmiths. i 

John Davis, wagon maker and repairer. ] 

Its present physician is Dr. W. C. Bromfield. The country around I 

is pretty well settled, and while it is not likely to become a large village, 1 

will always be a convenience, and will therefore be sustained, and grow | 

as the county is more heavily settled. ■; 

ITEM. i 

A lightning cure was said to have taken place at Leesville Town, ' 

September 11, 1880. An old man by the name of J. D. Alcott, who had 

been unable to walk for a long time, was struck by an electric current | 

during the storm of that day and completely restored. This is vouched 

for. I 

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP. ,1 

i 
This is one of the original townships, having been first named in the ' 

year 1834, in May of that year, and it then covered considerable more 
territory than that which is alloted to her at this day. It then extended ' 
to Johnson County on the north, and the Osage River on the south, i 
When Rives County was organized, the county court, at its first session, | 
made Springfield one of the four townships in the county, and it covered I 
one-fourth of the territory of the county, the southeast quarter, but con- 1 
gressional township line No. 42, was its north boundary, which only j 
gave her half of her present territory, although extending south to the 
county line. The other half of her present territory was in Tebo Town- 
ship. Her western boundary was range line No. 26, which separated her 
from Grand River Township. This remained until May 2, 1836, one 
year lacking three days, when the boundary between Grand River and 1 
Springfield Townships was altered as follows: 

"Instead of running to the center of range 26, that the same run on 
the dividing ridge between the waters of Grand River and Tebo." j 

Just where that line ran was never put on a map. ' 

The first electioi. in Springfield Township was in August, 1836, and i 
the voting place was the house of Abraham Banta. 

There was little or no change in township matters until 1842. On , 
June 6 of that year some more territory was added instead of being 
taken off, as in the first case. The change was as follows : 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 479 

"Ordered, that the following territory be added to Springfield 
Township in this county; commencing at Bennett Harralson's; thence 
to the head of Cedar Creek; thence down said creek to its mouth; 
thence south to the county line between Henry and St. Clair Connties."^ 

In i860, August 10, another change took place, Osage Township 
being organized chat date. The southern portion of what was then 
Springfield Township was given to the new division thus formed. 

METES AND BOUNDS OF 1860. 

Quite a number of changes were made in the township lines, two 
more townships being made out of the existing territory. Springfield 
Township was then cut down to the following : 

" Beginning at the northeast corner of section 24, township 42, of 
range 24; thence south on the county line between Henry and Benton 
Counties to the middle of the channel of Grand River; thence up the 
middle of the main channel of said river to the section line dividing 
sections 14 and 15. in township 40, of range 25; thence north on said 
section line to the northwest corner of section 23, in township 42, range 
25; thence east on said section line to the beginning." 

This included half of the present Springfield Township, all of Lees- 
ville Township, two miles wide off the east side of Bethlehem or twelve 
sections, and six sections off of the present township of Deer Creek. 
This was the last change until the grand transfiguration scene of 1873, 
caused by the great upheaval of the new township organization law, 
when the county court made nineteen municipal divisions out of the 
previous nine, and all the boundaries were changed. The new township 
of Springfield under the change was easily described. It ran thus: 

NO. 10, SPRINGFIELD. 

"Composed of congressional township No. 42 of range No. 24." 
This is the Springfield Township of to-day; has an area of thirty- 
three sections of land, or 21,120 acres, and is six miles east and west by 
five and one-half north and south, having the fractional sections on her 
northern border. Its southwestern and western portion is watered by 
Tebo Creek, which flows from north to south, and causes this portion of 
the township to be well wooded, and is also rolling, or even hilly. 
Barker's Creek, which rises in the northeast, runs diagonally across the 
county in a southwestern direction, and empties into Tebo Creek about 
two and a quarter miles of its western border. It waters the central 
part of the township, and has numerous branches, fed by springs. 

Nearly, if not quite, one-third, of the township is wooded and the 
other two-thirds prairie. After getting out of the bottom lands, the 
hills are light in soil and a good deal of stone is found. Stone is also 



480 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

found on the prairies. These latter are rich generally, and with the 

bottom lands it can be said that about three-quarters of the township is 

rich arable land. 

EARLY SETTLERS, ETC. 

Springfield was one of the early settled townships, for quite a num- j 

ber coming in from the north selected their homes as far south as the ; 

waters of Tebo. That stream and Barker's Creek were among the first ' 
settled. Among the first settlers and the first was Philip Cecil, who 
came from Virginia and settled on section 34 in the year 1835. Bennett 

Harralson and Cyrus V. Robinson came the same year. William A. ' 

Gray settled on section 15 in 1836. Abraham and Henry Banta settled j 

on section 33 the same year. Joseph Gray, father of W. A., came in : 
1836. That year also showed the loss of its pioneer settler, Philip 

Cecil, who died that year. The first election in the township was held • 

at the house of Abraham Banta. W. J. Collins was also a settler of 1835, : 

but he first located in what is now Leesville Township, and in 1837 ^ 

removed to Springfield Township. The Trollingers, who settled on sec- ^ 

tion 34, were a large family, as well as the Guyes, who pre-empted nearly ■ 

all of section 28. Elberton Guye and the rest settled in the years 1837 ; 

and 1838. Hamilton and Madison Fewell came in 1838; the latter set- i 

tied on section 36. William Chandler came the same year. There were ' 
a few others who came between 1835 and 1838, but not many, probably 
not over a score of families, had settled in the township up to 1840. 

The Rev. W. A. Gray and Philip W. Cecil, son of Philip, who died 

in 1836, are still living. Dr. Gray on his own homestead, and Cecil on i 

that of his father's, to which he fell heir. . 1 

The first school was taught in the township in the winter of 1838-9, ; 

and W. A. Gray was the teacher. Of course it was a subscription school. • 

MT. OLIVET CHURCH. I 

This church was first organized in 1844, and its founder might be j 

said to be the Rev. William A. Gray. Mr. Gray had taught school sev- : 
eral years, but he had desired to take an active part in church affairs. 
He was ordained a minister either in 1843 or 1844, and soon commenced 

to have a church organization. To accomplish this a church was needed, ' 

and he soon had the neighbors interested. Philip Cecil and other neigh- j 

bors took hold, and they had a log church, and with a whip saw sawed out = 

the lumber for the inside finish. Before the year 1844 ended, the church \ 

was completed and organization effected by the Rev. P. C. Caldwell, of i 

Johnson County, and the Rev. William A. Gray, the latter being installed 1 

as its first pastor. | 

The original members were Rev. William A. Gray and wife, Mary, j 

Joseph Gray, father of William A.; George Rank and his wife, Mary; ] 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 481 

Henry Banta and his wife, Mary, making the seven constituent members 
of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. From this small beginning, Mt. Olivet 
has grown to be one of the largest and most influential churches for good 
in the entire county. It has now a membership of 168, and has been 
under the continued pastorate of the Rev. William A. Gray for nearly 
forty years. Here is indeed a record of " Well done good and faithful 
servant of the Lord." 

The old log church also served as a school house for a number of 
years. In 1852 another church was erected, 30x36 feet, which remained 
as such until the year 1874, when the present frame church was com- 
menced, and finished the following year. This is a plain, substantial 
building 36x54 feet in size, neatly furnished, all costing $2,000. In con- 
nection with the church they have a flourishing Sunday School, under 
the superintendency of John J. Slapper, with an average attendance of 
thirty-six scholars. 

This church, like most others, felt the evils arising from the civil war, 
and found itself at the end of that unfortunate struggle badly rendered 
and broken. It was then that earnest work was demanded, and that the 
spirit of christian brotherhood should be r.evived. To accomplish this 
the eloquent pastor called a series of meetings to re-unite the scattered 
fragments, and bring unity and peace, where all was chaos. This was 
accomplished and a new era inaugurated that has proven the value of 
the work then performed. The church became again thoroughly united, 
harmony existed, and some fifty candidates came forward at the close of 
these meetings, and presented themselves for baptism. Since then the 
church has grown and prospered, and may its aged pastor live still 
many more years to enjoy the fruits of his good work. The church is 
to-da)^ strong in its good work, and its future is as bright and promising 
as even its aged servant could wish. 

SCHOOLS AND POPULATION. 

There are five public schools in the township and all well attended. 
The school year runs from five to six months with a full average attend- 
ance. In the school history of Henry County, chapter twelve, will be 
found the financial condition of the township school fund and the amount 
expended each year since its districts have been formed. 

The population of Springfield Township was, in 1880, 941. This, 
was under its present territory. It is exclusively an agricultural town- 
ship and does not have even a post office within its border. 

STONE AND COAL. 

It does not, however, rely upon agriculture for its future prosperity. 
The township is bountifully supplied with coal but at present is not 

31 



482 HISTORY OK HENRY COUNTY. 

mined. It has, also, a splendid article of building stone, and a quarry 
of white marble, which is capable of a high finish. 

Coal is found on sections 8, 15, 18, 21 and 25, where it has cropped 
out, but the north, middle and west portions are underlaid with coal, the 
veins running from twenty-two inches to four feet in thickness. 

The stone quarry is on section 20, and the marble quarry on section 
8. They have a saw and grist mill on section 12. 

Springfield won't turn out as much arable land as some townships, 
but when its full resources are developed, it will be found that her mate- 
rial wealth is not behind her more pretentious sisters. Still, to develop 
their resources, require work and energy and of these qualities the peo- 
ple are blest with and the future is not uncertain. Calhoun, Leesville, 
and Fort Lyons, in Benton County, are the principal post ofifices used 
by the people. 

DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

This township is one of the central townships of the county, and in 
the second tier of townships from the Benton County line. As earh* as 
1833 there was here and there a settler. Howell Lewis, an old, respected 
and prominent citizen of the county settled there in 1836. William 
Goff, who settled on fractional section one, was tne first settler in the 
township in 1833, and the first postmaster in the county, in 1835, and 
until the spring of 1837. John and E. Goff, his sons, came with him. 
C. C. Bronaugh also settled in this tovvnship a few years later and was, 
like Mr. Goff, a county judge for a number of years. Deer Creek has a 
history in the fact that one of her citizens was first county judge; that 
the first circuit court was held within her limits; the first postoffice as 
well as postmaster located there, is credited also with the first county 
treasurer, and that her later county judge, Judge Bronaugh, was one of 
the ablest and best judges that Henry County could boast of The 
Wileys also settled in this township and their progressive spirit has 
marked an era of enterprise in the township. Another prominent set- 
tler, who came in 1836, was John S. Lingle; he settled on section 9, and 
is the father of the Lingle Brothers, of the Democrat. Deer Creek was 
formerly a portion of Tebo and of Springfield Townships, and was 
organized under its present name and boundary, under the new town- 
ship organization law of 1872. It was not organized however, until 1873, 
and the following was the order under which it became one of the 
municipal divisions of the county. 

NO. 9. DEER CREEK. 

"Composed of congressional township No. 42, of range No. 25." 
The township is six miles east and west by five and a half miles 
north and south, a fraction less of this distance on the west side, it hav- 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 483 

ing on its north border a portion of the fractional section which crosses 
the county. This gives it about thirty-two and three-quarters sections 
of land, or an acreage of 20,960 acres. It is mostly prairies with con- 
siderable wood land along the Little Tebo Creek, and its branches, which 
water the eastern and northern part of the township, with Nelson Creek 
on the southeast and Deer Creek in the west and southwest. These 
streams give it an abundance of water for farm and stock purposes, and 
wood is plenty. 

ITS COAL FIELDS. 

Deer Creek Township or the north central part of it is an immense 
coal field, and the "black diamond" is being mined by several companies, 
three of which are located at Lewis Station, and names found in the busi- 
ness directory of that town. Besides these the railroad company have 
been mining for years, and have made Lewis a coaling station on their 
road. The coal fields are an important element of her prosperity. For 
awhile the railroad company were the only persons engaged at this 
point in mining, but a few years ago, say three or four, another party 
took hold, and now the coal shipments will probably reach 200 cars per 
month, from Lewis Station. December, 1882, there were shipped, 139 
cars of 500 bushels each, of bituminous coal, and in January, 1883, will 
exceed 145 car loads. Coal veins ranging from two feet to four feet and 
six inches in thickness, are found on sections 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 22, and 23. 
Shafts have been sunk and mining operations are going on principally 
on sections 9, 10, and 16. 

The sections which have been mentioned is where the coal has 
cropped out and veins exposed, but coal underlies fully one-half of the 
township and will prove a source of unceasing wealth, for it may be said 
to be inexhaustible. 

As a cereal growing township Deer Creek will hold its own, and as 
a corn raising district it steps lively to the front. At the village of about 
200 souls, all told, there has been 10,000 bushels of corn delivered, and 
this in the face of the fact that cars could not be had for shipment. A 
large pait of the crop finds a market at Clinton, probably fully three- 
fourths. 

It is, of course, a good stock district, and grasses are all of very 
healthy and heavy growth. Taking it all together. Deer Creek with its 
grand expanse of prairies, its abundance of wood and water, the rich- 
ness of its soil and its vast mineral wealth, those who have made it their 
home need not envy any other people for the wealth of their surround- 
ings. 

In 1880 Deer Creek Township had a population of I,i2i souls. This 
was the first census taken since its organization. It has probably now- 
many more. 



484 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

The township is divided into four school districts, in each of which 
is a good frame school building, and all are furnished with the educa- 
tional facilities demanded for the advancement of the scholars. 

There is a fine stone quarry on section 26, and probably others in 
the township, but there is very little demand. 

The Bronaugh Church is located on section 26, and there is a union 
church at Lewis Station, and one also at Calhoun, which lies within a 
half a mile of its northeast border. Clinton, which lies only two miles 
from its southern and southwestern borders, receives many of her peo- 
ple at its churches. 

Deer Creek has but one town or village within its border, Lewis 
Station, a description of which is here given. 

LEWIS STATION. 

At this time, January, 1883, Lewis Station, still largely resembles 
what its name implies, a railroad station. It has reached a population 
of probably 200, all told, but this is no criterion of the business of the 
place, for, notwithstanding its size, it is a healthy, progressive infant, 
verging into boyhood, with manhood easil}- discernible in the not far 
distant future. 

The town was laid out on the land of Howell Lewis, who platted 
forty acres for a town to be known as " Lewis." The word " station " 
has been added, but does not belong to the name of the village. The 
forty acres was the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 
16, township 42, of range 25. The town sits in a small valley, the hills, 
with the exception of an opening in the southwest, completely surround- 
ing it. A branch of the Little Tebo touches its southern limits and flows 
eastwardly, while Little Tebo itself comes down from the north and 
passes it on the east side nearly a mile distant, its fringes of trees hid- 
ing the high and rolling prairies beyond. 

As laid out there were eighty-four lots. Near the center, east and 
west, is the depot of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. 

FIRST BUILDING — BUSINESS, ETC. 

The first building erected was a granary, by J. A. Good and Son. 

The first dry goods store was that of A. B. Griffith & Co. 

The first postmaster was John T. Middelcoff, in 1871. 

The first school was taught by Miss Theo. Miller. 

Their first minister was the Rev. J. F. Robb. of the M. E. Church 
South. 

This is the starting point, with only a half dozen dwellings in the vil- 
lage in 1872. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 485 

There was very little increase for a number of years. The railroad 
company doing a mining business, and the stopping of the trains at the 
station, became a convenience to the farmers around. The past five 
years has made a decided change, and the year 1882 showed more 
impro\^ements than any time since it was founded. It is now composed 
of some as live and energetic men as can be found in the county, and 
they propose to make Lewis one of the best business towns in the county, 
and they are very likely to succeed. 

The following are the prominent business firms of the town: 

R. S. Cramer, dry goods, etc. 

J. A. Good & Sons, grain dealers. 

Foote Bros., grain dealers. 

Dr. William Young, physician. 

Miss Mary Oliver, school teacher. 

J. C. Fleming, station agent. 

Lewis Co-operation Coal Company, L. W. Good, president. 

American Coal Company, Thompson Bros., managers. 

R. S. Cramer & Co. Coal Mine, Hugh.Reid, manager. 

All these mines are being heavily worked, and are but a short dis- 
tance from the station, the latter company but a quarter of a mile. The 
price of coal throughout the county, on the line of the road, is eight 
cents per bushel at the mines, or ten cents delivered at the town or 

station. 

POSTMASTERS. 

1871, John T. Middelcoff; 1873, William M. Davidson; 1875, H. P. 
Good; 1875, Wflliam H. Lewis; 1876, David Justice; 1877, D. T. Terry.; 
1878, R. S. Cramer, still postmaster 1883. 

SHIPMENTS. 

Cars. 

October, 1882 —Coal 113 

Iron I 

November, 1882 — Coal 94 

Broom corn i 

Oats I 

December, 1882— Coal I39 

• Corn 6 

January, 1883 — Coal 145 

Corn 17 

Oats ., ■ I 

Hogs 4 

Sheep I 

Cattle 2 

At the depot awaiting shipment there are 8,000 bushels of corn. 
The history of this township is closed with the following extract 
from the Windsor Review of December, 1882: 



486 HISTORY OF iiexrv county. 

It may be of interest to the general public to know that the nearest 
living relative of George Washington is a resident of Henry County. 
This is Uncle Howell Lewis, of Lewis Station, whose grand mother was 
an own sister to the immortal George. 

HE'lhLEIlEINI TO\VN.SHIP. 

This township is one of the nineteen evolved from the law of 1873 
but in its primitive days it was a part of Grand River Township, which 
took in the southeast quarter of Henry County as its metes and bounds. 
It's a pretty name, and it has a pretty good quality, as well as quantity, 
of land within its border, having in round numbers about forty-two sec- 
tions ot land, with an acreage of 26,880 acres, the larger portion of which 
is prairie. It is bounded on the north by Deer Creek, on the east by 
Leesville, south by Grand River, which separates it from Osage Town- 
ship, and west by Clinton. There is a fine body of timber on the banks 
of Grand River, and there is more or less on the branches of Grand 
River, Dillon, Dumpling and Sparrowfoot Creeks, which waters the 
eastern portion of the township. There are some of the finest prairie 
farms in the state in this township, and is strictly speaking, the home of 
a thoroughly agricultural people. 

EARLY SETTLERS. 

James Anderson settled on section 35 in 1836, and Mr. Anderson 
put up the first horse mill in the township in the fall of 1836. Thomas 
Keeney came in 1836; then came Major M. S. Peeler, in 1837, and he 
settled on section i, of township 40, range 25. Bird D. Parks came in 
1838, but he properly belongs to Leesville Township, where he located, 
but he taught a school the winter of 183S-39, in an old log cabin belonging 
to Mr. Palm and known as Palm Grove, which had been vacated. 
There was quite a large attendance and among the children and youths 
who attended were: Samuel and Peyton Parks, Nancy and Reuben 
Wade, Man C. Parks, Elizabeth A. Jones afterwards Major Peeler's wife, 
Thomas Metcalf, Isabella Metcalf, David and Benjamin Wilson, William, 
Eliza, Polly and Peyton Logan. The parents of all these children lived 
in the neighborhood in both townships, that is Bethlehem and Lees- 
ville. The Parks all in the latter township, with Peeler, Wilson and 
Logan in Bethlehem. Irvin Sisk was another who came among the first 
settlers. 

In 1840 James Anderson removed from the township and took his 
horse mill with him, but the same year, or early in 1841, Major Peeler 
started another, and the old pioneer fairly smiled at his good fortune. 
The capacity of the mill was fifteen bushels of corn a day. Their near- 
est trading point was Warsaw, or rather a good many went there to 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 487 

trade the first two years, during 1837 and 1838. When Clinton got fairly 
started the county seat became their place of business. From 1840 
to 1850 the section of what is now Bethlehem Township received its full 
share of the increase of population, and since then it has steadily 
increased. While not the largest township in the county, it has the 
largest agricultural population. Taking out the population of the towns, 
there is no other township that can show its population of 1,380, which 
was given in the census of 1880. 

CHURCHES. 

Its people are moral and they have an abiding faith in religious 
teachings. The Baptist denomination leads all others in the township, 
and they have two churches, one called the Mount Hope Baptist Church, 
situated on the west half of the northeast quarter of section 25, and the 
Bethlehem Baptist Church, on the west side on section 30 and on the 
east half of northeast quarter. These churches are largely attended. 
The latter church just completed in December, 1882, a new church edi- 
fice at a cost of $1,000. It is plainly but neatly finished and furnished, 
and what is better, it is all paid for. It was dedicated December 31, 
1882, and the following account of the interesting event, taken from the 
Clinton Advocate, is here appended: 

"Elder W. S. Weir conducted the service of song. A brief history of 
Bethlehem Church was prepared by Deacon A. Vickers, and read by the 
pastor. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the pastor, S. M. Vic- 
tor, from the text found in Heb. viii 5. The subject was, ' The Jewish 
Tabernacle, a type of the Gospel church.' The attendance was very 
good for an inclement day, and the service pleasant and profitable. 

We subjoin a brief 

HISTORY OF BETHLEHEM CHURCH. 

This church was organized on the 6th of September, 1854, at the 
residence of Mr. James Lee, in Bethlehem Township, Henry County, 
Missouri. Elder Peter Brown and W. P. Wright organized the church 
'with eight members. In March, 1855, the Lord's Supper was observed 
for the first time by this church, J. James and A. Vickers serving as dea- 
cons. In 1856 the first church house was erected and used by this church 
until the present new house of worship was built in 1880. Eld. Peter Brown 
was the first pastor. Since that time the church has had the services of 
the following pastors: C. J. Teas.W. A. Gray, A. D. Landrum, B.F. Lawler, 
Thomas Briggs, R. D. Lawler and S. M. Victor. The first Sunday School 
was organized in this church in 1859, and Dr. P. S. Jennings was superin- 
tendent. The war interrupted the meetings, and there was a period of 
about two years in which no meeting was held. After the war, the 
church was revived, and held its meetings on down to the present time. 
During the history of twenty-eight years the church has received into 
its membership by baptism 172, by letter, 57; total 229. Greatest num- 



488 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ber received by baptism in any one year was in 1879, which was 51; 
next greatest number received by baptism in any one year was 33. in 
1882, the present membership is 133. As far as can be ascertained this 
body has contributed to the mission work of Tebo Baptist Association, 
before the war $19; since the war, $176; total $195. The history of the 
finances of this church is not given here, but only the contribution to one 
object. The Lord has greatly prospered the people at Bethlehem, and 
they feel that the "Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are 
glad." 

The names of the original members were James Lee, John Lee, 
Jacob Shanks, Mrs. Shanks, Joseph Shanks, Neoma Lee and V. Han- 
cock. It was not long before quite a number joined the above list and 
their names were John James and wife, George French and wife, A. 
Vickers, wife and daughter. Mr. Vickers became the first clerk and 
served for two years. The present deacons are W. Crews and A, 
Vickers. 

The Sunday School, which is in a healthy condition, numbers sixty- 
five pupils. P. S. Jennings was its first superintendent, and D. Majors 
is the present superintendent. 

Mr. A. Vickers donated four acres of ground for the church and 

cemetery. During the war services were discontinued for twenty-five 

months. 

SURPRISE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Surprise Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized 
November, 1854, in Bethlehem Township, on section 2, being located in 
the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of the section, in town- 
ship 40, of range 25. The original members were Lucinda Gilliam, 
Elizabeth Parks, James Smith, Mary Smith, Hugh B. Witherspoon 
and Sarah A. Quick. 

The church has steadily progressed and is to-day strong in the faith. 
Its present membership is 44. In the year 1881 they raised the funds to 
build a church, and they had the same completed the following year. It 
is a comfortable frame building and cost the sum of $800. 

The following ministers have been successively in charge in the ^ 
order mentioned. Revs. J. H. Houk, W. W. Suddeth. B. F. Thomas, 
H. R. Smith, Y. W. Whitset, P. McCluney, and the present pastor, the 
Rev. C. J. Bowers. 

ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

A Sunday School with an enrollment of fifty scholars and under 
the superintendency of Mr. Hugh B. Witherspoon, is conducted is con- 
nected with the church and is conducted in a manner worthy of all 
praise. The land, one acre, upon which the church is located, was the 
gift of Mr. H. B. Witherspoon. From 1862 to 1865 church services were 
suspended. 



HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 489. 

ONWARD. 

There has been little to change the current of the people's thoughts. 
They are still primitive in their views and feelings; the fashions of the 
day, or the rush and josting of neighbor or friend to get rich, have little 
impression upon them. So far as wealth is concerned, they are mostly 
in a good financial condition, and improving their store for a rainy day 
from year to year. They, having plenty of this world's goods, and being, 
of prudential habits, there is little to trouble them. 

.SCHOOLS. 

The schools of the township are six in number, with an average of 
each school year of six months teaching. These schools are located on 
sections 5, 11, 17, 26 and 29, in township 41, of range 25, and on section 
II, of township 40, of same range. The school houses are all frame 
buildings, and are arranged for the best possible comfort of the pupil and 
his educational progress. 

The official boundary of the township, as organized in 1873, and 
which continues to be its true metes and bounds, reads as follows: 

NO. 12, BETHLEHEM. 

Composed of all of congressional township number 41, of range 
number 25, except the west half of the southeast quarter of section, 
number 31, and the west half of section number 31, of township num- 
ber 41, of range number 25. Also, all of township number 40, of range 
25, which lies on the left bank of Grand River. 




BIOGRAPHICAL, 



^t^^-^.^'i^^^^^:-;— ^T 



CLINTON TOWNSHIP. 



JUDGE E P H R A ni ALLISON, 5 

J 
dealer in dry goods, clothing, millinery, carpets, etc., is a native of Cooper J 

County, Missouri, and was born November 27, 1835. His father, Thomas , 
Allison, was born in North Carolina October 27, 1800, but removed with j 
his father, Ephraim, to Cooper County, Missouri, while yet a boy, being | 
raised among the pioneers of that county. He was there married to the 
mother of our subject. Miss Lydia Jones, who was born in Kentucky ' 
August 18, 1802. She had come with her parents to Cooper County in ; 
18 1 2, and was in the fort near Booneville when the famous General ! 
Cooper was killed. They resided in Cooper till 1846, in which year they I 
removed to Saline Count}-, Missouri, and in 1852 to Henry County, Mis- 
souri. Here Thomas Allison resided till 1862; then returned to Saline { 
County and there died in February, 1865. His widow is still living. ; 
Ephraim at the commencement of the war enlisted for the Confederate ' 
cause in Captain Owens' companj- of Missouri State Guards, serving till 
their disbandment, six months later. Then he enlisted in Companj' I, 
Sixteenth Missouri Regiment, and served actively till the spring of 1863, 
but continued with the command till the close of the war, at which time ' 
(1865) he was in Texas. Remaining in Madison County. Texas, till the , 
spring of 1867, he soon returned to Saline County, Missouri, and remained 
there till the fall of 1868, when he came to Clinton and engaged in the 
grocery business. This he continued till the spring of 187c. closed out | 
his grocery stock and with T. Draffcn as a partner embarked in the dry 
goods trade. After one month Mr. Draffen died, and Mr. Allison con- 
ducted the business alone for six months, when in July following the ! 
firm became Allison & Piper. This partnership existed till the spring 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 49I 

of 1878, when Mr. Piper retired from the firm. Mr. A. is now carrying a 
very heavy stock of goods and is doing a successful business. In Novem- 
ber, 1872, he was elected Treasurer of Henry County, and served in that 
capacity from January, 1873, to January, 1877, and in the latter year he 
was elected one of the county judges under the old township organiza- 
tion, serving one year. Then his services were done away with by the 
new county organization, which reduced the bench to three judges. In 
1880 he was elected presiding judge of -the county court and filled this 
honorable position very acceptably till January, 1883. Mr. A. was united 
in marriage May 28, 1868, to Miss Ruth McCarty, a native of Saline 
County, Missouri. They have four children: Charlie S., Mary L., Anna 
M. and Nellie. He is a member of the Masonic Order and also belongs 
to the Baptist Church. 

WILLIAM H. ALLISON, 

County Recorder and a member of the firm of Allison & McCarty, 
dealers in dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, etc., owes his nativity 
to Cooper County, Missouri, where he was born May 14th, 1842. When 
he was at the age of 7 years his parents removed to Saline County, Mis- 
souri, where they resided? till 1853, in that year coming to Henry County. 
Here William was reared in the occupation of farming, and here he 
continued to reside till the comm.encement of the war, when he enlisted, 
in 1861, in Captain Owens' Company, of the Missouri State Guards, serv- 
ing till their disbandment, six months later. Then he enlisted under 
Colonel Jackson, and was shortly taken prisoner by the Federals in 
Saline County, Missouri, and was held as such in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, Alton, Illinois, and Johnson Island, Ohio, spending in those 
prisons in all twenty-six months. He was then exchanged, and 
some time afterward was discharged. Keturning to Missouri he 
spent the winter of 1865 in Saline County. The following spring 
he went to Montana Territory, and was there engaged in the 
stock business for three years, when he came back to Clinton, and in 
1869 he, with Mr. Terry, embarked in the grocery business. In 1875, 
closing out his grocery trade, he commenced selling dry goods, and in 
August, 1882, Mr. McCarty became a member of the firm. In 1882 Mr. 
A. was elected County Recorder, and entered upon the duties of that 
office January i, 1883. He was married November 7th, 1869, to Miss 
Mollie E. Sparks, of Kentucky. They have three children. Earl, Lester 
and Frank. He is a member of the Masonic and, also, of the A. O. U. 
W. fraternities. 

PETER ALFTON, 

of the firm of Alfton & Moser, extensive carriage manufacturers, was 
born February 8, 1852, in Moniteau County, Missouri, and was reared in 



492 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

his native county until fifteen years of age. Then he went to California, 
Missouri, and was engaged in working at the wheelwright trade, with -f 
Hanin & Martin for four years. In 1881, he came to Clinton, Missouri, ] 
and was in the employ of Oechsli & Kilmer, till 1877, when, with Mr. ] 
Majors as partner, he embarked in carriage manufacturing. In Novem- ,< 
ber, 1880, he withdrew from this firm and established his present busi- | 
ness, which he managed alone till January, 1882, when Mr. Moser became :; 
associated with him. They are doing a large business, and keep a repos- ' 
itory well filled with work of their own manufacture. They also have a I 
large custom trade on repair work. Mr. A. was married May 18, 1873, ] 
to Miss Emma L. Major, a native of Ohio. They have two children: | 
Bertie and Glenn. He is a member of both the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. t 
W. fraternities. 1 

REV. HENRY AVERY. I 

Among the early pioneers of this county there are none who were 
better known or whose memory is more favorably cherished than the 1 
subject of this sketch. He was born in Roane County, Tennessee,! 
October 18, 1793, and was the son of Peter Avery, who emigrated to' 
Tennessee at an early day. The youth of Heriry was spent on a farm 
until the war of 1812, when he enlisted and served as a private; he also j 
served in the war against the Seminole Indians under General Jackson, 1 
and was promoted for meritorious conduct. He vvas married on the 25th S 
of November, 1819, to Miss Elizabeth Green, of White County, Ten-"' 
nessee. In 1830 he emigrated to Missouri, and after spending a season ] 
in St. Louis County continued his course westward and raised a crop in 
Morgan County, and thence moved to what is now Henry County, in j 
July, 1831, and was one of the first to identify himself with the interests i 
of the county. He made his permenent settlement in Tebo Township! 
March 18, 1832, and engaged successfully in agricultural pursuits. Hej 
was probably the first man in the county who broke prairie and put in a^ 
crop, and he erected the first hewn log house in the county, which is - 
still standing, and a cut of which is to be seen elsewhere. In this house 1 
the first white child of the county, Susan Jane Avery, (now Mrs. William 
H. Roberts, of Clinton,) was born. He was the first justice of the peace i' 
of the county, and the first term of the county court was held in his ^ 
house on May 4 and 5, 1835, when the county first had a separate organ- 
ization. The pioneer store in the county was erected and opened on ; 
his premises by Stephen Clark. In his religious preferences he was an , 
old school Baptist, and in 1826 united with the Big Fork Church in Ten- | 
nessee. After his removal to this county he became a constituent mem- 1 
ber of High Point Church, Johnson County, in 1832, and in the following i 
spring he was ordained a preacher by a Presbytery consisting of Elders! 
J. Warder, J. White, Thomas Ricketts and William Simpson. From this j 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 493 

time until his death, though called an Old School Baptist, he was a 
great missionary, working hard on his farm most of the time and spend- 
ing often from Friday until Monday preaching the Gospel in all the sur- 
rounding country without fee or reward; going east at times as far as 
St. Louis, and west beyond the state limits, preaching to the Indians. 
Through industry and strict economy he gained a competency. His 
house was the home of many a weary traveler, and in it elections, courts 
and preaching were held. He held a public debate with Elder Joshua 
Page, a Campbellite in Henry County, the first, perhaps, held as far 
west, in 1842. He had a good English education and his preaching was 
plain, faithful and earnest, at the same time pathetic and persuasive, and 
he might in truth be styled one of the old fashioned preachers and 
teachers, laboring as Paul did, with his own hands for a support, and the 
local poet might have said of him as it did of one who labored with him 
in the early days of his ministry: 



How often it is, as in church I am sitting, 

My mind wanders back to ihe days of my youth, 
And faces and forms before me are flitting 

Of those who then preached the plain gospel of truth. 
In fancy I see the old pious, good teacher, 

Who urged me the way of salvation to know; 
The face and the form of the pioneer preacher 

Who preached on the Border a long time ago. 
The plain, simple preacher, the good, honest preacher, 

The old-fashioned preacher of long time ago. 



How often I think of his true self denial, 

And often contrast him with men of to day; 
Through heat and through cold, though great was the trial, 

He toiled in the vineyard, not asking for pay. 
The widow, the orphan, the poor and the needy, 

In sickness and sorrow had reason to know, 
In all their afflictions that none were so speedy. 

Relief and assistance on them to bestow, 
As the plain, earnest preacher, the good Baptist preacher, 

The old-fashioned preacher of long time ago. 



But few of those old-fashioned preachers still linger, 

But few now remain, and those few are ignored 
For men of more learning, and scorn with his finger 

Oft points at the men who so much have endured. 
More talented men are the bread of life breaking, 

And their words of instruction more fluently flow; 
But are they more useful, or more sin forsaking, 

Than the plain, simple preacher of long time ago? 
The plain, humble preacher, the well-meaning preacher, 

The old-fashioned preacher of long time ago. 



I 



494 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

When now on the Sabbath the old church I visit 

And his plain admonitions no longer I hear, 
'Tis strange, passing strange, can you tell me why is it 

His words to my mind will so often occur. 
While eloquent men, in language quite burning, \i 

Are preaching the gospel of peace and of truth, i 

The mind is so vagrant it still will be turning • i 

To the plain, humble preacher I heard in my youth? 
The plain gospel preacher, the pioneer preacher, i 

The old-fashioned preacher I heard in my youth. i 

I 

They say that the age and the world are progressing; ; 

The old-fashioned preachers are needed no more; 
That men of more polish, more learning possessing. 

Must now take the places of those gone before. 
Ah, well! With the world I must not be contending; 

Perhaps it is so; but there's one thing I know — 
While the greatest D D'.- are their tenets defending, 

I think of the preacher of long time ago. 
The hard working preacher, the plain, simple preacher, 

The old fashioned preacher of long time ago. 

Mr. Avery died September 26, 1845, surrounded by his family to 
whom he spoke loving words, and after sending affecting messages to 
his ministerial brethren and others with whom he had been intimate as | 
a co-laborer. The last words he was heard to utter were, " I have fought J 
a good fight," and peacefully fell asleep. Three sons, R. L. Avery, now i 
residing on the old homestead, J. C. Avery and J. M. Avery, of Clinton, ■ 
and two daughters, Mrs. Nancy A. Fewell and Mrs. William H. Roberts, | 
still survive him. 

ANGUS CLARK AVERY. I 

t 
One of the leading citizens of Henry County, and one who has > 
attained a well merited prominence, is he whose name beads this sketch. | 
He was born in Henry County (then Rives), January 26, 1836, and with | 
probably one or two exceptions, is the oldest man now living, born I 
within the limits of the county. His father, Henry Avery, whose biog- \ 
raphy appears elsewhere, was born in Roane County, Tennessee. His j 
mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Green, a native of White 
County, Tennessee. The Avery family are of English origin and the 
earliest known progenitor, Christopher Avery, emigrated from Great Brit- 
tain and settled in Connecticut in early colonial days, and their descend- j 
ants took an active part in the war for independence, no less than nine j 
of that name being killed and five wounded at the battle of Fort Gris- i 
wold, on Groton Heights, September 6, 1781. Four of this number ! 
were commissioned officers. Groton Monument, commemorating this }i 
conflict, stands on ground once a part of the Avery estate. The mater- 
nal ancestry were also of English descent and settled in Virginia at an \ 1 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 495. 

early day, and were related to General Nathaniel Green, of Revolu- 
tionary fame. John Green, the grandfather, moved to White County,. 
Tennessee, and became a Baptist minister and died at an advanced age 
in 1850. Angus C. Avery was reared on a farm and received his primary 
education in the schools of the neighborhood in ^vhich he lived. He 
then entered Union Hill Academy, White County, Tennessee, and after 
preparing himself for one year, became a student of Burritt College^ 
Tennessee, where he remained two years. He then returned to Mis- 
souri and attended the State University at Columbia for one year but 
subsequently returned to Burritt College, where he was graduated July 
3, 1858, and was honored by being appointed valedictorian of the class. 
The same year he entered the law department of Cumberland Univer- 
sity, Tennessee, and was graduated in the spring of i860, and admitted 
to the bar by Judge Caruthers of the supreme court. Returning to 
Clinton, he engaged in the practice of his profession until the courts 
were suspended in consequence of the war. He then turned his atten- 
tion to the real estate business in which he has since been actively 
engaged, and at the present time he is one of the largest land owners as 
well as tax payers of the county. He has always shown a worthy public 
spiritedness and every good cause, calculated to be of lasting benefit to 
the city or county, receives his hearty support. In railroad matters he 
has been specially active with others in reviving the enterprise of build- 
ing the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, a charter for which was granted prior 
to iS6obut abandoned on account of the war. This road, after many 
difficulties, was completed and is now known as the Missouri, Kansas & 
Texas Railroad. He was one of the largest contributors and the watch 
word of the company was " economy." The company records will show 
that though entitled to a salary, he served without compensation, even 
for expenses, for several years as a director, traveling by his own private 
conveyance from Sedalia on the east to Fort Scott on the west, attend- 
ing meetings of the board and using his influence for the undertaking 
until it was completed. The first mile of the road was graded on his 
land through which he gave the right of way. He was one of the orig- 
inators of the First National Bank of Clinton and has served its interest 
as president and director. In educational matters he has always taken 
a deep interest. In his religious preference he is a Baptist and holds 
the position of deacon, and has served as superintendent of the Sabbath 
School for seven years. He is one of the trustees of William Jewell 
College at Liberty, Missouri, and contributed largely to its endowment. 
He is also on the board of trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological 
Seminary, located at Louisville, Kentucky. The Baptist Church 
edifice in Clinton is due largely to his munificence, as is also the useful- 
ness of its church organization. For the past twenty years he has taken 
the most advanced position in favor of temperance and prohibition. Ncv 



^9^ HISTORY OF HENRY COUNl Y. ' 

one in the past has so thoroughly canvassed against saloons in Clinton, i 

In all places and under all circumstances he is loyal to truth, honor and ; 

right, and richly merits the esteem in which he is held. He was mar- ' 

ried July 3, i860, to Miss Rhoda Dodge, daughter of William H. and j 

Catherine Dodge, of^ Cumberland County. Tennessee, originally from ^ 

New York. Their family consists of eight children: August D., Wil- • ; 

liam H., Howard G. and Herbert D. (twins), Angus B., Clara B., Rhoda ' 
E. and Walter W. Lost owe daughter in infancy, Elizabeth K. 

■JOHN M. AVERY. i 

! 

Of the early settlers of Henry County, Missouri, no name is more I 
familiar than that of Henry Avery, a brief sketch of whom appears else- : 
where. James M., his son, the president of the First National Bank of ' 
Clinton, was born in Henry County June /th, 1838. His early life was : 
spent on his father's farm, and from 1853 until 1856 he was a student in \ 
Murritt College, Spencer, Tennessee. After leaving college he returned ; 
home and resumed farming until the outbreak of the war, when he j 
engaged in the horse and mule trade, and continued this business until i 
1865. He then embarked in the mercantile business in Clinton, in com- i 
pany with Mr. Doyle, the firm name being Avery & Doyle. He was one i 
of the organizers of the Clinton Savings Bank in 1870. This bank was 
succeeded in February, 1872, by the First National Bank, and for nearly \ 
two years Mr. Avery was cashier. In 1S75 he commenced the banking ; 
business in Moberly, Missouri, the firm being Avery & Wbolfolk, and here 
he continued until 1879, when he returned to Clinton. In 1881 he was 
elected vice president of the First National Bank, and in 1882 became 
its president. He was married June i6th, 1865, to Miss Sallie M. Wool- 
folk, a native of Missouri. They have a family of four children: Ella 
C, Charles H., Mary B. and Frank M. Mr. and Mrs. Avery are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church, and Mr. A. holds the office of deacon. 

JOHN N. BARLOW, 

of the firm of Bolinger & Barlow, grocers, owes his nativity to Belmont 
County, Ohio, where he was born October 5, 1842. He there grew up 
and received his education, and at the age of seventeen years he moved 
to Warren County, Illinois, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits 
at Berwick for about two years. He was subsequently interested in busi- 
ness at Burlington, Iowa, till the fall of 1862, when he came to Calhoun 
Henry County, as sutler's clerK with the First Iowa Regiment. After 
remaining there a short time he was occupied in the same business at 
Clinton, Missouri, and also as clerk for Mr. Rogers till 1S63, when he 
returned to Bloomington, Ohio. After remaining there eight months, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. ^ 497 

he again came to Clinton, in April, 1864, and for the following eighteen 
months, gave his attention to mercantile pursuits. In April, 1866, he 
was appointed county clerk, and held that office by appointment and 
election till January, 1871, then serving as deputy county clerk till Jan- 
uary, i875- ^n 1876 he was elected constable ot this township and served 
two years. In the fall of 1877, he with Mr. Plumer commenced in the 
grain business, and in February 1879, he became deputy postmaster, 
which position he held till September, 1880, then embarking in the gro- 
cery business. Mr. Barlow was united in marriage January i, 1862, to 
Miss Ellen A. Whitenack, a native of Illinois. They have one child, 
Johanna P. 

ANDREW BIFFER, 

dealer in furniture, etc., is a native of Germany and was born October 
30, 1841. He was there reared and educated, and according to the laws 
of that country, enlisted when twenty years of age in the army for five 
years. In December, 1865, he emigrated to America, and after a resi- 
dence in New York City of two months he went to Louisville, Kentucky, • 
remaining for three months. Later he was a resident of Belleville. Illi- 
nois, for six months, and upon going to Ouincy, Illinois, was engaged at 
the trade of cabinet making. After residing there nearly one }'ear he 
came to Kirksville, Missouri, in February, 1871, and embarked in the 
furniture business, continuing with great success till June. 1S80, when he 
established his present furniture store in Clinton. He carries a large 
stock of goods in his line, and is doing about the principal share of trade 
at this place. Mr. Biffer was married October 10, 1870, to Miss Kath- 
arine Frazier, a native of Missouri. They have two children, Anna and 
Mary. He is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. 

ALBERT J. BLACKFORD. 

dealer in millinery ajid fancy dry goods, was born in Hancock County, 
Ohio, August 10, 1844. He made his home there till 1859. ^vhen he 
removed to Clinton, DeWitt County, Illinois, engaging in the printing 
trade in the Transcript office. He remained a " typo" on that paper till 
1862. Then he enlisted in the United States Army, Company F, 107th 
Regiment Illinois, and served through General Sherman's Atlanta cam- 
paign, and vvith General Thomas through his Tennessee campaign, and 
was mustered out as captain of his company, at Springfield, Illinois, in 
July, 1865 He then returned to Clinton. Illinois, and embarked in the 
dry goods business, the firm being Taylor & Blackford. They continued 
business until Mr. Blackford came to this city, in 1872. He has a large 
and well selected stock of goods and is enjoying a liberal patronage. He 

was united in marriage May 4, 1862, to Miss Mary E. Taylor, of Ohio 

33 



498 ^ HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

birth. They have one child, Charlie T. He is a member of the I. O. O. 
F. and also of the Knights of Pythias. 

GEORGE H. BLAKEMORE, 

dealer in hardware and agricultural implements, a native of Augusta 
County, Virginia, was born July 22. 1842. His father, William C. Blake- 
more, was also born in that county, as was his mother, Mary A. (New- 
man) Blakemore. They were reared and married there, the former dying 
in 1859, and the latter in 1848. George was brought up as a farmer's 
boy, and was educated in the schools of that period. When twenty-one 
years of age he emigrated to Pettis County, Missouri, and engaged in 
the tinner's trade, which he thoroughly learned, till the fall of 1859, when 
he came to Clinton, Misssouri. Here he embarked in business, handling 
stoves and tinware, under the firm name of Blakemore & Co. In 1862, 
on account of the war, he went to Adams County, Illinois, and gave his 
attention to farming, going thence in a year to Idaho City, Idaho Terri- 
tory. For a short time he was engaged there in mining, and later fol- 
lowed that business through Washington, Monlanaand Oregon Territo- 
ries for twenty-eight months. In July, 1866, he returned to Clinton, and 
worked at his trade with Houx & Bigsby, for eight months, they closing 
out to Kimbrough & Bro. After that time he remained with this firm 
as a jour workman till 1S71, then becoming a partner in the concern, 
which was known as Kimbrough & Co. They were in business 
together until September, 1878, when Mr. K. sold his interest to Mr. 
Blakemore, who has since continued the business. He was united in 
marriage January 15, 1861, to Miss Mary F. Ragland, a native of Mis- , 
souri. They have three children: Nathaniel J., George O. and Jene A. 
Mr. B. is a member of the M E. Church South. 

S. BLATT, 

proprietor of livery, feed and sale stable. The subject of this sketch 
was born in Henry County, Ohio, October 13, 1846. When he was nine 
years of age his father's family removed to Woods County, Ohio. Left 
an orphan in his fourteenth year, he was compelled to obtain a living for 
himself, which he did. Remaining in Woods County till 1867, he then 
went to Dubuque, Iowa, where he had relatives living, with whose assist- 
ance he was enabled to take a course of study at Bailey's Commercial 
College of that city, which he attended nine months. Previous to this 
time, however, while in Ohio he attended in 1866 the Spencer Commer- 
cial College at Cleveland. He was subsequently for a time engaged in 
school teaching, and in the fall of 1868 he returned to Ohio and resided 
there till the fall of 1869, when he located in Missouri and embarked in 
stock dealing. In tlie spring of 1870 he came to Clinton, Missouri, and 



I 



I 



BlOGRAnnCAL. 499 

established himself in the hotel business, in what was then the St. Ste- 
phens House, continuing therein till the fall of 1872. Then he was 
elected constable of what then included eight townships, the office at 
that time being a very profitable one. This position he filled (having 
been re-elected several times) till resigning it in 1877. In July, 1875, he 
commenced the livery business on the south side of the square, where he 
remained till December, 1877. Then Mr. Hormeyer became a partner 
with him, and they conducted the establishment till March, 1878, when 
they bought the stock of the other stable then here, managing them 
both till the fall of 1881, at which time they disposed of their livery 
business. Mr. B. then built his large sale stable on Main Street, where 
he now buys and sells exclusively. He makes a specialty of mule buy- 
ing. and feeding for the market. Since December, 1882, he has been a 
partner with Mr. Duncan in the livery trade below the Jordan House, 
where they have a well equipped stable. In 1879 l^c was elected mayor 
of this city and was its first ma}'or under the new cit\' charter. He dis- 
charged the duties of that office for two years. Mr. Blatt was married 
October i, 1868, to Miss Frances J. Shaw, a native of Delaware County, 
Iowa. They have two children, Rufu§ E. and Henry S. He is a niem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. fraternity and of the encampment of that order, 
and has held all the offices within the gift of the lodge. 

WILSON H. BLEDSOE, 

of the firm of Bledsoe & Lane, grocers, came originally from Taylor 
County, Kentucky, where he was born February 15, 1844. He was reared 
in the counties of Washington and Marion, and in August, 1861, at the 
age of seventeen, he enlisted in Company A, Second Kentucky Cavalry, 
United States Army, and served till December, 17, 1864, having par- 
ticipated in the battles of Stone River, Perryvale, Kentucky, Shiloh and 
Chickamauga. He was captured at the time of McCook and Stone- 
man's raid through Georgia, and was a prisoner at Andersonville for 
three months, and then while on the way to Charleston, made his escape 
when near the mouth of the Edisto River, and was taken aboard a man- 
of war in that vicinity. Finally he made his way to New York, and in 
a short time returned to his command; receiving his discharge at Nash- 
ville, Tennesse. He then went to Green County, Kentucky, where he 
remained one year, and from there to Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he 
remained till February, 1868. Coming to Clinton he was engaged in 
blacksmithing till May 188 1, after which he embarked in the grocery 
business with his present partner. Mr. Bledsoe was married October 30, 
1870, to Miss Emma Burton, a native of Missouri. They have three 
children: Inez, Iva, and an infant. Mr. B. is a member of the Masonic 
order and of the I. O. O. F. and has been a representative of the latter order 



500 . HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

to the grand lodge of the state. For one term he belonged to the city 

council. 

WILLIAM W. BOLINGER, 

jeweler, and a member of the grocery house of Bolinger & Barlow, was 
born in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, October 30th, 1834. He was 
reared in the occupation of farming, being educated in the schools of 
his native county. When 19 years of age he began the jewelry trade 
at Jersey Shore, and remained there for three years, then, in 1856, going 
to Kendall County, Illinois, where he stopped six months, and thence to 
Jackson, Michigan. After seven months time spent in that city he 
returned home and resided at his birthplace one year. Going again to 
Kendall County, Illinois, he stayed nine months, and after a short resi- 
dence in Jersey County, went to Leavenworth, Kansas. Two m'onths 
after he returned to Jerseyville, Illinois, and in one month went back 
home, where he stopped till the spring of 1865. Coming westward he 
stopped in Princeton, Illinois, for five months, and from there to Jersey- 
ville, where he mae his home till February, 1868. Then he came to 
Clinton, Missouri, and began the jewelry business, at which he has since 
been engaged. In September, 1880, he commenced in the grocery busi- 
ness with the present manager of the firm, Mr. Barlow. Mr. Bolinger 
was married August 15th, 1859, ^o Miss Lallie Loudou, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. They have three children, Thaddeus S., William P. and an 
infant. Mr. B. is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity and of the 
encampment of that order. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
and the A. O. U. W. orders. He has been a member of the city council 
lor four vears. 

MARCUS L. BONHAM, 

proprietor of Oak Hill Nursery, was born in Blount County, Tennessee, 
February 20, 1836. At the age of four years he was taken by the family 
to Henry County, Indiana, where he was reared and received his educa- 
tion, following from his twentieth year the occupation of school teach- 
ing. This profession he continued for five }'ears, and about the year 
i860 he became engaged in the photographic business. For two years 
he gave his attention to this art, then resuming his farming operations, 
till March, 1866, at which time he moved to Carroll County, Missouri. 
After residing there for two years he went to Newton County, and in one 
year, or the spring of 1869, came to Henry Count}- and established the 
present Oak Hill Nursery. He has twent)--one acres of land well adapted 
for his business, and he raises all varieties of trees, plants, etc., which 
thrive in this locality, and he supplies mostK" our home market. Mr. 
Bonham was married November 23, 1862, to Miss Margaret Hendricks, 
a native of Indiana. They have five children : Franklin M., Lyton L., 
Josephine E., Maude and Margaret hi. I 



BIOGRAPrllCAL. 50I 

JOSEPH F. BOYD, 

farmer, section 31. The subject of this sketch is a native of Warren 
County, Missouri, and was born December 13, 1836. His father, William 
Boyd, was born in Lincoln County, Missouri, November 18, 1809, and 
moved to Warren County in 1833; he married Nancy A. Jorney, origin- 
ally of St. Charles County. They reared six children, Joseph being the 
eldest. William Boyd died in September, 1864, and his wife's death 
occurred in 1850. Young Boyd grew up and was educated in the county 
of his birth, and there followed farming till the spring of 1857. In that 
year he came to Henry Count}', Missouri, settling on the farm where he 
now lives. He has 240 acres of fine land and the improvements upon it 
are excellent. In 1862 he enlisted in a company of volunteers under 
Captain Bovven, and in September of 1862 the company was changed to 
Company K, Sixteenth Missouri Regiment; he served with that regi- 
ment till the battle of Helena, Arkansas, in July, 1863, when he was cap- 
tured by the Federals and held a prisoner at Alton, Illinois, till exchanged 
near Richmond, Virginia, in February, 1865. He then obtained a fur- 
lough, and while in Arkansas peace was declared, and in May, 1865, he 
returned home. Mr. B. was united in marriage January 3, 1856, with 
Miss Elizabeth Adkins, a daughter of John W. Adkins. They have fi\e 
children living: Nancy A., William F., Lucy E., Sallie E. and John N. 
Mr. B. is a member of the Masonic order. He held the office of justice 
of the peace of Clinton Township for one year, having then resigned 
the position. 

JAMES BRANNUM, 

proprietor of Tebo Mills, was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, August 
I2th, 1833, and was the son of William J. Brannum, a native of South 
Carolina, who came to Illinois in 183 1. He married Miss Sarah Power, 
who was born in Wayne County-, Missouri. James was reared on a farm 
in his native county, and received a good common school education. 
When seventeen years of age he began the milling trade with his father, 
who was then in that business, and continued it for five years. Subse- 
quently he became interested in merchandising at Fayetteville, Illinois, 
where he remained for three and one-half years, then (1864) removing 
to Nashville, Illinois, where he conducted a general store under the firm 
name of Brannum & Elhannon. They did business together till 1868, 
and Mr. B. closing out his interests there came to Clinton, Missouri, and 
with Mr. Rehl as a partner, built a portion of his present mill. This 
partnership existed till 1879, when Mr. B. purchased Mr. Rehl's interest 
in the mill and has since managed the same. In 1878 he engaged in the 
dr}^ goods business, the firm being Brannum & Son, and in 1879 disposed 
of it to J. M. Weidemeyer. They same year, 1879, ^^ commenced buy- 



502 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ing grain, and has continued it when the seasons warrant him in so 
doing. He was one of the directors of the Henry County Bank, at the 
time of its organization, and in October, 1881, he was elected president, 
which position he now holds. He was united in marriage June 8th, 1854, 
with Miss Mary A. D. Pulliam, by which union he has one child, Jeffer- 
son D. Mrs. B. died May 9th, 1862. He was. again married May 7th, 
1863, to Miss Elizabeth Land, a native of Illinois. They have two chil- 
dren, James W. and Henry L. He was a member of the school board 
from 1875 to 1878, and in 1882 he was re-elected a member of the board. 
He belongs to the Masonic order, and he and his wife are connected 
with the M. E. Church. 

J. H. BRITTS, M D 

The subject of this sketch came from a long and honorable line of 
ancestry. The sketch of his father. Dr. George Britts, a prominent 
physician of Henry County, appears elsewhere in this work. The maiden 
name of his mother was Mary Jane Rogers. The former was a native 
of Virginia, born September 4, i8i2,.and the latter was born in Win- 
chester, Kentucky, November 27, 1820. Their marriage occurred 
December 10, 1835, at Montgomery County, Indiana. John Henry, their 
oldest child, was born November i, 1836, and was named for his grand- 
father. In 184? the famil}' emigrated to Henry County, Missouri, and 
settled at first in Calhoun and lived there until the summer of 1843, then 
coming into Clinton . Here young John attended his first school, taught 
by a preacher named Turner in a house on the south side of Franklin 
Street and a short distance from the square, opposite \V. Bozarth's black- 
smith shop. At this time there was no school building and but few 
dwellings in Clinton, the open prairie coming up to the south side of 
the square and it was no unusual thing to see a drove of wild deer pass |; 
within sight of the court house. In 1843 the family returned to Indiana. 
It will be remembered that this was the year of the great overflow, and 
the journey from Missouri, as usual, was begun overland, but the high 
water rendered it impracticable, and a steamboat was taken at Roche- 
port, Missouri, for Evansville, Indiana. At the latter place whilst making 
the landing, young Britts reaped the reward of having learned to swim. 
Falling overboard, unobserved, he was enabled to get ashore unaided 
and alone, though much to his disgust in having spoiled a pair of new 
shoes purchased for him in St. Louis. 

After his return to his native state he spent the remainder of his 
boyhood days in attending the public schools of the state, working on 
the farm and in the shop in the interval between school terms. His 
father not considering himself able to send him to college, he was com- 
pelled to make the best use possible of the means within his reach. 
When nineteen years old he taught one term of a public school near 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 503 

Ladoga. Having already commenced the study of medicine with his 
grandfather, Dr. Henrj' Rogers, all his available spare time was given to 
this. In the year of 1857, with his father's family, he again emigrated 
to Missouri, and continued the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. John 
A. Rogers, at Clinton, and in the winter of 1857-8 attended a course of 
lectures at St. Louis Medical College, and the following year, 1859, set 
up for himself at Austin, Cass County, Missouri, where two years of hard 
work were sacrificed, except the experience thus brought by the event 
that followed. 

The war broke out with all the fury that characterized it on the bor- 
der. There was no middle ground for any person at all prominent, and 
he at once set about organizing a company for state service for six 
months enlistment and was commissioned captain by Governor C. F. 
Jackson, his company being Company B, of Edgar V. Hurst's Regiment, 
Captain Frank Cockrell commanding Company A in the same regiment. 
This regiment was in General Rain's Division, Missouri State Guards, 
and took part in the engagements at Carthage, Wilson Creek and Lex- 
ington. The six months term of service expiring, in connection with 
Colonel Hurst he at once commenced to recruit a new command in Cass 
and Bates Counties, with headquarters on Cove Creek. While on a visit 
from this point to his home Col. Hurst was captured by some Kansas 
troops and killed. Dr. Britts at once proceeded with part of his com- 
mand, mostly them that were with him in the state service, to Spring- 
field, Missouri, where, on the loth day of February, 1862, a company of 
fifty- three men were organized for the Confederate army and he was 
chosen captain by acclamation; Philip W. Fulkerson was elected first 
lieutenant; Robert Rennick, second lieutenant; and Aaron Patton, 
third lieutenant; John Hamilton was appointed orderly. 

This company remained a part of Waldo P. Johnson's Battalion till 
4th day of April, 1862, when the Fourth Regiment of Infantry was organ- 
ized, McFarlane, colonel, and Waldo P. Johnson, lieutenant colonel, when 
Dr . Britts was offered the place of major, or that of surgeon . He chose 
the latter on account of the advantages it would offer in the line of his 
chosen profession, and from this on he in that capacity followed the for- 
tunes of his regiment, afterwards consolidated with the First Missouri 
Infantry, Amos Riley, colonel, through many bloody engagements east 
of the Mississippi River, up to the siege of Vicksburg. There he was 
promoted to brigade suigeon, which position he only filled a few days, 
till he was severely wounded on the night of the 9th of June, 1863, at the 
city hospital, whilst in the line of duty. A 15-inch shell from the Porter 
Mortar Fleet came through the building and exploded in the room occu- 
pied by the hospital staff. As it happened at the time, none were in the 
room except himself and a Dr. Taylor, who escaped unhurt through the 
door before the explosion. Dr. Britts, who v/as held down for a time b}- the 



504 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

lath and plaster torn loose from the ceiling, was not so fortunate, and 
did not escape in time. He lost his right leg, and was otherwise severely- 
wounded in the lungs and left knee, and crushed by the explosion so that 
it seemed incredible that any one could escape alive. But a splendid 
constitution and the kind care of his comrades brought him through, so 
that he was enabled to again return to duty as hospital surgeon at Mont- 
gomery, Alabama, the iSth of November following, and finally surrend- 
ered with the last of the Confederates at Atlanta, Georgia, May 13, 1865. 

Early in August of the same year, 1865, he returned to Clinton, Mis- 
souri, coming by way of Mobile, New Orleans and St. Louis, and resumed 
the practice of medicine and surgery in co-partnership with Dr. P. S. Jen- 
nings, which firm has continued up to the present time. In 1866 he 
received a diploma and adeundem degree from the Missouri Medical Col- 
lege. As a surgeon Dr. Britts enjoys a good reputation. In the war he 
was a bold operator and an efficient officer; was noted for his mechanical 
skill in adopting the limited means within his reach to the requirements 
of his patients; would cut unsparingly when necessary, but was always 
conservative in the practice of his profession, and was the means of sav- 
ing many a wounded soldier his limbs, which others less conservative 
might have sacrificed. As soon after his return to Clinton as he could 
establish himself in practice he married on the ist day of November, 
1865, Miss Annie E. F. Lewis, daughter of Robert Lewis. Mrs. Britts 
was born June 18, 1839, i" St. Louis County. Missouri, her grandparents 
having settled in Bonhomme Bottom as early as 181 1. Her family is 
related to familiar names in the early history of Missouri, many of which 
were among the first settlers of the Mississippi Valley, as the Bacons, 
Longs, Bates and Woodsons. 

Their union has been blessed with six children, all girls, five of whom 
are living: Mary Britts, born September 5, 1866; Lucy Britts, born 
November i, 1867, died May 30, 1872, Eugene Salmon Britts, born Sep- 
tember 18, 1870; Louisa Lewis Britts, born June 6, 1875; Annie Alice 
Britts, born September 15, 1876, and Edith Scott Britts, born September 
13, 1878. In politics Dr. Britts is a Democrat; since his enfranchisement 
in 1872, he has been an active worker for the success of his party, though 
never an aspirant for any office till the present year, 1882, when he 
received the Democratic nomination for the office of state senator. Six- 
teeth District, composed of the counties of Bates, Cass and Henry. There 
were three candidates: Judge J. N. Ballard, of Bates; Mr. Charles W. 
Sloan, of Cass, and Dr. John H. Britts, of Henry. Each county had five 
delegates and cast the Hancock vote of 1880, for their choice: Bates, 
2,929; Cass, 2,769; Henry, 2848. The convention was held at the city of 
Butler, August i, 1882, and after a contest of three days and 375 ballots 
cast and no choice, Mr. Charles Sloan, of Cass .County, withdrew, and 
on the 577th ballot, Dr. Britts was nominated, and at the following elec- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. $0$ 

tion in November defeated his opponent, a Republican, Mr. H. J. Doolay, 
3,129 votes, and took his seat in the Thirty-Second General Assembly, 
at Jefferson City, January 3, 1883. 

JOHN H. BROWN. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of New Hampshire, and was 
born August 18, 1821. At the age of six years he was taken by his 
parents to Franklin County, Massachusetts, and after two years to Berk- 
shire County, where they remained till 1833. Then they removed to 
Hoosac Falls, New York, and two years later went to Cohoes Falls, here 
residing till 1839. After living in Columbus, Ohio, till 1845, they set- 
tled in Logan County, Ohio. John had followed from boyhood the car- 
penter's trade, and at the age of twenty he began contracting and 
building. In 1857 he left Logan County, Ohio, and removed to Kansas, 
and in 1858 (May) he came to Henry County, Missouri, where he at 
once engaged in contracting and building. In the spring of 1862 he 
went to Edgar County, Illinois, but in 1866 returned to Clinton, Mis- 
souri, and was a prominent contractor here till 1872. Since that year 
he has followed the same business through different parts of Texas. In 
1881 he built and managed the Lindsay House, at Gainsville, Texas, and 
also managed at that time the Laclede Hotel, of that city, closing it out 
after one year. From that time on he has been proprietor of the Buck- 
ley House, at Sherman, Texas. Mr. Brown was united in marriage 
October 7, 1845, to Miss Lucinda Weaver, of Ohio. They reared one 
child, Estella. Mrs. B. died in June, 1854. He was again married in 
November, 1857, to Miss Jane Boyd, a native of Licking County, Ohio. 
They have three children: Hattie, Jennie and Jesse, and an adopted 
daughter, Ida M. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity and also 
belongs to the Christian Church. 

WILLIAM B. CALVIRD, 

assistant cashier of the Henry County Bank, is a native of Franklin 
County, Missouri, and was born November 18, 1843, being the son of 
Thomas Calvird, a Kentuckian by birth, who was married in that state 
to Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, whose maiden name was Peters, and a native 
of Virginia. They reared seven children, of whom William is the eldest. 
In 1850, the family having lived in Franklin County some years, returned 
to Daviess County, Kentucky, where they resided for four years, subse- 
quently moving to St. Clair County, Missouri. There our subject was 
brought up, residing in the locality till 1862, when he went to Pettis 
County. He was there engaged in various branches of trade, and in 
1870 he came to Clinton and embarked in the hotel business which he 



506 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

continued until he was appointed deputy sheriff of Henry County, in 
1873. After serving three years as such he was elected sheriff of the 
county in 1876, and after one term was re-elected and served till Janu- 
ary, 1 88 1. From that time he was occupied in clerical work in the 
recorder's office till December 10, 1881, when he became bookkeeper 
and assistant cashier of the Henry Count}- Bank. This office he now 
holds. Mr. Calvird was married April 27, 1867, to Miss Sarah J, Pol- 
lard, a native of this state. They have one child, John H. Mr. C. is a 
member of the I. O. O. F, fraternity and has held all the offices within 
the subordinate lodge. 

WILLIAM H. CARPENTER, 

of the firm of Carpenter & Kratz, lumbermen, was born in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, June 9, 1837. When eight years of age he was taken by 
the family to Center County, Pennsylvania, and was there reared. When 
fourteen years old he was apprenticed to his uncle, John Harris, and with 
him learned the tanner's trade, at which he worked three years. Return- 
ing to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he attended school, and was a student 
at the breaking out of the war. In 1861, he enlisted in the first three 
month's call, and after that term had expired, re-enlisted as a private in 
Company D, Ninety-First Pennsylvania Regiment. He arose from the 
ranks, and when mustered out at the close of the war, held the commis- 
sion of captain of his company. After the disbandment of the troops 
he held a position in the quartermaster's department. After that depart- 
ment ceased its work, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he arrived 
in the spring of 1867. There he resided till 1870, then came to Clinton, 
Missouri, and managed a lumber yard for Andrew & McElvain, till 1873. 
Purchasing the business of his former employers, he continued it alone 
till March, 1878, when the firm became Carpenter & Raymond. This 
partnership existed till March, 1879, they disposing of the business to 
S. A. Brown & Co., who retained the services of Mr. Carpenter, as their 
manager, till January 1883, when with Mr. Kratz, he bought the interest 
of Brown & Co. Mr. C. was united in marriage February 2, 1868, to 
Miss Ester Malvin, a native of Missouri, they have three children: Wil- 
liam H., Jr., Jennie E. and Anna L. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity and also of the Knights of Pythias. 

JAMES A. CARLISLE, 

coal merchant and proprietor of Bridges' Coal Mine, came originally 
from Frederick County, Maryland, where he was born February 14, 1830. 
He was there reared to manhood and received his education, and in 1847 
he began learning the carpenter's trade, at which he was engaged until 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 507 

1853. In that year he removed to Berkeley County, Virginia, and in 
1865, to Wayne County, Indiana, there residing till April, 1869. He 
then came to Johnson County, Missouri, and in May, 1869, to Clinton, 
where he commenced work at his trade. In 1873, he started in the lum- 
ber business, the firm being Aurand & Carlisle, which he continued till 
1879, then disposing of his interest to his partner. Finally he gave his 
attention to farming. In February, 1869, he purchased the property 
known as Bridges' Coal Bank, and upon it he has developed a thirty-six 
inch vein of fine coal. He also owns 700 acres around his mine, most of 
which is coal land, but is also fine farming land, for which purpose he 
now uses it. It is located in the southwest portion of Clinton Township. 
Mr. Carlisle was united in marriage March 16, 1852, to Miss Mary E. 
Houser, a native of Maryland. They have three children living: Fan- 
nie M., Sallie R. (twins), and Mollie L. In 1861, Mr. C. enlisted in 
Company G, Seventh Virginia Cavalry, and was a participant in many 
of the hard fought battles in Virginia. He served till parolled, April 12^ 
1865. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. 

HENRY S. CHAPPELIER, 

dealer in boots and shoes, is a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and 
was born February i, 1841. At the age of ten years his father's family 
removed to Platte County, Missouri, where he was reared and educated. 
In 1861 he went to Clinton, Illinois, and there enlisted in 1862, in Com- 
pany E, Sixty-eighth Illinois Regiment, serving in that company for 
four months. Returning to Clinton he enlisted in Company D, Seven- 
teenth Illinois Regiment, and remained in action till mustered out as 
first lieutenant of that company in 1865. After his discharge he went 
back to Clinton, and resided there until 1870, when, upon going to 
Farmer City, Illinois, he was engaged in the boot and shoe business 
until August, 1 88 1. At this time he came to Clinton, Missouri, and 
established his present business. He has a fine and complete stock of 
goods and is doing a satisfactory business. Mr. Chappelier wes married 
September 14, 1869, to Miss Clara E. Evans, of Bloomington, Illinois. 
They have three children: Louis S., Clarence E., and Alice L. Mr. C, 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a Knight Templar. 

SILAS E. CHEEK, 

dealer in real estate and loan agent, etc., was born in Mason County, 
Illinois, August 6, 1854. He was reared to manhood and was educated 
in his native county, spending his youthful days in the occupations of 
farming and clerking. In 1871 he emigrated to Merrick County, 
Nebraska, where he was engaged in farming for one year, but after that 



508 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

time he returned east and settled in Clinton, Missouri. For two years 
he pursued a course of study under C. C. Dickinson, and then till 1875, 
was interested in clerking. Going west again to Tyler, Texas, he resided 
there one year, but then retraced his steps to Clinton, Missouri, 
embarking in the real estate and loan business. Mr. Cheek, was mar- 
ried November 9, i88i,to Miss Bettie P. Karsner, a native of Kentucky. 
Mr. C. is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Knights 
of P}'thias. He is one of the directors of the Henry County Bank. 

WILLIAM H. COCK, 

of the firm of VV. H. Cock & Co., extensive dealers in dry goods, cloth- 
ing, boots, shoes, carpets, etc., is a native of Rutherford County, Ten- 
nessee, and was born in Murfeesborough, July 9, 1829. His parents, 
Archibald and Mary (Bradley) Cock, were also born in that state and 
were there married in 1820. They reared thirteen children. The mother 
died in August, 1859, and the father is now living in this county. 
William resided at his birthplace till nine years of age, when the family 
removed to Christian County, Kentucky, there residing till T839. In 
that year they settled in Benton County, Missouri, and in 1848 went to 
Quincy, Hickor}^ County, where our subject was engaged as clerk in a 
general store, with A. Trippett. A short time afterward he took a stock 
of goods which he managed for Mr. T., at Hermitage, Missouri, they 
doing business at that point till 185 1, when they removed the goods to 
Osceola, St. Clair County, Missouri, where he remained till 1853, and 
then became a partner with Mr. Trippett, in a store at Howard's Mills, 
Missouri. In 1856 he came to Clinton, Missouri, and resumed his busi- 

' ness, continuing it till the commencement of the war. in 1861. Then he 
retired from active business life. In 1866 he again engaged in the dry 
goods trade, the firm being then known as W. H. Cock & Co., and they 
carried it on successfully till 1869, when Mr. Cock embarked in farming, 
at which he is still largely interested. In 1871, he, with others, organ- 
ized what is now the First National Bank of this city, and was its first 
president, holding this position till 1875, when he resigned. For about 

' one year he gave his attention to the live stock commission business, at 
St. Louis, Missouri. In 1876 he returned to Clinton, and buying a 
stock of goods, again commenced selling dry goods. In 1878 the 
firm became W. H. Cock & Co., and they now carry a large stock of 
goods and are one of the most solid houses of Clinton. Mr. C. was 
married July 21, 1853, to Miss Eliza L. Hancock, of this state. They 
have three children: Jessie', Arthur and Daisey. Mr. C. was a member 
of the legislature from this county in 1878. In 1872 he was collector of 
Henry County, serving in that official capacity for one year. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife belong to the 
Christian Church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 509 

WILLIAM A. DAVIDSON, M. D., 

a native of Jefferson City, Missouri, was born October 11, 1850. His 
father, A. M. Davidson, was an early pioneer of that city, settling there 
in 1834. He was a Virginian by birth and was married in that state to 
the mother of our subject. Miss Matilda Hite, a daughter of Major Hite, 
of the Shenandoah Valley. They reared six children. Mrs. D.'s death 
occurred in October, 1854. William was then sent to his uncle, J. S. 
Davidson, at Frederick, Virginia, with whom he remained till eight 
years old. Returning to his father, who then resided in Saline County, 
Missouri, he stayed with him, attending school till fifteen years of age, 
after which he went to Collinsville, Illinois, and clerked in a drug store 
with Dr. A. M. Rowell. Here he continued to stop till 1866, and during 
that time was a student of medicine under the doctor. In 1866 he 
again returned to Saline County, Missouri, and for a term of six months 
attended Pritchett Institute at Glasgow. In 1867 he retraced his steps 
to Illinois and engaged with his brother in the drug business, and in the 
meantime studied his profession for one and a half years. In 1869 he 
once more took up his location at Jefferson City, making his home there 
for six months. In 1870-1 he attended a course of lectures at the St. 
Louis Medical College of St. Louis. In the fall of 1871 he came to Clin- 
ton, Missouri, and was occupied in practice here till the fall of 1872, 
when he again attended during 1872-3 the St. Louis Medical College. 
Graduating at the expiration of that term, he then returned to Virginia, 
where he visited till January, 1874. He subsequently lived in Jefferson 
City for six months; then came to Clinton, Missouri, and resumed the 
practice of medicine. In the spring of 1877 he went to Johnston, Mis- 
souri, where he practiced till the spring of 1881, when he once more 
made this city his home Here he now enjoys a lucrative practice. Dr. 
Davidson was married September 15, 1873, to Miss Anna N. Kimbrough, 
a daughter of J. S. Kimbrough, of Clinton. The doctor is a member of 
the Masonic order. In 1876 he held the office of county coroner. 

JOHN H. DOANE, 

of the firm of Brannum & Doane, grain dealers, is a native of Penob- 
scot, Count)^ Maine, and was born April 21, 1835. He resided on a 
farm in the county of his birth until reaching manhood, and there 
received a good common school education. When about twenty-one 
years of age he went to Hennepin County, Minnesota, and engaged in 
the lumber business at Minneapolis, at which point he remained for four 
years. Returning east, for eighteen months he resided in Boston, Mas- 
sachusetts. In September, 1869, he came to Henry County, Missouri, 
and for one year was occupied in the handling of lightning rods. After 



510 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

this time he resumed farming and successfully followed it till the fall of 
1879, '^vhen he embarked in the grain business, which he has continued 
more or less since. In the fall of 1882 the firm of Brannum & Doane 
built the elevator where they now do such an enterprising business. Mr. 
Doane has a fine farm in this county of 160 acres, well improved. He 
was married in June, 1858, to Miss Sarah A. Turner, a native also of 
Maine. They have two children: Charles H. and Lola. He was once 
alderman of Clinton, and also for one term township assessor. 

J. G. DORMAN 

was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, July 17, 1818. His father, Mat- 
thew Dorman, was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, and is of 
Scotch ancestry. He was Hy occupation a farmer. His mother's maiden 
name was Atlanta Barnes, a native of Virginia. The subject of this 
sketch was principally reared in Gallatin County, Kentucky, and his 
early education was obtained at the primitive log school house, a dis- 
tance of three miles from his father's dwelling. The monotony of his 
daily duties on the farm became irksome and in a desire for a change he 
quit farming, and for several years " ran " the western rivers. In Feb- 
ruary, 1849, ^^ started from Quincy, Illmois, for the Pacific Coast by 
water; he was wrecked in the Caribbean Sea and driven into the port of 
Balize, Honduras. Resuming his journey he finally arrived on the coast 
of California, remaining for a short time and then returned to his home 
in Quincy. In 1852 he was married to Mrs. Udolpha F, Eagle, whose 
maiden name was Miller. By this union there are six children: Charles 
D., William H., George H., Oscar, Emma K. and Ollie V. Mrs. Dor- 
man has one son by a former marriage, J. E. Eagle, associated with Mr. 
Dorman in selling goods at Montrose. In 1855 Mr. D. removed to Henry 
County and engaged in mercantile pursuits and at one time his house 
was the only business house of any importance in the county. In i860 
he was elected one of the county judges. In 1872 he was called upon by 
the Democracy of the county to accept the nomination for the position 
of member of the lower house of the twenty-seventh general assembly, 
which nomination he accepted and was subsequently elected by a large 
majority. As a member of the legislature he was industrious in the 
interests of his constituents; closely attentive to all business before the 
house and prompt in his attendance; jealous of the interest of the peo- 
ple in the expenditure of the public funds and honest in the discharge of 
every duty. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank 
and for a time held the position of president. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat and is radical in his enforcements of the Jeffersonian test for office. 
Is he honest .'' Is he capable .'* He is a man of liberal views and sound 
judgment. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 51I 

JOHN A. DRIGGS, 

owes his nativity to Monroe County, Ohio, where he was born January 
28, 1843. He was there reared and educated, following in his youth the 
occupation of farming, at which he was engaged at the commencement 
of the war. He then enlisted, in 1861, in Company E, Sixty-second Ohio 
Regiment, and served till the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, where he 
was wounded in one of the lower limbs, which maimed him for life. From 
that time till he was discharged, June, 1865, he was in the hospital at 
Fort Monroe and Camp Dennison, Ohio, receiving his discharge from 
the latter place. In 1865, he returned home, and was occupied in mer- 
chandising at Ozark, Ohio, till 1869. In May of that year he came to 
Clinton, and in 1870 was elected circuit clerk, serving for four years in 
a very acceptable manner. Then for one year he was interested in the 
insurance business, after which he embarked in the furniture trade, con- 
tinuing it till 18S0. Mr. D. was married October 16, 1873, to Miss Estella 
Brown, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Eva M. He is a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. fraternities, and also of the K. of P. He 
an i his wife belong to the M. E. Church. In 1874, Mr. Driggs was a 
member of the city council of Clinton. 

DANIEL S. DUDEN, 

dealer in groceries, queensvvare, boots, shoes and tinware, was born in 
Licking County, Ohio, January 10, 1840. He was reared and educated 
in his native county, and his father being a blacksmith by trade, the son 
was brought up in that occupation and followed it till the breaking out 
of the war. Then he enlisted in 1861 in Company E, Twentieth Ohio 
Infantry Regiment, and after two and a half years of hard service with 
that regiment he was discharged, but re-enlisted as a veteran in Com- 
pany A, Fifth Regiment Heavy Artillery, and held the commission of 
second lieutenant. He was mustered out May 20, 1866, as captain of the 
company, having been a participant in many engagements, among them^ 
those of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Middlesburg (Virginia), Vicks- 
burg and Champion's Hill. Three wounds were received by him at dif- 
ferent times during his service, in the neck, in the hip and the fleshy 
portion of the leg. At the close of the war he came to Henry County, 
Missouri, and was engaged in farming and stock dealing till 1870, and 
from then to 1874 he was occupied in various branches of business. In 
the spring of 1874 he commenced the grocery business, in which he is 
still engaged. Mr. Duden was united in marriage December 4, 1864, to 
Miss Helen J. Drum, a native of New York. They had three children: 
Flavia L., Grant and Bessie M. ' Mrs. D.'s death occurred April 4, 1875. 
He was again married July 18, 1876, to- Miss Lucy A. Browning, of Illi- 



512 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

nois. They have three children: Susan G., George B. and Lucy E. Mr. 
D. is a member of the present town board of aldermen. He belongs to 
the K. of P. order. 

NATHANIEL H. DUFF, 

brick manufacturer and contractor and builder, was born in Washington 
Count}', Virginia, February 25th, 1843. He was reared on a farm, 
receiving his education from the schools of that county, and in 1858 he 
began the trade of brick laying, at which he was engaged at Taylorville, 
Tennessee, at the commencement of the war. In July, 1861, he enlisted 
in company H, Thirty-seventh Virginia Regiment, and served till the 
close of the war, then returning home. After a short visit he went to 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, remained six months, and soon located in 
Clay County, Illinois, where he was occupied in working at his trade for 
one year. Moving to Sedalia, 'Missouri, he resided there till June, 1868, 
at which time he came to Clinton, and here he has since been a promi- 
nent contractor in brick work, besides being largely interested in the 
manufacture of brick. Mr. Duff was married November 3d, 1870, to 
Miss Lulu Messick, a native of Kentucky. They have three children, 
Alice, Lillie and an infant. Mr. D. is a member of the I. O. O. F. fra- 
ternity of Clinton. 

JAMES DUNCAN, 

a member of the firm of Duncan & Blatt, liverymen, is a native of Clinton 
County, Illinois, where he was born July 22, 1837. He there passed his 
youth till thirteen years old, when the family removed to St. Clair County, 
Illinois, where he was reared to manhood. He has made the stock busi- 
ness his occupation through life, especially horse and mule trading. In 
the fall of 1865 he came to Henry County, Missouri, and was engaged in 
farming till 1876, when with E. Curtis he embarked in the livery busi- 
ness. Mr. C. remained a partner in the concern for two years, and after 
Mr. Duncan had conducted the stable alone a short time, the firm became 
Duncan & Curtis, (J. Curtis) which partnership existed for one year. 
Blatt & Homeyer then bought Mr. Curtis' interest in the firm, and they 
were together for six months when Mr. D. retired. After that time till 
February, 1881, he was for a while in and out of the livery business with 
different men. and part of that period was occupied in buying hogs. In 
February, 1882, he purchased the stock of Stevenson's livery stable, which 
he operated alone till Mr. Blatt became associated with him in Novem- 
ber, 1882. They now do a fine business, and as they make a specialty of 
having conveyances suitable for commercial men, are having the greater 
part of the business in that line here. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 513 

WILLIAM C. EDMONSTON, 

owes his nativity to McDonough County, Illinois, where he was born 
August II, 1839. His father, William Edmonston, was a North Caroli- 
nian by birth, and removed to Indiana at an early day, and was also an 
old settler of Illinois, having gone to that state from Indiana. The 
mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Royce, was 
born in Indiana, and was there reared and married. The former was a 
member of the Illinois Legislature from McDonough County, from 1830 
to 1840. His death occurred in Cooper County, Missouri, October 18, 
1871, and his widow died February 22, 1876. In 1845, William C. with 
his parents emigrated to Reynolds County, Missouri, where he remained 
till 1853, then moving to Bates County. He lived on a farm there till 
1861, and then enlisted in Company D, of Colonel Peyton's Regiment 
Missouri Cavalry, and served ti.U paroled at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 
7, 1865. Returning to Missouri he settled in Clinton, and was engaged 
in the mercantile business as clerk for two years. He then located at 
Warrensburg, Missouri, and after six months of business life there, again 
came to Clinton, for the tollowing six months being book keeper in Sal- 
mon & Salmon's Bank. After this time he gave his attention to farming 
till 1872, when he embarked in the stock and grain trade in Clinton. In 
this he was interested until elected circuit clerk in 1874, which office he 
filled most acceptably till 1879, ^^^ during 1878-80, he was county asses- 
sor of the county. Mr. Edmonston was united in marriage August 17, 
1871, with Miss Anna A. Elliston, a Kentuckan by birth. The}' have 
three children: Eugene L., Mary E. and Kate. 

HERMAN P. FARRIS, 

of the firm of Brinkerhoff & Farris, real estate dealers, abstract of title 
and loan agents, owes his nativity to Logan County, Ohio, where he 
was born December 25th, 1858. When nine months old he was taken 
by the family to Douglass County, Kansas, where they resided till 1S67, 
then coming to Henry County, Missouri. Herman was here reared and 
educated. In 1872 he began learning the printing trade in the office of 
the Northwestern Enterprise, and after working one year there at the 
case he entered the land office of Brinkerhoff & Smith. He was 
emploj-ed as clerk in that office till xA,pril, 1878, and then for about one 
year he was occupied in various branches of business in Colorado and 
southwest Kansas. Returning here in 1879 ^^ resumed his old position 
and continued there till May, 1882, when he became associated with 
Mr. Brinkerhoff, and now has the entire management of their office at 
Clinton. Mr. Farris was married April 26th, 1S80, to Miss Adda Win- 
ters, a daughter of Hon. J. R. Winters, formerl}- of Hannibal, Missouri. 

33 



514 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

They have one child, Sarah O. Mr. and Mrs. F. are members of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

ALEXANDER P. FERGUSON, 

boot and shoe maker. The subject of this sketch is a native of Erie 
County, New York, and was born August 6, 1828. He there grew up to 
learn the occupation of farming, and at fifteen years of age engaged at 
the trade of shoe making which he has made his lifelong business. In 
September, 1849, he went to Cincinnati, and from that time until 
1868 he worked at his chosen calling in various places, among which are 
Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky, LidianapoHs, Indiana, Georgetown, 
Blue Lick Springs and Frankfort, Kentucky, and LaFayette, Indiana; 
then he returned to Frankfort and subsequently located again in LaFay- 
ette, where he resided until 1858, with the exception of short intervals 
spent in Holly Springs and Oxford, Mississippi. Removing to Mid- 
dlesport, Illinois, he remained until October, 1866, thence to Jerseyville 
and later to Whitehall, Illinois, and in May, 1868, he came to Clinton, 
Missouri, and has since been a resident of the city. Mr. Ferguson was 
married August 10, 185 1, to Miss Martha Warts, whose death occurred 
April 24, 1852. He was again married August 26, 1858, to Miss Ada- 
line Buchannon. By this union there are two children living : Ida E. 
and Alexander G. This wife died October 9, 1880. Mr. F. is a member 
of the Masonic order and also of the I. O. O. F. 

ALBERT P. FROWEIN, 

cashier of the Henry County Bank, was born in the Rhein Province, Ger- 
many, March 14, 1837. His parents, John P. and Anna M. (Winklemann) 
Frowein, were also natives of Germany, and were there married and are 
still residents of that country. Albert was reared in his native country 
till seventeen years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in 
New York. There he remained for ten months, after which he moved 
westward and tor three years was engaged in clerical work in the city 
of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1858 he went to Warrensburg, Missouri, and 
was a prominent merchant of that city till 1866, when he came to Clin- 
ton, and with his brother embarked in the dry goods business. To this 
industry he devoted his time until April, 1881, and then with others 
organized the Henry County Bank, he being elected their first president. 
He has since been prominently identified with that institution, but still 
retains his interest in the firm of Frowein Bros. Mr. F. was married in 
1863 to Miss Augusta J. Muller, of Missouri. They have three children: 
Arnold P., Eugene C. and Augusta. From 1861 to 1866 Mr. F. was post- 
master at Warrensburg, Missouri, and from 1874 to 1S78 he was a mem- 
ber of the school board of this city. He belongs to the Masonic order 
and is also connected with the Lutheran Church. 



BIOGRAPIIICAL. ' 515, 

ADAM M. FULKERSON, 

of the drug establishment of Fulkerson & Parks, came originally from 
Ohio County. Ohio, having been born January 17, 1843. He resided 
there till 1855, when the family removed to Cass County, Missouri, which 
was their home till the spring of 1856. Going to Kansas they settled 
about twenty miles above Osawatomie, but five months later were 
obliged to leave on account of the border troubles. Returning to Cass 
County, Missouri, they located two and a half miles west of Dayton, and 
there Adam spent his time in farming, till the breaking out of the war. 
He enlisted in June, 1861, in Company E, of Hurst's Regiment, and 
served with that company till January, 1S62, when he joined Company 
E, Fourth Missouri Infantry. After the second battle of Corinth, Mis- 
sissippi, he was transferred to Company E, First Missouri Regiment, 
and served till the surrender of Vicksburg, when he was paroled. On 
his way north he was captured by General Steele, and held a prisoner at 
Alton, Illinois, till peace was declared. As soon as released he went to 
Kentucky, and there remained till September, 1866, when he came to 
Clinton and engaged in the drug business. In April, 1869, he with Mr. Ben- 
jamin established a drug house, and the firm continued as Fulkerson & 
Benjamin till August, 1869, when it became Fulkerson & Allen. In Janu- 
ary, 1873, was again changed, this time to Fulkerson & Parks. They carry 
a varied and complete line of goods, and are doing a remunerative busi- 
ness. Mr. F. was married November 24, 186S, to Miss Allie Parks, a 
daughter of Judge Parks, of Clinton. They have two children living: 
Henry and Charles. Mr. F. is a member of the Masonic order and also 
belong to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

CHARLES GEBHERDT, 

stone mason and contractor of stone work, is a native of Germany, and 
was born February 7, 1843. He grew to manhood and was educated in 
his native country. His father being a stone mason by trade, Charles 
was also brought up to the same occupation under the instruction of the 
senior Gebherdt. In December, 1866, he emigrated to America, and 
finally settled in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, where he was engaged in stone 
masoning till June, 186S. He then came to Clinton, Missouri<and since 
his arrival here has done most of the stone work on the better class of 
buildings, and he is considered one of the best masons in this vicinity. 
Mr. G. has a fine sand stone quarry one-fourth of a mile west of this 
city, where he has a vein of rich stone six feet in thickness, and of the 
best quality. He uses it only in cut work. He was united in marriage 
February 16, 1869, to Miss Anna Schmidt, also of Germany. Mr. G. is 
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 



5l6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

FRANCIS M. GOODMAN, 

bookkeeper of the Tebo Mills, was born in Green County, Indiana, Jan- 
uary 29th, 1 841. His father, John Goodman, was also a native of that 
state, and his mother, Jerusha Benefield Goodman, was born in Hamil- 
ton Count}-, Ohio, and was a descendant of [ohn Benefield, a soldier of the 
revolutionary war, and one of the framers of the constitution of that 
state. They reared seven children, of whom Francis was the youngest. 
His father's death occurred July 26th, 1858, but his mother is still living. 
In 1845 the family removed to St. Clair County, Illinois, where our sub- 
ject grew up on a farm, receiving a good education. When in his eigh- 
teenth year he engaged in bookkeeping, and was so employed when the 
war brought business to a close. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Com- 
pany K, 117th Illinois regiment, and participated in thirty-eight engage- 
ments, serving till mustered out of service in August, 1865. After his 
discharge he returned home to St. Clair County, Illinois, and shortly 
took a course of commercial study at Jones' College, of St. Louis, Mis- 
souri. Later he became interested in school teaching, which profession 
he followed till 1877, when he went to Washington County, Illinois. 
There he gave his attention to farming till July, 1880. when he came to 
Clinton and accepted a position as bookkeeper for J. Brannum, of the 
Tebo Mills, in which he is now engaged. Mr. Goodman was married 
April 6th, 1871, to Miss Martha J. Grain, a native of Illinois. They have 
an interesting family of four children, Maude, Arthur, Frank and Mary. 

JOHN B. HANCOCK, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 3, was born in Owen County, Kentucky, 
November 20, 1831, and was a son of George W. and Jane (Settles) Han- 
cock. The former was a carpenter and farmer by occupation ard a native 
of Virginia. The latter was a Kentuckian by birth. J. B. was the old- 
est of a famil}' of three children. His youth was spent on the farm and 
in his father's mill, and he received his education in the common schools 
of Kentucky. In November, 1854, he came to Henry County and entered 
the milling business at Clinton, continuing it for five years. In 1861 he 
enlisted in Captain Stone's company, in which he remained until the 
close of the war. He was in the battles of Springfield and Cross Har- 
bor, and at the battle of Springfield was wounded in the arm and abdo- 
men. After being confined in the hospital a short time he was sent 
home. In 1855 he had entered 320 acres ot land in this county, and 
after returning from the war he began to improve this tract. He has 
since followed farming and milling, and now owns 485 acres of good 
land, which he has well improved. He is a member of the Christian 
Church. October 13. 1S67. ]Mr. Hancock was married-to Mrs. Mary Snow- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 51/ 

den, a daughter of William Herrigton She was born in Henry County, 

Missouri, October 3, 1841. They have five children living: Mary, George, 

Josie P. and Clement E., twins, and Mary. They lost two, Rosy L. and 

Norman. 

CHARLES H. HAYSLER, 

of the firm of Haysler Bros., dealers in harness, saddles, saddlery hard- 
ware, sportsmen's goods, etc., came originally from Saxony, Germany, 
where he was born January 16, 1842. When fifteen years of age, in 
company with his brothers, he emigrated to America, settling in Cooper 
County, Missouri, where he began the trade of harness making with C. 
Vose, of Boonville, Missouri. He remained under his instruction for 
two years. The war then coming on, he enlisted February, 1862, in 
Company C, Fifth Missouri Regiment, with which he served till mus- 
tered out at St. Louis, Missouri, in March, 1865. After this time he 
located in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was engaged in working at his 
trade till May, 1867, when he returned to Boonville, Missouri, and estab- 
lished himself in the hardware and tinware trade. Upon doing busi- 
ness one year he came to Clinton, Missouri, and with his brother, Ernest 
C, embarked in their present business. They carry by far the largest 
and best stock of goods in their line in Southwest Missouri, and are 
known as courteous, honest and excellent business men. Mr. Haysler 
was united in marriage October 26, 1868, with Miss Elizabeth M. Hum- 
brock, a native of Missouri. They have two children : Hattie O. and 
Morris C. They are members of the Lutheran Church, 

GUSTAVE C. HAYSLER 

is a member of the firm of Haysler & Sherpy, dealers in hardware, stoves,, 
queensware, etc. The subject of this sketch was born in Saxony, Ger- 
many, September 18, 1846. He resided there till fourteen years of age, 
when with his brothers he left his native home for America, finally set- 
tling at Glasgow, Missouri. Here he was engaged at the trade of tinner 
with J. R. Carson, under whom he worked for four years, and subse- 
quently he followed his trade at various places. In 1867, he returned to 
Boonville, Missouri, and embarked in the hardware business, the firm 
being Haysler & Leober, and continuing it till March, 1870. Coming to- 
Clinton he helped to establish his present large business. Messrs. Hays- 
ler & Sherpy have one of the finest hardware stores in the state, and 
carry a stock of $12,000 worth of goods. They occupy one large double 
store room, and their store has the appearance of a large wholesale 
establishment. Mr. H. was married May 12, 1870, to Miss Josephine 
Humbrock, a native of Missouri. The have two children: Arthur E. and 
Florence A. He is a member of the L O. O. F. fraternity, and alsc 
belongs to the Encampment. 



5l8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

NICHOLAS HINDERER, 

manufacturer of plows, harrows and other ag^ricultural implements, was 
born in Columbus, Ohio, May 27, 1841. He was there brought up and 
acquired an education, and in 1859 began learning the trade of plow- 
making in the manufactory of Roberts & Taylor, with whom he worked 
till 1 861. Then he enlisted in Company B, Second Ohio Regiment, U. 
S. A., and served with that company three months, when he joined (in 
February, 1864) Company D, i86th Ohio Regiment. He was in action 
till the close of the war, and was mustered out at Lexington, Kentucky, 
in August, 1865. Returning to Columbus, Ohio, he entered the employ 
of Gibbon & Dieur, plow manufacturers, and remained with them for 
seven years. In 187 1 he came to Henry County, Missouri, and was 
engaged in farming till 1875, in which year he established his present 
factory. Although the plow factory run by Mr. H. is yet comparatively 
in its infancy, it bids fair to become one of the leading industries of 
Clinton. Work of their manufacture already has a preference over 
other makes in this market, or, in fact, wherever they are sold. Mr. 
Hinderer was married in April, 1863, to Miss Christena H. Staley, a 
native of Germany. They have two children, George N. and Emma. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

JAMES I. HINKLE, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 29, came originally from Jackson County, 
Missouri, where he was born August 29, 1855. He was reared to man- 
hood and educated in his native county, following from his boyhood 
■days the occupation of farming. In the fall of 1861 he removed to Knox 
County, Indiana, and was continuously engaged in milling for six years. 
In the fall of 1867 he returned to Jackson County, and in October, 1868, 
came to Henry County, Missouri, and resided with his uncle, John 
Hinkle, till October, 1876. Then he settled where he now resides. He 
has an excellent farm of 220 acres, all of which is well fenced and 
improved. He makes a specialty of the stock business and in this indus- 
try has been very successful. Mr. Hinkle was united in marriage Octo- 
ber 5, 1876, to Miss Henrietta J. Adkins, a daughter of Henry G. Adkins, 
who was an old settler of Henry County. They have two children, 
Louisa P. and Ruby K. Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
He is the present chairman of the school board of his district. 

GEORGE S. HOLLIDAY, 

abstract and real estate agent, owes his nativity to Maucoupin County, 
Illinois, having been born at Carlinville, October 12, 1854. He was 
brought up in his native county and received his education from the 



I 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 519 

Blackburn University of Carlinville, of which school he was a pupil for 
five years. In 1875 he began the study of law with William R. Welch, 
remaining with him until February, 1877, when he was admitted to the 
bar of that state. In 1879 he engaged in the abstract of title business 
which he continued at Carlinville till November, iSSi. Coming to this 
city he resumed the same calling here. He has a complete and authen- 
tic set of abstract books, and having the entire confidence of the public, 
is doing a good business. 

THOMAS HOPGOOD, 

contracting painter, was born in County Kent, England, April 19th, 
1835. He was raised to manhood and received his education in his native 
county, and at the age of sixteen began learning the trade which he now 
so successfully follows, serving an apprenticeship of five years. When 
twenty-one years of age he left England for America, and settling in 
Kendall County, Illinois, in June, 1859, worked at his trade there till 
July, 1861. He then went to Alton, Illinois, and enlisted in Company 
K, Twentieth Illinois Volunteers, with which he served for three years. 
He was later employed as clerk in the Government Medical Purveyor's 
office at Memphis, Tennessee, till August, 1865, when he returned to 
Kendall County. After a stay of two weeks h? retraced his steps to 
Memphis, and there gave his attention to painting till November, 1865, 
when, with M. F. Ball as a partner, he embarked in the grocery business, 
continuing in that line till September, 1866. He was then appointed a 
member of the metropolitan police force, but upon serving one year 
resigned and came to Clinton, Missouri, in June, 1867. Here he was 
occupied in painting till September, 1872. After residing in several 
cities for short periods he finally settled in Sedalia, Missouri, where 
he remained three years, then went to St. Louis, Missouri. There he 
resided four years, then took a short trip through Colorado looking for 
a suitable location, but not finding it, in August, 1879, he returned to 
Clinton, Missouri. Since that time he has been actively engaged at his 
trade. Mr. Hopgood was married March 20th, 1867, to Miss Mary F. 
Curry, a native of Indiana. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, 
and also belongs to the Presbyterian Church. 

AMBROSE B. HOPKINS, 

sheriff of Henry County, and of the firm of Page & Hopkins, proprietors 
of the Co-operative Store, was born in Clinton County, Kentucky, April 
25,1841. His parents, George W. and Sarah (Looney) Hopkins, were 
also natives of that state; the former was born in August 1799, and the 
birth of the latter occurred in July, 1805= They reared eleven children, 



520 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

of whom Ambrose was the eighth. His father died in September, 1867, 
and his mother in July, 1865, both in St. Clair County, Missouri, whither 
they had moved in 1851. It was in that county that the subject of this 
sketch grew up and was educated, following from his youth agricultural 
pursuits. When the late war broke out he enlisted in May, 1861, in Cap- 
tain Cushaw's Company, Missouri State Guards, and after their disband- 
ment enlisted in the regular Confederate service, in Company E. Fourth 
Missouri Infantry, which, after the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, was 
consolidated with, and subsequently known as the First Missouri Regi- 
ment. He served till taken prisoner at Vicksburg, in July, 1863, and he 
was on parole till November, 1863, when he was exchanged. He then 
joined General Price's command, and continued with the same until pa- 
roled at Shreveport, Louisiana. Returning to Missouri he settled in Henry 
County. In April, 1867, he became engaged in merchandising at Brown- 
ington, this county, and continued the business till September, 1880, and 
in the following November he was elected sheriff of the county, and was 
again re-elected to that office in November, 1882. From 1870 to 1880, he 
held the position of county assessor. In 1872 and until 1876, he was 
constable of Osage Township, and during the last two years of that time 
was township collector as well. Mr. Hopkins was married October 29, 
1871, to Miss Martha Ellington, a native of Illinois. They have two 
children living; Gracie I., and Nathan. Mr. H. is a man well fitted for 
his position and thus far in his official career has given universal satis- 
faction, discharging his duties with credit to himself and the people who 
elected him. 

GEORGE R. JACKSON, 

gunsmith and dealer in sportsman's goods, is a native of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, where he was born November 7, 1839. I" 1842, with his 
parents, he removed to Jerseyville, Illinois, where he passed his youth 
and received his education. In 1859, he began the trade of machinist in 
the shop of George Wharton, and remained therein for one year. Then 
for a like period he worked at the gunsmith trade, and upon going to 
Litchfield, Illinois, gave his attention to wagon making till 1862. In 
that year he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-seventh Illinois Regiment, 
serving till July, 1865, when he was mustered out at Washington, D. C. 
Returning to Jerseyville, he resumed the trade of machinist for nine 
months, after which time he established a gun repair shop in that city, 
and conducted it for six months. He then went to Charleston, Illinois, 
and was in the same business till April, 1867, when he came to Clinton, 
Missouri, and started his present successful business. He carries a full 
line of sportsman's goods, and does all kinds of repairing on guns and 
light machinery. Mr. Jackson was married December 6, 1866, to Miss 
Kate Wilson, originally from Illinois. They have six children: Hattie ' 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 521 

W., Nellie B., Mary S, Kate L., RoUand F. and Robert E. Mr. J. has 
been a city alderman, haviiiej served three different terms. 

SAMUEL JONES, M. D., 

a native of Harrison County, Ohio, was born April 26, 1826. His father, 
James Jones, came originally from Delaware, but was reared in Pennsyl- 
vania. His mother, formerly Susan Dickerson, was born in Pennsylvania 
and grew up in Ohio. Samuel was the third of nine children. He 
passed his youth and early manhood in the county of his birth, and was 
educated in the West Bedford, Ohio, academy. At the age of twenty- 
one he began the study of medicine under Dr. R. N. Waddell, of Nash- 
ville, Ohio, with whom he remained as student for two and one-half 
years, and for the following eighteen months he was engaged in practic- 
ing under that gentleman. In 1856-57 he attended a course of lectures 
at the Cincinnati, Ohio, Medical College, from which institution he 
graduated in the spring of 1857. Becoming occupied in the practice of 
medicine at Lithopolis, Ohio, he stayed for ten months, going thence to 
Utica, Ohio, where he resided till April, 1866. He then came to Clin- 
ton, Missouri, and continued his practice here till 1873, when he was 
ordained a minister of the M. E. Church. For two years he had charge 
of the Huntingdale circuit, and for one year following held the Browns- 
ville, Missouri, circuit. Later on his charge was the Aullville and 
Dunksville circuit for one year, and the next year he was assigned to 
the Brownsville and Aullville circuit. Finally he received the Clinton 
circuit for a like period. Owing to his wife's ill health he was obliged 
to give up active duty in the church, and for that reason, in 1878 he 
resumed the practice of medicine in this city. Dr. Jones was married 
April, 1846, to Miss Sarah A. Brown, a native of Ohio. They had one 
child, George B. Mrs. Jones' death occurred July 9, 1849. ^^ was 
again married February 14, 1850, to Miss Mary Johnston, also of Ohio. 
They have four children: Robert E., James O., Thomas H. and Edward 
L. W. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he has 
for a term of four years served Henry County as coroner. 

L N. JONES, 

owes his nativity to Illinois. He served in the Federal army for four 
years, during the late war, and on June 14, 1872, came to Henry County,. 
Missouri, and was identified with the Clinton Advocate as publisher and 
proprietor until March, 1878. He was appointed postmaster at Clinton 
by President Hayes and was re-appointed in 1882. He is a member of 
the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities. 



522 HISTORY OF IIENRV COUNTY. 

ALBERT JUDGE, 

grocer, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 30, 1836, while the 
family were in that city as refugees from Charleston, South Carolina, 
which at that time was stricken with yellow fever. They returned, how- 
ever, to Charleston shortly after the birth of Albert. His father, James 
Judge, a native of England, was there raised, and in 1830 he emigrated 
to America. After a limited residence in New York City he went to 
Florida, resided there one year, and thence to Charleston, South Caro- 
lina, where he was engaged in merchandising till 1844. Then, with his 
family, he removed to St. Charles County, Missouri, of which county he 
was a prominent farmer. During the late war he was much abused by 
the Federals for being a Southern sympathizer, and was held a prisoner 
from the spring of 1864 till December, 1865, at different times in the 
prisons of St. Louis, Missouri, Alton, Illinois, and Jefferson City, Mis- 
souri, besides being fined $10,000 and having his property confiscated. 
He is now deceased. Albert's mother, formerly Mary A. French, was 
also born in England and there married Mr. Judge. Her death occurred 
while on a visit to Cincinnati, Ohio, in November, 1864. Young Judge 
grew up on a farm in St. Charles County, Missouri, and attended during 
1855-6-7 the Urbana University. After returning home he continued 
farming and also merchandising to some extent till 1866, at that time 
coming to Henry County. Here he still resumed farming till August, 
18S0, when he engaged in his present business, the firm being Vandiver 
■& Judge. They were associated together till April, 188 1, when the name 
became Judge & Comer, so remaining for eight months. Since that time 
Mr. Judge has been alone in the business. His stock of goods is very 
complete, and the large patronage he is receiving is a sufficient guaran- 
tee of the success of his business. He was united in marriage April 22, 
1862, to Miss Kate Gaiter, of St. Charles County, Missouri. They have 
three children: William A., Carrie B. and Charles E. Mr. J. is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic order. 

HARRY KEMP, 

is a prominent architect, contractor and builder of Clinton. The subject 
of this sketch, originally from England, was born August 8, 1848. He 
passed his youthful days there, and at the age of fifteen years was 
apprenticed to the carpenter trade in London, where he worked till May, 
1867. The latter part of the time he was foreman of the wood working 
machinery of the shop. While learning his trade he attended the night 
sessions of the famous Kensington School of Art, and took a thorough 
course in geometry and architecture. In May, 1867, he emigrated to 
Quebec, Canada, but a few days later went to Hamilton, Canada, where 
he labored till the fall of 1869. Going to DuQuoin, Illinois, he was 



L P.IOGRArHICAL. 523 

engaged in bridge building with the Cairo Short Line Railroad for two 
months. Subsequently he became located in St. Louis, Missouri, where 
he hlled a like position with the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and after a 
short time with that company, he moved to Jefferson City. There with 
J. H. McAdow as a partner, he embarked in contracting and building, 
doing business till 1876. In June, 1877, he came to Clinton, Missouri, 
where he has since followed contracting. He is recognized here as a 
leading mechanic, and many good buildings of his construction in Clin- 
ton attest that fact. Mr. Kemp was married May 3. 1874, to Miss Min- 
nie McAdow, a native of Ohio. They have three children: Emma E., 
Minnie K. and Nellie A. Mr. K. is a member of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church. He is prominent in the Sunday School of that church, 
and is the present superintendent. 

JOHN S. KIMBROUGH, 

stock dealer, was born in Louisa County, Virginia, July 5th, 1819. His 
parents, John and Katharine Boxley Kimbrough, were both Virginians 
b)' birth. When John was an infant they removed to Warren County, 
Kentucky, where he w as brought up and educated, and from his four- 
teenth year clerked in a general store at Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 
October, 1839, they came to Springfield, Missouri, where his father died 
in September, 1840. At his death his family was left with very limited 
means, and their support devolved upon John. Notwithstanding this 
heavy burden his energy was equal to the emergency, and he fulfilled 
his duty nobly. His mother's death occurred in the fall of 1861. In 1841 
Mr. K. engaged in blacksmithing at Springfield, Missouri, which he fol- 
lowed successfully for eight years. Then in 1849 he embarked in mer- 
chandising and general trading in stock, etc., which occupied his atten- 
tion till December, 1861. By this time he had acquired quite a fortune, 
but was ruined by the war, and retreated with General Price to Arkan- 
sas on his move through Missouri. In the spring of 1862 he settled in 
Fayetteville, Arkansas, residing there till the winter of 1862, when he 
returned to Springfield, Missouri. Here he remained till the spring of 
1863, and then went to St. Louis, Missouri, for a short time. In the fall 
of 1863, he resumed merchandising at Columbia, Missouri, and so con- 
tinued for nearly two years. In the spring of 1865 he started from St. 
Louis with a stock of goods, by water, to Montana Territory, and upon 
arriving there became interested in business at Helena. In December, 
1865, leaving his business with a trusted clerk, he returned to Columbia, 
Missouri, by the overland route to visit his family. Going again to Hel- 
. ena in the spring of 1866 he continued to do an extensive business till 
the fall of 1866, when he closed out his interests there and retraced his 
steps to Columbia, Missouri. In the spring of 1867 he bought another 



524 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

stock of goods at St. Louis, which he shipped by water to Houston, 
Texas, but in the following July was compelled to give up his trade there 
on account of the yellow fever epidemic. Returning to Missouri he set- 
tled near Sedalia, and buying a farm of i,i6o acres in that county, 
engaged in farming. In January, 1868, he traded his farm for a large 
stock of goods in Sedalia, and was a prominent merchant in that city 
for two years. In 1870 he came to Clinton, Missouri, and started in the 
hardware and implement business, at which he remained occupied till 
1878. Since that time he has been farming and stock dealing. He has 
a fine farm in Fairview Township consisting of 1,405 acres, upon which 
he feeds an average of 150 head of cattle per year. He is also inter- 
ested in the Coushou cattle ranch in Texas. Mr. Kimbrough was mar- 
ried in December, 1845, to Miss Linna Wear, a native of Tennessee. 
They had three children. Pleasant W., Katherine and Anna N. Mrs. K. 
died December 19th, 1862. He was again married in May, 1864, to Miss 
Ellen M. Graham, of New Jersey. They have five children, John S. 
Joseph B,, Laura G., Linna and Henry S. Mr. K. is a member of the 
Masonic order, and belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

HOWARD KITCHEN, 

of the firm of Hutchinson & Kitchen, m.anufacturers of the famous 
"Hutch and Kitch" Cigars, are the most extensive cigarmakers in this 
city, and are now working fifteen hands and manufacturing 15,000 cigars 
per week. The business was established by this firm in May, 1881, and 
their goods are in such a demand that they can hardly keep up with 
their orders. Howard Kitchen is a native of Hickory County, Ohio, 
and was born December 6, 1859. When he was five years old, his parents 
removed to Jefferson City, Missouri, where they resided till 1867, then 
coming to Henry County, where he was reared and educated. In 1876 
he began the trade of cigar making with W. Winzenberger, remaining 
in his employ for two years. He continued working at that trade in dif- 
ferent shops in this city till May, 188 1, when he engaged in his present 
business. Mr. K. is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

HENRY A. KRATZ, 

dealer in lumber and contractor and builder, owes his nativity to Ger- 
many, where he was born November 5, 1843. When he was four }'ears 
old his parents emigrated to America and finally settled in Marion 
County, Missouri, and it was here that Henry was reared to manhood 
and educated. When about eighteen years of age he began learning the 
carpenter trade and continued it till 1862, when he enlisted in Compain- 
I, Thirt}'-third Missouri Regiment, United States Army, with which he 



I 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 52$ 



served till June 6, 1864. At that time he was wounded at Lake Chicot, 
Arkansas, and was confined in different hospitals till June, 1865, when 
he was discharged. Returning home, he was actively engaged at his 
trade till March. 1871. Going to Vicksburg, Mississippi, he resided there 
four months; then came to Kansas City, Missouri, where he remained 
till October, 1871, and thence to Clinton. Here he resumed contractmg 
and building, and in February, 1881, he connected the lumber business 
with his former occupations and took in a partner, the firm being known 
as Kratz & Scott. They did a large and profitable business till Febru- 
ary, 1882, since which time Mr. K. has been alone. He was married 
June 5. 1867, to Miss Emma E. Rohrer, a native of Ohio. They had two 
children, Arthur W. and Gertrude E. Mrs. K.'s death occurred June 12, 
1869 He was again united in marriage August 4, 1880, to Mrs. M. S. 
(Smith) Henry. They have one child, Anna L. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. fraternity and also belongs to the M. E. Church. 

PROFESSOR E. P. LAMKIN 

was born in 1837, near Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri, where his 
father, Josiah R. Lamkin. a Kentuckian by birth, and a thrifty farmer, 
has resided since 1824. This industrious father, after training his son m 
the varied occupations of farm life, provided for sending him to the State 
University at Columbia, Missouri, where he graduated in 1858, under the 
presidency of that thorough educator, W. H. Hudson. Three years later 
he received his degree of A. M. from 'President B. B. Minor. Mr. Lam- 
kin had not obtained his diploma before he was solicited to accept a 
place which he entered upon in October, after resigning a position in 
the state geological survey, under Professor G. C. Swallow, that of pro- 
fessor of mathematics in Mt. Pleasant College, of HuntsviUe, Missouri. 
He was connected with this school until 1864, having in the meantime, 
owing to previous engagements, declined the principalship of the normal 
department of the State University. The war having virtually closed 
Mt Pleasant College, Mr. L. opened a private school in Jefferson City, 
which was eminently successful. Since that time he has had a number of 
important educational trusts. In 1870, he was in charge of the public 
schools in Jefferson City; in 187 1, he founded Boonville Male Academy; 
in 1873 he was again superintendent of the Jefferson City public schools; 
then. .in 1875, superintendent of public schools in California, Missouri; 
acrain in 1877, he was elected to take charge of the Jefferson City school, 
but resigned the offer, in order to take charge of the Synodical Female 
College, of Fulton, Missouri, being associated with Rev. B. H. Charles. 
After remaining there two years, he disposed of his interest to his part- 
ner Mr Charles, and then came to Clinton. For tvvo years he had 
charge of the public schools here, after which he became connected with 



526 , HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Clinton Acadiny. To this his zeal, energies and experience are now- 
given, with the hope of making it the crowning effort of a life devoted 
to the cause of education. 

BERRYMAN H. LAND, M. D. 

Among the medical practitioners of this county, who are deserving 
of more than a mere mention in a work of this kind, is the subject of 
this sketch. He is a native of Sparkingburg District, South Carolina, 
and was born January 21, 1828. His parents, James and Charlotte 
(Coleman) Land, were also Virginians by birth. In 183 1 the family 
removed to Pickens County, Alabama, and it was there that Berryman 
spent his boyhood days, being reared in the occupation of farming. At 
the age of nineteen years he removed to St. Clair County, Illinois, and 
for the succeeding two and a half years, was a student of the Lebanon 
(Illinois) College. In 1849, he began the study of medicine with Dr. E. 
P. Bland and in the term of 1856 and 1857, he graduated at the Missouri 
Medical College, of St. Louis, Missouri. Returning to St. Clair County, 
Illinois, he practiced his profession there till November, 1865, when he 
came to Henry County, Missouri. In 1868 he settled at Clinton and 
here has since been a successful practitioner. The doctor was married 
July 18, 1S49, to Miss Nancy J. Outhouse, originally from Illinois. They 
had one child, James F. Mrs. Land's death occurred March 18, 1854, 
He was again married June 6, 1856, to Angeline Latham, a native of 
Alabama. He is a member of the Masonic Order. 

SAMUEL M. LANE, 

a member of the enterprising grocery house of Bledsoe & Lane, is a 
native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and was born March 12, i860. His 
father, Samuel M. Lane, was born in Ohio, and his mother, Jane (McDon- 
ald) Lane, a native of Virginia, was reared in Ohio, where they were 
married. The family consisted of seven children, of whom Samuel was 
the sixth. He grew to manhood and was educated in his native county, 
spending his youthful days on a farm. In March, 1880, he went to Sul- 
livan County, Missouri, but after remaining there a short time took a 
trip west for his health, in a wagon. He returned to northwest Missouri 
by way of Kansas, and after a short visit in Sullivan County, came to 
Clinton in September, 1880. In September, 18S1, he engaged in his 
present business. Mr. Lane was united in marriage October 10, 1882, to 
Miss Sallie Lindsay, of Henry County, Missouri. 

LINGLE BROS. 

are editors and publishers of the Henry County Democrat. This firm 
is composed of G. R. and Thomas J. Lingle. Their father, John S. Lim- 



I 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 527 

gle, is a native of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and the name of their 
mother when married was Elizabeth Leach. George R. was born in Ben- 
ton County, Missouri, November 19, 1842. He was reared principally in 
that county, and learned the " art preservative of all arts " in the office 
of the Southwest Democrat in Warsaw, where he lived until 1861. Going 
to Warrensburg, he, in connection with J. W. Wolf, published the Mis- 
souri State Sentinel, a paper strongly advocating state rights. After a 
few months he abandoned this enterprise and returned to Warsaw. In 
August, 1864, he went to Sedalia, Missouri, and the same month com- 
menced the publication of the Sedalia Advertiser, the first regular 
printed newspaper in that place. After publishing it for three or four 
months Colonel Jeff Thompson came in on a raid and thus cut off the 
supply of paper. The following year the office was sold to James Magan, 
who commenced editing the Sedalia Times, which, after clianging hands 
and consolidating with other papers, became the Eagle-Times, this paper 
suspending in January, 1883. In 1864 Mr. L. was interested in the Inde- 
pendent and remained connected with it until 1867, when it was burned 
out. The Sedalia Democrat was built upon its ruins the following year 
as a joint stock company, Mr. Lingle being one of the original directors. 
One year later he sold his interest and made his home in Windsor for a 
time, then once more returning to Sedalia. He filled the position of 
reporter and foreman on the Democrat until 1879, when he purchased an 
interest with his brother in the Henry County Democrat. Mr. Lingle 
was married November 2, 1S72, to Miss Ella Withers, a native of Ken- 
tucky. They have two children, Leslie and Grace. 

Thomas J. Lingle was also born in Benton County, Missouri, Janu- 
ar)^ 8, 1846, and here spent his youthful days at various occupations. In 
1864 he went to Sedalia and became connected with his brother in the 
Independent Press, which was burned out in 1867. From here he 
removed to a farm near Windsor in Henry County. After farming two 
years he published the Windsor Courier, a paper strongly advocating 
the Meadow County organization. Mr. Lingle buil't the first two-story 
brick business house in Windsor, and for a time he was engaged as a 
notary public and in settling war claims against the state. He then 
returned to Sedalia and became local editor and foreman of the Demo- 
crat, afterwards purchasing an interest, and later was business manager. 
In 1877 he sold out and came to Clinton and purchased the Henry County 
Democrat. In 1878-9 Mr. L. served as assistant chief clerk of the state 
legislature. He was married in 1867 to Miss Lou M. Kelly, of Warsaw, 
Benton County. They have a family of five children: Edward R. P., 
Ormsby K., Daisy W., Charles R. and George C. 



528 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

JOHN S. LINGLE, 

one of the early pioneers of Henry County, was born in Dauphin County, 
Pennsylvania, November 13, 181 1. His father, Simon Lingle, was also 
a native Pennsylvanian, and by occupation a saddler. The maiden name 
of his mother was Susan Story, of the same county and state. The sub- 
ject of this notice received a thorough practical education in the state 
of his birth, and engaged in several occupations, but mainly as book- 
keeper for an iron foundry. In 1836 he came west and settled on sec- 
tion 9, now embraced in Deer Creek Township, Henry County, Missouri, 
where he was occupied in agricultural pursuits, and at the same time 
dividing his time between teaching and surveying. He assisted in the 
government survey of two southern townships in Henry and one in 
Benton County. He then removed to Benton County, and after farm- 
ing several years went to Warsaw, where he was long employed as sales- 
man and bookkeeper for James Atkisson, and while in his employ was 
clerk on the steamboat Thomas L. Crawford, which made regular season 
trips on the Osage River. He was elected county treasurer for several 
terms as an old line Whig. In 1865 he removed to Sedalia, where he 
was employed as salesman and bookkeeper for mercantile firms, and 
which is yet his home. Although beyond his seventy-first year he is 
in moderately vigorous health, can read ordinary print without the use 
of glasses, and yet attends closely to business. He has been a life-long 
member of the M. E. Church, south. Mr. Lingle was twice married; 
first in 1836, in Howard County, Missouri, to Miss Mary Fox, who died 
in 1839, leaving one son whose death occurred when about grown. His 
second marriage was in 1841, in Benton County, to Mrs. Elizabeth 
Leach, who had one son, he became editor of the Southwest Democrat, 
Warsaw, and in 1861 was killed at Cole Camp. Mrs. Lingle died in Feb- 
ruary, 1862, leaving seven children, five sons and two daughters: George 
R., Thomas J., James H. and Washington P., of Clinton; Benjamin R., 
of Windsor; Mary S., now Mrs. R. E. Hastie, and Roseanna, now Mrs. 
James A. Hudson, of Sedalia. 

JAMES T. McKEE, 

proprietor of the Post Office Bookstore, was born in Darke County, 
Ohio, April i, 1845. He was brought up in the occupation of farming, 
.and received his education from the schools ot his native county. When 
twenty-one years of age he became engaged in school teaching, which 
profession he successfully followed till 1867. Coming to Henry County, 
Missouri, he continued that profession for one year. In July, 1868, he 
was made deputy postmaster, and held this position till September, 1872. 
In July, 1871, while yet in the office, he established his present business. 



BIOGRAPrilCAL. 529 

conducting it in connection with his official duties, till 1872. Since that 
time, however, he has given it his entire attention. He carries a com- 
plete stock of goods here, and is doing a large share of the business in 
his line in Clinton. In March, 1877, he established a branch store in 
McLeansboro', Illinois, the firm there being J. T. McKee & Co., and in 
March, 1882, he established another branch store at Murphysboro', Illi- 
nois, under the firm name of McKee Brothers. Mr. McKee was married 
April 10, 1873, to Miss Mary Ricketts, a native of Ohio. They have 
three children: Ralph H., Inez L., and Romney. He is a member of the 
K. of P., and both Mr. and Mrs McK. hold micmbership in the First 
Presbyterian Church. 

WILLIAM McKINNEY, 

farmer, section 13, was born in Licking County, Ohio, July 17, 1834. His 
father, Joseph McKinney, was born in Pennsylvania, July 6, i8or, and 
emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, when thirteen years of age. He 
was there reared and there married the mother of William, then Miss 
Elizabeth Hopper, who was born in Virginia. She had moved to Lick- 
ing County while quite young. After leading a useful and honest life, 
Mr. Joseph McKinney passed away July 26, 1868. His widow is still 
living. William grew up and was educated in his native county, spend- 
ing his boyhood days in tilling the soil. At the age of nineteen he began 
teaching school, which occupation he continued to follow during school 
term for nine years. He then emigrated by team to Henry County, 
Missouri, settling on his present place. His landed estate consists of 
over 782 acres of choice land, the most of which is well fenced and 
improved. He is largely interested in stock dealing and feeding, and 
every winter feeds for market a large number of cattle. He was united 
in marriage September 9, 1S66, with Miss Elizabeth Rhyne, a native of 
Ohio. They have three children: Delia D., Willie E. and Bertha M. He 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

WILLIAM H. McLANE, 

a native of Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, was born July 6, 18 16. His 
father, John McLane, was born in North Carolina, about 1773, and came 
to Missouri in 1810; he married Miss Lydia Lawrence, who was also born 
in North Carolina, in 1773. They reared eight children, of whom Wil- 
liam was the youngest. John McLane died in 1848, his wife's death 
having occurred in 1844. Young McLane was brought up in the county 
of his birth, and when a youth, was engaged in flatboating produce down 
the river to New Orleans, that then being quite an industry. In 1838, 
he embarked in the mercantile business at Appleton, Missouri, which he 
continued for twenty-five years. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the 



530 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Federal service in Company A, Fifty-Sixth Missouri Regiment, and 
arose from the ranks to the position of colonel of that regiment. Toward 
the close of the war he was given the command of the Eighth Missouri 
Regiment, and was its colonel when mustered out in June, 1865. He 
then returned home, and in the spring of 1866, came to Clinton, Mis- 
souri, where he has since been a prominent and enterprising citizen. He 
is one of the largest farmers in this county, and has 1,000 acres of well 
improved land. His fine brick residence in the city was erected at a 
cost of $14,000. Mr. McLane was united in marriage in June, 1846, to 
Miss Eliza Moore, of Missouri. They have four children: Mary, Isabella 
(dead), Lydia and Kate. In 1868 Mr. McL. represented Henry County, 
in the state legislature, and served for a term of two years with honor to 
himself and with credit to the county. From 1872 to 1877, he served as 
deputy United States marshal, resigning the position in the latter year. 

S. C. MACE, 

editor and proprietor of the Clinton Advocate, was born in Monroe 
County, Illinois, September 29, 1836, his parents being John and Mary 
(McFarland) Mace. When eighteen years of age the subject of this sketch 
removed to St. Clair County, Illinois, and followed agricultural pursuits 
there for seven years, then changing his residence to Bond County, 
where he served as deputy circuit clerk. In 1865, he commenced his 
journalistic experience, and was connected with the Greenville Advo- 
cate for eight years, and the succeeding two years was engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits. He soon returned to St. Clair County, going thence to 
St. Louis, where, in connection with L. W. Revis, he started the Tribune, 
a three cent morning paper, but owing to poor management it proved 
unsatisfactory financially, and he returned to Illinois. After living in St. 
Clair and Bond Counties, he in August, 1880, came to Clinton, Henry 
County, Missouri, and purchased the Clinton Advocate, which he has 
since published. Politically he is a staunch Republican, and his paper 
is the faithful exponent of Republican doctrine for Henry County. Mr. 
Mace was married in December, 1863, to Mrs. Mary Wait Simonds, of 
Bond County, Illinois. 

CHARLES M. MAJORS, 

blacksmith and carriage manufacturer, was born in Adams County, 
Indiana, May i, 1851. His youth was divided between working on a 
farm and attending the common schools of that county. In 1870 he 
came to Clinton, Missouri, and was engaged in various kinds of labor 
till the spring of 1872, when he began learning the blacksmith trade 
with Oschsli & Co. He continued with them till March, 1875, then went 
west and during nine months worked a short time in various places 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 53 1 

through Colorado, Wyoming and Dakota. Returning to Missouri he 
followed his trade at Carthage for seven months, and upon again coming 
to Clinton worked for his former employer till March, 1879. Then with 
Mr. Alfter he became interested in the blacksmith and carriage business, 
this partnership existing till November, 188 1, when the firm became 
Majors & Arnold, who continued the business till November, 1882. 
Since that time Mr. M. has been alone in business. He enjoys a large 
jobbing trade, besides manufacturing a great many carriages and bug- 
gies. He occupies a good brick building and carries a complete supply 
of new work. He was married June 18, 1876, to Miss Amantha Arnold. 
They have one child, Earl. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

WILLIAM MESSICK, 

liveryman, is a native of McComb, Illinois, and was born May 12, 1859. 
When he was two years old his parents came to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, settling in Clinton, and it was here that William was reared and 
educated. In 1873 he entered the employ of S. Blatt, with whom he 
remained until September, 1880, when he engaged in the livery busi- 
ness. He is now enjoying a most liberal and successful trade, having 
twenty-eight rigs and thirty-seven head of horses, constituting about as 
well an equipped stable as there is in Clinton. Mr. Messick deserves 
great credit for making himself what he now is. Starting in life with 
nothing, he has worked himself up by hard labor to his present posi- 
tion. 

JOHN G. MIDDELCOFF, 

proprietor of Clinton Mills, was born in Mason County, West Virginia, 
October 5, 1829. His parents, Jacob and Sarah (Wilson) Middelcofif, 
were also natives of Virginia and were married in that state. They 
raised a family of eight children, of whom John was the fourth child. 
His father died in September, i860, and his mother's death occured seven 
days later, both dying in Henry County, Missouri. John G. passed his 
youth and early manhood in his native county till his twentieth year, 
when he engaged in river engineering. This profession he followed on 
the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers till 1855. Coming to Henry County, 
Missouri, he was interested in farming for one year, after which he gave 
his attention to a saw mill till 1867, when he built a small flouring mill. 
To this he has since added from time to time, and it is now known as 
the Clinton Mills. His flour has an excellent reputation, and he has a 
large and constantly increasing demand for his product. Mr. M. was 
married January 9, 1856, to Miss Sallie A. Watkins, a native of Vir- 
ginia. They have four children: William F., Edward L., Rose and Cath- 
erine. Mr. M. has served as a member of the city council, and his influ- 



532 iIISTORV OF IIENRV COUNTY. 

ence is ever on the side of the rif^ht. He is a mcinber of the Masonic 
order and is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. 

SAMUEL A. MILTON, 

surgeon dentist, owes his nativity to McDonough County, Illinois, where 
he was born January 13, 1847. While Samuel was an infant, the family 
removed to Hancock County, Illinois, and it was in that locality that he 
was reared and educated, with the exception of a commercial course 
taken at Mussleman's College, at Quincy, Illinois. When nineteen years 
of age, he began school teaching in Mercer County, Missouri, teaching 
there eight months, and for the following two years, he taught at his 
home, during a portion of which time he studied dentistry with his 
brother. In 187 1, he came to Clinton, Missouri, and resumed his dental 
studies under his brother, George W. Milton, and after completing his 
studies became a partner with him. In 1874 he purchased his brother's 
interest. During the term of 1879-80, he attended a course of lectures 
and graduated at the Philadelphia Dental College. He is a member of 
the Missouri Dental Association. Dr. Milton was married September 
13, 1881, to Miss Susie Parks, daughter of Judge Parks, of Clinton. They 
have one child, Louise A. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the 
encampment of that order, and he and his wife are connected with the 
Baptist Church. 

REV. GRANVILLE L. MOAD, M. D., 

pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, was born in Cole County, 
Missouri, August 5, 1827. His father, James Moad, a native of Tennes- 
see, came to Missouri in 18 18, and married Mrs. Rebecca Pauley, whose 
maiden name was Linville. The former died in October, 1856, and the 
latter the month previous. The subject of this sketch was reared on a 
farm in his native county, and had an uneventful life until war was 
declared against Mexico. He enlisted in 1846, in Company F, (Captain 
Parson's Company,) of Colonel Doniphan's Regiment, and served until 
mustered out at New Orleans, in June, 1847. He then returned to his 
hoine in Cole County, Missouri. Having in early life united with the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and joining the New Lebanon Pres- 
bytery in April, 1848, he was licensed by that body to preach the gospel 
iTi 1849, '^"^^ assigned to the circuit then including Cole, Moniteau and 
Miller Counties. After one )-ear he was transferred to the Saline and 
Pettis Circuit, and upon preaching in this field for one year, in October, 
1850, he became a student in Chapel Hill College, and pursued his stud- 
ies in that institution two and a half years. In the fall of 1853, he was 
ordained a minister of the Gospel of Christ at Mt. Vernon, Missouri. 
He was then engaged for a time in missionar}' work in different counties 



BlOGRArUICAL. 533 

of Missouri. In 1854, he accepted a call from the New Lebanon Church, 
at New Lebanon, Missouri, and remained its pastor until the fall of 1857. 
Removing to Platte City, he took charge of the church at that place, and 
lived there until November, 1866. During this time he had been read- 
ing medicine, and in 1863-4, he attended the St. Louis Medical College, 
at St. Louis, Missouri, and in connection with his duties as pastor of the 
Platte City Church, also practiced medicine. From November, 1866, till 
December, 1870, he was a resident of Leavenworth, Kansas. He then 
returned to the county of his birth, and preached and practiced his pro- 
fession for one year. In 1872, he received a call to his present pastorate, 
which has been one of peace and prosperity. In 1878-9, he again attended 
the St. Louis Medical College, and was graduated from that institution 
in the spring of 1879, since which time he has devoted himselt to the 
treatment of the eye, doing only an office practice, and he has attained 
to a well merited success as a skillful oculist. Dr. Moad was married 
August 4, 1S53, to Miss S. E. Sanders, a native of this state. They have 
two sons: William R., a practicing physician, and Ewing S. He is a 
Knight Templar in the Masonic order. 

H. MONTGOMERY, 

of the firm of Zener & Montgomery, was born in Waukegan, Lake 
County, Illinois, February nth, 1853, and is the son of James and Sarah 
Montgomery, nee Talmage. In 1854 the family removed to Floyd 
County, Iowa, and in 1857 came to St. Clair County, Missouri, living 
there until i860, when they returned to Iowa. The subject of this sketch 
remained in that state until after the close of the war and then returned 
to Missouri, and in 1868 to Clinton. Besides being proficient in his 
business he is a practical naturalist, taxidermist and mineralogist, and 
has a large collection of prepared skeletons of animals in general, and 
many stuffed birds, monstrosities and other specimens suitable for pre- 
servation, bottled in liquids, too numerous to mention. He also has a 
fine collection of minerals and old coins of every description. He is 
laying the foundation for a museum, etc. He is an active member in 
the Masonic fraternity. 

MILO C. MOORE, 

of the firm of Moore & Rogers, brick manufacturers and contractors, is 
a native of Macoupin County, Illinois, where he was born December 2, 
1847. He was bought up to manhood and obtained his education in the 
couHty of his birth, following from boyhood the occupation of farming. 
He was there engaged in that occupation till October, 1865, when he 
came to Henry County. Missouri, settling near Huntlngdale. There he 
was also interested in farming till 1874, at which time he returned to 



534 HISTORY oi" henr\ county. 

Macoupin County, Illinois. After living there seven months he again 
became located in this county, and farmed till March, 1881, when he 
settled in Clinton, Missouri, embarking with Mr. Rogers in the manu- 
facture of brick. They have a yard north of town where they have 
facilities for manufacturing a large number of brick during the coming 
year. They have increased their business to some extent over that of 
last year. Mr. M. was united in marriage March 10, 1875, to Mrs. 
Nancy A. Barker, whose maiden name was Paul. 

EDWARD Y. NICHOLS. M. D., 

is a native of Franklin County, Vermont, and was born June 27th, 1829. 
He was reared at his birthplace, receiving his education from the Bakers- 
field (Vermont) Academy, and in 185 1 he began the study of medicine 
under Dr. B. S. Nichols, of White Hall, New York. After one year's 
course with that physician he continued his studies under Dr. T. B. 
Nichols, of Crown Point, New York, remaining with him for three years, 
and during this time he attended lectures for two terms at the Casselton 
Medical College, Nevv York, from which he graduated. Going to New 
York City he attended the medical term of 1854-5 in the New York 
Medical College. He then came west and began the practice of medi- 
cine at Union, Henry County, Illinois, remaining there eight months, 
when he removed to Mason County, Illinois. After following his pro- 
fession in that vicinity till 1864, he located at Pekin, Illinois, and was 
there interested in the drug business together with his practice. In 1877 
he came to Clinton, Missouri. Dr. Nichols was married July 30, 1856, 
to Miss Permillia A. Cheek, a native of Kentucky. They have six child- 
ren, William E., Nellie P., Charles H., Francis Y., Arthur L. and Frede- 
rick C. The doctor is a member of the First Presbyterian Church. 

CLARENCE L. ORTH, 

produce commission merchant, an enterprising citizen of Clinton, owes 
his nativity to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he was born October r, 
1847. He there passed his younger days on a farm, and obtained a good 
education from the schools of that county. In 1869 he went to Bloom- 
field, Iowa, where for three years he followed the produce commission 
business. Then for six months he did business at Chariton, Iowa, and 
upon going to Leon, of that state, was in the produce business for two 
and a half years. Subsequently he became located in Chillicothe, Mis- 
souri, where he did a large and successful business till 1880. Then he 
came to Clinton, Missouri, and in September of that year established 
himself as a commission merchant, on the east side of the square. In 
May, 1 88 1, he occupied his present building, near the depot, where he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 535 

now does busines. Besides handling produce he is interested in various 
other enterprises, among which may be mentioned the cooper and ice 
trades, manager of the broom factory, and city agent for a cracker manu- 
factory. Mr. O. was united in marriage August 24, 1878, to Miss Lucy 
Harper, a Missourian by birth. They have two children: Estella and 
Fannie. 

BENJAMIN L. OWENS, 

section 12. Among the prominent and successful men of this county 
may be mentioned the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Lafay- 
ette County, Missouri, and was born March 8, 1824. His father, Abel 
Owens, was born in North Carolina, and settled near the present site of 
Lexington, Lafayette County, in 18 18. His mother, formerly Elizabeth 
Gooch, also came originally from the same state. They reared a family 
of eight children, of whom Benjamin was the youngest. His father died 
in 1834, and his mother's death occurred April 9, 1873. Benjamin L. 
was a resident of Lafayette County till thirteen years of age, when he 
removed to Platte County, Missouri, there being brought up among the 
pioneers. In the spring of 1846 he enlisted for the Mexican war with 
Captain Owens' company, of Colonel Price's regiment, with which he 
served fourteen months. He was then paroled and returned to Platte 
County, and after a short residence there came to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, in the tall of 1847, settling after a time on Honey Creek. Here he 
farmed till 1853, and in that year moved on his present place. His 
■estate consists of 700 acres of well improved land, and he is one of the 
largest and most successful stock dealers and feeders in the county. 
Mr. Owens was married April 24, 1849, to Miss Francis J. Sweeney, a 
daughter of Jonathan Sweeney, who came from Kentucky to Henry 
County in 1840, and died where he had settled, May 28, 1852. They 
have six children living. Ermine, Walter E., Nora L, George H., and 
Maude and Fred, twins. Mr. O. is a member of the Masonic order, and 
also belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1873 he was 
elected a member of the county court, serving in that position for four 
years. 

DAVID B. PAGE, 

a member of the establishment of Page & Hopkins, proprietors of the 
Co-operative Store, is a native of Delaware County, Ohio, where he was 
born July 26, 1840. He was reared and educated in the county of his 
birth, spending two years as a student of Wesleyan University, at Del- 
aware, Ohio. When twenty years of age he went to Philadelphia, Penn- 
sylvania, and from 1862 till 1867 was engaged as clerk in the wholesale 
willow ware house of Roe, Enston & Co. Then he retraced his steps to 
Ohio and after one year's residence there, removed to Marshall County, 



536 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Illinois, where he remained till the winter of 1871. At this time he 
came to Clinton, Missouri, and was interested in coal speculation for 
two years. In 1873, he established the nursery business near Clinton, 
but in the spring of 1875 went to Joplin, Missouri, and for two years 
was occupied there in mining and speculating in mining property. 
Returning to Clinton he accepted a clerkship with the Frowein Bros, till 
they sold out to Snyder & Boyse. He was then retained by the new 
firm, with whom he remained till September, 188?, when he and Mr. 
Hopkins embarked in their present business. Mr. Page was married 
May 30, 1866, to Miss May Marton, of Ohio. They have five children : 
Bessie M., Ariedue, Herbert M., Christina and Ralph E. They are 
members of the M. E. Church. 

FOUNTAIN R. PIPER, 

of the firm of Piper Brothers, dealers in dry goods, clothing, boots and 
shoes, hats, caps, etc., is a native of Saline County, Missouri, and was 
born July 31, 1846. He was reared to manhood and educated in the 
county of his birth and at the age of fourteen years became engaged in 
clerking with the firm of Gorham & Seige, of Marshal, with whom he 
remained two years. Then for several years he clerked at different 
times for a number of firms in that city. In 1864 he embarked in busi- 
ness at Arrow Rock, Missouri, where he remained till 1870, then coming 
to Clinton and entering as a partner with E. Allison, in the dry goods 
business. The firm was then known as Allison & Piper till 1878, when 
he retired and established the present business, which he continued 
alone till July, 1881, when his brother, R. H. Piper, became associated 
with him. They carry a full stock of goods and are doing a remunera- 
tive business. Mr. Piper was married November 13, 1873, to Miss Sallie 
R. McMahan, of Saline County, Missouri. They have two children. 
Fountain, Jr., and Jessie M. Mr. P. is a member of the I. O. O. F. fra- 
ternity, of this city. 

EMERY O. PRICE, 

county treasurer, was born in Washington County, Virginia, November 
29, 1840. His parents, Robert M. and Jane (Diskman) Price, were both 
natives of Virginia and were there brought up and married. They 
raised a family of ten children, of whom Emery was the fourth. He 
passed his youth and was educated in the county of his birth, residing 
there till the commencement of the war, when he enlisted in April, 1861, 
in Company I, Forty-eighth Virginia Infantry, and served till July 12, 
1863. On that day he received a wound in the arm at the battle of Get- 
tysburg, compelling its amputation, and as soon as his health would per- 
mit he returned home. He remained there till 1867, and in that year 
came to Henry County, Missouri, and engaged in farming, which occu- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. . 537 

pation he continued until elected county treasurer, assuming the duties 
of that office January, 1879. He has twice been re-elected to fill the 
same position, a sufficient guarantee of his popularity and qualification. 
Mr. Price was married July, 1867, to Miss Mary E. Houston, a native of 
\^irginia. She died, leaving two children, Walter L. and Callie W. Mr. 
P. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and also the encampment. He belongs 
to the A. O. U. W. fraternity and is connected with the Christian Church. 

BENJAMIN L. OUARLES, 

County Clerk, is a native of Overton County, Tennessee, and was born 
May 6, 1826. In 1835 he removed with the family to Monroe County, 
Missouri, where he was reared to manhood and educated, spending his 
time when not attending school in his father's store. In 185 1 he engaged 
in the mercantile business for himself at Madison, Missouri, where he 
did a successful business for two and one-half years. In 1854 he came 
to Henry County, Missouri, and until 1859 farmed and taught school. In 
that }'ear he was elected county clerk, serving in that office for two 
years, and then he enlisted, in 1862, in the confederate army in Com- 
pany K, second Missouri Cavalry. That company acted as General 
Price's body guard during the war. In June, 1865 he returned to this 
city and was occupied in clerking till the fall of 1869, when he embarked 
in business for himself He remained in trade until elected county clerk, 
in 1874, serving four years. In 1879 he was appointed to fill out an 
unexpired term as circuit clerk, and at the close of that term, in 1880, 
was elected to that office, and served till January i, 1883. At the elec- 
tion in November, 1882, lie was elected again for the third time to the 
office of county clerk, and entered upon the duties of his position in 
January following. Mr. Ouarles was united in marriage May 3, 1849. to 
Miss Sarah E. Young, a Kentuckian by birth. Her death occurred in 
1852. He was again married March 17, 1853, to Miss Emily Swindell, a 
native of Monroe County, Missouri. They have five children, Martha 
P., Mary R., John A., James E. and Berilla M. Mr. Q. is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity. 

JUDGE ALNEY M. RHOADS, 

section 2, was born in Muhlenburg County, Kentucky, January 11, 1S21. 
His father, Jacob Rhoads, also a native of that state, was born, Febru- 
ary 10, 1786, while his mother, formerly Elizabeth Ripple, was born in 
Pennsylvania, October 29. 1788. They were married in Kentuck}^ and 
were blessed with nine children, of whom Alney was the eighth. The 
senior Rhoads died in 1858, and his widow's death occurred in i860. 
The family had removed to Edgar County, Illinois when our subject was 
quite young, and it was there that he was reared and educated. He fol- 



538 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

lowed, from boyhood, agricultural pursuits. In April, 1854, he came to 
Missouri, settling in Pettis County, where he was engaged in farming till 
the winter of that year. He then came to Henry County, Missouri, and 
the spring following, or in 1855, moved his family and located' where he 
now resides. He has 412 acres of fine land, most of which is fenced, 
and his improvements generally are excellent. Mr. R. was married 
October 13, 1841, to Miss Susan Dickson, a native of Ohio. They have 
had nine children, two of whom are now living : Elizabeth and Jacob. 
Those deceased are : John F., Clarinda J., Jackson, Minerva P., Rebecca 
E., Lydia A. and Mary A. In i860 Mr. Rhoads was elected justice of 
the peace of Clinton Township and served till 1863, when he was 
appointed county judge. He continued to serve in that capacity till 
1865 when he resigned. Shortly afterward, however, he was appointed 
public administrator of the county, remaining in that office for two years. 
In 1872 he became a director and stockholder of the First National 
Bank of Clinton, and was identified with the institution till April, 1880. 
He then became a stockholder in the Henry County Bank, and in June, 
1881, was elected its vice president. 

SAMUEL RICE, 

farmer, section 4, came originally from Wayne County, Ohio, where he 
was born June 29, 1834. His father, Simon Rice, was born in Pennsyl- 
vania and moved to Ohio in 18 15. His mother, whose maiden name 
was Barbara Yager, was a native of France, and went to Ohio when 
eight years of age. They were married in Wayne County, and there 
reared ten children, of whom Samuel was the third child. The death of 
Simon Rice occurred in November, 1862, and his widow passed away 
November 3, 1881. Young Rice reached his manhood and was educated 
in his native county, and followed farming for a livelihood till 1861, 
when he engaged in the carpenter trade. This he continued for two 
years, then resuming his farming operations. In February, 1876, he 
came to Henry County, and settled in the neighborhood of where he 
now resides. He has a well improved farm of 150 acres of land, and is 
widely known as being one of our most progressive farmers. Mr. Rice 
was married December 27, 1871, to Miss Rebecca McClarren, of Penn- 
sylvania. They have two children, Frederick W. and Willard S. They 
are members of the First Presbyterian Church. 

J. A. ROGERS, M. D., 

was born in Winchester, Kentucky, March 29, 1818, being the son of Dr. 
Henry Rogers, a prominent physician, also a native of Kentucky. The 
maiden name of his mother was Betsy Reed, born in the same state. J. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 539 

A. was reared in Kentucky until sixteen years of age, then removing 
with his parents to Indiana. Having decided on the profession of his 
father as his occupation during life, he at once commenced preparing 
himself for the practice of medicine under the care of his father. He 
attended lectures at the Lexington Medical College and began the active 
duties of his profession at Parkersburg, Indiana, and there married Miss 
Catherine A. Gorman April 3, 1839; she is a sister of General Willis 
Gorman. Dr. R. lived here until 1842, when he came to Missouri and 
settled in Henry County southeast of Clinton in what was then known 
as the Parks neighborhood. After a short time he located in Clinton and 
continued to practice medicine until his death, which occurred April 22, 
1861. He left six children: Betty, who married George Royston, since 
deceased; Willis G.; Irene, now Mrs. B. G. Boone; Dora, now Mrs. P. F. 
Thornton, of Nevada; John A., Jr., and Alice, now Mrs. Burton, of 
Nevada. 

JOHN H. ROYSTON, 

is the present popular county assessor, and no one among the old set- 
tlers and prominent citizens of this county is more worthy of mention in 
its history than he. A native of Caroline County, Virginia, he was born 
May 12, 1827, his parents, Thomas and Susanna (Thornton) Royston, 
also being Virginians by birth. They were there reared and married, 
and in September, 1839, removed to Monroe County, Missouri, where 
John was engaged with his father in farming till April, 1841. They then 
came to Henry County, subsequently locating on a farm. Mr. Royston's 
death occurred in this county in 185 1, his wife died in Monroe County 
in June, 1841. The subject of this sketch continued to till the soil here 
till 1847, when he went to Lexington, Missouri. Here for two years he 
worked at the carpenter's trade. In the spring of 1849 he took a trip to 
California, and was occupied in mining and prospecting till May, 1852. 
Arriving here again July, 1852, he resumed farming, which he continued 
(with the exception of short periods when occupied at carpentering), till 
elected to the office of county assessor. In 1882 he was re-elected to fill 
that office for the present term. Mr. R.'s family still reside on a farm 
which he owns in Deer Creek Township. He was married September 
5, 1855, to Miss Rachael K. Harris, of Missouri. They have seven child- 
ren living: Mollie S., George H., J. Anna, Grace D., Thomas W., John 
H., and Mora L. Mr. and Mrs. Royston are members of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

RICHARD RUSSELL, 

farmer, section 5, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, Jul}^ 7, 1838, 
being a son of William and Rebecca (Gifford) Russell, also natives of 
England. The former was born in 1817, and died in 1872, while the lat- 



540 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ter was born in iSi", and died in 1844. They had a family of four chil- 
dren. Richard Russell immigrated to America when about nineteen 
years of age, and became located in Painesville, Ohio, subsequently com- 
ing to Sedalia, Missouri, at that time being in possession of only five dol- 
lars. He remained in that city about one and a half years, occupied in 
contracting, and from there came to his present location September 15, 
1867. He is now the owner of about 500 acres of fine land, well improved. 
February 17, 1867, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Rebecca Bailey, a 
native of Putnam Count}', Indiana, born August 9, 1844. Her parents 
were S. S. and Eliza Bailey, Kentuckians by birth. Her father was born 
in 1817, and her mother in 1816. They had a family often children. Mr. 
and Mrs. Russell have four children: George S., born November 4, 1871; 
Franklin J., born September 27, 1873; William T., born January 15, 1874, 
and Rosa May, born March 3, 1879. ^^i"- and Mrs. R. are members of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The former is a Mason in good stand- [ 
ing, belonging to Tebo Lodge, at Clinton. Mi. Russell's brother, Gifford 
Russell, a farmer of this township, was also born in Cambridgeshire, Eng- 
land, August 21, 1S41, and in 1859, immigrated to America, settling at 
Painesville, Ohio. In 1S67, he came to Missouri, and afterwards took up 
his residence in Henry County. 

HARVEY W. SALMON 

was born January 26, 1839, in Greenville District, South Carolina. His 
father, Ezekiel J. Salmon, was a native of the same place, and by occu- 
pation a farmer. He removed to Missouri in 1839 and settled near Ver- 
sailles, in Morgan County, where he was engaged in farming and stock 
raising. H. W. spent his early life on his father's farm, attending school 
until thirteen years of age, when he commenced his mercantile experi- 
ence as a clerk in a store in Versailles, Morgan County. In 1859 '""^ 
embarked in business with his brothers in that city, and continued 
therein until May 13, 1S61. The great civil war was then being waged 
and the Salmon brothers espoused the confederate cause, locked their 
store doors, leaving their stock of goods to the chance of the times, and 
enlisted in the southern army. Harvey volunteered in Company F, 
Robert McCullough's regiment, and participated in the battles of Car- 
thage, Wilson Creek, Dry Wood and Lexington. The following October 
he was commissioned captain. In November, 1861, the term of enlist- 
ing having expired, he returned to Morgan County on recruiting service, 
and was there taken prisoner and confined ten months in St. Louis, 
Alton and Johnson's Island. He was then exchanged and joined Briga- 
dier-General Parsons in Arkansas, and served on his staff as chief of , 
ordnance until the close of the war. After the surrender he returned to 
St. Louis, and in November, 18G6, came to Clinton and commenced withj 



BIOGRAPHICAL: 54I 

his brother, G. Y. Salmon, and D. C. Stone in the banking business. In 
1871 he and his brother purchased the interest of D. C. Stone in the 
Clinton Bank, and have since conducted the business, under the firm 
name of Salmon & Salmon. In 1872 Mr. S. was elected state treasurer, 
and while occupying the office reduced the state debt over $1,000,000, a 
fact for which men of all parties in Missouri have given him great credit, 
his financial ability resulting in so great a good Governor Woodson, in 
one of his messages to the legislature, stated he was worthy of high 
commendation for the honesty, perseverance and energy with which he 
had transacted the arduous duties of his office. He was married Novem- 
ber 16, 1 87 1, to Miss Kate Kimbrough, a daughter of J. S. Kimbrough, 
one of Henry County's prominent citizens. Their family consists of 
four sons and one daughter. No man in the county has a more honora- 
ble business record, and none are more deserving of the success which 
has crowned his efforts. ,3 

G. Y. SALMON. M. D. 

There is no man in Henry County who is more generally known 
than Dr. Salmon. He was born in South Carolina, June 27, 1827. In 
1840 his father removed to Morgan County, Missouri, and settled in 
Versailles. Young Salmon early commenced the the study of medicine 
with Dr. J. B. Thurston, and attended lectures at the medical depart- 
ment of the university at Louisville, Kentucky. In 1847 he embarked 
in the active duties of his profession in Clinton, Henry County, Missouri, 
and until the outbreak of the war had a large and successful practice. 
He was then engaged in handling live stock for several years, and in 
1866, in company with D. C. Stone, he started in the banking business, 
under the firm name of Salmon & Stone. In 1871, together with H. W. 
Salmon, his brother, he purchased Mr. Stone's interest, the firm becom- 
ing Salmon & Salmon, and no establishment in southwestern Missouri 
have a more enviable reputation. Mr. S's success in life is due to the 
care with which he has superintended and directed the most minute 
details of business, and the close attention he has given to any enter- 
prise with which he has been connected. Since 1847 he has been closely 
identified with the interests of Clinton. Dr. Salmon married Miss E. 
M. Marvin, daughter of Rev. L. C. and Maria (Moores) Marvin. By 
this union there are seven children, four daughters and three sons. 

JOHN SHOBE. 

Prominent among the men of this county who have made a way for 
themselves unaided through life and who will long be remembered as 
successful business men is John Shobe. He was born in Warren County, 
Kentucky, January 7, 1S39. His father, Absalom Shobe, was a native of 



542 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Howard County, Virginia, born September 8, 1803, who when fourteen 
years old removed with the family to Warren County, Kentucky, where 
he was reared, and married Miss Jane Dunn. She was also born and 
raised in that county. They had a family of eight children, John being 
the third. They are still living at their old home. Ouf subject was care- 
fully brought up in the occupation of farming and stock dealing, at 
which he was engaged till the fall of 1865. Then he embarked in the 
livery business at Glasgow, Kentucky, continuing it till March, 1868, 
when he removed to Pettis County, Missouri. Here he once more gave 
his attention to farming and stock raising, and in October, i86g, he came 
to Clinton, Missouri, and with S. K. Williams as a partner started in the 
grocery business. That not being suited to his energetic disposition, he 
disposed of his interest therein in 1874, and with W. H. Cock became 
occupied in the stock business. Mr. C. remained as a partner for two 
years, after which time I. M. Johnston became associated with him. This 
partnership has existed at intervals ever since. Mr. S. owns a fine body 
of land in Bethlehem Township of 410 acres, which is well improved. 
On this he feeds annually a large number of cattle and hogs. He was 
married December 7, 1865, to Miss Henrietta Wooten, a native of Bar- 
ren County, Kentucky. They have three children: Mary E., Anderson 
and Absalom. They are members of the Christian Church 

JOSIAH SIMONS, 

contractor and builder, a native of Stark County, Ohio, was born June 
10, 1833, and there spent his boyhood days. His father, being a carpen- 
ter by trade, the son was brought up to learn that occupation, which he 
has followed since of sufficient age to do the work. At the age of seven- 
teen he left his home and until 1867 was engaged at his chosen calling 
in various cities of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. In that year (1867) he 
came to Clinton, Missouri, and soon became a prominent contractor and 
builder, and did a large business here till 1875. Going to Wills County, 
Indiana, he made his residence there about two years, when he returned 
to Clinton in 1877 and resumed his former occupation. He has built 
many of the prominent buildings here, among which may be mentioned 
Haysler's hardware store, Biffin's furniture building and the Hickler 
House. Mr. Simons was married April 22, 1859, to Miss Jane Straw, of 
Ohio.. They have three children living: Harrison J., Elizabeth E. and 
Rose B. In 1862 Mr. S. enlisted in Company B., Ninety-ninth Ohio 
Regiment, serving till August, 1865. He is a member of the Masonic 
order and Knights of Pythias, and is also connected with the M. E. 
Church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 343 

ERNEST W. SNYDER, 

real estate, loan and insurance agent, was born in Saxony, Germany, 
March 28, 1838. When twelve years of age, he with his parents emi- 
grated to America, and settled in Nicholas County, West Virginia, where 
they resided three years, removing thence to Luzerne County, Penn- 
sylvania. There our subject was brought up and educated, and there he 
resided until 1857. Coming to Missouri, he located in Franklin County, 
where he was engaged in blacksmithing. In the spring of 1858 he 
returned to Pennsylvania, and after a short visit went to Will County, 
Illinois, and became occupied in farming. In the spring of 1859, he 
removed to Cumberland County, Tennessee, and continued agricultural 
pursuits till November, 1863. Then he settled in Louisville, Kentucky, 
remained one year, subsequently went to Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and 
farmed near that town till the spring of 1866, when he took up his loca- 
tion in Nelson County, Kentucky. After one year's residence there, he 
came to Henry County, Missouri, and followed farming about a year. 
In 1868 he engaged in his present business. Mr. Snyder was married 
March 28, 1861, to Miss Gertrude De LaVergle, a native of New York. 
They have seven children: Anna A., Charles L., George R., Ernest P., 
Louie B., Walter, and Gertrude M. Mr. S. is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
and the A. O. U. W. fraternities, and also belongs to the Presbyterian 
Church. In 1870, he was elected justice of the peace of this township, 
and served in that office for five years. He has been a member of the 
city council one term. 

CHARLES H. SNYDER, 

of the firm of Snyder & Boyes, dealers in groceries, owes his nativity^ to 
Dresden, Germany, where he was born October 31, 1839. At the age of 
ten years, he with his parents, immigrated to America and settled in 
Nicholas County, West Virginia, where they resided for four years, then 
going to Scranton, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. He attended for 
three years the Wyoming Seminary, from which he graduated. He later 
attended H. G. Eastman's Business College, then at Oswego, New York, 
and also graduated there in February, 1858, after a two years' course. 
Entering the employ of the Lackawanna Iron Company, of Scranton, 
as clerk, he remained for six months, and then went to Cumberland 
County, Tennessee, where he was engaged in the mercantile trade till 
the spring of 1861. At that time he enlisted in the state militia, and was 
elected captain of Company D, Thirty-sixth Tennessee Volunteer Regi- 
ment, and after their disbandment in the fall of 1861, he went to Somer- 
set, Kentucky, and enlisted in Company D, Second Tennessee Volunteer 
Regiment^ serving till 1864, when he was discharged. He then became 
employed by the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, as book 



544 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

keeper at Louisville, Kentucky, continuing to fill the position till 1868. 
In this year he came to Clinton, Missouri, and established the first lum- 
ber yard after the war, which he conducted till 1870. That year he was 
elected county clerk, and held the office till January, 1S75. After this he 
was interested in different lines of business till August, 1880, when with 
Mr. Boyes he started in the grocery business. Mr. Snyder was united 
in marriage March 26, 1861, with Miss Mattie Boyes, a native of New 
York. They have three children: Amelia J., Charles W. and Mattie C. 
Mr. S. is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment of that order, 
and belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and the A. O. U. VV. 

DR. WILLIAM T. THORNTON. 

The subject of this sketch was born on the first day of Ma\-. 1806, 
in the northeastern part of the state of Virginia. His family were among 
the earliest settlers in Virginia. The dwelling upon the family home- 
stead was built from bricks that were brought from England by his 
grandfather. It was to this same house that Stonewall Jackson was con- 
veyed after receiving his mortal wound on the field of Chancellorsville; 
there it was where this great leader closed his earthly career. When the 
thirteen colonies proclaimed their independence of the mother country, 
Charles Thornton, the father of William T. Thornton, joined the Army 
of the Revolution, and became a captain. In the year 181 1, Captain 
Charles Thornton removed from Virginia to Oldham Count}-, Kentucky, 
taking with him his family. At the time of his settlement there Ken- 
tucky was a wilderness and infested with Indians, who were so bad that 
the settlers were obliged to build block houses and keep guards con- 
stantly posted, in order to protect themselves, and their property. It 
was here, amid the wilds of Kentucky, that William T. Thornton was 
reared. When becoming of sufficient age, he went to Cincinnati to be 
educated, where he graduated in the profession of medicine, about the 
year 183 1. Shortly afterward Dr. Thornton removed to Jacksonville, 
Illinois, and there began the practice of his profession. When he had 
succeeded there in establishing himself in his profession, he returned to 
Louisville, Kentucky, to marry Caroline V. Taylor, a daughter of Major 
William Taylor, of the Continental Army. She bore him seven children, 
three of whom died in early childhood, the other four are still living. 
The eldest, Paul V. Thornton, is the president of the Thornton Bank- 
ing Company of Nevada, Missouri, and is now Residing in Austin. Texas. 
The second son, William T. Thornton, is a practicing lawyer in Santa 
Fe, in the territory of New Mexico. The youngest son, James T. Thorn- 
ton, and his daughter, Carrie V. Stone, and her husband, reside near 
Waco, Xexas, engaged in stock raising. In the year 1839 Dr. Thornton, 
sn company with his eldest brother, Fitz Hugh Thornton, removed from 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 545 

Jacksonville, Illinois, to the state of Missouri, and settled at what is 
no'.v known as Thornton's Ferry, on Grand River, in Henry County. 
There he remained a few years, when he removed to Calhoun, in which 
place he continued in the practice of his professsion, until about the 
year 1846, when he gave up the practice and purchased a large farm on 
the Tebo; the same farm that is now owned by Dr. Barbour. There he 
continued to live until the close of the year 1865, devoting his time to 
agriculture and to the breeding of stock, in which pursuits he took great 
delight, amassing, by his industry and systematic labor, a very com- 
fortable fortune; being, in fact, at the beginning of the war, one of the 
largest land and slave owners in Western Missouri. His stock was 
prized throughout his whole region. He particularly interested himself 
in the raising of horses and cattle, and in breeding fine stock. It was 
one of his delights to aid and to contribute to the displays that were 
made at the agricultural and mechanical fairs of central Missouri, vis- 
iting annually the fairs held at Brownville, Georgetown, Warrensburg, 
Cold Camp, Clinton, Harrisonville, and other points, and always taking 
pleasure in contending for the premiums offered by those associations. 
As a physician, William T. Thornton ranked among the best of the 
state, and long after he quit the practice, was consulted by the leading 
physicians in important cases occurring in the vicinity in which he lived. 
He was a prominent member of the M. E. Church, South, and took 
great interest in the prosperity and success of this denomination. In 
politics he was a Whig, but never at any time aspired to any office, or 
sought political preferment. Dr. Thornton was three times married. 
His second wife, Miss Elizabeth Fewell, lived but a few years after her 
marriage. His third wife, Mrs. Maria Atkinson, formerly a Miss Wil- 
liams, who was a daughter of General Samuel Williams, of the war of 
18 12, and is a sister of John S. Williams, better known as Cerragoda 
Williams, and who at present represents Kentucky in the United States 
Senate. She now resides at Clinton, in Henry County, the place which 
Dr. Thornton made his home after the war. Like most of the large 
slave owners. Dr. Thornton suffered greatl}' by the war. Not only was 
his estate wasted, his stock stolen, and his home made desolate, but 
throughout the greater portion of those sad four years he was a 
refugee. When the war closed there was little that was left to him 
about his old home. His slaves were liberated, most of his horses and 
cattle had been seized by the marauders belonging to the armies of the 
contending sections. The surplus money which he had gradually accu- 
mulated through his }-ears of toil, had been expended in maintaining 
himself and family through the years of strife, but still at its close he 
was enabled, by the sale of his real estate and of what personal property 
that was left to him, to realize enough to enable him to live comfortable 

during the remainder of his life, and to give to his children a good start 

35 



546 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

in business. On the 27th day of December, 1874, Dr. Thornton departed 
this life, at his residence in Clinton, in the sixty-ninth year of his age^ 
beloved by his children and relatives and regretted by his friends. 

JOHN G. THUME, 

cigar manufacturer, was born in Saxony, Germany, March 22, 1833. He 
spent his youthful days and received his education from the schools of 
that country, and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed to learn 
the shoe making trade, at which he served till twenty-one years old. 
He then emigrated to America and settling in Trumbull County, Ohio, 
was engaged at his trade at Mineral Ridge up to 1866, when he 
removed to Franklin County, Missouri. There he gave his attention to 
the occupation of farming for three years. In 1869 he came to Clinton 
and resumed shoe making on the corner where he now has his factory. 
He thus remained for three years, then for the following three years was 
interested in the liquor business. In 1874 he began the manufacture 
of cigars. He now makes on an average 35,000 cigars per month, 
besides doing a good retail business in cigars and tobacco. Mr. Thume 
was married April 22, 1854, to Miss Sophia W. Grossie, a native of 
Germany. They have eight children: John H., Sophia, Clara, Anna, 
Emma, Oscar, Minnie and George. 

JULIUS C. TUSSEY, 

photographic artist, is a native of Davie County, North Carolina, and 
was born November 23, 1856. He was there reared, and while a youth 
was engaged in clerking. In 1873 he went to Boonville, Missouri, and 
began learning the profession of photographing in the gallery of W. H. 
Peters. After one year's time he bought his preceptor's gallery and con- 
tinued the business in that city till July, 1878, when he came to Clinton, 
Missouri. Here he established a gallery, and in January, 188 1, sold it to 
his brother and purchased Mr. Cory's photographing business. This he 
has since managed. He has the best fitted gallery in this city, and his 
reputation as a fine and experienced operator is widely and favorably 
known. Mr. Tussey was united in marriage October 25, 1877, to Miss 
Anna Simes, originally from Ohio. They have two children, George V. 
and Lulu. They are members of the M. E. Church. 

W. D. TYLER, 

cashier of the First National Bank of Clinton, is a native of New York 
and was born November 17, 1830. His father, William Tyler, was born 
in Massachusetts, while his mother came originally from New York. 
William D. was the second child of a family of four. He was reared in 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 547^ 

the state of his birth, receiving his education at Geneseo Academy. 
When twenty-three years of age he removed to Rock County, Wiscon- 
sin, and after a residence in that state of one year he located in Bloom- 
ington, Illinois, and for several years was occupied in the hardware busi- 
ness. In 1864 he went to DuQuoin, Illinois, where he held the position 
of superintendent of a coal company. In 1867 he came to Clinton and 
was a contractor on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad for two 
years. In 1870 he was elected recorder of Henry County and filled this 
office very acceptably four years. In 1872 he was elected assistant cash- 
ier of the First National Bank and remained identified with this insti- 
tution until 188 1, when he became one of the organizers of the Henry 
County Bank, and its managing official and cashier until December lOy 
1 88 1, when he again became associated with the First National Bank 
and elected to his present position. Mr. T. has been twice married, first 
May 28, 1861, to Miss Adelaide Wariner, a native of Illinois; she died 
February 22, 1880, leaving one son, Paul. His second marriage occurred 
October 25, 1882, to Miss C. S. Jones, of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Tyler is 
a member of both the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. fraternities. In edu- 
cational matters he has taken a deep interest and has served as a mem- 
ber of the school board for fourteen years, part of the time as president 
of the school board. In 1882 he was elected mayor of this city. 

SAMUEL VAIL, 

farmer and brick manufacturer, section 9, is a native of Ohio, and was 
born June 15, 1846. When he was five years old his parents removed to 
Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he grew up and was educated, being 
reared in the occupation of farming. There he continued the same till 
1866. In the spring of that year he located in Clarke County, Missouri, 
where he resided till the fall of 1867. Coming to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, he settled west of Clinton, and in 1869 engaged in the manufac- 
ture of brick, which he now continues in connection with farming. He 
has a good farm of 170 acres of land, well fenced and otherwise improved, 
Mr. Vail was married December 24, 1875, to Miss Susan Bodkins, also of 
Ohio. They have two children, Mollie V. and Charles E. They are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

DOMINICK VENLEMANS, 

proprietor of Johnson's Mill on section 23, was born in Belgium, 
February 5, 1829, At the age of seven years he came with his 
parents to America, and finally settled in Louisiana. After a residence 
there of five years, in 1841, he came to Cooper County, Missouri, where 
he was engaged in mill wrighting and farming till 188 1, then purchas- 



548 IIISTORV OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ing the Johnson Mill, which he has since successfully conducted. It is 
one of the oldest mills in the county, having been built by John Nave 
in 1841. It passed into the hands of J. A. Rogers in 1854, who ran it 
till 1858, when R. J. Jackson took charge. He continued as proprietor 
till 1880, and after a time it fell to its present owner. Mr. V. was mar- 
ried January 17, 1855, to Miss Sarah F. Gordon, who was born in Henry 
County, Missouri. She was a daughter of Patterson Gordon, an old 
pioneer and prominent in the early settlement of the county. They 
have three children, Mary E., Anna L. and William L. They are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church. 

STEPHEN VVALKLEY, 

section 4, was born in Genesee County, New York, July 4, 18 17. He 
passed his younger days and was educated in that county, following agri- 
cultural pursuits as his occupation. In October, 1844, he removed to 
Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he was engaged in land speculating 
and farming. He made this his home till 1865, but during his residence 
there, in 1856, he came to Missouri, and purchased large tracts of land 
in several counties of this state. In 1865, he moved to Henry County, 
settling in Clinton, where he was occupied in the real estate business 
and money loaning till 1872. Then he located on one of his farms, and 
has since been actively devoted to farming. He lived on different estates 
in this county till 1879, when he moved to his present place. He here 
has 550 acres of well improved land, and also 120 acres of excellent land 
in St. Clair County. Mr, Walkley was married May 22, 1S73, to Miss 
Mary E. Wilson, a native of Ohio. They have two children: William W. 
and Stephen A. 

FRANK S. WARE, 

is the popular collector of Henry Count)^ The subject of this sketch 
was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, December 3, 1844. His father, 
H. P. Ware, and his mother, (formerly P^liza J. Watkins) were Ken- 
tuckians by birth, and were married in that state. They reared four 
children, of whom Frank was the second child. When he was eight years 
old the family went to Henry County, Tennessee, where they resided till 
1858, then removing to Calhoun, Henry County, Misssouri. At the age 
of sixteen years Frank was engaged as clerk with his uncle, then a mer- 
chant at Calhoun, and continued in that capacity till 1862, when he went 
to Sedalia, Missouri. He gave his attention to various branches of trade, 
and in 1870 he came to Clinton, Missouri, and in 1875 was appointed 
deputy collector of the county. After serving in that position for six 
years he was elected collector in 1881, and entered upon the duties of 
this office in March following, and in November, 1882, he was re-elected 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 549 

to the same office. Mr. Ware was married September 15, 1881, to Miss 
Jennie S. Salmon. They have one child, Louise. He is a member of 
the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

WILLIAM G. WATKINS, 

dealer in organs, sewing machines, etc., was born in Mason County, West 
Virginia, March 14, 1833. He was reared at his birth place and his 
early life was that of a farmer's boy. He came to Henry County in 1853 
and for two years followed farming, then being engaged in manufactur- 
ing lumber and running a saw mill until the outbreak of the war. He 
was one of the first in Henry County to offer his services to the south, 
enlisting in Captain Owens' Company of Missouri State Guards. After 
serving six months he joined Shelby's command and was commissioned 
captain. He was authorized to recruit a company, and while operating 
in Saline County was arrested and taken to St. Louis and confined in 
prison, and afterwards tried by a military commission for being found 
within the lines of the regularly organized forces of the United States, 
and having in his possession and person commissions and pretended 
authority to recruit for the armies of the so called Confederate States, 
of which commissions the following are copies: 

Camp Hindman, Mo., September 9, 1862. 
Captain W. G. Watkins is hereby authorized to recruit a company 
of cavalry for the army for three years, or during the war, to consist of 
eighty able bodied and well mounted men, and to furnish transportation 
and subsistence for the same, and to report to these headquarters when- 
ever required. (Signed) J. V. COCKERELL, 

Colonel Commanding C. S. A. 

Headquarters Jackman's Partisans, November 24, 1862. 
Captain Watkins; Sir: — In pursuance of an order from Major 
General Hindman, commanding the trans-Mississippi district, and Col. 
Waldo P. Johnson, recruiting officer of the state of Missouri, you are 
hereby authorized to enlist and swear into service of the Confederate 
States for three years, or the war, one company of men to serve as cav- 
alry and comprise a part of my independent regiment, now being raised 
to operate in the state of Missouri, and to report to these headquarters 
as soon as practicable. S. D. Jackman, 

Colonel Commanding. 

The commission having materially considered the evidence in the 
case, sentence the prisoner to be shot to death at such time and place 
as the general commanding the department may direct. The findings 
and sentence of the commission in this case was approved by the proper 
commanders and forwarded for the action of the president of the United 
States. The sentence has been approved and will be carried into effect 
September 23, 1864, at St. Louis, under the direction of the provost 
marshal general. He made his escape from the prison and thus thwarted 



•550 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

'the sentence of the military commission. He rejoined his command at 
Batesville, Arkansas. He continued in active service until the surren- 
der, in 1865. He returned to Missouri and for one year was interested 
in farming and milling, then he came to Henry County, \vhich has since 
been his home, excepting a period of five months in Texas. In 1876 
the firm of Watkins Brothers embarked in the general merchandise bus- 
iness and continued therein until March, 1883. Mr. Watkins married 
Miss Mary H. Spencer, a native of North Carolina, in May, 1867. 

JOHN M. WEIDEMEYER, 

of the firm of Weidemeyer & Son, dealers in dry goods and groceries, 
came originally from Charlottsville, Virginia, where he was born January 
[O, 1834. When two years old he was taken by his parents to New York 
City, where they lived for two years, then removing to Boonville, Mis- 
souri. After a residence there of two years, in 1840, they came to Osce- 
ola, Missouri, and there John M. was reared, receiving his education from 
the schools of Boonville, Missouri. His father, John F. Weidemeyer, a 
native of Virginia, was there brought up and married to Miss Lucinda 
Draffen, who was also born in that stare. The former was at one time a 
prominent man in St. Clair County, Missouri, and for fourteen years was 
its treasurer. He is now a resident of Anderson County, Texas, and for 
the past fourteen years has been the treasurer of that county. Mrs. W. 
died in 1854. When not attending school the subject of this sketch was 
engaged as clerk in the store of his father, and in 1859, ^^ became a 
partner in the business. In 1861, he organized a company of cavalry, 
.and served with Colonel McGowen's Regiment Missouri State Guards, 
holding a commission as captain of his company. The}- disbanded in 
the fall of that year. He was commissioned captain of Company K, 
-Sixth Missouri Regiment, and participated in the battles of Corinth, 
Mississippi, Pea Ridge, through Hord's campaign, Atlanta, and was 
paroled at Mobile, Alabama, in 1865. He then settled in Palestine, 
Texas, and gave his attention to the stock business a short time, when 
he was occupied in merchandising for brief periods in various cities. In 
August, 1869, he came to Clinton, Missouri, and embarked in the gro- 
cery business, the firm then being Yeater & Co. After doing business 
together for three years, Mr. W. purchased the stock and continued 
alone till his son became associated with him in June, 1881. Mr. Weid- 
meyer was married November 12, 1856, to Miss Lelia V. Coutchfield, of 
Missouri. They have eleven children: Mattie W.. Charles P., William 
E., Lelia V., Anna M., Aggetha L., Mary E.,John M.. Jewell L., Gabriel. 
They are members of the Cumberland Presb\-terian Church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 551 

ASA R. WILDER, 

dealer in agricultural implements and of the firm of Wilder & Fenn, 
hardware merchants, is a native of Ohio, and was born in Lorain Count}^, 
March 14, 1840. He grew up there where he also attended school, com- 
pleting his education at the Baldwin University, of Berea, Ohio, in i860 
and 1861. He enlisted in Company H, Forty-First Ohio Infantry, U. S. 
A., and served till the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, in 1862, and was 
confined to a hospital till discharged in May 1863. Then he returned to 
Cincinnati, Ohio, and became engaged in clerical work with the whole- 
sale hardware firm of J. L. Wayne & Co., with whom he remained till the 
fall of 1865. He later accepted a similar position with J. H. Lewis & 
Co., of that city, and in the fall of 1866, they opened a branch house at 
St. Louis, Missouri, of which they gave Mr. Wilder the management. 
After serving the firm one year in that capacity, he represented their 
interests as a commercial traveler. In January, 1869, he came to Clinton, 
and established the present business. The firm, then known as Wilder 
& Co., did business till the spring of 1874, when it was known for one 
year as Wilder & Winslow. In January, 1875, it become Wilder & Fenn. 
Mr. Fenn has an interest only in the hardware department. Mr. Wilder 
manages alone the implement department. They carry a good stock in 
their line and are popular and successful merchants. Mr. W. was married 
July 16, 1866, to Miss Ella E. Bernard, a native of England, but who was 
reared in New York. They, have four children: Carrie E., Sadie, Lotta 
L. and Charles T. Mr. W. ^s a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. 
fraternity, and has held all the offices within the gift of his lodge. He 
is now its district deputy. He also belongs to the A. O. U. W. 

CHARLES C. WILLIAMS, M. D., 

dealer in drugs, medicines, books, stationery, etc., was born in Wheel- 
ing, Ohio County, West Virginia, June 22, 1822. His parents, Joseph 
and Hester Williams, were natives of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and 
moved to Virginia at an early day. In 1830 they went to Harrison 
County, Ohio, where Charles was reared to manhood, receiving his edu- 
cation from the Allegheny College of Meadville, Pennsylvania. In 1849 
he began the study of medicine with Dr. H. T. Grier, of Bellsville, Ohio, 
under whom he was a student for three years. The latter part of that 
time, however, he attended a course of lectures of the Sterling Medical 
College, and also during the term of 1854-5, at the close of which he 
graduated. In March, 1856, he located in Atchison County, Missouri, 
and began the practice of medicine and there resided till 1867, U'hen he 
came to Clinton j?nd continued his practice for one year. In 1868 he 
purchased a half interest in the drug store of Estes & Stone, buying the 



552 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

interest of the latter (the firm was then known as Estes & Williams), 
and two years later he became sole proprietor and has since successfully 
controlled the business. Dr. Williams was united in marriage in 185S 
to Miss Barbara A. McNeal, a native of Tennessee. They have seven 
children: Charles V., Barton P., Harry M., Clinton C, Lillie P.. Albia 
and Maude. Dr. W. held the office of coroner of Henry County for two- 
years. 

JOSEPH H. WILLIAMS, 

insurance and real estate agent and representative of the London and 
Lancashire Insurance Company, Fire Association of Philadelphia, Phoe- 
nix of London, National of Hartford, Boston Underwriters, and others, 
owes his nativity to Cooper County, Missouri, where he was born March 
13, 1849. He was reared to manhood and educated in his native county, 
and when eighteen years of age entered the mercantile world in the 
capacity of clerk in a Boonville grocery house. There he was engaged 
till 1876, after which he gave his attention to school teaching for one 
year. Subsequently he held the principalship of the school at Malta 
Bend, Saline County, Missouri, for two years. After this time he taught 
school in that neighborhood till December, 1879, when he came to Clin- 
ton. He filled a position with BrinkerhofT & Co. for some time, and ir* 
1881 was appointed deputy circuit clerk under Mr. Quarles. He con- 
tinued to discharge the duties of that office till January, 1883, and while 
holding it in August, 1880, with Mr. Wright, he became interested in 
the insurance business. Six months lat^r he purchased Mr. Wright's 
interests, and from that time has been alone in the business. Since 
relieved of his duties as deputy circuit clerk he has devoted his entire 
energy to the insurance business, in which he is very successful. He is 
a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and also belongs to the Presby- 
terian Church. 

JAMES WOODS, 

harness maker, came originally from Greene County, Pennsylvania, 
where he was born March 9, 1841. He lived there till four years old, at 
which time his parents removed to Ritchie County, West Virginia, where 
he was reared and educated. He was engaged in farming till July, 1861; 
then enlisted in Company K, Third Virginia Infantry, United States 
Army, with which he served till November, 1863. He was wounded 
above the knee at the battle of Droupe Mountain, and a short time after- 
ward was taken prisoner by the Confederate forces and held as such till 
liberated by the Federals in December, 1863. He was then taken to 
Beverly Hospital and remained therein till September, 1S65, when he 
returned home. In 1866 he was elected treasurer of Ritchie County, 
discharging the duties of that office till June, 1S68, when he resigned 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 553 

and came to Henry County, Missouri. After farming for one year he 
learned tl>e harness trade with William Hoppe, remaining with that 
gentleman till September, 1872. He followed the same trade with dif- 
ferent firms in the city till October, 1877. In the spring of 1878 he went 
to Waterloo, Iowa; resided there till October of that year; then returned 
here and in December, 1878, embarked in his present business. Mr. 
Woods was married October 17, 1870, to Miss Maggie Flanaghan, a 
native of Virginia. They have one child, Kate. In 1877 he held the 
office of clerk of Clinton Township. He and his wife are members of 
the Baptist Church. 

■ MELVIN L. ZENER, 

of the firm of Zener & Montgomery, druggists, was born in Vermillion 
County, Indiana, December 29, 1843. He was educated in his native 
county, and spent his boyhood days on a farm, remaining engaged in 
farming and saw milling till 1865. He then began learning the drug busi- 
ness at Terre Haute, Indiana, continued it for two years and subse- 
quently occupied his time in different ways till 1871, when he came to 
Missouri, embarking in the drug trade at Brownsville. In this city he 
did business till 1874, then established a drug store in Humansville, 
Polk County, which he conducted till 1877. Coming to Clinton he 
started in his present business, and was alone till 1880, when H. Mont- 
gomery became a member of the firm. Mr. Zener was united in mar- 
riage October 8, 1872, to Miss Ann E. Cormack, a native of Indiana. 
They have three children, Mary E., Myrtle E. and Herbert. Mr. Z. is a 
member of Clinton Lodge No. 481, A. F. and A. M., Delphian Lodge 
No. 34, I. O. O. F., and also of the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife 
belong; to the M. E. Church. 



WINDSOR TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN BAKER, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born in Anderson County, Tennessee, in 
February. 1811. His father, Christopher Baker, was born in 1799, in 
North Carolina, and married Miss Sally Kelly, who was born in 1802, in 
Virginia. They were married in 1820, in East Tennessee, and by this 
union had seven children, of whom John is the only surviving child. His 



554 IlISTOKV OF HEXRV COUNTY. 

mother died in Tennessee after havang suffered intensely for fifteen years, 
and her husband died from the effects of a fall not long before the civil 
war. The subject of this sketch was married August 12, 183 1, to Miss 
Eleanor Graves, of Knox County, Tennessee. To them were born eight 
daughters and four sons: Polly Ann (who married Adolph Pulaski, of 
Henry County, Missouri, and now a resident of Windsor); Louisa (who 
married Henry Pulaski, of Henry County); W^illiam Kelsaw (died in 
185 i); Sopha Jane fwife of John Carman, of Benton County, Missouri); 
Christopher A. (who married Miss Mary Hart, of Benton Count}-; they 
have three daughters living; he is a member of the Missionary Baptist 
Church); John Jefferson (who married Miss Harriet Hunt, of Henry 
County); Harriet (now Mrs. Jacob Wright, of Bates County); Nancy F. 
(wife of William Allen, of Benton County); Sarah (who married Isaiah 
Swisher, of Pettis County), and Missouri (who married James Swisher, 
of this county. Mr. Baker emigrated from Tennessee to Henry County, 
Missouri, in 1835, entering at first 160 acres of land, and later 80 acres 
more. He then bought 160 acres, to which he soon added 100 acres, and 
subsequently he purchased another 40 acres. He and his son Christo- 
pher own jointly 200 acres on section 12. They are both Republicans 
politically. 

DR. JAMES K. BARBER, 

farmer and stockraiser was born in Montour County, Pennsylvania, June I 
20, 1836, and was the son of Thomas and Mar)' (Henderson) Barber, both 
of whom were natives of Columbia County, Pennsylvania, where they 
also died. They were married in 1821, and by this union had eight 
children, of whom six are living — three sons and three daughters. For 
three years James K. Barber was a student at the McCowansville 
Academy, of Pennsylvania, his preceptor being S. S. Shadelin. Subse 
quently he entered the medical college of Jefferson, same state, the 
faculty being composed of R. M. Huston, professor of materia medica. 
Professor Charles Meigs, of obstetrics; Professor Thomas Mutter, of sur- 
gery; Professor J. Paneost, of anatomy; Professor Rolby Dungleson, of 
physiology, and Professor Charles Bache, ot chemistry. He graduated 
in 1849, ^"<^ in 185 1, commenced practicing at Mansfield, Ohio. His 
5-ounger brother, Daniel A. Barber was born in April 15, 1838, in Colum- 
bia County, Pennsylvania. He received a good common education and 
supplemented this with one year's attendance at the institution known 
as the Jersey Shore Academy. Upon leaving their native state these 
brothers emigrated first to Illinois, coming thence to Henry County, 
Missouri, about the year 1869, and for fourteen years they have been 
recognized as among the foremost men of the community. They jointly 
own 970 acres of land, well adapted to grazing and stock purposes, and 
their average product of corn, 120 acres, is fed to a large drove of cattle. 



• BIOGRAPHICAL. 555 

They handle hogs and Cotswold sheep extensively, and are acknowledged 
leaders in the stock industry here. Their farm is undulating, well 
watered, and the buildings upon the place are not to be excelled. Dr- 
Barber had a lucrative practice in Mansfield, Ohio, and for fifteen years 
was a skilled practitioner of decided ability, but since residing in this 
county. ha5i found but little time to follow this profession, his attention 
being devoted to his landed property. In politics he is Republican. 
Daniel A. Barber was married October lO, 1870, to Miss Sarah E. Mar- 
tin of Henr}' County. They have one child, a son. In his political 
preferences he is democratic. 

EDWIN BASS, 

deceased, was born in Boone County, Missouri, February 23, 1827. His 
father, Lawrence Bass, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, moved to 
Tennessee and then to Boone County, Missouri. His mother was for- 
merly Nancy Patten, of North Carolina. They were married in Nash- 
ville, Tennessee. Edwin was the twelfth of a family of ^"hirteen child- 
ren. After working faithfully on his father's farm until seventeen years 
of age, and attending school winters, he entered a store in Nashville, 
Missouri, where he acquired a knowledge of general trade, and after 
remaining here for three years or more he left and obtained a situation 
on a Missouri River boat as clerk, which position he held' for one sea- 
son. He then opened a store in Nashville, but soon sold out, and in the 
spring of 1850 started a store in Claysville, Boone County. His busi- 
ness was carried on very successfully until the fall of 1865, when he 
came to Windsor and before long he was a leading merchant and one of 
the most respected citizens here. He married Miss Mary Jane Spencei 
in January, 1856. She was the daughter of Perry Spencer, of Boone 
County, who was born in Maryland. Her mother's maiden name was 
Eliza Jane Wiseman, daughter of James Wiseman, of Virginia. She 
died in 1845. Edwin Bass, the subject of this sketch, died at his home 
October 15, 1882. Politically he was a Democrat, and an examplary 
member of the M. E. Church, south. In 1865, upon removing his family 
to Windsor, he purchased the hotel property, now known as the Bass 
house, from Samuel Duncan. In the same year he opened a store under 
the firm name of Bass & Major, on the place where the present brick 
structure now stands. In 1866 or 1867, he purchased the entire stock 
and store and in 1868 he sold the stock to Aaron Saunders, who failed, 
and he was obliged to re-purchase it. In the fall of 1868 he disposed of 
the stock of goods to the Tryon Brothers, who occupied the house until 
1869. During the seasons of 1868-9 ^^ employed much of his time in 
improving a new farm, two miles east of Windsor, which he owned at 
the time of his death. In the spring of 1869 he again engaged in the 



556 HISTORY OF HENR\' COUNTY. 

mercantile business, under the firm name of A. J. Bass & Co. A. J. 
Bass sold his interest eighteen months later, and the new firm was 
formed by Edwin Bass and J. S. Kelly, Bass & Kelly. Under this new 
management business prospered, and in 1874 they erected the present 
two story brick store, 24x70, which is a fine building. Mr Bass was a 
life long Christian, his membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
south, commencing from his early boyhood. He was a zealous 
worker, always active in the local organizations, where he made 
his home, as church steward and Sunday School superintendent. He 
contributed liberally to all church work and the spread of the gospel. 
He was a friend to the poor and bestowed charity upon those in need, 
and in his death the county lost one of its most esteemed men, and 
Windsor one of its most valued citizens. Edward Spencer, brother of 
Mrs. Bass, came to Windsor in 1870, and has since made his home with 
his sister. He was born in^Boone County in 1825. He learned the car- 
penter's trade in youth, and has ever done much in the building line. 
Since coming to this place he has spent much of his time in the store. 

JAMES HARVEY BASS, 

stock dealer and proprietor of the Bass House, was born in Howard 
County, Missouri, in June, 1834. His father, George P. Bass, who was 
born in Nashville, Tennessee, died in Howard County in 1863. He came 
to Boone County as an early pioneer and established a tannery, which 
he carried on for many years. The mother of James, formerly Susanna 
M. Wiseman and a native of Kentucky, is now living in Boone County. 
The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm and received a common 
school education, and learned the plastering trade. He worked some on 
the farm and at plastering in the fall seasons, and in 1861 he became a 
member of the Home Guards. Coming to Henry County in 1867, he 
settled twelve miles west of Windsor on a farm, working the farm and 
also doing the plastering for the country around about. He married 
Mrs. Elizabeth (Woolfolk) Wall December 16, 1868. She had two sons 
by her first husband, Eugene E. and Julius F. Julius F. married Miss 
Katie Burress, of Windsor, July 8, 1882. Mrs. Bass' first husband, Julius 
F. W^all, was killed at the battle of Lone Jack August 16, 1862. He was 
with Colonel Cockrell's regiment. Her father, Charles T. Woolfolk, was 
born in Virginia, but was raised in Kentuck}'. His father was John 
Woolfolk, a Virginian by birth and of English descent and a soldier in 
the revolution. Her mother was originally Polly A. Payne, of Ken- 
tucky. Mr. and Mrs. Bass have four daughters: Katie Woolfolk, Sallie 
P., Mary Ella and Bessie Lewis. In 1869 Mr, Bass commenced the stock 
business and has made it his principal occupation since then. In 1876 
he went to Texas with his family and started a sheep ranche in Comanche 



BieGRAPHICAL. 557 

County with his brother, Lawrence. They continued it for four years. 
Selling out, he returned to his farm near Windsor, but soon disposed of 
this and moved into town. As the stock business was his favorite call- 
ing, he immediately commenced operations in company with Jacob 
Strauss, and since that time they have been the leading buyers in town. 
They are members of the Baptist Church and he belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity. Mr. Bass has been a very fortunate business man and accu- 
mulated a large property. He is liberal in the support of schools, 
churches and the different enterprises of the city. Mrs. Bass has charge 
of the hotel and is proving herself to be a most capable and energetic 
woman. 

JOHN CREIGHTON BEEDY. 

Mr. Beedy is of English extraction, the families of both his parents 
having emigrated to America from that country and settled in New 
Hampshire before the revolutionary war. Jeremiah Beedy, his grand- 
father, was born in New Hampshire and was a soldier during the revo- 
lution, and after that event continued his chosen avocation until his 
death. His son John was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, in 1800, 
and settled in Bolton, Vermont, while a }-oung man, where he pursued 
the labors of an agriculturist until 185 1. During this time he took an 
active part in local and state politics, filling various official positions and 
serving two years in the lower house of the state assembly. He then 
moved to Montpelier, Vermont, where, after a useful and honorable life, 
he died in 1873. He married Betsey L. Fifield, daughter of Samuel 
Fifield, who came from England and located upon a farm in New Hamp- 
shire. They had six children, all of whom are now living. Their son 
John C. was born in Bolton, Chittenden County, Vermont, July 21, 1834, 
and until his seventeenth year attended the public schools in Bolton. 
Upon his parents removing to Montpelier he was placed in the academy 
in that city, where he remained until he was twenty years of age. After 
working a year at home upon his father's farm he turned his steps toward 
the great west, and came to Janesville, Wisconsin, and taught school 
one year. For the next two and a half years he was engaged in the 
lumber business, first for his uncle and afterward for a Milwaukee firm. 
At the expiration of that period he went to St. Louis and was employed 
as traveling salesman for his uncle in the lumber trade, and going to 
Syracuse, Missouri, he continued it for two years. He then located in 
Sedalia, Missouri, and in two years sold out his lumber interests and 
commenced general trading and supplying government stores. In com- 
pany with McKay, Hood and McAllister, of St. Louis, he contracted to 
supply the hospitals at Vicksburg and interior points with provisions 
and stores. In 1863, in company with Thomas McAllister, he estab- 
lished the wholesale grocery house of J. C. Beedy & Co. at New Orlerns, 



558 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

engaging also in cotton and sugar growing, and in general speculation. 
He was with General Banks in 1864 on his memorable Red River expe- 
dition, buying and shipping cotton. In the spring of 1866 the grocery 
firm of J. C. Beedy & Co. disposed of their stock, and he devoted him- 
self exclusively to cotton planting for two seasons. Returning to Mis- 
souri he embarked quite extensively in farming operations in Johnson 
County, which he continued until 1869, when resuming his old business, 
he opened a lumber yard in Knob Noster, which he closed after one 
year's trade. Then he established yards in Clinton and Windsor, soon 
disposing of the former, but continuing the latter until 1874, when he 
accepted the general management and agency of the Eau Claire Lum- 
ber Company, St. Louis. Remaining in charge only one year he returned 
to Windsor, where he is now engaged in the lumber trade. Since com- 
ing here he has taken large contracts for the United States mail service, 
in company with Morse & Hines, of Windsor. In 1877 he organized, 
together with Mr. C. C. Morse and others, the Windsor Savings Bank, 
with a capital of $50,000, and since that time he has been president of 
the bank corporation. Mr. Beedy is a Democrat, and takes quite an 
active part in local politics and in all municipal and educational affairs. 
He has been a member of the city council, and was one of the school 
board who built the school buildings which does the city so much credit. 
He has also served the city as its mayor. He married Miss Ellen Vic- 
toria, daughter of Joel and Charlotte (Colyer) Goldsburg, of Barre, Ver- 
mont, October 23, 1867. He has three children, Lula Annette, Nellie 
and John Goldsburg. Mr. Beedy has contributed generously to the 
building and support of the various churches erected in Windsor. In 
1876 he went to the centennial and took an extended tour through the 
eastern states, visiting the principal cities and places of interest. He is 
a good financier, a man of progressive ideas, and liberal in devising for 
the interests of the community in which he lives, and has done much to 
develop the trade of his town and county. He is a man of fine physi- 
cal appearance, social and pleasant in his address, is just in the prime o( 
manhood, full of life and business energy, and has acquired a handsome 
property. He is one of the firm who built the fruit evaporater in Wind- 
sor in 1882. He is also associated with Mr. Gorham in developing a 
vein of coal on the latter's farm, equaling, if not surpassing, in quality 
any yet found in the county. 

JOHN BAKER BRAME 

was born in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, September 6, 1840. His 
father, John Brame, was born in the same place and has lived there 
since. He married Miss Elizabeth Smith of that cx)unty, who died in 
1874. The subject of this sketch educated himself especially for a pro- 



«k 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 559 

tession. In the winter ot i860 he attended the dental college at Balti- 
more, Maryland, remaining there until the spring of 1861. The war 
cloud broke, studies were at an end, and he entered the Confederate 
army in May, joining the Third Virginia Cavalry under Colonel Owens, 
of Virginia. He served in the army of the Potomac and participated in 
all the memorable battles fought by General Lee, gaining distinction as 
a brave soldier. He went home on a furlough to get horses one week 
before Lee's surrender, so that the war closed while he was at home. 
He again took up his dental studies, and in September, 1865, he emi- 
grated to Missouri, and settled in Windsor, where he opened a dental 
office in the town and for many years was the only one. His excellent 
training while at the college, together with his experience, fitted him 
admirably for the duties of his profession. He commenced without 
means and with but a few dental tools, but, endeavoring to do the best 
he could, soon had the satisfaction of knowing that his work was appre- 
ciated, and he is now established in a very prosperous business. He 
married Miss Rettie F. Taylor, November 24, 1867. She was the daugh- 
ter of Richard F. Taylor, of Windsor, and Ann (Fitz Hugh) Taylor, a 
Kentuckian by birth. They have two children : Frank Lee, aged four- 
teen, and Paul Hampton, aged four years. The doctor is a Democrat in 
his political views. He joined the Baptist Church when he was thirteen 
years old, and in 1867 preferring the Christian Church, he became con- 
nected with it, and is one of its zealous, devoted members. He belongs 
to the order of the A. O. U. W. and the Farmers' and Mechanics' Insur- 
ance Association. He is one of the aldermen of the city government. 

WILLIAM H. BURTON, 

of the firm of Burton & Collins, proprietors of livery, sale and feed stable^ 
was born in Cooper County, Missouri, November 7, 1853. His father, 
Emerson Burton, was born in Kentucky. After living in Howard and 
Cooper Counties for many years, he moved in 1868, into Henry County 
and bought a farm. His mother's maiden name was Martha Reed, of 
Cooper County. They had nine children, of whom William is the third 
child. He bought a farm and worked it for several years, and Novem- 
ber 16, 1879, he came to Windsor and started the livery business. He 
has a good stable with fine horses and carriages, and is doing a satisfac- 
tory business. He married Miss Amanda Collins in 1866. She was the 
daughter of Dillard Collins, of Cooper County, but who came originally 
from Montgomery County, Kentucky. Her mother was formerly Har- 
riet Jones, born in Alabama. They have one child, Jessie Lee, born in 
1878. Mr. Burton is a genial man, affable to those with whom he comes 
in contact, and is making a success of his business. ^ 



56o HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

LYMAN BURTON, 

farmer and stock dealer was born March 2, 1832, in Bethlehem, Litch- 
field County, Connecticut, where he received a good practical English 
education. His father, Daniel B. Burton was a miller by occupation, 
but afterwards became a farmer. He was born April 14, 1787, in Con- 
necticut, and on April 25, 182 1, married Miss Zeririah H. Hayes, who 
was born October 6, 1792, in the same state. They had seven children, 
and all are living: Elam B., born September 20, 1822 ; Jesse B., born 
March 5, 1825; Hester K., born December 14, 1826; Mary Z., born 
August 5, 1828 ; Henrietta S., born September 25, 1830 ; Lyman, born 
March 2, 1832; Nathan B., born March 16, 1835. With the exception of 
two these children still reside in their native state, Hester E., who mar- 
ried S. M. Churchill, of Connecticut, lives in State Center, Marshall 
County, Iowa. Lyman Burton emigrated from the state of his birth in 
the spring of 1855, at the age of twenty-three, to Dunleith, Jo. Daviess 
County, Illinois. He was there engaged as section foreman on the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad, for twelve years. He married Miss Isabel T, 
McCallen, on November 28, i860, and they have had five children: Ida 
E., born November 29, 1862, and died September 20, 1865, of typhoid 
fever; Ada S., born November 15, 1865; Ernest R., born March 22, 1867; 
Wilfred L., born June 13, 1869; Frank McCallen, born January 14, 1876. 
In the fall of 1872, Mr. B. removed from Tonica, LaSalle County, Illinois, 
to Moberly, Missouri, remaining there for nearly seven years, when he 
changed his locality to Henry County, on April i, 1880. Here he pur- 
chased eighty-four acres of land and became occupied in agricultural 
pursuits. He enlisted April 6, 1865, in Company C, Sixty-Fourth Illinois 
Infantry Veteran Volunteers, Captain William Zuel, commanding, and 
served one year, when he was regularly discharged at North Louisville. 
Kentucky. He is a man of generous impulses, and genial in his manners. 
His political sentiments are strongly Republican. 

MOSES CARLE, 

was born December 7, 18 14, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where in 
youth he received a good education. His father, William Carle, a black- 
smith and farmer by occupation, was born October i, 1789, in New Jer- 
sey, while his mother, Sarah Dulaney, was born September 18, 1786, in 
Fayette County, Pennsylvania. They were married in 1808, and to them 
were born five children, four sons and one daughter, but only two are 
living: Mary was born March 27, 1809; John, born December 27, i8ri; 
Moses, born December 7, 18 14; Thomas, born June 11, 18 18, and Albert 
G., born April 20, 1822. William Carle emigrated with his parents in 
an early day from New Jersey, to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 561 

he was reared to manhood. His son, Moses, commenced lite for himself 
at the age of twenty-one years. He was married January 4, 1838, to 
Miss Eliza Jane Bunker, of the same county as himself, and by this mar- 
riage there are six children, four daughters and two sons. In 1842, he 
removed to Ohio, and there bought 170 acres of land, remaining upon it 
for two years. At this time he sold his farm and located on property 
which he had purchased, embracing land and a saw mill. Three years 
after he disposed of that, and renting a farm, for several years was 
■employed in farming. In 1865, he bought another estate in the same 
county, and making improvements lived upon it for six years, when he 
again sold out. In 1872, he came to Henry County, Missouri, at first 
buying forty acres, but from time to time he has added thereto until now 
he has 140 acres under good improvement. He, in connection with his 
son, G. B. Carle, is successful in his farming operations, and also in the 
stock industry, they raising fine blooded hogs of the Jersey breed. In 
1849, Mr. Carle having received a commission as captain, organized a 
company intended for the Mexican War, but was never called into actual 
service. He was also the enrolling officer during the civil war of 1861, 
though never engaged as a soldier on account of age. Religiously he is 
a Methodist, and in politics a Democrat. George B. Carle, his eldest 
son, enlisted July 24, 1862, in Company K, Ninetieth Ohio Infantry Vol- 
unteers, Captain Morris Rowe commanding, as private, and served for 
three years in that capacity. He was regularly discharged June 20, 1865, 
at Camp Denison, Ohio. 

RICHARD FILMORE COLLINS 

was born in Choctaw County, Alabama, June 25, 1857, and is the third 
son of a family of eight children. He was brought up to study and work 
on a farm and in a tannery, his father, Dellard Collins, who had a boot 
and shoe store, also carrying on a large tannery. In 1869 the father 
moved to Missouri and settled in Cooper County, where he still resides. 
In 1879 Richard F. came to Windsor with his brother-in-law, W. H. Ber- 
ton, and together they engaged in the livery business. Dick, as he is 
familiarly called, is an exemplary young man, of good habits and attends 
strictly to his business. 

JORDON R CHAPPELL. 

farmer and stock raiser, was born September 3, 1831, in Otsego County. 
New York. His father, Elijah Chappell, was born March 8, 1788, in 
Lebanon, Connecticut, and was the son of Oliver and Eunice Chappell. 
His mother, formerly Betsey Newcomb, was born September 12, 1792, 
in the same locality. They were married December 13, 1813. and had 

m 



562 HISTORY Ol" HENR\ COUNTY. 

eleven children, of whom five sons and one daughter survive. Their 
first child, Henry, was born January 10, 18 15, in Otsego County, New 
York, and died at the age of three years. Thadeus was born Septem- 
ber 16, 1818, and married Catherine E. Martin, of Montezuma, New 
York, October 3, 185 i. Henry was born June 20, 1820, but died at an 
early age. Ruth E. was born November 8, 1821, and now resides at 
Windsor. Solomon N. was born August 16, 1823; October 3, 185 1, he 
married Miss Ester A. Dyer, of Port Byron, New York. Oliver was 
born August i, 1825, and died at the age of ten months. Maxamilla, the 
second daughter, was born February 19, 1827, and married Henry E. 
Baker, of Poughkeepsie, New York, October 3, 1848. She died Sep- 
tember 3, 1849. Sumner E. was born December 8, 1828, and married 
Miss Cordelia Baker, of Poughkeepsie, New York. Jordon R. Chappell, 
the ninth child and seventh son, was born September 3, 1831, in Otsego 
County, New York. He received, during his childhood, an ordinary edu- 
cation, and at the age of eighteen years, in 1849, he entered the Auburn 
Academy, New York, his preceptor being Prof Hopkins, which school 
he attended for a term of two years. He then entered Hamilton Col- 
lege, Clinton, New York, where he remained for four years, graduating 
in the class oi '55- He was engaged in teaching for some years, and 
previous to going to Michigan was elected school commissioner at the 
age of twenty-five, in Auburn, New York. Removing with his par- 
ents from Otsego to Mentz, Cayuga County, they remained there until 
1856. They then sold their farm of 132 acres and emigrated to Ontwa, 
Cass County, Michigan, where they bought 396 acres. Elijah Chappell 
died December 12, 1858, and his widow died in March of 1870. J. R. 
Chappell was married December i, 1859, to Miss Sophronia M. Phelps, of 
Homer, Cortland County, New York. Their only child, Charles J., was 
born August 31, 1866, in Cass County, Michigan. Mr. C. bought forty 
acres of land while in Cass County, and in addition held an undivided 
interest in the homestead. Disposing of his property, he removed from 
Michigan in 1867, and made his home in Windsor Township, Henry 
County, Missouri, near the city of Windsor. He first bought 160 acres 
where he still resides, and has been steadily improving his farm an<i 
increasing in wealth. He, his wife and son are members of the Seventh 
Day Adventists Church, of Sedalia, Missouri. St. Clare Chappell, his 
youngest brother, with whom he is associated, was born September 30, 
1840, in Cayuga County, New York. Commencing life for himself at the 
age of twenty-one years, he left Michigan, and returning to his native 
place, engaged with an older brother as hotel clerk. After six years he 
bought an interest in the business, remaining as partner for one year. 
August I, 1866, he married Miss Sarah L. Phelps, of Cortland Count}-, 
New York. In November, 1867, he emigrated to Missouri, and joined 
his brother, J. R., buying 1 20 acres adjoining him, and then uniting their 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 565 

interests, which for fifteen years have been one. They own 680 acres of 
fine farming and grazing land, and both residences, are on section 35, 
They make the raising of fine stock a specialty. In politics he is Dem- 
ocratic. Mrs. Chappell is a member of the Congregational Church, of 
Windsor. 

NELSON KNIGHT CHAPMAN, 

attorney-at-law, notary public, etc., was born in Henry County, Ken- 
tucky, in 1839, his parents being William Chapman, a native of Virginia^ 
and Nannie (Knight) Chapman, originally from North Carolina. They 
came to Missouri in 1842 and settled in Morgan County, where William 
bought a farm and brought up his family. Nelson's early advantages for 
acquiring an education were very limited, though his zeal for books was 
great. He early went to learn the wagon and carriage trade, and during^ 
this time continued studying. He became a soldier early in the war, 
joining the First Missouri Infantry, State Service. When his time expired 
he enlisted in Captain Chapman's (his brother) company of cavalry,. 
Shelby's Brigade. He remained through the war; was taken prisoner in 
May in Greene County, Missouri, court-martialed for being a spy and 
duly condemned to be shot the following August at Lebanon, Missouri, 
some distance from the prison. He was shackled with a chain fourteen 
inches in length about his ankle and placed in a double wagon to ride to- 
the place of execution. Halting once for the night, while the guard was 
asleep at the end of the wagon he escaped at the front end, and made 
his way into some brush and hid under an old log. A long search was 
made for him, but he could not be found. The train left with other pris- 
oners, and he for several nights wandered around and at last found a 
blacksmith shop, and with the sledge hammer and cold chisel relieved 
himself and made his way home, in Morgan County, where he found 
protection. Injustice to Mr. Chapman it is proper to say here that Gen- 
eral Sanborn, in command of the Federals, was opposed to the finding 
of the court martial and would have reprieved him could an order have 
reached him.. In 1871 he came to Windsor and opened a wagon shop, 
working during the days and studying law evenings. He carried on his 
shop until 1875, studied until 1878 and was then admitted to the bar by 
Judge Foster P. Wright. He immediately started an office and now has 
built up a hne practice. Colonel Boone, of Clinton, rendered him valu- 
able advice and aid during his studies, and in his practice he finds in him 
a valuable friend. He married Miss Mary Jane Hall in 1863. She died 
June I, 1881, leaving five children: Jennie Lee, Mabel Gray, Claudius 
Eugene, Annie E. and Charles Henry. His second wife was Miss Ella 
Evans, whom he married May 3, 1882. She was born in Louisville, Ken- 
tucky. Politically, Mr. C. is a Democrat. He belongs to the Baptist 
Church. He is now city attorney of Windsor.' 



564 rllSTORV OF IIKNRV COUNTY. 

HENRY C. CHURCHILL, 

druggist, and dealer in druggists sundries, was born in Union Count}-, 
Kentucky, in 1845, and was the son of Colonel A. L. Churchill, of Louis- 
ville, Kentucky. His grandfather was one of the original owners of 
Louisville. His mother was formerly Rebecca Catlett, daughter of 
George Catlett, of Virginia. Col. Churchill came to Missouri in 1866, 
and settled in Johnson County, on a farm. The subject of this sketch 
received an excellent education at the St. Mary's College, in Kentucky-, 
and learned the drug business in his native state, with his Uncle Catlett. 
He then farmed for three years in Johnson County, and subsequently 
took charge of a stock of goods for his father. In 1871 he came to 
Windsor and entered into the hardware business for three years. In 
1875 he bought a drug store of W. B. Pomeroy, which was the first one 
started in town, and has since done a good business. In his political 
preferences he is a Democrat, and religiously a Baptist. He is an active 
member of the Masonic fraternity, He is a director of the bank, and 
one of the charter members of the State Pharmacuetical Society, and a del- 
egate to the legislature to get an act passed for the benefit of the drug- 
gists. He married Miss Virginia Owsley, in November, 1866. She died 
June 24. 1879, leaving three children: Amsted Ludwell, Eliza and Flor- 
ence. Her father, John N. Owsley, was born in Boone County, Missouri, his 
father having come from Kentucky. Her mother, whose maiden name 
was Susan Enlow, was born in Christian County, Kentucky. For his 
second wife he married Miss Missouri Campbell, daughter of A. S. 
Campbell, of Circleville, Ohio, on October 19, i88r. Mr. Churchill is 
one of the leading business men in the city, and has advanced ideas in 
regard to improvements and enterprises tending to build up Windsor. 

ANDREW L. CLINKINBEARD, 

jeweler and watchmaker, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, in 1840, 
his father, John Clinkinbeard, who was born in Clark County, having 
died there in 1870, aged seventy-seven years. His mother was formerly 
Sally Strode, a Kentuckian by birth; she died in 1866. Young Andrew 
was brought up on a farm, receiving a common education. He was 
for many years engaged in the insurance business, in which he succeeded 
in building up a good calling, connecting himself at times with other 
agencies, and various branches of business. He came to Brownville, 
Salem County, Missouri, in 1874, and in 1877 had learned his trade there. 
In 1881 he moved to Windsor and started a fine jewelry store, and being 
an excellent workman is doing a good business. He married Miss Lilla 
C. Fagan, in October, 1873. Her parents were Thomas and Caroline 
(Rees) Fagan, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. C. have two 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 565 

children: Fagan and Andrew L. He has frequently held positions cf 
trust and responsibility, and discharged his duties satisfactorily to all. 
He belongs to the Christian Church and is a member of the A. O. U. W. 

B. F. CRANDALL, 

was born at Crystal Lake, Illinois, May 25, 1838, and was the son of 
Beman Crandall, who was born near Hartford, Connecticut, in October, 
1795, emigrating from his native state with his parents about the year 
1801, and settling near Syracuse, New York. He m.arried Miss Polly 
Tuttle, who was also born near Hartford about the year 1802, and she 
likewise went with her parents and settled near Syracuse. They were 
married about the year 1822, and had ten children, eight sons and two 
daughters, seven of whom are still living. The senior Crandall was 
among the early pioneers of Northern Illinois, having moved to that 
state from New York about the year 1832, when he located in what is 
now Mc Henry County, at Crystal Lake, which town was founded by him. 
He was president of the Virginia settlement, an organization made up 
by the earliest settlers for their own government and protection, that 
portion of the state being unorganized at that time, which office he held 
until McHenry County was organized, when he was elected the first 
magistrate. This position he held successively for twenty-five years. 
Emigrating to Missouri in October, 1859, he settled in Saline County, 
where he resided for two years, when the civil war breaking out, he 
abandoned the farm and returned to Illinois, where he lost his wife in 
1864. After the close of the war he again came to Missouri, and made 
his home with O. A. Crandall, Esq., of Sedalia. He is still residing in 
Missouri with his daughter, Mrs. William Parsons, at Blackburn, Saline 
County, and now at the ripe age of eighty-eight, is active in mind and 
body, and a fair specimen of the hardy American pioneer. B. F. Cran- 
dall was the youngest of seven sons. He commenced his early educa- 
tion at Crystal Lake, Illinois, in an old log house, and at the age of sev- 
enteen left school with a fair English education. He came to Missouri 
with his father's family, and was engaged in farming and stock raising 
until 1862, when owing to the civil war, he discontinued it and engaged 
as a clerk in the commissary department under Captain J. E. Howard, 
chief commissary of the Central District of Missouri. In 1864, he went 
to Lotiisiana, and was interested in the culture of cotton for five years. 
In 1868, he returned to Missouri and commenced the study of law with 
Crandall & Sinnett, of Sedalia, Missouri, and after a thorough course he 
was admitted to the bar, practicing in all the courts of the state. Not 
suited with the profession he turned his attention to a mercantile life, 
in which business he embarked in i87i,and this he has steadily pursued. 
He is now in the employ of Albert Mayer & Bros., of Cincinnati, looking 



566 HISTORY OP^ HENRY COUNTY. 

after their interests west of the Mississippi. In politics he is a Republi- 
can. He was married January I2, 1870, to Miss Jessie Hopkirk, of Wind- 
sor, Missouri. They had three children: Clarence H., Edward Oscar, 
and Nellie Josephine. The former two died in infancy. Nellie J. is now 
a bright little girl of six years. 

Walter Hopkirk, the father of Mrs. Crandall, was born February 18, 
182 1, in Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland. At the age of sixteen years 
he emerged from the schools with not only a good English education, 
but as a classical scholar. His father, William Hopkirk, a shoemaker by 
trade, was born December 25, 1780, and worked at his trade for the most 
of his life. His mother, whose maiden name was Isabella Home, was 
born in 1782 in Hornecliffe, England, being the last in the line of lineal 
descendants of the house of Home. They were married in 1804 and had 
■eight children, four of whom are living. Both of his parents died in 
Scotland. Mr. Hopkirk emigrated from his native country to America 
in 1837. On arriving here he apprenticed himself to the cabinet trade, 
serving five years in Steubenville, Ohio. He afterward worked at the 
same place as a journeyman for eight months and then went to Burling- 
ton, Iowa, where he worked as a journeyman for one year and six months. 
Next he removed to Bonaparte, on the Des Moines River, and was there 
established in business for eight years. December 25, 1858, he married 
Miss Mary E. Moffitt, of Lexington, Iowa. They had six children, five 
of whom are still living, two sons and three daughters. He remained at 
Bonaparte for three years after their marriage, when, in 1851, he joined 
a company, and, taking the overland route, went to California. He was 
engaged in mining for four years, when he returned to his family, who 
had accompanied his wife's father to Henry County, Missouri, where 
they bought landed property. 

WILLIAM G. CRUM, 

of the firm of Crum Brothers, proprietors of the Windsor Custom Mills, 
was born in Greenup County, Kentucky, in 1839, his parents being 
Thomas and Wilmoth Ann (Dickson) Crum, Virginians by birth. The 
former was a farmer and brick mason by occupation. In 1857-8 the 
family came to Missouri, and settled in 15enton County, bought a farm 
and improved it, and made it their permanent home. The mother died 
in 1864 and the father in April, 1880. In January 1876, William G. 
Crum came to Windsor, and having learned the milling business in Lin- 
coln, Missouri, he at once went to work in the Windsor Mills, and 
remained for three years. In 1879, the Crum Brothers built their present 
mill and have since operated it. The mill has two run of stone, a fine 
engine, and is run to its full capacity. Mr. C. married Miss Patience Gib- 
son in February, 1861. Her father, Hawkins Gibson was born in Ken- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 567 

tucky, as was also her mother, formerly Sally Bradley. Their family 
consists of Thomas H., Sally Ann, Elizabeth, Virginia P., Emma Bell, 
Willie G. and William Henry. John Calvin died in 1871. Mr. Crum, in 
his political affiliations is a Democrat. He is an active member of the 
Baptist Church, and belongs to the A. O. U. W. fraternity. 

ELIJAH CALVIN CRUM, 

miller, who with his brother, Willam G., owns the Windsor Custom 
Mills, was born in Greenup County, Kentucky, January 13, 1841, and 
came ro Windsor in 1877. He learned the milling business in his own 
mill. He married Miss Mary E. Estes January 14, 1862. She was the 
daughter of Jackson Estes, of Louisville, Kentucky, and Abigal Cravens 
(Jackson) Estes, who was born in Georgia. They have three children: 
Millie, George Ernest and Mary Abigal. Mr. Crum in his religious pref- 
erences is a Baptist. He is an industrious man and has made the mill- 
ing business a constant study, understanding all its details. He takes 
great delight in fulfilling his duties as a christian and good neighbor. 

W. H. DAVIS 

was born in Maryland, November 23, 1841, and was the son of John 
Davis, Esq. The maiden name of his mother was Alice Robinette. The 
former came with his parents to Lexington, Missouri, in 1852, and was 
there reared to manhood, being educated at the Masonic College in 
Lexington. He learned the printing business and after the close of the 
war established a paper at Warrensburg known as the Warrensburg 
Journal, (now the Journal-Democrat). In 1869 he came to Clinton and 
purchased the Henry County Democrat, which he conducted until 1876, 
then selling out and once more returned to Warrensburg. Here he con- 
tinued his journalistic enterprise, going thence to Saline County, where 
he published the Saline County Democrat until he moved to his farm near 
Windsor. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock 
raising. Mr. Davis was married in 1878 to Miss A. Garton, a native of 
Pettis County, Missouri. They have two children Walter G. and an 
infant. 

WILLIAM D. DIXON 

was born December 8, 1832, in Greenup County, Kentucky, his parents 
being William and Unity Dixon, nee Hackworth. The former, who dur- 
ing life was engaged in farming and stock raising, was born in 1791 in 
Bedford County, Virginia, and the latter was born in the same county in 
1793. They were married in the year 18 18 and had six children, five of 
whom are living. In 1827 they emigrated to Catlettsburg, then Greenup, 
but now Boyd County, Kentucky, and remained there until 1865, com- 



568 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ing thence to Henrj'- County, Missouri, with their son, William D., with 
whom they remained until their death. Mrs. Dixon died in July of 1869, 
after an illness of several years, and her husband died ip February of 
1873. William D. Dixon married Miss Susan McDaniel, daughter of 
John C. McDaniel, of Henry County, Missouri. By this marriage there 
were seven children, four daughters and three sons, of whom six remain. 
The second child, a daughter, died of severe burns. Mrs. D. departed 
this life March 7, 1871, and on December 7, 1881, he married Mrs. Zana 
M. Muse, widow of Joseph E. Muse, of Christian County, Missouri. They 
have one child, a daughter. Mr. Dixon in 1859 took charge of the farm 
of John C. McDaniel, near Windsor, upon which he remained until after 
the war, when he bought forty acres of land and continued farming until 
1873. Since that time he has followed brickmaking. He has disposed 
of his property recently with the intention of removing to Holden, John- 
son County, there to engage in the manufacture of brick upon a large 
scale. Politically, he is a Democrat. 

HENRY T. DOUGLAS, 

was born July 30, 1825, in Howard County, Missouri, and was the son of 
James and Eleanor (Moore) Douglas, the former born in Madison County, 
Kentucky, January 1785, and the latter, also a Kentuckian by birth, 
born November 19, 1792. They were married in 1804, and were the 
parents of five sons and four daughters, and of this number two children 
are now living. In 1804 they emigrated from Kentucky to St. Louis 
County, Missouri, going thence to Howard County, and for years they 
were compelled to seek protection, more or less, in Fort Kincaid, on 
account of Indian hostilities. When these troubles ceased Mr. D.. 
obtained a small farm, commenced its cultivation and remained in that 
county until 1835, when he sold out, removing with his family to Rives 
County. He at first took up a claim near the present site of Windsor, 
but sold to John Woodard who still owns it. Subsequently he pur- 
chased a claim of 160 acres, where he remained till his death, which 
occurred April 20, 1854, after an illness of fourteen days. His widow 
died November 21, 1865. Henry's primary education commenced at the 
age of ten years, under the tutorship of Colby Stephenson, in Rives 
(now Henry) County, Missouri, he attending one term, of three months 
only, and his next tutor, Amos H. Goodin, also taught for three terms; 
he attended one term, of about three months, under Cyrus P. Arbuckle, 
and one term in the school of Charles SnelHng. In 1852 he received 
his first deed, or patent, for forty acress of land, on section 36. This he 
sold in 1865, to John Woodard. He is a blacksmith by trade, at which 
occupation he worked for several years, both in Calhoun, Henry County, 
and Jefferson Township, Johnson County, from 1845 to 1857. In 1857 he 



BIOGRAPrllCAL. 569 

sold his farm of 120 acres, in Johnson County, going to Windsor, for 
the purpose of erecting a grist and saw mill, in company with his brother, 
Daniel M. Douglas, and that mill they conducted for three years, or 
until the opening of the war. In 1870 he purchased thirty acres on sec- 
tion 36, this township, where he now resides. April 3, 185 i, he married 
Miss Catherine P. Painter, daughter of George VV. and Lucretia Painter, 
the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Lincoln County, Ken- 
tucky. Mr. Painter died March 29, 1835, and his widow in the year 
of 1838. By this union there have been thirteen children: L. E., born 
September 30, 1852, has been engaged in teaching for ten years, and is 
now one of the corps of teachers in the Windsor school; Mary E. born 
January 3, 1854, married George W. Jackson, of Windsor, April 6, 18S2; 
Frances J., born September 29, 1855, married James H. Ogan, of Pettis 
County, Missouri; George W., born February 22, 1857, resides in this 
township; James M., born May 14, 1859, died October 13, of the same 
year; Otis F., born September 6, i860, is now residing in Stone County, 
Missouri, engaged in teaching and the improvement of a new farm of 
120 acres, owned by the family; John W., born September 7, 1863; Sarah 
C, born March 26, 1865; Henry T., Jr., born March 7, 1867; Almira B., 
born March 14, 1869; Newton G., born September 2, 1872, and Daisy D, 
born November 14, 1874. Mr. Douglas was the second assessor in this 
township, serving for three years. He has been a member of the 
Masonic order for thirty-two years. August 30, 1872, Mr. Douglas met 
with quite an accident, which nearly cost him his life. Engaged in run- 
ning an engine, an explosion occurred, by which he was terribly muti- 
lated, in body and in limb. Since his recovery his lodge. No. 29, of 
Windsor, has constantly made him tyler. Himself, wife and three 
daughters, are members of the Christian Church at Windsor, he having 
been connected therewith for forty-one years. His political views are 
Democratic. 

WILLIAM L. DUNCAN 

was born February 18, 1828, in Boone County, Missouri, twelve miles 
south of Columbia. His father, Samuel Duncan, a farmer by calling, was 
born in South Carolina, October 23, 1801, while his mother, formerly 
Pardee Bass, was born September 10, 1816, in Nashville, Tennessee. 
They had four daughters and two sons, of whom there are living three 
daughters and two sons. When a child Samuel Duncan emigrated from 
his native state with his parents to Kentucky, locating near Lexington. 
His wife had gone from Tennessee to Boone County, Kentucky, while 
•yet quite young, and there they were married. In an early day he was 
engaged in distilling in Boone County for several years, when he bought 
a farm of over 200 acres and turned his attention to farming until 1853. 
Then he disposed of his farm and came to Henry County, Missouri, 



570 HISTORY OF hp:nrv county. 

where he purchased a tract of 6oo acres near Windsor. Here he remained 
until the spring of 1870, bought village lots in Windsor, built a residence 
and lived in the town until his death, October 30, 1882. His widow is 
still a resident of that place. William L. Duncan received a good edu- 
cation in youth, and in 1853 came to Henry County with his parents. 
At the outbreaking of the war he enlisted as one of the Windsor Guards 
under Captain Gibbons and joined the army of Price at Jefferson City, 
and for two years served as one of his body guards. He was at that 
time discharged on account of disability and went to Bloomfield, Nelson 
County, Kentucky, where he stayed until January, 1866. He was mar- 
ried January 3, 1866, to Miss Sarah A. McClaskey, of Nelson County, 
Kentucky. They have had two sons and a daughter, only one of whom, 
a son, is living and now residing with his parents. On coming to Henr\- 
County Mr. Duncan commenced farming with his father and continued 
with him for several years, when he returned to Kentucky and engaged 
in milling with the father-in-law. After a few years he returned to 
Windsor and again resumed farming. For two years he remained at 
Windsor, when he went to Texas, but in one year retraced his steps to 
Missouri, embarking in the hotel business at Windsor in 1874, being in 
charge of the Bass House for one year. After a year of agricultural 
pursuits he began keeping hotel, this time the Windsor House, for one 
year. He next engaged in general merchandising at Windsor for two 
years. He went to Colorado on a prospecting tour, but soon came back, 
and, purchasing a part of the old homestead, settled down to farming, 
in which he is still interested. He has a good farm on the line of the 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. He is a member of the A. F. Si A. 
M. order and is also connected with the M. E. Church South. Politically, 
he is a Democrat. 

JOEL H. DUVALL, 

a native of Woodford County, Kentucky, was born October 22, 1834, in 
which county his lather, Jonathan C. Duvall, was also born, on July 16, 
1803. He was a stone mason by trade, and this in connection with farm- 
ing he has followed nearly all his life. January 19, 1834, he married 
Miss Elizabeth Roberts, who was born November 12, 18 10, in Montgom- 
ery County, Kentucky. They were the parents of five children, four of 
whom survive. In the spring of 1835, he removed to Marion County, 
Missouri, and from that time until 1858, was located in different parts of 
the state, but in September of the latter year, he came to Henry County, 
purchasing 440 acres of land in Tebo (now Windsor) Township. . Here 
he and his wife now reside, surrounded by plenty, and in the enjoyment 
of excellent health. They are members of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. 
Joel H. Duvall received a good education in youth, and on August 10, 
1862, enlisted in Company K, of the Missouri State Militia, under Wil- 



EiOGRArriiCAL. 571 

Ham Weaver, captain, and A. C. Marvin, colonel, both of this county. 
After serving- a year the company disbanded, and he re-enlisted in the 
First Missouri Cavalry, serving in that capacity during the remainder of 
the war. He obtained his discharge July ii, 1865, at Benton Barracks, 
then returning home. Mr. D. was married February 5, 1856, to Miss 
Mildred A. Willingham, of Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri. They 
have had eight children, six sons and two daughters, all living. The 
younger two are twins, Eddie and Freddie, whom it is difficult for even 
their parent-, to distinguish, only as they respond to their respective 
names. The eldest daughter, Sarah E., born March 18, 1858, in Calla- 
way County, Missouri, was married to John T. Withers, of this county, 
September 19, 1877, and they one have son and one daughter living, one son 
having died. Mrs. W. is a member of the Mt. Olivet Church. Robert 
K. Duvall, the eldest son, was born January 16, i86c. He married Miss 
Belle Pickerell, of this county, March 3, 1879, ^'""^ to them have been 
born two children, a son and daughter. Mrs. D. is connected with the 
Christian Church of Hayden's Grove. Mr. Joel Duvall owns 104 acres 
of land in fine cultivation, and has given some attention to the raising 
of broom corn, with satisfactory results. He also raises stock, and is 
one of the progressive farmers of his township. Himself, wife and one 
daughter hold membership in the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Politi- 
cally he is a Greenbacker. 

GASNER OUARLES FOSTER 

was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, December 22, 18 10, being 
the son of Robert Foster, who was born near Richmond, Virginia. He 
learned the mason's trade while young, and in 183 1 removed to Missouri, 
settling in Callaway County. He came to this county in 1854, and died 
at the house of his son February 12. 1859. aged ninety years, three 
months and twelve days. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Fox 
Ouarles, of Virginia, had died in Callaway County in 1832. The subject 
of this sketch was the third of a family of five children, of whom one is 
living in Oregon, one in Calloway County and one deceased. After loca- 
ting in Callaway County, April 13, 183 1, he worked with his father at the 
mason's trade, both laying brick and stone and plastering. They con- 
tracted for building many large buildings, and worked on the state peni- 
tentiary, etc. In April, 1848, he came to Henry County, and settled one 
and a half miles northeast of Calhoun, where he improved a farm which 
he now owns. In 1856 he moved into Windsor took up his location on 
a farm, a part of which has been added to the city. He gave the M. E. 
Church, South, and also the M. E. Church, the lots upon which their 
churches were erected. He has now one hundred acres, well improved, 
with a o-ood residence and other buildings, after having sixty acres 



572 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

included in the city. He married Miss Minerva Pinkstons in 1836. 
She was born January 10, 18 IQ, and was the daughter of Isham 
Pinkston, of Warrensburg. She died October 13, 1852, and left 
seven children : John William, Benjamin Franklin, Elizabeth Vir- 
ginia, Ann Amanda, Minerva, Elmira, Gazner Pinkston and Martha 
Frances. January 3, 1854, he married for his second wife, Mrs. James 
A. Crumley, formerly Miss J. D. Baker. Mr. Crumley, her first husband, 
died March 1853. Mrs. Foster died September 9, 1869. His third wife 
was Miss Martha Wiley, whom he married March 7, 1871. She was the 
daughter of Abraham Wiley, one of the early pioneers of this county, 
he having come into the county with John Willson, and living near him 
all his days, Mr. Foster politically is a Democrat. He was one of the 
founders of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and was one of its 
elders. He also has for many years been a Mason. He started in life a 
poor boy, and the fine property which he has now obtained is the result 
of hard labor, much economy and excellent management. He has been 
a liberal giver for the building and maintenance of churches and schools, 
and has gained a lasting reputation among all classes of people where 
he has lived so long. His farm contains 400 acres of valuable land. Gas- 
ner P. Foster, the sixth child in this family, was born in Henry County 
in 1849, and at the age of twenty-one, he left home and completed his 
education at the Hannibal Commercial College in 1874. He returned 
and clerked for six months and then rented a farm, which he worked until 
the fall of 1881. Then he formed a partnership with William Mclntire in 
the grocery business. In January Mr. Mclntire sold out to W. A. Brain,, 
who in turn sold out to Shelton & Owsley. Mr. F. soon started business 
again with Mr. Stewart, who sold to Mr. E. H. Wall, and the firm of Fos- 
ter & Wall are now enjoying a liberal patronage. He married Miss Bet- 
tie Withers, in 1874. She is the daughter of J. C. Withers. They have 
one child living, Maud, who was born January 13, 1880. He belongs to 
A. O. U. W. 

JACOB A. FULTS, 

agent and telegraph operator at Windsor Station, was born in Washing- 
ton Court House, Fayette County, Ohio, March 6, 185 1. His parents, 
Simon and Sarah Fults nee Bush, who were born in Fayette County, 
Ohio, came to Missouri and settled in Windsor in 1869. They had nine 
children, of whom Jacob is the oldest. He received an excellent educa- 
tion and in the fall of 1875 he learned the art of telegraphy. His first 
office was at Green Ridge, where, by his faithfulness and attention to 
business he won the confidence of the company, and now has the satis- 
faction of knowing that his services are appreciated. He has been sta- 
tioned at Walker, Pilot Grove, Madison and other places, and lastly at 
Windsor, and has been in the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 573 

Railroad for seven years. His books and exhibits are systematical, neat 
and correct and in his intercourse with the business men he is oblig- 
ing and courteous to all. He married Miss Florence Sheble, of Green 
Ridge, in 1876, December 24. She is the daughter of M. Sheble, origi- 
nally of Noble County, Ohio. Her mother was formerly Rhoda Brown, 
from Ohio. By this happy union they have one child, Ethel Welton, 
born November 17, 1878. 

ROBERT MARTIN FUNK, 

of the firm of Smith & Funk, druggists, was born in Hardin County, 
Kentucky, March 30, 1822. His father, Alexander Funk, who was born 
in Kentucky, died in August, 1856. His mother, formerly Sarah Wat- 
ters, came to Missouri in 1857 with her son Robert M. She is yet living, 
vigorous and hearty for one of her age. now being eighty-four years old. 
They had nine children of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest. 
He came here in 1857 and settled on a farm where he remained until 
1872, then moving into Windsor and engaging in the livery business for 
two years. Selling out he entered into the drug trade with Dr. Smith, 
and has since made the business a study in all its details and has become 
a thoroughly competent druggist. With Dr. Smith he is having a very 
large and profitable patronage. He lives with a married sister, Mrs. 
Molly J. Shivell, wife of Dr. Shivell. Mr. F. is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and a man whose judgment is good on all important ques- 
tions. He has accumulated a fine property and is a leading citizen of 
this place. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON GIVENS, 

physician and surgeon, was born in Pulaski County, Missouri, in T837, 
and resided there until 1861, living during this time in five different 
counties, but never having moved. The county is now Laclede. His 
father, Alexander Givens, who was born in Ireland, came to this state 
in an early day, and on January ii, 184^, he died. He married Clarissa 
Harlow Cornwell, of Kentucky, who died in 1863. George grew up on 
a farm, not having very good opportunities for acquiring an education 
when young; yet he was a close student at home, and at the age of nine- 
teen he entered the Lebanon Academy and commenced a course of 
study which, with teaching school during vacations, has resulted in his 
obtaining an excellent education by his own exertions. From his mother 
he received five dollars, with which he started out in life. He read 
medicine with Horton & Glover and also with Dr. S. W. Wood, and 
and attended lectures in 1861 and then was appointed assistant surgeon 
in the Confederate army. He remained till the close of the war and 
was mustered out at Shreveport, Louisiana. Coming to Texas, he prac- 



574 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ticed his profession for two years and then moved to Benton Count}-, 
Missouri. In 1S75 he attended his second course of lectures at the Mis- 
souri Medical College at St. Louis, where he graduated in 1872 with 
great credit. He came to Windsor in April, 1875, and commenced prac- 
tice here, and has since met with good results. He has a magnificent 
residence and office and everything about him that is desirable for a 
home. He became a member of the Baptist Church in 1871, and feeling 
it to be his duty to enter the ministry, he was accordingly ordained 
December 29, 1879. He has been preaching at the Mt. Olivet Church, 
and for the last year has supplied the pulpit at Fort Harmony Church. 
He married Miss Susan Sophia Spencer in June, 1867. She died March 
9, 1870. His second wife was Elizabeth Davidson, whom he married 
March 10, 1874, in Benton County. She died June 17, 1875. She was a 
most estimable woman and her loss was deeply felt by many. He mar- 
ried Miss Emma V. Dick for his third wife April 16, 1879. She was the 
daughter of John W. Dick, of Benton County, who died in 188 1. Her 
mother was born in Virginia, as was also Mr. Dick and Emma. They 
have two children, Mary Susan and John Dick. The doctor was super- 
intendent of public schools in Laclede County and was elected coroner 
of Benton County. 

WALTER T. GLOVER, 

postmaster of Windsor, was born in Indiana Territory, May 21, 1816. 
William Glover, his father, a blacksmith by trade, was born in Virginia 
in 1783. During the latter years of his life he was a prominent member 
of the county court of Barren County, Kentucky. He died at the age 
of eighty-eight. The mother of Walter was formerly Charity Wilson, 
born in Virginia. They moved to Kentucky and thence to Indiana. 
When our subject was two years old his father removed to Barren 
County, Kentucky, where he was raised to manhood on a farm, receiv- 
ing a limited education. In 1846 he went to Hancock County, Illinois, 
and bought a farm, upon which he remained until 1868. Selling out he 
came to Missouri, and located in Windsor, Henry County, and subse- 
quently entered into the drug business with W. B. Pomery, his son-in- 
law. Thus he remained occupied until 1875, when he was appointed 
postmaster, which position he has held since, giving general satisfaction. 
Mr. Glover married Miss Agnes Ray, in 1838. She was the daughter of 
Thomas and Mary (Bullock) Ray, both Kentuckians by birth. Her 
grandmother, Hannah Clark, was a sister of Gov. Clark, of Kentucky, 
one of the most able men of the state, and his sister was noted for her 
womanly wisdom and superior talents. Her husband was Edward Bul- 
lock. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Glover they have four children 
living: Mary E. (Mrs. Lewis Chandler, of Butte County, California); 
Emma G., (wife of W. B. Pomeroy, of W^indsor, who died November 29, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 375 

1879); Susan Emitt, (Mrs. Joshua Hitchcock, of Illinois, who died 
December 9, 1872); William Walter, of Fort Scott, (married Lillie Hurl- 
burt, January 2, 1876); Edward Ripley, (now in the express business in 
Denison, Texas); and Alice, born November 2, 1854, and died Febru- 
ary, 1856. Mr. Glover in his political affiliations is a staunch Republican^ 
and is a substantial member of the Congreg-ationalist Church. He is a 
quiet, unassuming-, intelligent man, having the entire confidence of the 
community and discharges his duties in a manner which elicits praise 
from all. 

Wn^LIAM GOFORTH, 

carpenter, architect and builder, and patentee of the celebrated window 
frame and sash cord fastener, and other valuable articles, was born in 
Fulton County, Illinois, April 8, 1836. His father, Rev. John Goforth, of 
the Baptist Church, in Fulton County, was born in North Carolina, and 
married Miss Rhoda Powell, a native of Tennessee. In 1857, the family 
moved to Bremer County, Iowa. In 1853, William commenced to learn 
his trade, in which he has become very proficient. In 1857, he came to 
Missouri, and settled in the southeastern part of Henry County, and 
started a small store, but after a time he sold out and went to Osceola, 
St. Clair County, opening a shop and engaging in building. In August, 
1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army and remained until the close 
of the war. Commencing at the battle of Lone Jack he saw very hard 
service all through the war, being for the most of the time in General 
Parson's command. In 1865, he came to Windsor, where he has been 
occupied in building and maturing several useful patents. In 1874, he 
patented a serviceable chair, which is coming into general use. He also 
patented a useful wind engine, and a bed spring and a washer. His win- 
dow frame and sash cord fastener is being used a great deal, and he 
anticipates making several other important improvements. He married 
Miss Susan C. Moran December 28, 1858. She died February 13, 1877, 
leaving three children: Lenora Elenor, Minnie Gray, and Eva Willis- 
tena, who died when three years old. One died in infancy. October 30, 
1879, he married Miss Christina V. Henry, daughter of George Henry, of 
English parentage, and Hannah (-Hughes) Henry, both of whom were 
natives of Ohio. By this union they have one child, Carlass. Mr. G. in 
his political views is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist Churchr 
and also belongs to the Masonic lodge. He has been the architect and 
builder of some of the finest residences and buildings in the town and 
county. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON GOODLETT, 

an enterprising citizen of this vicinity was born February 20, 1830, in 
Nashville, Tennessee. His father, Adam Gibb Goodlett. a physician, sur- 



576 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

geon and planter, was born in 1782, in Orange County, Virginia. We here 
give his obituary notice as taken from a Nashville paper : " Died, at his 
farm in Rutherford County, Tennessee, on the 17th inst., in the sixty- 
ninth year of his age, of affection of the heart, Dr. Adam Gibb Goodlett 
formerly, and for over thirty years, a successful physician of this city. 
He was a native of Virginia, born in 178?, in Orange County, but 
received his education in Lexington, Kentucky. He was for more than 
forty years engaged actively in the duties of his profession, and was for 
nine years a surgeon in the United States army, serving a part of the 
time in the Fourth but chiefly in the Seventh Regiment of Infantry. 
His commission bore date February 10, 1812. He was present and 
actively employed during the battle of New Orleans. Although differ- 
ing in political opinions with General Jackson, their frequent correspon- 
dence evinces sincere attachment to each other personally. Dr. Good- 
lett was at one time in the regiment with President Taylor and General 
Jessup. He enjoyed the warm friendship of Generals Wilkinson and 
Gaines while they lived. During a brief visit to Washington last year 
his general health was much improved by a renewed intercourse with 
his old brother officers, to whom he felt much attached. For General 
Jessup, in particular, he retained, to the last, sentiments of regard. Pre- 
vious to the last war with Great Britain, he was offered a commission in 
the line, but declined it, at the request of General Wilkinson, who per- 
suaded him that there would be no war. When the army was reduced 
at the termination of the war, he was the only surgeon that was retained 
in the southern division of the army. He soon after bore dispatches 
from the government to our ministers in England and France, and spent 
sometime in visiting the hospitals of Europe. He retired from the army 
and settled in this citj^ (Nashville) in 1817 or 1818. He seemed to have 
a presentment of dying and for several weeks talked calmly and seemed 
fearless in the contemplation of death, as a christian, confident of the 
power and willingness of Almighty God to save. He was for thirty 
years a member of the Presbyterian Church of this city, and although 
he died as he most wished, suddenly and without pain, he leaves his 
friends full of assurance in his inheritance of a crown of eternal life. 
He left an affectionate wife who had stood by him in prosperity and 
adversity, with all that devotion of which woman alone is capable, and 
also five sons to mourn' his loss. November 26, 18 18, he married Miss 
Charlotte Phanuel Campbell, who was born in 1790, in Virginia. By this 
union there were six children, five sons and one daughter, five of whom 
are still living. The daughter died in infancy." In his youth George 
W. Goodlett acquired a good English education, and subsequent!}" com- 
menced the study of law 1 intending to make the law his profession) in 
Nashville, Tennessee, his preceptor being John A. Goodlett, his brother 
.and guardian. This he continued for three years at Nashville, when he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 577 

went with his brother to St. Louis, Missouri. He was admitted to the 
bar at the age of twenty-one years, prior to leaving his native state, but 
resumed his studies while in St. Louis for several years, although 
engaged in practice. In 1854 he was admitted to partnership, and 
practiced in connection with his brother until the commencement of the 
civil war. At its opening in 186 1 he enlisted as a private under General 
F. M. Cockrell, with whom he remained until after the battle of Lexing- 
ton, Missouri. He was then sent on important business by General 
Sterling Price to General Sidney Johnson, then at Columbus, Kentucky, 
and from there went to Memphis, Tennessee, and joined General D. M. 
Frost's brigade, as major. He returned to Springfield, Missouri, and 
after the battle of Pea Ridge the whole command went to Corinth, Mis- 
sissippi. He was in the battle of Farmersville, near Corinth, and after 
the retreat of the army to Tupelo, Mississippi, he visited Richmond, 
Virginia, with General Price, when he received a commission as colonel. 
Going to Missouri he raised a company known as Colonel G. W. Good- 
lett's Regiment, and joined General William Wheeler's command in 
Northern Mississippi. He was engaged as a scouting officer during the 
remainder of the war, until the final surrender in Georgia near Rome. 
He was tendered the office of state treasurer in 1861, while at Memphis, 
Tennessee, by Governor Clayborne F. Jackson, but declined to accept, 
choosing to fight at the head of his command. We here give his; res- 
ignation as sent to General D. M. Frost, (tendered on account of an 
insult offered him by that general at Sand Hill Prairie, Arkansas.) 
"Although I now resign my commission, I do not yet resign the cause 
of liberty. My glittering sword shall yet carve my way to future glory, 
which shall mark my general's neglect, and when this frail body shall 
put on its last habiliments, its spirit shall wing its way to yon region 
above, in passing the pale-faced moon, PU hang my hat on brilliant 
Mars, and hail each superlative star; and when I arrive at the portals of 
Heaven's high chancery, FU demand of the attending angel to usher me 
into the presence of my superior, General Washinton." 

Mr. Goodlett was married December 26, 1865, to Miss Ada E. Cook, 
originally of Covington, Kentucky, and widow of A. B. Cook, an attorney 
of Springfield, but born in Fort Defiance, Ohio. They have two children: 
Mark P. and Stella E., the former attending school at Windsor, and the 
latter at St Louis. Mr. G. commenced business at the close of the war 
under adverse circumstances, but with a determination to succeed. Pur- 
chasing property in St. Louis, he soon sold it at a large advance, and for 
eight years thereafter was occupied in conducting a 1-ucrative real estate 
business. He then took a half interest in a steam boat running in behalf 
of the Southern trade, but after a year turned his attention to his farm in 
Windsor Township, Henry County, which he had purchased in 1866. He 
now has a fine farm of nearly 500 acres of land, to which he has given 



578 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

his supervision since 1876, and upon the place are good buildings. He 
also raises fine stock to some extent. His house his well furnished, and 
his library is one of the best to be found in the county. In his manner 
he is modest and unassuming, and very hospitable. He is much inter- 
ested in educational afTairs, and has frequently been solicited to become 
a candidate for ofificial honors, but has as often declined with the excep- 
tion of school offices. He is a member of the A. L. H. Grand Council, 
No. 434, Windsor, of which he is commander. Religiously he is a Unit- 
arian, and politically a Democrat. Both the families of Campbells and 
Goodletts trace their genealogy to the nobility. 

JAMES W. GOODIN, 

was born December 27, 1839, '" Windsor, Henry County, Missouri, his 
education being such as he acquired in good English schools. His father, 
Amos H. Goodin, was born October 18, 1804, in Kentucky, and was for 
many years a teacher in this county. In 1824, he married Miss Marga- 
ret Warren, who was born August 9, 1803, in that state. They had 
eleven children: Jefferson W., born July 16, 1825, and died January 22, 
1858; Thomas C, born December 23, 1827, and in 1857 married Miss 
Susan C. Harlan, of Otterville, Cooper County; John J., born July 12, 
1829; Joseph B., born May 28, 1831, and married Miss Sarah A. Patrick, 
of Johnson County, Missouri, Mrs. J. B. Goodin died in August, 1874, 
and Mr. G. was married again in 1880; Mary E., born February 3, 1833, 
married James D. Baker, of Henry County, in 1853, Mrs. Baker died May 
26, 1861; Margaret J., who was born August 28, 1835, married James E. 
Tindall, of this county, in 1854; Sarah A., was born September 24, 1837, 
and is now the wife of George W. Sacry, of California; James W., our 
subject, married Miss Olivia A. Buchanan, of Windsor, Missouri; Wil- 
liam O. born July 16, 1842, died August 2, 1857; Robert H., born May 2, 
1844, died September 28, 1861; Melissa P., born August 26, 1868, mar- 
ried William H. Sallee, of Callaway County, April 18, 1875. Amos H. 
Goodin and wife have for eight years been residents of Lakeport, Lake 
County, California, and are well preserved in years. About the year 
1808, they had each accompanied their parents to Boone County, Mis- 
souri, from Kentucky, thence to Saline County, in 1826, and finally in 
183 1, to Henry County, where they made their home until departing for 
California in 187s. He was for many years one of the heaviest property 
holders in the county, owning for a long time as many as 1,000 acres in 
a body. He was also for years an educator here. James W., having been 
an early resident of this community, has seen much of the county's 
growth, and well recollects when deer roamed over the present site of 
Windsor. Upon the outbreak of the war of 1861, he enlisted on May 10, 
as a private in the Windsor Guards, under Captain John W. Gibbons, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



579 



whose company was attached to General Sterling Price's command, 
and served during the war, or for more than four years, receiving his 
regular discharge at Shreveport, Louisiana, in June, 1865. He bought 
his first farm of forty acres in White Township, Benton County, in 1867, 
disposing of it in 1871, and purchasing eighty acres in this township, in 
1873. He now owns here 160 acres, and a two-thirds interest in 145 
adjoining, and is quite an extensive raiser of stock. In 1876, he was 
elected township collector, and the year following magistrate, but 
declined to fill this latter position. He belongs to Windsor Lodge, No. 
29, A. F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. G. are both connected with the Christ- 
ian Church. Politically he is Democrat. 

WILLIAM S. GOODIN 

was born in Windsor, Henry County, Missouri, January 23, 1855, being 
the son of Warren Goodin, a farmer and stock raiser by occupation, who 
was born January 8, 1824, near Marshall in Saline County, Missouri. His 
mother, formerly Elizabeth Gilliland, was born February 8, 1832, in Cum- 
berland County, Virginia. They were married June 10, 1847, and had 
eight children, five sons and three daughters, four of whom are still liv- 
ing, three sons and one daughter. Benjamin F., the eldest, was born 
October 25, 1849, in Windsor, and was married December 14, 1876, to 
Mrs. Elizabeth S. McClanahan, of Fulton, Callaway County, she being 
the widow of John McClanahan, of Fulton. By her former marriage 
there was but one child, Carrie, born February 22, 1870; but by the lat- 
ter union there have been four children, three of whom are living. He 
and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Fulton. Catherine 
Alice was born August 21, 1852, in Windsor, and died September 24, 
1869. She was of unusually bright intellect, and no doubt was enter- 
tained but that close application produced her early death. She had for 
two years previous been identified with the Christian Church of Wind- 
sor. William S. Goodin attended good common schools in youth, and 
at the age of nineteen commenced teaching. He was elected November 
7, 1882, to the position of magistrate in Windsor for a term of four ^ 
years. George L. Goodin was born March 16, 1858, in the same town- 
ship, and, in connection with his brother, William S., is now engaged in 
farming. Amos H. was born November 16, i860, in White Township, 
Benton County, Missouri, and died June 24, 1864, after an illness of two 
days from severe scalds. James W. was born April 30, 1864, in White 
Township, Benton County, and died February 5, f88o, of pneumonia 
after an illness of three days. Eva and Orra, twin daughters, were born 
December 5, 1869, and Orra died July 29, 1870. In 1876 William S. and 
George L. bought jointly iiS acres of land in Windsor Township, a part 
of the old homestead, formerly belonging to their grandfather, Benjamin 



58o HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Goodin, and subsequently, in 1881, purchased eighty acres more. In 1882 
they sold the 115 acres, now having in their possession the eighty acres 
last purchased. They are working together, and have thus far in life 
depended upon their own exertions. Their mother resides with them 
and has the management of their household affairs. Both, politically, 
are Democratic. 

WALLACE A. GORHAM, 

owner and proprietor of Cedar Cliff Farm, was born October 27, 1833, 
in Pittsfield, Rutland County, Vermont. His father, Alonzo Gorham, a 
farmer by occupation, was born August 15, 1801, in Putney, Vermont, 
while his mother, whose maiden name was Mercy Humphrey, was born 
March 24, 1801, in Rutland, of that state. She traces her descent from 
the ancestry of General Robert E. Lee, of civil war memory, and she 
was also a niece of Rev. Simeon Parmalee, who died at the advanced 
age of lOi years, in 1882, after having devoted more than seventy years 
of his life to the ministry. They were married in May, 1825, and to 
them were born six children: H. Lorain, married the Rev. S. R. Wel- 
don, of Rockford, Illinois, in 1852; Wallace A.; Orange R., who mar- 
ried Miss Mary McDowell, a relative of Maj.-Gen. McDowell, March 10, 
1863; Laura J., who married Col. Henry C. Forbes, of the Seventh Illi- 
nois Cavalry, in September, i86[; Diana M., who married Dr. H. N. 
Caner, of Freeport, Illinois, in July, 1859; Charles Walker, who married 
Miss Emma Moore, daughter of Captain Moore, of Lake Erie memory. 
In June, 1846, Mr. G. with his family removed from Vermont to Rock- 
ford, Illinois, remaining there until the death of his wife, August 8, 
1866. He now makes his home at that place with his son, Orange B., 
and at the ripe age of eighty-one years is quite active and in good 
health. Wallace A. Gorham enjoyed good educational advantages in 
youth, graduating from the Rockford Institute, his preceptors having 
been H. P. Kimball and Prof. Addison Brown. He was married October 
^7. 1857, to Miss Mary, youngest daughter of Lieut. D. W. and Lydia 
Grippen, of Winnebago, Illinois, the former belonging to Company G, 
■ Forty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. There were five children by 
this union: Emma Gertrude, Olive Minnie, Sue Arabel, Osseo. Wabaunsee 
and Arie Gail, all now residing at Cedar Cliff. In 1869 Mr. G. sold his 
farm in Illinois and, emigrating to Henry County, Missouri, purchased 
160 acres of land adjoining Windsor, on which he remained for thirteen 
years. In January, 1882, he disposed of his property there and bought 
his present farm. He has recently opened and is about to commence 
work extensively on a fine vein of coal on his place, which gives promise 
of great success. J. C. Beedy (banker of Windsor) is a stockholder in 
the concern. Mr. Gorham has held the highest offices in the I. O. G. T. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 581 

lodge of Windsor. He, together with his wife and three children are 
connected with the Congregational Church. 

WILLIAM H. GRAY, 

section 13, was born in Accomack County, Virginia, April 7, 1844. In 
1870 he came to Missouri and settled in Windsor, bought a farm, subse- 
quently sold it, and has been trading land more or less ever since. He 
was a soldier in the Confederate army through the war under Stonewall 
Jackson, and once received a severe wound. Mr. Gray was married in 
Illinois in 1865, to Miss Frances M. Ingraham. They have one child, 
Willie Gray, eleven years old, October 20. Mr. Gray is a brick mason 
by trade, and also a brick ^manufacturer. He burned the first kiln of 
brick in the town, and has since manufactured many of the brick used 
here. He has a fine coal bed on his farm, which when worked promises 
to be of value. 

HIRAM H. HARNSBERGER, 

of the firm of Harnsberger & Ragan, merchants, was born in Rocking- 
ham County, Virginia, in 1830, his parents being Jeremiah and Eliza- 
beth Harnsberger, nee Miller, both natives of Virginia. The latter died 
in 1880. They lived on a farm and brought up their children to habits 
of industry, endeavoring, as far as was in their power, to give them a 
good education. Hiram, the seventh of a family of nine children, made 
his start in life by teaching school winters and working on a farm in the 
summer seasons. In 1866 he started in the mercantile business in Cal- 
houn, Henry County, Missouri. After one year he left and went to 
Cold Store and in a short time to Leesville, where he remained six 
years. In 1876 he came to Windsor and established his present busi- 
ness. Mr. Ragan has been with him as partner for fifteen years. They 
were playmates together when boys. Mr. Harnsberger married Nannie 
R. Galbraith in October, 1859. She was the daughter of Hugh Gal- 
braith, of Waverly, Missouri, and was originally from Tennessee. Her 
mother was formerly Jerusia Smiley, born in Cooper County, Missouri. 
They have one son, Hugh B., who has been given an excellent educa- 
tion, he having spent three and a half years at the Central College., 
Fayette, Missouri, and at the LaGrange College for one year. He is now 
engaged in the store, and is a thorough and promising business man. 
Mr. H. is a staunch Democrat. He belongs to the M. E. Church, South, 
and also is a member of the A. O. U. W. The firm of which he is a 
member is doing a large business, and necessarily carry a complete 
stock of goods. No house in the county stands higher for true com- 
mercial worth than they. 



582 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

FRANCIS MARION HAM, 

blacksmith and wagon manufacturer, was born in Logan County, Ken- 
tucky, in 1833, and was the son of Joshua Plam, a native of North Caro- 
lina, who died in 1852, and Frances (Wood) Ham, who was born in Con- 
necticut. She died in 1859. Francis M. accompanied his father to Mis- 
souri in the spring of 1845, and settled in Henry County. He was brought 
up on a farm and enjoyed the privileges of the common schools, which 
in those days were rather meagre. At eighteen years of age, he learned 
the blacksmith's trade, and located in Windsor as the first blacksmith in 
1859. Since that time he has kept his shop in operation (except during 
the war). In 1861 he enlisted for the army, and was in the third com- 
pany sworn into the Confederate service in Jefferson City — the Windsor 
Guards which became General Price's escort. He returned home and 
enlisted in Collins' Artillery, Battery A, Shelby's Brigade and Marma- 
duke's Division. They were much of the time in Missouri and Arkansas. 
He remained until the general surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana. 
Returning home he again opened his shop, and is now one of the most 
industrious citizens of the town. He has been particularly fortunate in 
regard to health, having never been sick a day in his life, when it was 
necessary to have a doctor. Mr. H. was married in 1858, to Miss Susan 
A. Ham, in Henry County. Her father was William Ham, and her 
mother Mary McMillan, came from Kentucky. They have three child- 
dren living: William J., Francis Mat ion, and Susan Alice; one died in 
infancy. Mr. Ham is a member of the Odd Fellows' society, a member 
of the American Legion of Honor, and belongs to the A. O. U. ^V. He 
has been an alderman of the city for ten years, only missing one year in 
the time. Though having commenced life under not very favorable cir- 
cumstances, he has at last succeeded in acquiring a good property and 
home. 

VINCENT KELLY HINES 

was born in Warren County, Kentucky, August 7, 1815. His father, 
William Hines was born in Virginia and moved to Kentucky in an earh' 
day. His grandfather, John Hines, who lived and died in Virginia, left 
at his death seven sons and three daughters by his first wife, and two 
sons and two daughters by his second wife. Vincent K.'s mother was 
formerly Betsey Adams, a Virginian by birth. Young Hines com- 
menced life on a farm, which industry he followed until 1875, when he 
retired and came to Windsor and embarked in the lumber business with 
C. C. Morse, and then with J. C. Beedy. He was also associated with J. 
C. Beedy and C. C. Morse. He had come to Missouri in 1866, purchased 
a large farm and conducted it on an extensive scale, and dealing con- 
siderably in stock, etc. In 1877 he was one of the company who started 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 583 

the Windsor Savings Bank, and is now one of its largest stockholders. 
In 188 1 he opened a large dry goods store, which is managed by two of 
his sons. He has been a money loaner all his life, and has been very 
successful in his business affairs. Mr. Hines married Miss Mariah Stone 
January 23, 1840. She was the daughter of John Stone, of Kentucky. 
They have nine children living, James H., Mary F., Louisa Jane, Wood- 
fred, Julia, Ida, Frank B. and Volney G. John W. died in 1869, aged 
twenty-three years. Mr. Hines in his political affiliation is a Democrat, 
and he is also a member of the M. E. Church South. He has taken a 
leading interest in all the enterprises of the town and has made his 
influence felt in many ways where money was needed to forward an 
undertaking. He is liberal to his church and its benevolences, and 
does much for every laudable enterprise. His judgment is seldom at 
fault in decisions of importance, and to this characteristic is, perhaps, 
due the greatest cause of his success. 

JUDGE JOHN SMITH KELLY, 

merchant, was born in Newton County, Missouri, in 1842, being the 
son of Rev. Jeptha M. Kelly, of the M. E. Church, South, who was born 
in Robinson County, Tennessee, and who came to Newton County, Mis- 
souri, in 1838, and to Windsor in 1873. He married Miss Mary Isabel, 
also of Tennessee. She died in Warsaw, Benton County in 1853. 
The subject of this sketch received his education at the Arcadia 
High School in Iron County, Missouri. He entered a store in Warsaw 
in 1854, when thirteen years of age, but in 1856 left and worked on a 
farm for a year at five dollars per month. He then remained with his 
father on a farm until the war, when he entered the army in the Okanes 
Battalion, and was in the first battle of the war, at Cole Camp. They 
then joined Governor Jackson's and Price's army, and were in every 
engagement of the army. Mr. K. was shot through the body at the battle 
of Carthage, and seriously wounded. He was at the surrender at Shreve- 
port, Louisiana, after which he returned home, where he remained help- 
ing his father and working about for very small pay for two years or more. 
In 1869 he came to Windsor and entered into business with Edwin Bass. 
He has now become of the prosperous business men of the city, and is 
having a large and increasing trade. Mr. Bass, his partner, died Octo- 
ber 15, 1882. Mr. Kelly married Miss Susannah Spencer, October 22, 
1868. She was the daughter of Perry and Susannah (Wiseman) 
Spencer, of Boone County, Missouri. The former was born and educated 
in Baltimore, Maryland. They have two children : Spencer J., twelve 
years old, and Mary Eliza, aged ten. In politics he is a Democrat. He 
belongs to the M. E. Church, South. In 1882 he was elected county 
judge for the first district. He has always been connected with the city 



584 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

govei'iiment in some capacity, and at present is its clerk. Since enter- 
ing into business, his course has been very marked, and he has exhibited 
great business tact and energy in all his transactions. 

WILLIAM JOHN LIVINGSTON, 

of the firm of W. J. Livingston & Sons, merchants, was born in County 
Down, Ireland, in 1824, and was a son of Rev. Samuel and Eliza (Dalzell) 
Livingston, both of Ireland. The former was born in Port Ferry and 
belonged to the Presbyterian Church. William J. came to this country 
in 1847 and settled in Versailles, Morgan County, Missouri, and with his 
brother, Jonas, remained there until the gold excitement in California in 
1849, when in April of that, year they left for that region. They devoted 
their time in the mines till 185 1 and were successful in finding valuable 
diggings, and found some remarkable specimens, one solid chunk of 
almost pure gold weighing fifty-nine and half ounces and worth $1,175, 
and another square block weighing one pound. Upon returning he 
started a store in Pleasant Mount, Miller County, Missouri, and after 
nine years there sold out. In 1867 he came to Windsor and opened a 
store, it being among the first in town. He has two sons, who were 
brought up to learn this business, and they are now competent business 
men and are partners in the store. They carry a large general stock of 
goo.ds and are doing a remunerative business. Mr. Livingston, in con- 
nection with M. L. Stafford, deals extensively in grain. He married in 
1855 Miss Sarah E. Burress, daughter of Andrew Burress, of Pleasant 
Mount, Missouri. They have by this union five children living: Fred- 
erick Chandler, James, Annie, Willie J. and Lida. Dr. Samuel D., their 
oldest son, died October 5, 188 1. He graduated when twenty years old 
and was a fine scholar and a general favorite with all. He settled in 
Windsor in the practice of his profession, and had built a good reputa- 
tion and was doing well. Mr. L. in politics is a Democrat. He is a 
member of the Christian Church and belongs to the Masons. 

THOMAS w. Mckinley 

was born May 8, 1835, in Weston, Lewis County, West Virginia. He 
received but a common education, and in 1848 went to California, at the 
age of sixteen years, where he made a sojourn of ten years, accumulat- 
ing quite a snug fortune. On his return to his native state, in 1859, he 
married Miss Margaret Nealy, of Doddridge County. There were four 
children by this union, two sons and two daughters, three of whom are 
still living. He buried his wife during the summer of 1869. Nearly 
two years thereafter he married Miss Anna Adams, of Parkersburg, 
Wood County, West Virginia, February 7, 1871. To them were born 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 585 

three children, two daughters and one son, all living. He emigrated 
from Virginia to Plenry County, Missouri, in March, 1861, and bought a 
large tract of fine farming and pasture lands, nearly 1,000 acres in 
extent, in Windsor Township, his residence commanding a fine view of 
Windsor and the surrounding country. This was known as the Gale- 
wood farm. In 1871 he returned to Virginia, but came back here the 
same year, and from that time until 1880 was engaged in farming and 
the general raising of stock. He died August 23, 1880, having been, as 
was supposed, murdered in his room in Sedalia, as his dead body was 
found two days thereafter in one of the rooms of the Elgin House in 
that city. He was a member of the A. O. U. W,, under whose auspices 
he was buried on the 26th inst. Mrs. McKinley, since her husband's 
death, has continued to conduct the farm, and keeps it well stocked and 
in a prosperous condition. She still owns 630 acres, upon which is a 
finely furnished and commodious brick house. She is connected with 
the Episcopal Church of Sedalia. 

JOSEPH MEANS, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born December i, 1812, in Christian County, 
Kentucky. His father, Robert Means, also a farmer by occupation, was 
born in 1778, in North Carolina, while his mother, formerly Miss Sarah 
McDonald, was born in 1792, in Kentucky. They were married in 1806. 
and by this union had five sons and four daughters, three of whom are 
still living. They emigrated from Kentucky to Howard County, Mis- 
souri, in 1818, and purchased 160 acres of land, remaining there until 
1832, when they sold the farm and moved to Benton County, Missouri. 
Mr. Aleans died in 1844, at the age of sixty-six years, and his widow 
survived him until 1863, when she died. Joseph Means commenced at 
the age of twenty-one years to manage affairs for himself and bought his 
first farm of 200 acres near the present town of Windsor, in 1833. He 
remained there until 1849, when he sold it and bought another, located 
on section 3, of the same township, where he still resides. He is a prac- 
tical farmer, and manages his farm in an able manner, and also deals 
quite extensively in stock. Mr. M. married Miss Sarah Osborn, of Henry 
County, Missouri, December 22, 1837. By this union there have been 
born six sons and four daughters, of whom three sons and a daughter are 
now living. Mr. M. belongs to Windsor Lodge, No. 29, A. F. & A. M. 

JOHN DANIEL MELVIN, 

furniture dealer and cabinet maker, was born in Logan County, Ohio, in 
January, 1843, his parents being Benjamin and Isabel (Cockerell) Mel- 
vin. The former was born in Harper's Ferry and the latter in Loudoun 



586 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

County, Virginia. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Melvin moved to Missouri 
and settled in Pettis County, on his farm. John D. received a common 
school education and in 1865 he learned the cabinet maker's trade. He 
also became familiar with the carpenter's trade and was a builder and 
contractor for many years. In 1870 he came to Windsor, and started 
the cabinet business and a furniture store in 1874. J. V. B. Tryon, of 
Sedalia, started the first cabinet business in the place. Mr. Melvin mar- 
ried Miss Catharine Fitz Hugh Taylor, in 1872. She is the daughter of 
R. F. Taylor, Esq., who was a pioneer of this city, owning the land 
where the city was first built, and he surveyed it out into lots. Her 
mother was formerly Ann Fitz Hugh. Politically he is a Democrat, and 
he belongs to the A. O. U. W. His partner in business, Lawrence R. F. 
Berry, was born in Windsor in 1861. His father, Lawrence Berry, was 
in business here for several years and owned a fine farm near town. He 
died in 1862, leaving one son, L. R. F. His wife was Eliza Taylor, 
daughter of Judge Jonathan T. Taylor, who is one of the earliest pio- 
neers of the county. The widow Berry married D. D. Black, ot Wind- 
sor, in 1867. Young Lawrence received a fine education in the Windsor 
and Sedalia schools. He engaged in the furniture business in Septem- 
ber, 1882, with J. D. Melvin, and they now keep a good assortment of 
furniture and coffins. The are accommodating and polite in their tran- 
sactions and are growing in popular favor. 

ISAAC W. MITCHELL 

was born in Somerset County, Maryland, September 26, 1827, his father, 
James Mitchell, who was born in Delaware in 1797, dying in 1862. His 
mother's maiden name was Ann Mezick and was born in Maryland in 
1799; she died in 185 i. The former learned the shoe trade and followed 
it, together with farming and selling goods through life. Isaac W., the 
subject of this sketch, received a common education and learned the 
tailor's trade, which he continued for several years. He worked for some 
time as a daguerreian artist, and in 1S5 i he came to Missouri and stopped 
in Charleston and studied medicine with his brother, Geo. Mitchell, a dis- 
tinguished physician. In 1853 he settled in Washington, District of 
Columbia, and opened a fine family grocery, w^hich he conducted for two 
years. In 1855 ^^e sold out and came to Springfield, Greene County, and 
engaged in farming. He next moved to Rockbridge, Ozark County, and 
started a general store and operated this until 1861, when, disposing of 
it, he returned to Springfield and worked in Fort No. i. In 1862 he 
visited his native state and settled on the old farm and entered his 
father's store, where he continued to trade until 1867. He then came to 
Raleigh, Phelps County, Missouri, bought a drug store and subsequently 
purchased a farm. After farming, clerking and working on a railroad 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 587 

until 1875, he returned to his farm in Raleigh and raised three crops. 
He then came to Windsor in 1877 and opened a grocery store, but after- 
wards sold it. In 1880 he went to Colorado, crossed the range, opened 
a store, and after getting it well started left it with his two sons, Charles 
F. and Edward H., and he returned to Windsor. In the fall he bought 
out a grocery store and has been occupied in conducting it since. Mr. 
Mitchell married Miss Elizabeth L. Hearn November 14, 1852. She was 
the daughter of Ichabod Hearn, of Maryland. Her mother was Lucretia 
(Harris) Hearn, of Maryland. They have eight children living: Charles 
F., Lucretia Ann, Edward H., Isaac L., Georgia Etta, Hattie Belle, Gra- 
de and James. Six died in infancy. Charles F. learned the printing 
business. In 1875 he studied medicine, and attended lectures at the 
Louisville Medical College and at the Kentucky School of Medicine, 
and after the third course he graduated at the Louisville Medical Col- 
lege in February, 1879 ^s a specialist in gynaecology. He practiced in 
Howell County for two years previous to graduating. After completing 
his course he left for Colorado. The brothers have fine mines and are 
working them successfully. Mr. Mitchell, politically, is a Democrat. 
Both he and Mrs. Mitchell are Baptists, and he belongs to the order of 
A. L. H. 

WILLIAM MORELANE 

was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1838. His father, John 
Morelane, who was born in Pennsylvania, was a son of John Morelane, 
a native of Ireland. William's mother was formerly Catharine Wahl, 
born in Pennsylvania, and her ancestry came from Germany. In 1850 
John Morelane moved to Carroll County, Illinois, and the same year to 
Cedar County, Iowa, where he bought a tract of land and made a farm, 
becoming quite an extensive stock raiser. He had a family of five 
children, of whom William is the oldest. He remained at home until 
twenty-four year old, when, in the spring of 1863, he went to California 
and remained three years, working on a ranch. He also conducted a 
hay yard for a time in Carson City, Nevada. He returned to his farm 
in Iowa, but sold out soon and came to Butler County, Missouri, where 
he farmed for two years, and in the spring of 1870 he moved to Windsor 
and has since been engaged in business. He erected the first business 
house in Windsor after the railroad had been built, and established a 
market and feed establishment. He started a regular meat market, and 
has kept it open most of the time since then. In 1873 he started a fine 
grocery in connection with his market. In 1877 he retired from his 
grocery and embarked in handling stock, which he followed for three 
years. Then he again gave his attention to the market. Mr. M. mar- 
ried Miss Mary L. Dickinson July 3, 1864, in Carson City. She was born 
in Ohio, but was reared in Iowa. She died October 7, 1879, i" Windsor. 



588 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

His second wife was Delia J. Owsley, whom he married February 22, 
1 88 1. She is the daughter of Mrs. McGee, of this city. They have one 
child, Mary Catharine. Politically he is a Democrat, and he belongs to 
the order of A. L. H. and A. O. U. W. Mr. Morelane's grandfather and 
great-grandfather were in the revolutionary war, and participated in the 
battle of Baltimore and others. 

CHAUNCEY CARLOS MORSE, 

was born in Chittenden County, Vermont, August lO, 1836, being the 
son of Joseph and Susannah Morse, 7icc Gleason, both natives of Little- 
ton, New Hampshire, They had nine children, of whom six are now 
living: Samuel, aged seventy years; Allen, aged sixty-six; Russell J., 
aged fifty-five; Edwin R., aged fift3^-two; Charles C, twin brother of 
Chauncy C, now residing at Lincoln, Nebraska. These twins were the 
}'oungest of the family, born when their mother was fifty years of age. 
The subject of this sketch until sixteen years of age, had pnly such edu- 
cational advantages as could be obtained at the district school. From 
this time for three years, through his own efforts, he succeeded in receiv'- 
ing a partial academic course at Barry Academy, at Barry, Vermont, 
then entering in earnest upon the scenes of life's responsibilities. He 
was engaged in clerking ard otherwise employed until 1863, when he 
went into the army of the Potomac in the capacity of a sutler. He was 
with that division during its stay at City Point, in front of Richmond, 
and was at the surrender of Fort Fisher, and on to the final surrender. 
After the close of the war he returned to Vermont April 19, 1866, he 
closed his commercial collegiate course in Bryant & Stratton's Mercan- 
tile College, in Burlington, Vermont, there receiving his diploma. In 
1867, he came west, and located in Johnson County, Missouri, engaging 
in agricultural pursuits for the next five years. In 1872, he moved to 
Windsor, Henry County, Missouri, where he now resides. Mr. Morse 
has been actively engaged in general business since his stay here, the 
leading of which has been in connection with the United States mails, 
in which he has been occupied for some ten years. He is also a partner 
in the fruit evaporator business, which has become a desirable industry 
for the fruit growers and its owners of Windsor and vicinity. He owns 
a large interest in coal mining at Calhoun, Missouri, the firm being 
Morse & Gidney. Mr. M. married Miss Angie A. Beedy, October 23, 
1867. She was the daughter of John Beedy, and a sister of Messrs [. C. 
and B. W. Beedy, of this city. They have by this happy union twO' 
children living: Charles Burton and P211a Angie. Carlos L. died P^ebru- 
ary 15, 1872, aged one year and ten months. Politically he is a Repub- 
lican. Himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church. 
He also belongs to the Masonic fraternit}-, I. O. O. Y . and A. L. of H. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 589 

Mr. Morse has recently built an elegant residence, one of the most desir- 
able in the county, occupying it in January, 1883. 

GEORGE LAFAYETTE NEALE, 

photographer, was born in New Madrid County, Missouri, September 
29, 1836. His father, Thomas Neale, was born in Henry County, Ken- 
tucky, November 23, 1801. He came to New Madrid County in 1819, 
and remained until 1849 when he moved to Johnson County, a (ew miles 
north of Windsor, purchasing a large tract of land. He was engaged 
for thirty years in boating on the Mississippi River, first as a common 
hand, then as pilot and then for years as captain. In this capacity and 
occupation he became very wealthy, adding farm to farm and keeping 
his river business in operation at the same time. He died in February, 
1879. His wife, formerly Margaret Davidson, was born in Barren County, 
Kentucky, in 1806, and died in 1845. George, the subject of this sketch, 
was well educated, his early life being spent in school. In 1856 he 
learned the photograph business and has been in the business, and has 
had an interest in a gallery ever since. He has kept up with the many 
varied improvements and is a most artistic workman. In 1872 he became 
cashier in the banking house of Thomas Neale & Company and was 
engaged there for four years. He was then interested in the furniture 
business for two years, after which he returned to his gallery. Mr. N. 
married Miss Amanda S. Duncan in 1857. She was the daughter of 
Samuel Duncan, Esq., who came to Missouri in 1835, and to this county 
in 1853, settling near Windsor. He died October 31, 1882. Her mother's 
maiden name was Parilla Bass, born in Boone County, Missouri. They have 
three children : Samuel Edwin, Bettie Honley and Katie Lee. Polit- 
ically Mr. Neale is a Democrat. Mrs. N. belongs to the M. E. Church, 
South. He is a member of the I. O. O. F-. and the A. O. U. W. lodges, 
in which he takes a deep and active interest. 

Byers Wylie Huey, of the firm of Neale & Huey, photographers, 
was born in Brown County, Ohio, January 13, 1852, being the son of 
George Huey, of Pennsylvania, who died in 1863. His mother's maiden 
name was Hannah Hughes. She was born in Virginia in 1809, and came 
to Windsor with her son, Byers in 1869. He worked on a farm for two 
years, and in June, 1880, commenced the photograph business with Mr. 
Neale, and later became a partner in the business.. He married Miss 
Sophia Williams in 1863. She is a daughter of Elijah Williams of this 
county, and was born in Indiana. Her mother was Olive Davis, of 
Indiana. Mrs. Huey died September 25, 1876, leaving two children : 
Frank Smith and Blanche Pearl. He is noble grand of the Odd Fel- 
lows Lodge and orator of the order of A. L. of H., and is a prominent 
member of these fraternities, and in his business transactions is a favorite 
with those who know him best. 



590 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ROLLA NEIGH OWSLEY, 

of the firm of Shelton & Owsley, grocers and produce dealers, is a 
native of Johnson County, Missouri, and was born in 1858. His father, 
John N. Owsley, and born in Boone County, November 20, 1819, and 
removed to this county in 1832, with his father, Anthony Owsley, a Vir- 
ginian by birth. John N. Owsley was for forty years an extensive and 
profitable dealer in horses and mules, purchasing them in this market 
and selling in the south. During the war he lost heavily on security 
debts, through the south, yet after the war he was enabled to start anew 
and thus regained much of his lost fortune. At his death, in Decem- 
ber, 1877, he left a large estate to his family of nine children. Mrs. 
Owsley is still living on the old homestead with her two unmarried 
daughters, Bettie and Pearl. The subject of this sketch is the fifth 
child of the family. He attended the normal school at Warrensburg, 
and fitted himself for a business man, and subsequently bought an inter- 
est in H. C. Churchill's drug store. After a year or more he sold out 
and built the large livery barn east of the Bass House, and started the 
livery business. This he conducted for eighteen months, disposed of 
the stock, etc., to Burton & Collins, the present proprietors, but retained 
the barn. Then he purchased an interest in his present business with 
George J. Shelton. They erected their store in 1882 and commenced 
the grocery business in July. They are doing a very large grocery 
trade, and pack and ship produce of all kinds. During the fall of 1882 
they bought, packed and sold 12,000 bushels of apples. Mr. O. married 
Miss Nettie Pierce, of Windsor, June 27, 1880. She was the daughter 
of Matthew Pierce, a former sheriff of Benton County, he having moved 
from Illinois. Her mother was formerly Mary Thompson, also of Illi- 
nois. Mr. Pierce died in 1876, and Mrs. Pierce in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. 
Owsley have one child, Mary, born April 8, 1882. Mr. Pierce at his 
death left 1,000 acres of land and valuable property in Warsaw, Benton 
County, besides a large personal estate to Mrs. Owsley. Politically Mr. 
O. is a Democrat, and he belongs to the A. L. of H. of which he is an 
active member. He is peculiarly well fitted for the business in which 
he is now engaged, and is generous, kind and affable to all with whom 
he comes in contact. 

JESSE M. PICKERILL 

was born in Brown County, Ohio, January 19, 1831. His father, William 
F. Pickerill, who was born in Virginia, died in April, 1864, and his 
mother, formerly Abbie Fisher, was born in Ohio and is of German par- 
entage. Jesse M. was brought up as a farmer, and in March, 1852, he 
emigrated to Woodford County, Illinois, and in 1853 bought a farm, on 
which he lived for eight years. In the fall of 1859 he moved to Missouri 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 59I 

and settled in Henry County in Springfield Township. Returning in 
1861 to Ohio, he remained there during the war. In September he enlisted 
in the Fifth Ohio Cavalry under Captain Henry and Colonel Taylor, and 
was at the battles of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing and in many of the hard- 
fought battles of the war. His horse fell with him while near Corinth, 
injuring him severely, and this perhaps had much to do in causing his 
death. He received his discharge at Camp Dennison on account of dis- 
ability, and returned home in 1863. In March, 1867, he came back to 
his home in Henry County, and from that time on was very successful 
in his farming operations. He owned 185 acres of improved land, with 
commodious and convenient buildings. In 1874 he discovered that 
broom corn was well adapted to this soil and was the first man to try 
the experiment, and found that it was one of the most profitable crops 
raised. He married Miss Sarah A. Smithson April 10, 185 1. She was the 
daughter of Thomas H. Smithson, of Maryland, who was born in 1805. 
He was raised in Kentucky, and in 1826 he moved to Brown County, 
Ohio, where Sarah was born September 18, 1831. Her mother was for- 
merly Elizabeth Wright, daughter of Gilbert Wright, born near Harris- 
burg, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. P. had eleven children: William H., 
Sarah Emma (Mrs. Alonzo Foster), Elizabeth (Mrs. Judson Gray), George 
F., Samuel W., Eva Baker, Belle Duvall, Worthington W., Jesse M., Dora 
L. and Minnie E. Politically, Mr. P. was a Republican. He and his wife 
both joined the Christian Church in October, 185 1. He was once elected 
justice of the peace and served several years, and also belonged to the 
Masons. He was a thorough business man, and in that secured the 
friendship and confidence of all. Not long before his death he moved 
to Windsor, bought a comfortable residence and started a broom fac- 
tory, in which business he was engaged at the time of his demise, which 
occurred December 20, 1882. 

W. B. POMEROY, 

deceased, was born in Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, oa the 7th day 
of February, 1841. His father was Don Pomeroy, a native of Vermont, 
and the maiden name of his mother was Annie Owens. The youth of 
W. B. was spent in his native county and in Hancock County, Illinois, 
on a farm. During the late war he served on the staff of General Bel- 
knap, and was with Sherman in his " march to the sea." In the spring 
of 1867 he came to Henry County, Missouri, and opened the first drug 
store in Windsor and became one of the leading and progressive citi- 
zens of the town. He was a staunch Republican, and in his religious 
preferences a consistent member of the Congregational Church. He 
married Miss Emma Glover, daughter of W. T. and Agnes Glover. Mr, 
Pomeroy departed this life November 29, 1879. 



592 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

HON. GP:0RGE J. SHELTON, 

was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, July 24, 1841. In 1852, he 
accompanied his father to Warren County, and in 1855, they moved to 
Texas, locating in Hill County, near the Brazos River, where the senior 
Shelton became largely engaged in stock raising. In January, 1861, 
having had but a limited education, George entered Bosqueville College. 
In June of the same year " the loud trump of war" was heard, and filled 
with enthusiasm for the Confederate cause, he left home and marched 
forth to the field of battle, joining Captain Peter Ross' Independent 
Scouts. At that time no troops were allowed to leave that part of the 
state, they being held as frontier reserves. In August they took up their 
line of march for Kansas. At Dallas they joined Colonel B.Warren 
Stone's Regiment, and soon met Generals Benjamin McCullough and 
Price, at Neosho, Missouri, when they were ordered to Springfield, and 
he was one of the number who went into Springfield while it was occu- 
pied by the enemy, and ordered to leave the city. On Christmas day he 
was engaged in the battle of Christianolla, on Bird Creek. Here young 
Shelton distinguished himself, as on many other occasions, as a brave 
and gallant soldier. The battle was hotly contested, the Indians num- 
bering ten to one. They had set the grass on fire and were fighting in 
the smoke for protection. Seeing one of his comrades fall, Mr. S. cast 
his eye to the right, noticed from whence the shot came, rode swiftly in the 
direction, and was soon engaged in a hand to hand battle with the red 
man. The contest was short and decisive, for very soon he returned to 
his command amidst the shouts and cheers, with the scalp of the Indian 
dangling from his bridle. The Confoderates succeeded in capturing the 
whole camp. He was in the battles of Keetsville, Bentonville, Elkhorn, 
and many others of less note. In 1862, they were dismounted in Arkan- 
sas, taken to Memphis and Corinth, and were at the battles of Farming- 
ton and Corinth, under General Beauregard. He was also in the second 
battle of Corinth, and was one of the eighteen who went into Fort Rob- 
inet, where he received a grape shot wound. The severe march to Holly 
Springs, after the battle of Yellow Bushey, going three days without food 
or sleep, was calculated to cool the ardor of the most zealous. They 
were remounted by order of General Price, at Lumpkin's Mills, and the 
next day they met the enemy at a little town twenty miles from Coffey- 
ville. Shelton, as one of the advance guard, engaged the enemy, or their 
advance guard, and succeeded in capturing four pieces of artillery and 
several prisoners. He was next in the raid to Holly Springs, which was 
a continuous fight for fifteen days and nights. In February, 1863, they 
were ordered to Tennessee, and had several small fights about Franklin. 
The next combat with the enemy was at Thompson's Station. In the 
second charge he received a bad wound in the ankle. Mr. Shelton was 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 593 

taken to the hospital at Columbia, then to Pulaski, thence to Quitman, 
Mississippi, and was discharged August lO, 1863. Purchasing a small 
mule he started on his lone journey for his home in Texas. At daylight 
he procured a small boat and crossed the Mississippi River, swimming 
his mule, in sight of a strong garrison. He was on several occasions 
offered commissions, but always declined, preferring the ranks of his old 
regiment to any position. He started with his crutches in hand, for his 
old command, and very soon met the returning regiment, who told him 
the sad news, that the cause for which he had fought so long and loved 
so well, was no more, and with a sad heart he retraced his steps. Though 
without means, he was possessed of an indomitable ambition and hope, 
and he at once commenced work, first purchasing a small drove of cattle 
on time. These he drove to New Orleans, and being without money got 
trusted on the way, until his return. This trip was unsuccessful. He 
next bought a number of ponies, and took them to St. Charles County, 
Missouri, where they were disposed of, bought tobacco, and by wagon 
went back to Texas. Selling his tobacco at a good profit, he purchased 
cattle, and herded them with his father's stock. April 26, 1869, Mr. S. 
married Miss Ann Bailey Allen, who had lived in the neighborhood of 
his youth. In the following May he moved to Texas, taking a large 
quantity of tobacco, and bought 135 steers, drove them as before, and 
was again successful. The next spring he returned and became a full 
partner with his father. They now bought 1,265 head of cattle, and 
made another remunerative trip. In 1870, he moved his wife to this 
county. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad having been completed, 
this cut off his cattle business, and he now turned his attention to farm- 
ing and the feeding of stock. In 1877, he came into Windsor, and 
engaged in the lumber trade and dealing and shipping of stock. In 1880, 
he received the Democratic nomination for representative in the legis- 
lature, receiving within four votes as many as his two opponents. He was 
elected at the following election by a large majority, and as a member of 
the house he served with great distinction, always having in view the 
best interests of his county and state. He was very successful in fight- 
ing monopolies and extravagance in every department of the govern- 
ment. Mainly through his efforts several bills of great importance to 
the state were passed, and have become laws- He embarked in the gro- 
cery business in Windsor, the firm now being Shelton & Owsley, grocers 
and produce dealers, and he also is a member of the firm of Shelton, 
Strauss & Bass, large and successful stock dealers of the place. He is a 
director of the bank, treasurer of the school board, and Worthy Master 
of Amazonia Lodge, No. in, A. O. U. W. Mr. and Mrs. Shelton have 
six children: Effie L., Mary C. Birdie A., Cora S., Georgie A., Pines C, 

Willie L. Georgie A. died July 31, 1881. 

m 



594 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SMITH, M. D., 

druggist and physician, was born in Saline County, Missouri, May 12, 
1827, and was the son of Abraham Smith, a Virginian by birth, who 
lived for many years in Tennessee where he married Miss Sarah Pierce. 
In 1822 he moved to Missouri, and in 1838 he died when forty-eight 
years of age. His wife was born in Tennessee in 1801 and died in 1881. 
B. F. Smith received a common school education and was very studious 
in youth. He studied medicine with Dr. Hobbs, of Independence, in 
1848, and graduated from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, in 

1852, and has been an active practitioner since that time. Locating in 
Warrensburg, he practiced for five years, going thence to Eldorado, 
Missouri, where he lived until 1865. Then he moved to Carson City, 
Colorado, and started a drug store, and entered into a large practice 
which was continued until 1872, when he returned to Windsor, Missouri. 
He bought out the drug store of M. L. Stafford, and has since been doing 
a large business and attending to a remunerative practice. In 1846 he 
enlisted in the Mexican war under Colonel A. W. Doniphan in Captain 
J. W. Reed's Company, of Saline County. He remained with Colonel 
Doniphan through all his memorable marches, until the expiration of 
his time, receiving much credit from his commander for gallant conduct 
on the field of battle. Since returning home the doctor has crossed the 
plains to Colorado and New Mexico several times, and has traveled up 
and down in the mountains for a 1,000 miles, spending some ten years 
in that country. He was elected county treasurer of Fremont County, 
Colorado, in 1864 and re-elected in 1868, serving for four years. In 1873 
he received Robert M. Funk as a partner in the drug business, and this 
firm are still doing the business. He married Miss Adeline Depp in 

1853, in Warrensburg, Missouri. She was the daughter of John Depp, 
of Kentucky, and was born in 1832. They have five children : Oscar 
L. (now prosecuting attorney ot Carter County, Missouri), Benjamin O. 
(telegraph operator on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad), Vir- 
ginia Wallace (Mrs. B. D. Patrick, of Appleton City, Missouri), Jesse 
Fremont and Lelia (Mrs. W. H. Walker, whose husband is editor and 
publisher of the Windsor Review). Politically the doctor is a Democrat. 
He has been an Odd Fellow for thirty-four years and a Mason for thirty- 
two years, and he is a member of both lodges in this city. He has 
indeed been the architect of his own fortune, and his reputation as a 
practitioner is wide spread. 

PROF. WILLIAM H. SMITH, 

county superintendent of schools and principal of the Windsor schools, 
was born in Abingdon, Illinois, in 1855. His father J. B. Smith was of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



595 



Kentucky birth, as was also his mother, formerly Harriet Amos. They 
moved to Illinois in an early day, and came to Missouri in 1858, but dur- 
ing the war returned to Illinois. In 1867, they settled in Calhoun, Henry 
County, Missouri, where they lived for several years. William H. was 
the second of four children. From his boyhood he was determined ta 
obtain an education, and accordingly his spare time was spent in study 
and preparing for college. He entered Abingdon College, Illinois, and 
in 1880 graduated with great credit. In 1875 he commenced teaching 
and paid his own expenses through college. In the spring of 188 1, he 
was elected school superintendent of Henry County. The same year he 
was principal of the Union School. Professor Smith has done much to- 
improve the schools of the county, and has so systematized and arranged 
the whole system that every one is justly proud of the school, and its 
elevating influence upon society. 

ISAAC E. SOBEY, 

lumber merchant, was born on the ocean, on the passage from England 
to France, in 183 1. His parents, Thomas Sobey and Elizabeth nee 
Perry, were born in England, but both were of Scotch ancestry. The 
subject of this sketch is the seventh of a family of thirteen children 
He came to this country with his parents in 1852 and settled in Dubu- 
que, Iowa, on a farm, and in i860 he went to Colorado and engaged in 
mining, remaining there until September, 1861. Then he enlisted in 
the Rocky Mountain Rangers Regiment, raised by Gov. John Gilpin, and 
was there until the spring of 1862, when the command was ordered to 
New Mexico, under Capt. John B. Sexton. They were all through Utah, 
Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska. Mr. S. re-enlisted and 
remained in the army from 1861 to 1865, serving as quartermaster and' 
clerk much of the time. Returning to Denver, Colorado, he leceived an^ 
honorable discharge. After visiting home he again went to the plains 
in 1866, in the interests of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, and 
remained with them until 1869. In the spring of 1869 he went to Fort 
Scott, in the interest of the Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad, being interested 
in contracts, etc. In 1870, after completing these contracts, he kept 
books for a large wholesale house in Fort Scott. In the fall of 1870 he 
became' connected with the Fort Scott Planing Mill Company until it 
was destroyed by fire in 1875. He worked at the carpenter's traide for 
three years, and in 1879 was appointed street commissioner for the city. 
In March, 1880, he came to Windsor in the interest of G. W. Dulany & 
Co., as manager of their lumber yard, which was started in 1877. Mr. 
Sobey married Miss Eliza E. Hatch, in 1868. She was the daughter o^ 
William Hatch, of Dubuque County, Iowa. They have two children, 
Florence E. and Jesse C. Mr. S. politically is a Democrat. He is an 



596 HISTORY 0I<~ HENRY COUNTY. 

active and well informed Mason, and belongs to the A. O. U. W., and to 
the American League of Honor. He is an excellent bookkeeper and 
accountant, having learned this profession in England. Mr. Sobey will 
be remembered by the old settlers of Cheyenne as having built the first 
house of that city. 

M. L. STAFFORD, 

was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, October 5, 1834, and was 
the son of Z. J. Stafford, a native of Stafford County, Virginia, whose 
father w^as Robertson Stafford. The wife of Z. J. Stafford, formerly 
Hannah Haines, was of a Quaker family, originally from Pennsylvania. 
She was born in North Carolina, and was a daughter of Isaac Haines, of 
Pennsylvania. Her uncles, Jacob, Joshua and Job, were early settlers of 
Dayton, Ohio. Young Stafford early exhibited a remarkable taste for 
books. When a boy he was once sent by his father to market, and there 
saw for the first time a book store. Delighted as he was he purchased a 
number of books, and while on the way home, iio miles, devoured them 
by the light of pine knot camp fires. He completed his education at 
Trinity College, of North Carolina, and after leaving school entered the 
wholesale grocery and cotton house of A. W.Steele, at Fayetteville, that 
state, remaining there for four years. In the spring of 1856 he removed 
to Illinois, taught school for a time at Lima, and in 1857 came to Mis- 
souri, locating in Saline County. In 1863 he visited the mountains of 
Colorado, Montana and California, and spent the time until 1866 in min- 
ing. Returning to Pettis County, he opened a drug store in Dresden, 
and in 1870 he came to Windsor and started a like establishment here, 
which he conducted for five years. He was the first man, in company 
with Capt. J. M. Burrus, to introduce the raising of flax in the county, 
and this industry has grown from a few hundred bushels shipped at first, 
to fifty car loads, shipped during the season of 1882. In 1879, he formed 
a partnership with W. J. Livingston in the grain trade, in which he is now 
engaged. Politically Mr. Stafford is a Democrat, and in 1878 he was asked 
for permission to lay his name before the county convention for repre- 
sentative, but declined. In 1882 he declined to become a candidate for 
county judge. He is a man well read and far better posted on politics, 
public men and the current literature of the day than the average per- 
son, and now his greatest pleasure is to be found in the quiet of his home 
with something new and instructive to read. He married Miss Eliza- 
beth Patrick of Saline County in 1870. She was the daughter of Miles 
and Barshalic (Oliver) Patrick, the former of Kentucky. The latter was 
a sister of Mr. M. Oliver. They have two children: Florence and Fred. 
Mr. S. belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is connected with the 
Peytons, an old and influential family of Virginia. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 5( 7 

JACKSON SYMPSON, 

blacksmith, was born in Monroe County, Kentucky, December 4, 1825. 
His father, Henry Sympson, who was born in Kentucky, died in Monroe 
County in 1858. His mother, formerly Catherine Cantrel, of the same 
state, died many years ago. Jackson learned his trade in Monroe County, 
and in a short time became a good workman, naturally being very inge- 
nius. He started business first in Burkesville, Cumberland County, in 
1847, and also did business in Mud Camp and at Marrow Bone store, and 
in 1855 he moved to Parke County, Indiana. Two years after he moved 
to Montgomery County, and in 1871 he came to Windsor, and, v/ith the 
exception of living two years in Benton County, has been here since that 
time. He has done a leading business here, has built a fine brick shop 
with three forges, and has been enabled to turn out all kinds of work. 
Mr. S. married Miss Elizabeth Lough July 13, 1847, in Cumberland 
County, Kentucky. See was the daughter of Thomas Lough and Mary, 
nee Burhon, all of Kentucky. They have three sons: Henry Thomas, 
William Jackson and Jacob Sanford. The sons have learned this trade 
and are doing the harder work in the shop. Politically, Mr. S. is a Repub- 
lican, and he and his wife belong to the Christian Church. He is also a 
member of the society of Odd Fellows. His son, Henry Thomas, mar- 
ried Miss Katie Smith, daughter of William H. Smith, January 4, 1883. 

WILLIAM RICHARD TAYLOR, 

farmer and stock raiser, is the owner of 330 acres of land, and resides on 
section 9. He was born in Oldham, Kentucky, August 18, 18 18, his 
father being John Taylor, a native of Jefferson County, Kentucky. His 
grandfather, William Taylor, was a major through the Revolution. Wil- 
liam's mother, formerly Mariah F. Barber, was a Virginian by birth. In 
1838 John Taylor moved to Missouri and settled on section 17, in Wind- 
sor Township, where his family grew up and assisted in clearing and 
improving the farm. William R. was the eldest of five children. He 
studied hard by himself to procure an education sufficient to enable him 
to do business and was faithful at home in assisting his father. In 1850 
he went to California and returned in 185 1, having worked in the mines 
most of the time. On his return he entered a store in Calhoun as clerk, 
and remained until the spring of 1856, when he was elected county 
assessor and entered upon the duties of his office for two years. He 
was deputy sheriff under Robert Allen in 1846-47. In 1848 he was 
elected sheriff and also re-elected in 1858 and i860. In 1861 he resigned. 
In 1875, under the new town organization, he was elected judge. Mr. 
Taylor has ever been one of the most active men in all railroad enter- 
prises and other improvements affecting the interests of the county. He 



598 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

was married in November, 1852, to Miss Mary E. Watkins, who subse- 
quently died. She was the daughter of Frank Watkins, of Boone County, 
Missouri, originally from Kentucky, and a niece of General Nat. Wat- 
kins, who is so well known in Southeast Missouri. She left four children : 
Henry P., John F., William E. and Minnie C. He married for his second 
wife Miss Elenor M. Berry, a daughter of Judge J. T. Berry, of Henry 
County. Politically Mr. T, has always been a Clay Whig. He belongs 
to the Masons. Very few men among the early pioneers of this county 
will have more lasting and pleasant recollections to follow' them the 
remainder of their days than Mr. Taylor. 

RICHARD FERGUSON TAYLOR, 

farmer and merchant, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, August 17, 1820. 
His father, Major William Taylor, was born in Virginia in 1756 and died 
in 1829 in Kentucky. His mother was formerly Elizabeth Courts, of 
Virginia, who died in 1849. The former was in the revolutionary war 
and served with Washington for eight years, and was promoted to major 
and served in that capacity much of the time. He had seven brothers. 
and all served with him through the war. One only was wounded, and 
died in consequence. From an old letter written in 1852 at the pension 
office, we learn that in 178 1 the major received 5,333^ acres of land from 
the government for his services. In 1800 he received 889I acres in full 
for seven years' service. In 1808 he received 889I acres for his eight 
years' service. In 1839 Richard F. came to Windsor Township and set- 
tled five miles west of this place. He entered 160 acres and improved 
it, and in i8!;2 he moved into Windsor, having bought the land where 
the city now stands. He improved his place and started the first store 
in the town, in 1853. He has since lived here, working his farm and run- 
ning a store much of the time. He has 150 acres adjoining the city, with 
a good residence and everything comfortable and desirable. He married 
Miss Ann Fitz Hugh, of Virginia. They have six children living, all 
married: Eliza (Mrs. David Black), Henrietta F. (Mrs. Dr. J. B. Brame), 
Eleanor Madison (Mrs. John Houston), Montgomery, Catherine F. (Mrs. 
John Melvin), and Robert Henry Couts. President Taylor was a rela- 
tive of the family, and R. F.'s father's aunt was the mother of President 
Madison. He was the first postmaster of this place, appointed by Presi- 
dent Fillmore, and held the office for nine years. He is now justice of 
the city, has been its mayor and has held various positions of trust, 
which he is most competent to fill. In his political predilection he is a 
Democrat, and, religiously, a Presbyterian. He has for many years been 
a Mason and is now secretary of Windsor Lodge, No. 29. We find but 
few men living whose fathers were in the revolutionary war. Major Tay- 
lor was seventy years old at the birth of R. F., in 1820. 



; 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 599 

JOHN FITZHUGH THORNTON, 

was born in Oldham County, Kentucky, July 8, 1826, his parents being 
Fitzhugh Thornton and Caroline Matilda, nee Fitzhugh, both Virgin- 
ians by birth. His paternal ancestry was from Wales and the two fam- 
ilies came over and first met at Plymouth Rock, and settled in Virginia. 
They have inter-married and have been identified together ever since. 
John's father came to Missouri and settled in Henry County in 1840 and 
bought the Arbuckle farm, where he lived and prospered until Decem- 
ber, 1861, when he died. Mrs. T. died in 1863. Young Thornton was 
the youngest of a family of thirteen children. He grew up to manhood 
and for a time resided on the old homestead. After selling that farm 
he bought his present place, on section 8, of 242 acres of improved land. 
He is unmarried, and the only member of the large family living. His 
sister, Sarah Ann, married James Todd, of Kentucky, and died in 1846, 
leaving two children, Eliza Jane and Catharine; their mother died in 
1873. Eliza Jane died in 1871. Catharine married James Wyatt Tay- 
lor, and they are now living with Mr. Thornton. They have two child- 
ren, Anna and Lida. Anna married William Harris. In 1852 Mr. T. 
went to California, and remained for two years occupied in farming. By 
his own exertion and economy he has added to the estate left him and 
is now among the prosperous and independent farmers of the county. 
He has many friends in this community. 

ALEXANDER N. WADDILL 

was born in what is now Tebo Township, Henry County, Missouri, 
December 21, 1838, his parents being John S. and Sophia Waddill, nee 
Doak. They were both born near Jonesboro', in Washington County, 
Tennessee, the former on February 16, 1799, and their marriage occured 
in that state January 6, 1831. To them were born four children— three 
sons and one daughter, and with the exception of one son, all are living: 
Samuel W. born December 5, 183 1, died at Virginia City, Nevada, in 
1878; Rebecca J., born March 13, 1835; Alexander N., as mentioned 
above, and James N., born May i, 1843. Ii^ 1838 Mr. W. emigrated with 
his family to Henry County, Missouri, settling in Tebo Township, where 
he purchased something over 200 acres of land, and here they remained 
during life. Mrs. Waddill died June 27, 1843, and about four years there- 
after, Mr. W. married Mary A. Pinkston, of this county. They had by 
this union four daughters and three sons, and of these, three daughters 
and two sons survive. Alexander N. received a good common schooling, 
which he supplemented by attending the seminary at Calhoun for one 
winter. In the spring of 1861 he took a trip to California, and in about 
■eighteen months went to Nevada, where he remained for three years 



600 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and a half. His father having died February ii, 1865, he returned home 
in the fall of the same year. In 1866 he purchased too acres of land on 
sections 25 and 26, with his residence on section 25, to which he subse- 
quently added eighty- five acres. Jariuary 5, 1868, he married Miss 
Fannie Carter, of this county. They have three sons: Robert D., John 
C. and Alexander Thomas, and three daughters: Eliza J., Alice N. and 
May. Mr. Waddill is one of the thriving farmers of the county, and is 
quite an extensive stock raiser. In his political preferences he is 

Democratic. 

CHARLES M. WALLAR,. 

attorney at law, was born in Washington County, Ohio, September 9, 
1854. Rev. James Lee Wallar, his father, now of Enfield, White County, 
Illinois, belongs to the southern Illinois Conference. He was born in 
Rutland, Vermont, Novembr 25, 18 19, and learned the stone cutting 
business in the marble quarries of that place. He then studied law and 
practiced for several years in Columbus, Ohio, and in Marietta. The 
practice of his profession was not preferable to him, so he abandoned it 
and entered the ministry of the M. E. Church. In 1861 he enlisted in 
Meigs County, Ohio, and raised 125 young men for three month's ser- 
vice, and was captain. At the close of this time he entered Company 
A, second West Virginia Cavalry, together with his company of young 
men. Captain W. was promoted to major, and participated in many 
severe battles under command of Colonel Paxton. After leaving the 
army he removed to Richland County, Illinois, joined the conference 
and engaged in preaching. He married Miss Fanny E. Gammard, and 
they had seven children, of whom four are now living. The subject of 
this sketch is the fourth son of the family. He received his education 
at McKendrie College, Lebanon, Illinois, and subsequently read law 
with Judge Bell, of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, and S. P. Wheeler, of Cairo, and 
was admitted to practice by the supreme court of Illinois July 4, 1876, 
only sixteen out of a class of forty-two being admitted. During this 
time he was obliged to teach school in order to study his profession. 
He commenced practicing in Newton, Illinois, in 1876, and in May, 1882, 
he located in Windsor, Missouri. Though a comparatively recent arri- 
val here he has become one of the foremost citizens of the place, and is 
having a good practice. Mr. Wallar married Miss Laura C. Townsend 
January 27, 1878, She was the daughter of William S. Townsend, of 
Mt. Carmel, Illinois. They have one son, Charles B., born January 20, 
188 1. Politically he is a Democrat. He belongs to the M, E. Church, 
South. 

WILLIAM H. WALKER, 

the popular editor and publisher of the Windsor Review, is the son of 
Wyatt Walker, Esq., who was born in North Carolina, where he resided 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 60I 

until 1856, in that year moving to Pittsylvania County, Virginia. There 
he remained until 1870, working at his trade of wagon making. In 1870 
he settled in Henry County, Missouri, and here still resides, carrying on 
his former business. He is a member of the M. E. Church, South, and a 
local minister of that denomination. William H., the youngest of eight 
children of Wyatt and Pamelia Walker, was born in Yanceyville, North 
Carolina, March 25, 1855. His mother was a Gilchrist, of North Caro- 
lina, a name quite common in that section of the state. William received 
his education in the common schools of Virginia until sixteen years of 
age, when he entered a hardware store in Windsor, being employed for 
two years as clerk. His tastes inclining toward journalism, he entered 
the office of the Windsor Helmet as an apprentice, and when that paper 
was moved to Tuscumbia, Miller County, he followed its fortunes and 
remained in the office altogether about eighteen months. Leaving there 
he was employed on the various papers in Southwestern Missouri, until 
1876, when he returned to Windsor and started the Windsor Review, a 
family paper devoted to the building up of the material industries of 
that section of Henry County. With this object in view, he has care- 
fully avoided committing his paper to the support of any political 
organization. Owing to his ability as a writer and his practical sagacity 
as a business man, he has succeded in building up a successful news- 
paper where older and more experienced journalists have failed. His 
paper has one of the largest circulations of any in Southwest Missouri. 
Though holding aloof from party politics, Mr. Walker is outspoken and 
decided on all questions of general interest, and gives free expression to 
his judgment of public men and measures, and proves the independence 
of his journal. Politically, his personal affiliations are with the Demo- 
crats, but in his editorial capacity he knows no party, but advocates 
such measures and supports such candidates as in his honest judgment 
will advance the interests of the community at large. Though but a 
young man he has made an enviable reputation for himself at home, and 
is becoming favorably known abroad. Mr. Walker married Miss Lelia 
Smith, October, 15, 1882. She is the daughter of Dr. B. F. Smith and 
Adaline Smith nee Depp, of Windsor. The latter was a native of Mis- 
souri. 

THOMAS J. WELLS, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born November 2, 1837, in Barren County, 
Kentucky, where he received a good English education. His father, 
Ahasuerus Wells, who was born in 1797, in Kentucky, married in 18 18, 
Miss Nancy Fisher, who was born March 3, 1800, in the same state. 
They had eight children, of whom only two are living: John Burgess, 
and Thomas J. Mr. Wells died in 1837. Mrs. W. was married again in 
1842, to William Courts, of Kentucky. By this union there were two 



602 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

sons (twins), William and Walter. Walter died in 1844, and William is 
now a resident of Pettis County. In 1843, they emigrated from Ken- 
tucky to Carroll County, Missouri, where Mr. Courts engaged in farm- 
ing, remaining for one year. Then he removed to Cole County, of the 
same state, but after one year came to Henry County, and was for two 
years occupied in tilling the soil. He died in 1847. About a year later 
his widow married James Black, of Polk County, Missouri. She died in 
1863 at the age of sixty-three years, and Mr. Black died in 1877, aged 
one hundred and one years. He was one of the last of the veterans of 
1776. Tt was in honor of him that Fort Black, of Revolutionary memory 
received its name, he being a colonel in the federal army of that period. 
T, J. Wells was married January 12, i860, to Miss Nancy E. Richards, of 
Hickory County, Missouri. By this union there were eleven children, 
seven daughters and four sons: Julia A., Kittie E., Nancy A., Johnnie 
W., Ben. E., Minnie E., Felix H., Maggie H., Lulia A., Ettie E., and 
Thomas J. Jr. Five of these are dead. Kittie E. died August 18, 1863; 
Johnnie W. died June 18, 1866 ; Lulia A. died May 13, 1877; Thomas J. 
died October 3, 188 1, and Ettie E. died November 3. 188 1. Mr. Wells 
came to Windsor, Henry County, Missouri, March 2, 1879, and there 
embarked in farming, since which time he has steadily pursued that 
branch of industry. Himself and wife are identified with the Baptist 
Church of Windsor. His political preferences are Democratic. 

MRS. NANCY A. WILLIAMS, 

daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Lane, and widow of the late lamented 
Major John W. Williams, was born January 4, 1805, near Jonesboro, in 
Washington County, Tennessee. A sketch of her husband will be found 
in another part of this volume. They were married January 13, 1822, 
and by this union had twelve children. Samuel K. was born October 
30, 1822. He married Miss Almira Jane Mars, of Johnson County, Mis- 
souri, December 13, 1848. Warren W. was born December 2, 1824, and 
died May 23, 1845. Sophronia C. was born December 8, 1826, and mar- 
ried William L. Avery, of Henry County, Missouri, January 17, 1843. 
Mr. Avery died March 2, 1875, and at the time of his death was probate 
judge of the county of Henry, and had served also as county judge, and 
had filled other offices of honor and trust faithfully and with acceptance 
to the people. Elizabeth Jane was born January 30, 1829, and died 
August 5, 183 1. Henrietta L. was born December 31, 1830, and mar- 
ried Dr. William Huff, of Johnson County, Missouri, October 31, 1853. 
She was left a widow, and November 21, 1865. she married Thomas G. 
Cock, of Henry County, Missouri, whose sketch appears in the history 
of the county. Susan J. was born March 8, 1833, and married William 
H. Hammons, of Pettis County, Missouri, August 13, 1854. Mr. Ham- 



BIOGRAnilCAL. 603 

mons died in the hospital during the year of 1862 at Little Rock, 
Arkansas. His widow married Rev. Benjamin F. Lawler, of this county, 
November 21, 1865. Maria M. was born January 29, 1835, and married 
John S. Pigg, of Henry County, Missouri, September 6, 1855. John M. 
was born January 13, 1837. He enlisted as private under General S. 
Price, and was. killed in the battle of Pea Ridge March 7, 1862. Nancy 
L., who was born December 24, 1838, married Thomas J. Creil, of Pettis 
County, Missouri, January 18, 1883. Mary F., born October 12, 1840, 
married Leslie L. Hurlbut, of Homer, Courtland County, New York, 
November 27, 1865. Henry A. was born November 2, 1843, ^^^ died 
December 23, 1861, at Springfield, Missouri, as private in the army, from 
the effects of poison, morphine, being administered instead of the medi- 
cine intended. Virginia was born October 23, 1846, and is living with 
her aged mother. Mrs. Williams left Tennessee, her native state, in 
company with her parents, at the age of nine years, and settled in War- 
ren County, Kentucky, in the year 18 14, where they remained until 
death. Major John W. Williams emigrated from Kentucky to Henry 
County, Missouri, in 1836. He first bought a tract of 400 acres at the 
head of Tebo, but in 1850 sold this land and went to California. Dur- 
ing his absence of three years Mrs. W. bought 160 acres. He returned 
in 1852, and in 1854 he was elected representative, and was one of the 
leading men of Henry County during the remainder of his life. Mrs. 
Williams still owns a choice farm of several hundred acres in Windsor 
Township, about midway between Windsor and Calhoun. Besides her 
eight children living, she has twenty-eight grandchildren, and twenty- 
one great-great-grandchildren. She has for forty-seven years been a 
member of the Sardis-Bethlehem Baptist Church, of which she was one 
of the constituent members. In writing the history of that church, it 
has been found that she is the only surviving member of the original 
number. Her husband was for many years connected with the same 
church. Her children are all identified with some religious denomina- 
tion. 

JOHN WOODARD, 

the owner of a fine farm of 415 acres, located about two miles north of 
Windsor, was born September 5, 1816, in Randolph County, North Car- 
olina, acquiring his education in the common schools of that locality. 
His father was born in May, of 1792, in Virginia, and his mother in 1780, 
in Randolph County, North Carolina. They were married in 1812, and 
to them were born five children, three daughters and two sons, of whom 
there are living two sons and two daughters. They emigrated from 
North Carolina in 1819, locating in Howard County. Missouri, where he 
purchased 160 acres of land remaining there until 1840, and then com- 
ing to Henry County. They settled near Windsor and resided there 



604 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

until death. Mr. Woodard died in 1859 and his widow in 1877. H^e left 
a large estate to be divided among his children. John Woodard had 
visited Henry County, then Rives, in 1836, pre-empting 160 acres in his 
own name, which is still a part of his possessions. About this time he 
was married. In T859 he bought 140 acres in this county, and in 1866 
he added 115 acres, lying in Johnson County, near or adjoining. Mrs. 
W. departed this life April 13, 188 1. Some time ago Mr. Woodard's 
generous nature prompted him to aid a supposed friend, in consequence 
of which he became a heavy loser, yet he still has an excellent farm, and 
is now known as one of the honest and substantial men of this locality. 
He handles stock to quite an extent. His political views are Demo- 
cratic. 

OGLESBY L. YOUNG, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born September 17, 1835, in St. Charles 
County, Missouri, where he received a good education. His parents 
were Oglesby Young, born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and a farmer 
by occupation, and Jane (Love) Young, who was born in 1809 in the 
same state. They were married in 1824 and had twelve children, of 
whom there are eight living. In 183 1 they emigrated from Virginia to 
St. Charles County, Missouri. Mrs. Young died in i860, since which 
time Mr. Y. has resided in that county, and though seventy-nine years 
of age, is still strong and robust. Oglesby L. Young married Miss Char- 
lotte Virginia Bird, of St. Charles County, March 4, 1862. By their 
marriage there have been eleven children, six sons and five daughters, 
ten of whom survive. He remained in his native county until October 
3, 1882, when he came to Henry County, settling in Windsor Township, 
where he has bought 356 acres of farming land under fine improvement 
on section 23, two and a half miles south of Windsor. He is one of the 
enterprising farmers of his locality, and is intending to raising stock to 
a large extent. He served as one of the State Guards under General 
Sterling Price for six months during the war; then returned home and 
bought a farm of 120 acres in St. Charles County, which he commenced 
to cultivate. After living upon it for about twelve years he sold it and 
purchased one consisting of 156 acres in the same county, where he 
remained until coming to Henry County. Religiously, he and his wife 
are Methodists. In his political preferences he is Independent, uphold- 
ine the best men for office. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 605 



DEEPWATER TOWNSHIP. 



W. W. ADAMSON, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 10, is a native of Vernon County, Mis- 
souri, and was born October 18, 1847. His father, William Adamson, 
was a Kentuckian by birth, as was also his mother, whose maiden name 
was Frances Arbuckle, but she was raised in Missouri. The former came 
to the state in an early day, and settled in Vernon County, of which he 
was one of the pioneers. He died there in 1849. ^^- ^- Adamson 
moved to Henry County with his mother in 1850, and here grew to man- 
hood on a farm, attending in youth the public schools. He was married 
in October, 1869, to Miss Eliza Finks, of Henry County, and a daughter 
of Captain Mark Finks. After this Mr. A. located on a farm north of 
Clinton, where he farmed for three years. In 1873, he settled near Mon- 
trose, and in the spring of 1879, bought and came upon his present farm. 
He has 600 acres of land, all fenced, the homestead of 280 acres, being 
about two and a half miles northwest of Montrose. There is a large two- 
story stone residence on the place, and a good orchard of 300 bearing 
apple and some peach trees. He is one of the largest feeders and stock 
dealers in this county, and feeds annually from 150 to 500 head of steers 
and about 500 hogs, and also handles about 500 cattle and 1,000 hogs 
per annum. Mr. Adamson is a wide-awake business man, and one of the 
most successful farmers and stock dealers in the vicinity. He and his 
wife have a family of seven children: Alma, Katie, Tandy T., John M., 
Emma, Dadie and Eliza. 

THOMAS H. BALDWIN, 

was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, May 9, 1836, being the son 
of Samuel and Susan Baldwin, also natives of Virginia. Thomas H. 
spent his youth in his native county on the farm, and upon reaching his 
majority he went to Kentucky, locating in Logan County, where he was 
married January 7, 1858, to Miss Mary E. Clark, ot that county, and a 
daughter of John T. Clark. After his marriage Mr. B. continued his 
farming operations in Logan County, for about ten years. In the fall of 
1868 he came to Missouri, bought land in Henry County and improved 
his present farm, which contains 132 acres, 117 in his home place on 
section 34, being well improved. His orchard consists of 100 apple and 
some budded peach trees, besides smaller fruits. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin 



6o6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

have eight children : Sarah Emma, Mary Ann, Samuel T., James H., 
Ervin B., Virginia P., Micagah T. and Cassie. 

WILLIAM BLIZZARD, 

farmer and stock raiser, section i6, owes his nativity to Ross County, 
Ohio, where he was born August 22, 1809. Burton Blizzard, his father, 
was a native of Virginia, and his mother, formerl)^ Millie Willoughby, 
was born in Maryland, her parents having come originally from Wajes. 
The former settled in Ross County, Ohio, when a young man, and was 
one of the pioneers. William grew to manhood in his native county, 
his youth being spent on the farm, and he acquired a fair education, 
mostly by self application. He was married in Preble County, Ohio, in 
September, 1844, to Miss Eliza Smith, a Virginian by birth, who was 
reared and educated in Preble County, and a daughter of Joseph Smith. 
Mr. Blizzard was engaged in farming and stock raising in Ohio until 
1866, when, selling his property in the fall of the same year, he came to 
Missouri and settled in Henry County on land he had purchased in 1856. 
This place formerly consisted of 600 acres, but now contains 480, he 
having given his son 120 acres. Four hundred and forty acres are under 
fence and fairly improved, upon it there being a good brick residence, 
and an orchard of 200 apple trees of select varieties. Coal is found in 
abundance, the vein running from twelve to thirty inches in thickness. 
This place is two miles west of Montrose, and is a very desirable pro- 
perty. Mr. Blizzard lost his wife by death in February, 1875. He was 
elected to several minor offices in Ohio, and is now identified with the 
Democratic party. 

JOHN C. BRAM. 

Among the prominent men of this county is the subject of this 
sketch, who was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, January 30, 1836. His 
parents, J. C. and Magdalina (Hays) Bram, were natives of the same 
locality. John C. spent his youth, from six to fourteen years, in the public 
schools of Wurtemburg, and obtained a good education in the common 
branches and is now as familiar with the French and English languages 
as with his own national tongue. After completing his studies he worked 
two years on a farm with his father. When sixteen years of age he com- 
menced learning the machinist's and blacksmith's trades at which he 
served three years' apprenticeship. In 1854 he came to the United States, 
his parents having emigrated here two years previous, and located in Dela- 
ware, Ohio, where he was engaged at blacksmithing and carriage making 
for two years. In the spring of 1857 he came to Missouri and worked 
at his trade that year and the one following in St. Joseph. Going to 
Richmond, Missouri, he followed his trade until 1862, and in March, 1862, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 607 

he enlisted in Company E., First Missouri Cavalry, and served three 
years in the Union army. Enlisting as a private he was soon promoted 
to first sergeant, and participated in numerous engagements, among the 
most important of which were the fights at Kirksville, Marshal, Jefiferson 
City, Big Blue and at Pleasanton, Kansas, where his command took 1,00a 
prisoners and tvvelve pieces of artillery. After his discharge in April, 
1865, he returned to Northern Missouri and located at Denver, in Worth 
County, where he worked until the fall of 1866. Selling his property 
there he moved to Henry County, bought land and improved a farm. He 
also continued the blacksmith business in connection with his farm for a 
number of years. Mr. Bram has a fine body of land of 400 acres, all in 
cultivation. Upon it is a fair house, an orchard of 1,000 apple trees of 
select varieties, with some peach, pear and cherry trees, and small fruits, 
located on section 22. He is extensively engaged in the stock business. 
Mr. Bram was married September 19, 1865, to Miss Anna B. Kadel, a 
native of Baden, but who was reared and educated in Henry County, 
and a daughter of John and Fredrica Kadel. He is identified with the 
Republican party and is well posted on the political issues of the day. 
He is president of the First National Bank, of Appleton City, in which 
he has a large interest. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Presby- 
terian Church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to the Grange,, 
of which he was master for about eight years. 

JOHN D. BROWN, 

A native of Illinois, was born in Sangamon County, near Springfield, 
March r, 1842. His parents, R. D. Brown, and Rachel, nee Ernest, were 
Kentuckians. The former was one of the pioneer settlers of Sangamon 
County, where he entered land and improved a farm. John D. passed 
his youth on the home farm, and in attending the public schools, and in 
the spring of 1867, he came to Missouri and located in Henry County, 
purchased land and improved a farm in Deepwater Township. He now 
has a fine place of 360 acres in section 27, enclosed with a hedge fence 
and nearly all in cultivation. Upon it is a large two story residence, 
finished in a neat and tasty manner, besides a good barn and convenient 
out buildings. An orchard of two hundred bearing apple and about 
seventy-five peach trees, is another feature of the place. Mr. Brown is 
quite extensively engaged in raising and feeding stock and handling and 
shipping mules. He is an enterprising farmer and one of the substantial 
men of this township. He was married in this county, November 7, 
1867, to Miss Louisa Cecil, of Henry County, and a daughter of Wilson 
Cecil. They have one child, Gertrude, who was born July 12, 1870. 



6o8 HISTORY OF HENR\ COUNTY. 

JAMES K. CRAWFORD, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 34, was born December 11, 1844, in 
Medina County, Ohio, being the son of William and Rebecca (Smith) 
Crawford, natives of Pennsylvania. The former moved to Ohio with his 
parents, who were among the pioneer settlers of Medina County. J. K. 
grew to manhood in his native county on the farm and received a good 
common school education. Coming west to Missouri in 1867, he located 
first in Bates County, where he lived for three years. He was married 
in Montrose September 15, 1870, to Miss Lucy May, of Kentucky birth, 
but who was reared and educated in Bureau County, Illinois, and is a 
■daughter of Thaddeus May. After hi ■- marriage he bought land and 
improved the farm where he now resides. He first purchased 163 acres 
and afterward bought sixty acres adjoining this, now constituting a fine 
body of land, all enclosed with a good hedge. There are thirty acres 
devoted to tame grass. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have three children: 
William B., born June 24, 1871; Mary Belle, born September 5, 1874, and 
Jessie, born May 15, 1877. Mr. C. makes a specialty of raising, feeding 
and trading in stock. 

D. C. CROSS, 

was born in Madison County, Tennessee, March 7, 1838. John D. Cross, 
his father, and also his mother, formerly Eliza Anderson, were either 
natives of Virginia or Tennessee. D. C. accompanied his parents to 
Louisville, Kentucky, in 1844, where his father died soon after. The 
son spent his youth up to his fourteenth year mostly in school, and upon 
arriving at this age he went on the river and followed boating for about 
four years. In 1857 he engaged in the mercantile business in Graffen- 
burg, where he sold goods for about six months. Mr Cross was married 
in Franklin County, Kentucky, March 25, 1859, to Lucinda E. Johnson, 
of that county, and a daughter of Robert R. Johnson. After this he 
came to Cooper County, Missouri, and farmed for seven years, and in 
the spring of 1866 he moved to Henry County, where he bought land 
continued his farming operations. He has a fine farm of fifty-five acres 
one-fourth of a mile south of Montrose, in section 23, in cultivation, with 
a good residence, barn, and out buildings. An orchard of 300 bearing 
apple trees of select varieties is on the place, besides fifty peach, some 
cherry, pear, plum, and small fruits in variety. Mr. Cross is Democratic 
in politics and has filled several offices in his township. He served four 
years as justice of the peace with marked distinction, and for 'a num- 
ber of years was a member of the school board. He and his wife have 
nine children: Mary E., Robert S., Dora, Lulie, Alice, Martha, Viola, 
Fanny and Nellie. Mr. and Mrs. Cross are members of the Christian' 
Church. He belongs to the United Workmen. He engaged in the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 609 

butcher business in November, 1882, and now has an excellent shop and 
is enjoying a liberal patronage. 

DAVID DODDS, 

a pioneer of Henry County, was born in Butler County, Ohio, May 15, 
1812. His father, John Dodds, was a native of Ireland, and immigrated 
to the United States when a young man. He married Margaret Miller,orig- 
inally from Pennsylvania. David accompanied his parents on their move 
from Ohio to Indiana, and settled in Cass County in 1830, being among 
the pioneers there. He spent his youth on the farm, and in 1836, came 
to Missouri, locating in Cooper County, where he was engaged in farm- 
ing, and where he resided about seventeen years. He was married in 
Cooper County December 20, 1838. to Miss Martha Jane Shirley, aKen- 
tuckian by birth, and a daughter of George Shirley. In 1853, ^r. D. 
came to Henry County and located on the land where he has since 
resided, and which he entered some two years after. He was one of the 
■first citizens of Deepwater Township, and one among the first in the 
county. He now has a farm of 200 acres in his home place, on section 
21, all improved, fenced, etc. He also has forty acres of timber, and a 
farm of fifty acres near Appleton City, in St. Clair County. Mr. Dodds 
has raised a family of twelve children: Cynthia Jane (now Mrs. J. Hill), 
Elizabeth (now Mrs. Isom Stubblefield), John, Jesse L., Charles A., Mar- 
garet (wife of James McBride), Matilda Dodds, Mary C. (wife of James 
Cook), Thomas C. Amanda (wife of James A. McBride), Martha J. and 
David. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. 

PETER DUBUQUE, 

a native of Canada, was born August 20, 18 17, being the son of Alec. 
C. and Angelica (Bariteau) Dubuque, also Canadians by birth. Peter 
grew to manhood at his birthplace, his youth being spent on the farm. 
In 1839 he came to the United States, passed the winter in New Orleans 
and in the spring of 1840 settled in Rock Island County, Illinois, where 
he was eng-ae-ed in the saw mill and lumber business. He was married 
in Davenport, Iowa, in December, 1846, to Miss Sarah A. Lindsay, of 
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, who died July 14, 1848. He was 
married again in Rock Island County, Illinois, April 15, 1849, to Miss 
Sarah A. Wilson, originally from Warren County, New York, and a 
daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Wilson. In 1869 Mr. D. moved from 
Illinois to Missouri, locating in Henry County; bought a farm in Deep- 
water Township. This is a fine body of land of 160 acres, adjoining the 
town of Montrose. He was occupied in farming thereon until 1878, 
when he rented it. He has recently sold this farm and contemplates 

39 



6lO HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

spending the coming summer in the land of his nativity. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dubuque are members of the Catholic Church. 

REV. MICHAEL J. DUGGAN, 

pastor of the Montrose Catholic Clnirch, was born in the city of Brook- 
lyn, New York, October 24, 1854. His parents, "Michael and Mary Dug- 
gan, ncc McGowan, were natives of Ireland, the former having emigrated 
to the United States when a young man, settling in Brooklyn. M. J. 
subsequently moved to Newberg, on the Hudson River, where he grew 
to manhood. He attended the schools of that city, after which he 
spent nine 3''ears at the Jesuit College, where he graduated in 1874, 
receiving the degree of batchelor of arts. After completing his course 
at this college, he passed three years at St. Josephs' Provincial Seminary, 
preparing for the priesthood. He then spent six months at the Salesi- 
anum in Milwaukee, and was then for three years in St. Bona- 
venture Seminary in Allegany, N. Y. Upon finishing the course of study 
here, Mr. Duggan was ordered to Kansas City by the bishop in 1881, 
and was ordained priest on September 11, of that year. After his ordin- 
ation he was appointed pastor of the Montrose Catholic Church, and the 
churches at Clinton and Schell City are also in the charge. He is greatly 
devoted to his church work and is much beloved by his people. 

GEORGE W. DUNN, 

attorney at law, and one of the prominent men of Montrose, was born 
near Lawrenceburg, in Lawrence County, Indiana, April 3, 1850. His 
father, William H. Dunn, a native of Kentucky, was born January 25, 
1813, and married Miss Matilda J. Hughes, also of that state. George 
W. moved with his parents to Pulaski County, where he spent his 
younger days on a farm, his primary education being obtained at the 
public schools, supplemented with two years attendance at the high 
school at Burnettsville, Indiana. After finishing his studies at this 
school he was engaged in teaching in his native state for two 
years. In 1870 he came to Missouri and located at Richmond, where he 
read law with an uncle. Judge George W. Dunn one of the leading 
attorneys of the place and a pioneer of Ray County. Upon being 
admitted to the bar in 1871 he came to Henry County, settling in Mon- 
trose in December, of the same year, when he commenced the practice 
of his chosen profession. He is also in the real estate business and 
conducts transactions in wild and improved lands and town property. 
Mr. Dunn is the mayor of this town, and has many friends among his 
acquaintances. He was married in Montrose September 15, 1874, to 
Miss Maria O. Capehart, of West Virginia, who' was reared and educated 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 6l I 

in Henry County, and a daughter of Joseph Capehart, one of the pio- 
neers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have lost two children, one ir> 
infancy, and George C, who died October 2, 1882, at the age of three 
years and seven months. Mrs. D. is a member of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church. He belongs to the Odd Fellows order and has filled 
all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and was a representative to the 
grand lodge, in 1881. 

JOHN E. EAGLE, 

merchant, and an enterprising business man of this vicinity, is a native 
of Illinois, and was born in Ouincy June 23, 1850. His father, D. A. 
Eagle, originally from Pennsylvania, died in Paducah, Kentucky, in 1850. 
His mother, formally Udolpha Miller, was born in Maryland. In 1852, 
some two years after the death of Mr. Eagle, she was married to J. G. 
Dorman. John E. moved with his parents to Missouri in 1855, and 
located in Clinton, Henry County, where Mr. Dorman was engaged in 
the mercantile business. He spent his youth in his father's store and in 
attending the public school of Clinton, and also completed a course of 
study at the Jonathan Jones Commercial College of St. Louis, in 1870. 
For some time previous to the war he was bookkeeper in his father's 
store, and during the war he had full charge of that business. He com- 
menced business in Montrose in December, 1875, under the firm name 
of Dorman & Son. He carries a large and select stock of general mer- 
chandise, is a thorough business man, deservedly popular, and is enjoy- 
ing an immense patronage. Mr. Eagle was married in Montrose Jan- 
uary 22, 1879, to xMiss Susie Ann Tucker, oi this county, and a daughter 
of D. A. Tucker, of Montrose. They have one child, Ralph A., who was 
born November 2, 1879. Mr. Eagle is a member of the Independent. 
Order of Odd Fellows, in which order he is Vice Grand. 

O. F. JOHNSON. 

Among the prominent and leading business men of Montrose is the 
subject of this sketch, who was born in Medina County, Ohio, June 30, 
1841. His parents were Hosea and Rachel (Ladd) Johnson, both natives 
of Vermont. O. F. moved with the family to Indiana in 1845 and set- 
tled in Noble County, where he grew to manhood on the farm, acquiring 
limited educational advantages, as the term of the public schools in 
those days consisted of only about three months, in the winter season. 
By self application he has become a man of good education. In Sep- 
tember, 1861, he enlisted in Company F., 30th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 
and served about fourteen months in the army, participating in the bat- 
tles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Bowling Green and several other 
important engagements. After his discharge, in October, 1862, he 



6l2 HISTORY OF IIEXRV COUNTY. 

returned to Indiana and devoted his attention to teaching in the states 
of New York, Michigan and Indiana. Mr. Johnson was married in St. 
Joseph County, Indiana, September, 1870, to Miss Margaret Burden, of 
that county and a daughter of William and Catherine l^urden. After 
teaching in St. Joseph County for about two years Mr. J. came to Mis- 
souri in April, 1872, and located near Appleton City, in St. Clair County, 
where he purchased land and improved a farm, also being engaged in 
teaching for three terms of school. In June, 1877, he moved into Mont- 
rose, embarking in the mercantile business. * He carries a large stock of 
hardware, furniture, farm implements and deals extensively in grain, and 
is doing a most remunerative business. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one 
child. Burr, who was born July 22, 1880. Mrs. J. is a member of the 
Christian Church. 

A. L. KEPNER, 

owes his nativity to Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where he was born Sep- 
tember 22, 1845, being the son of B. H. and Sarah E. (Bushey) Kepner, 
natives of Pennsylvania. A. L. spent his youth in the county of his 
birth on his father's farm, attending the public schools, where he received 
his primary education supplemented with two terms attendance at a high 
school. In 1867, he went to California, passed two years on the Pacific 
Slope, and was engaged in ranching near Stockton. Returning to his 
home in the winter of 1869, in the fall of 1870, he came to Missouri and 
settled in Henry County, where he bought the land and improved the 
farm which he now occupies. After working on this place three years, 
in connection with his brother, A. E. Kepner, he retraced his steps to 
Illinois in the winter of 1873, and had charge of his father's farm for four 
years. Mr. Kepner was married in Jo Daviess County, November 16, 
1876, to Miss Ada B. Jenkins, of that county, and a daughter of A. N. 
Jenkins. She was reared and educated in her native county, and was a 
prominent teacher there for seven years, and was one of eight sisters, 
six of whom were teachers. In the spring of 1877, Mr. Kepner came 
back to his farm in Missouri, which he has since continued to cultivate 
and improve. He has 200 acres, all in cultivation, with good buildings, 
improvements, etc. This place is located on section 35, and is situated 
some three miles southwest of Montrose. Mr. and Mrs. Kepner have 
two children: Agnes P^stella and Mark L. 

A. E. KEPNER. 

The subject of this sketch is a native of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, 
and was born December 5, 1849. Benjamin H. Kepner, his father, and 
also his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Bushey, came originally 
from Pennsylvania. The former grew to manhood at his birthplace 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 613 

where he married, and in 1848 moved to Illinois, being one of the pioneer 
settlers of Jo Daviess County, and there he still resides on the land 
which he entered and improved. A. E. Kepner divided his younger days 
between working on the farm and attending the public schools. He was 
married in Wisconsin, September 29, 1872, to Miss Roxie Rowe, a native 
of New York, but who was reared and educated principally in Illinois. 
She was the daughter of Deleyan Rowe. After his marriage Mr. Kepner 
came to Missouri and located in Henry County, purchasing land and 
improving the farm where he now resides. ^He owns 160 acres of land, 
all in a good state of cultivation, enclosed with a hedge, and about 
twenty acres in timothy meadow. An abundance of fruit is upon the 
place which is in section 35, about two miles south of Montrose. Mr. 
Keptner is an industrious, enterprising and thorough farmer and a good 
business man and pushes to success whatever he undertakes. He man- 
ifests an interest in educational matters and works hard toward the pro- 
motion of his school district. He was a member of the board and clerk 
of the district some six years. Mr. and Mrs. K. have four children : 
Etha E., Ida F., Benjamin R. and Florence V. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

CHARLES KIRN, 

an enterprising farmer and stock dealer of this township, came originally 
from Wurtemburg, Germany, where he was born December 2, 1832. His 
parents, Conrad and Rosa Kirn, nee Rauss, were also natives of Wurtem- 
burg. Charles emigrated to the United States with tlie family in 1852, 
and located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His youth, from the age of six to 
eighteen years, was spent in school, and after settling in Michigan, he 
was engaged in railroading and fired on an engine for five years, after 
which he ran an engine for one year. In i860 he moved to Illinois, 
where he gave his attention to farming, in Washington County, and also 
to the handling of [stock for eight years. In 1868 he came to Missouri, 
and in 1875 to Henry County, purchased land and improved his present 
farm. This contains 405 acres, with about sixty-six acres of tame grass, 
upon which is a good brick house and other improvements. He makes 
a speciality of handling and feeding stock. This farm is located on sec- 
tion 25, one and a quarter miles from Montrose. Mr. Kirn was married 
in Illinois, May 2, 1861, to Miss Augusta T. Flaxbarth, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. There are five children by this marriage: John C, Mary L., 
Julius G., Rosie C, and Emma. Mrs. K. died November i, 1872. He 
was subsequently married in this county, February 23, 1875, to Mrs. 
Mary Breideeser, a daughter of John Cordell. She was born in Maryland, 
but was reared in Henry County. They have one son, Charles. Mr. 
and Mrs. Kirn are members of the German Reform Church. He is a 
man who takes a crreat interest in educational matters. 



6 14 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

HON. J. J. KNOWLTON, 

lumber and grain dealer, is a native of the State of New York, and was 
born in Erie County July 17, 1841. William Knowlton, his father, was 
originally from Vermont, and his mother, formerly Alma Persons, was 
born in New York. J. J. spent his life on the home farm and in attend- 
ing the public schools. In the fall of i860 he went to Wisconsin and 
settled in Dodge County, where he was engaged in the saw mill and 
lumber business. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company 
I, twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served three years 
in the arrny, being discharged in July, 1865. He participated in a num- 
ber of important engagements, among which were the fights of Port 
Gibson, Champion's Hill, Siege of Vicksburg, Mobile, Mansfield and 
Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. After his discharge he returned to Dodge 
County, where he was married January 30, 1867, to Miss Mary Douglas, 
of New York, but who was raised and educated in Dodge County, and a 
daughter of John Douglas. After this event Mr. Knowlton moved to 
the northern part of the state and settled in Shawano County, where he 
continued the lumber business for about five years. He then farmed for 
five years, and in July, 1877, selling his Wisconsin property, he came to 
Missouri in the following November, and located in Montrose, where he 
farmed one year. In 1879 he commenced again in the lumber business. 
He carries a large stock ot pine and native lumber, building material 
and fencing, and is also interested in the grain business, in which he is 
naving a large trade. Mr. Knowlton is identified with the Democratic 
party, and was elected to represent Shawano County in the legislature 
in 1875, and served his county with honorable distinction in the session 
of 1875-6. His ability being recognized by his party he was re-elected 
at the next general election, and served two terms in the legislature of 
Wisconsin. He takes more than ordinary mterest in school matters, 
and is an influential member of the school board. Mr. and Mrs. K. have 
a family of five children, William B., L. C, Maggie E., John D. and 
Blanche A. Mrs. Knowlton is connected with the Presbyterian Church, 
and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 

ETIIELBERT LAMPKKIN, 

farmer and stock feeder, was born in Northumberland County, Virginia, 
April 14, 1832, being the son of Charles Lampkin. born in the same 
county, and on the same farm, and Elizabeth Lampkin. ncc Kenner, also 
of that county. His grandfather Kenner ser\-ed seven years in the war 
of the Revolution, and Charles Lampkin served in the war of 1812, par- 
ticipating in the battle of New Orleans. Our subject was the youngest 
of a family of seven sons and one daughter. His youth was spent on a 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 615 

farm, and when seventeen years of age he commenced learning the plas- 
terer's trade, working as an apprentice for four years. In 1857, he came 
west, and located in Boonville, Missouri, where he worked at his trade three 
years, and upon going to Otterville continued it four years. In the spring 
of 1861, he went to Pettis County, where he resided until 1863. Taking 
stock across the plains to Colorado, he worked during the summer at 
his trade in Denver City. In the spring of 1864, he started for Virginia 
City, where he arrived in June. Here he gave his attention to plaster- 
ing and freighting from Fort Benton. In August, 1866, he came down 
the Missouri River to Nebraska City, where he spent about three months 
with a brother, and in the fall of the same year came to Missouri, but a 
short time after returned to his native state. In April, 1867, he again 
came to Missouri, and first located in Sedalia, where he was occupied in 
merchandising until the fall of 1868. Then he sold out his stock, and in 
1869, moved to Henry County, bought land and commenced improving 
his farm. He has 400 acres in his home place, on section 31, all in cul- 
tivation, upon which is a good house and a young orchard of 400 bear- 
ing apple and lOO peach trees. Besides this place he has twenty acres 
of timber, and underlying the farm is a vein of coal varying from twelve 
to twenty inches in thickness, and from seven to eight feet below the 
surface. Mr. Lampkin was married in Pettis County, November 29, 1871, 
to Miss Emma Hutchison, a native of that county. She was reared in 
Pettis County, and was educated at Christian College, at Boonville. She 
is a daughter of W. T. Hutchison. Mr. and Mrs. L. have a family of five 
children: Rosie May, Lena Gee, Willie T., Claud W. and Harry E. Mr. 
L. is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, while his wife is con- 
nected with the M. E. Church South. 

JOSEPH LENNARTZ, 

merchant at Montrose, was born in Mercer County, Ohio, May 25, 1850, 
Peter Lennartz, his father, and also his mother, whose maiden name was 
Catherine Simmerman, were natives of Prussia. Joseph spent his youth 
on a farm and enjoyed fair opportunities for obtaining an education at 
the public schools. In 1870 he came to Missouri and settled in Henry 
County, farming for two years. In the fall of 1872 he commenced rail- 
roading, and worked at this business for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
Road for three years. In the fall of 1875 he engaged in the butchering 
business in Montrose, and after two years was interested in the grocery 
trade one year. During the years of 1878-9 he was engaged in clerking 
in the dry goods house of Solomon Kahn. Mr. Lennartz commenced 
his present business in 1880. He has a complete stock of heavy and 
shelf hardware, and being a good salesman and an energetic and enter- 
prising business man, is receiving an excellent patronage. He was mar- 



6l6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ried in Montrose in January, 1877, to Miss Katie Brawnsberger, a native 
of Ohio and a daughter of Joseph Brawnsberger. She died August 18, 
1880, leaving two children, Mary and Cicilia. Mr. Lennartz was mar- 
ried again in Montrose October 23, 1881, to Miss Elizabeth Smith, of 
Pennsylvania and a daughter of Valentine Smith. They have one child. 
Josephine. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. 

JAMES MIDDAGH. 

The subject of this sketch, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 
Juniatta County, April 10, 18 12, being the son of Asher and Martha 
(Gray) Middagh, also of Pennsylvania. The former served in the war of 
18 1 2, while his father, John Middagh, served all through the war of the 
Revolution. James grew to manhood at his birthplace, attending school, 
and part of the time he was in a store. In 1836 he engaged in the mer- 
cantile business in partnership with John Patterson at Perryville, remain- 
ing so occupied for about twenty years, during which time he did a large 
and prosperous business. He was married March 24, 1841, to Miss Cath- 
erine Bushey, of the same county as himself, and a daughter of John 
Bushey. In 1844 he moved to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where he 
farmed for two years and in the spring of 1847 he located in Jo Daviess 
County, Illinois, bought land and improved a farm. He was one of the 
pioneer settlers of that county. In 1853 he was appointed railroad agent 
at Nora Station, holding the position at that place for five years. In 
the spring of 1858 he again resumed farming in Jo Daviess County and 
followed that occupation until 1869 when he sold his property and came 
to Henry County, Missouri. He purchased uncultivated land and 
improved the farm where he at present resides and now has 160 acres, 
upon which is a large two story residence in a sightly location some 
three miles from Montrose on section 35 and other improvements. About 
twenty acres are in timothy meadow and the balance of the place is in 
pasture. Mrs. Middagh died Febr;uary 28, 1866, and three children are 
now living by this marriage : Benjamin F., John B. and Samuel A. The 
oldest, William A. died in February, 1881, at the age of thirty-eight 
years. The oldest daughter, Martha E., died in Illinois in 1862 at the 
age of twenty-two, and Lilly died in 1876, aged twenty years. Mr. Mid- 
dagh was married in Wisconsin, October i, 1868, to Miss Esther C. John- 
son, of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jonathan Johnson. She is a 
member of the German Baptist Church. Mr. M. is connected with the 
Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders, and was a representative to the grand 
lodge for ten years. 

THOMAS M. MILLER, 

merchant at Montrose, was born in Montgomery County, Illinois, Decem- 
ber 22, 1852. Alfred Miller, his father, is a native of Pennsylvania, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 617 

his mother, formerly Catherine L. Scherer, came originally from North 
Carolina. Thoma.s M., spent his youth on the home farm, and his early 
education was received at the public schools. He afterward attended 
for two years the Hillsborough Academy. After finishing his studies 
at this school he returned to the farm and continued agricultural pur- 
suits for a number of years. He was married in his native county June 
6, 1876, to Miss Olive M. Lipe, of that county. She is a daughter of 
Wiley Lipe, of Montgomery County. After his marriage Mr. Miller 
conducted his farm until December of 1881. In January, 1882 he moved 
to Missouri and located in Montrose, engaging in the mercantile busi- 
ness. He has a large and select stock of groceries, provisions, queens- 
ware, glassware, willowware and sundry goods, and is doing an exten- 
sive business. He and his wife have two children, Ida Elvira and Myrtle 
Monroe. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Lutheran Church. 

JOHN NOEL, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 14, owes his nativity to Westmoreland 
County, Pennsylvania, where he was born November 26, 1812, being the 
son of Joseph and Margaret (Griffin) Noel, natives of Maryland. John 
grew to manhood in the county of his birth, his youth being spent on 
the farm. After his sixteenth year he learned the stone and brick mason's 
trade, at which he worked for about sixteen years. In 1835, moving to 
Iowa, he located in Scott County, and was one of its pioneers, residing 
there upwards of thirty years, engaged in farming and working at his 
trade. He sold this property in 1865, and in the fall of 1866, came to 
Missouri, and settled in Henry County. He moved on the place 
where he now resides in the spring of 1867. Mr. Noel was married in 
Scott County, Iowa, January 9, 1846, to Miss Rachel Goldsmith, a 
daughter of Benjamin Goldsmith. She is a native of Preble County, 
Ohio, but was reared in Scott County, Iowa. They have six children: 
Mary A. (wife of A. McLaughlin), Benjamin F., Lucy E., Margaret C, 
George A., and Jacob V. They have lost five children. Mr. Noel has 
180 acres of cultivated land in his home place, upon which are good 
buildings and an orchard of 300 bearing fruit trees. He and his wife 
are members of the Catholic Church. 

JOSEPH PATTEN 

was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, July 23, 1830. His parents, 
Hugh and Jane (Nesbut) Patten, were both natives of Kentucky, and the 
former was born in 1795. Hugh Patten spent his^life on the farm where 
he was born and died at the age of seventy-one years. Joseph grew to 
manhood in the county of his birth, attending for a time the common 
subscription schools, but the principal part of his education has been. 



6l8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

obtained by self application. He came to Missouri in September, 1858, 
and in April, 1859, located in Henry County, where he purchased land 
and improved the tarm upon which he now resides. He sold 140 acres 
of his original farm to the town company for the town site in 1870, and 
has at present 150 acres well improved, with the exception of seventeen 
acres of timber. There are seventy acres devoted to tame grass. His 
large residence is located in the suburbs of the city, in connection with 
which is a good barn, out buildings and an orchard. Mr. Patten was 
married in Callaway County, Missouri, December 23, 1858, to Miss Louisa 
West, a native of St. Louis County and a daughter of Alvin West, ot 
Kentucky. Her mother was born in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Patten are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which he has been 
an elder since 1866. 

SAMUEL PAXTON, 

grain dealer, and a prominent business man of Montrose, as well as a 
pioneer of the county, is a Virginian by birth, and was born in Kanawha 
County September 21, 1834.. William Paxton, his father, was born in 
Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 1808, and his mother, formerly Eliza 
Atkinson, was also of Virginia birth. Samuel moved with his parents 
to Missouri in about 1842, and settled in Cooper County, being among 
the pioneers of that vicinity. There the subject of this sketch grew to 
manhood, his youth being spent on the farm. In 1856, he came to Henry 
County, bought land and improved a farm, and was one of the first set- 
tlers in this part of the county, there then being not enough inhabitants 
in Deepwater Township to support one school. Mr. Paxton was married 
September 8, 1861, to Miss Amanda Bailey, originally of Edgar County, 
Illinois, and a daughter ot George Bailey. They have a family of three 
children, George B., May G. and Frank L. Himself, wife and daughter 
are members of the Missionary Baptish Church. Soon after Montrose 
was laid out Mr. Paxton built the Montrose Steam Elevator, and has 
since been engaged in buying and handling grain. This elevator has a 
capacity of 2,000 bushels per day, with a corn sheller and a corn grind- 
ing burr. He is doing a large shipping business which will compare 
favorably with any in Henry County. He still owns his fine farm adja- 
cent to the town, which consists of IIS acres, all in good cultivation 
with confortable out buildings, etc., and an orchard of 400 bearing apple 
trees of select varieties. This farm is in section 14. He is a member 01 
the Masonic fraternity. 

JOHN RHOADES, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 12, is a native of South Carolina, and 
was born June 11, 1826, his parents being John Rhoades, originally 01 
Pennsylvania, and Catherine (Burk) Rhoades, who was born in South 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 619 

Carolina. John accompanied the family to North Carolina when a child, 
and there passed his younger days on a farm, and also in mining. In 
1846 he crossed the mountains to Tennessee and located near Athens, 
where he was married October 18, 1848, to Miss Ann Richardson, who 
was a Georgian by birth, but principally brought up and educated in 
Tennessee. In 1852 Mr. Rhoades came to Missouri and settled in Barry 
County, where he bought land and improved a farm, residing there until 
i86r, when, on account of the troubles incident to the late war, he 
moved to Ouincy, Illinois. After a time he returned to Missouri and 
located near Warsaw, there embarking in the stock business. In the 
spring of 1863 he went to Cooper County, which was his home for three 
years. He came to Henry County in the spring of 1866, and settled on 
the farm where he now resides, having 520 acres, with 480 under fence. 
This is an excellent body of land, the soil being a rich loam with clay 
subsoil. Underlaying a large portion of it is a vein of coal of good 
quality, varying in thickness from twenty to thirty inches, and in places 
comes near the surface. There is also a bed of fine blue sand stone 
which crops out on a branch and is said to be of a very superior quality. 
This rock is in seams from one to eight feet in thickness, and will with- 
out doubt be in great demand for building purposes in the near future. 
Mrs. Rhoades died in Barry County in December, 1858. He was subse- 
quently married in Henry County, November 5, 1867, to Miss Harriet 
Trimble, a daughter of Peter Trimble. She was born in Bates County, 
and was there reared and educated. Mr. Rhoades has raised a family 
of four children: Martha M. (now Mrs. John Laster); Jennie O. (wife of 
William A. Vanhoy, living near Goldendale, Washington Territory); G. 
B. and J. C. Mrs. R. is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, 
while her husband is an ancient Odd Fellow. 

CARL SCHILLING, M. D., A. M. 

Among the leading physicians and surgeons of Henry County, is the 
subject of this sketch, who was born on the third day of July, 1853, i'"' 
Werl Kingdom, of Prussia, his father being Inspector Carl Schilling, and 
his mother Joana Schilling, nee Baumgartner, from the city of Wesel, a 
strong fortress on the river Rhine. W^hen young Carl was about three 
years old, his parents moved to Dortmund, Westphalia, a city of about 
75.000 inhabitants, where he received his school education. From his 
fifth to his tenth year he visited the public school, after which he entered 
the gymnasium, a state school, to be educated in the literary and pri- 
mary branchesof science. In the year 1872, after nine years continuous 
study he graduated in the German, French, Latin, Greek and English 
languages, chemistry, natural history, mathematics, modern and ancient 
history. Then, after having served one year as a private in the army, 



620 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

he matriculated in the University of Berlin, where he studied util shortly 
before he came to this country, in the fall of 1877, thereby realizing the 
long- felt desire to emigrate to the new world. He embarked in Antwerp 
on the stupendous steamer. Fatherland, and landed safely in New York. 
From there going west, he stopped first in Minnesota, but on account of 
the severity of the winter climate went south, and arrived in Clinton, 
Henry County, Missouri, on Christmas evening. There he entered the 
office of his esteemed friend. Dr. John H. Britts, a surgeon of great rep- 
utation, then graduated in the Missouri Medical College, with the high- 
est honors, receiving the prize for general excellency, only one before 
obtained during the thirty-two years of existence of the college, aside of 
several prizes in different special departments, and returned to Clinton, 
where he remained until the spring of 1882. Then by solicitation of his 
many friends he went to Montrose, where he is engaged in a good prac- 
tice, bearing the name of a successful physician and a skillful surgeon. 
The doctor is a christian, and a member of Ancient, Free and Accepted 
Masons, Knight of the Oriental Order of the Shell and Palm Tree, and 
member of the lodge of Ancient Order of United Workmen and Mutual 
Protection. While studying in Europe he made the acquaintance of 
Miss Joana Marzeller, daughter of Franz and Ferdinande Marzeller, of 
Wiedenbruck, Germany, a highly educated and very accomplished young 
lady. This acquaintance, however, not being sanctioned by her stern 
parent, they lost sight of each other, and were not even enabled to carry 
on correspondence. Shortly after the doctor had left his native country 
she found his farewell letter directed to her paternal home. Newly 
inspired by, and unconsolable about this unexpected news, she directed 
a letter to his parents, from v/hom she learned his whereabouts in this 
country. An active correspondence followed, and she told her parents 
of the definite resolution to follow him wherever he might be, saying 
that she could and would sacrifice everything, only to be with him. At 
last, her parents, seeing that she was in earnest, and noticing her phy- 
sical health to suffer, her natural gayety and love of company giving 
place to melancholy and solitude, consented, and in the beginning of the 
month of May, 1880, accompanied by the doctor's sister Joana, they 
embarked at Hamburg, and safely landed at New York after a twelve 
days' voyage. On the 23d day of May, they met at Sedalia, Missouri, 
and were united in wedlock. The doctor then brought his wife and sis- 
ter to Clinton. On the 21st day of May, 1881, their family increased 
through the arrival of a young daughter, who received the name of her 
mother, and is the idol of father and mother. Two days later the doc- 
tor's brother John, arrived from PLurope, where he had graduated in the 
gymnasium. He studies medicine under Iiis brother's care, and is now 
attending lectures in St. Louis. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 62 1 

G. SCHOLZ, 

a native of Germany, was born in Schlesien April 28, 1826, his parents, 
Gottlieb and Christiana Scholz, nee Gemmler, also being from the same 
country. The subject of this sketch spent his youth, from six to four- 
teen, at the public schools, and after his fourteenth year he was engaj^ed 
in working on a farm for about nine years. In Februar}% 185 1, he emi- 
grated to the United States and located in Sheboygan County, Wiscon- 
sin, where he farmed for about eighteen years. He was married in that 
county July 5. i855. to Miss Catherina Loubersstin, also originally from 
Germany, and in 1869 he came to Missouri, settling in Henry County, 
where he bought land and improved the farm where he now resides. He 
has 400 acres, all in cultivation, and about 150 acres are seeded to tame 
grasses. A large residence and outbuildings are on the place, and six 
acres are devoted to an orchard with about 320 apple trees, besides 
other varieties of fruit. Mr. Scholz resides on section 36, but eighty 
acres of his farm, in St. Clair County, are well improved. He and his 
wife have eight children living: Gottlieb, Julius, Bertha, Fred. Eliza, 
Augusta, Christiana and Adolph. Two are deceased, Mary and Amelia. 
Mr. S. and his family are members of the Lutheran Church. He takes 
great interest in this church, and is one of the most prominent and 
influential members. He is an industrious and enterprising citizen and 
one of the most substantial farmers in Deepwater Township. 

JUDGE J. STEPHENSON, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 18, was born in Jackson County, Ohio, 
January i, 1824, and was the son of Andrew and Elizabeth Stephenson, 
nee McGee, also natives of Ohio. Our subject grew up in the county of 
his birth, his youth being spent on the farm, and in attending school. 
He acquired a fair education in the common English branches and in 
after years was a teacher for a number of terms. Before reaching his 
majority he was engaged in the mercantile business at Jackson, Ohio, 
for about ten years. He was married April 24, 1845, to Miss Elizabeth 
Ridgeway, a daughter of John Ridgeway, and a native ot Gallia County 
Mr. Stephenson closed up his mercantile business in 1858, and in May 
following came to Missouri, and located in Deepwater Township, Henry 
County. He bought his present farm in 1865, and now has 240 acres, 
160 of which are fenced, with good improvements, an orchard, etc. He 
is extensively interested in buying and selling, and shipping stock, and 
has followed this business in connection with farming, since coming to 
the state. Mr. Stephenson is identified with the Republican party, and 
was elected county treasurer in 1864, but declined the nomination of his 
party for a second term. In 1868 he received the nomination and was 



622 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

elected county judge and served four years in that capacity with credit 
to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He and his wife have 
raised a family of eight children: Mary Ann, (now Mrs. V. Griggs), Vir- 
ginia (wife of Samuel Gates), Andrew J., John J., Frances (wife of Wright 
Ba^iley), William A., Nellie and Julia Belle. They have lost three child- 
dren, one of whom, Lillie D. died in infancy, and Jared L., and Indiana, 
died in childhood. Mrs. Stephenson is a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Ghurch. The judge has filled several minor offices, and has been 
elected a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions. 

JUDGE M. A. STEWART, 

a well known citizen of this vicinity, was born in Farquier County, Vir- 
ginia, March 19, 1S19. His parents, Daniel and Anna (Walker) Stewart, 
were natives of the same county. The former served in the war of 1812, 
first holding the rank of lieutenant and later was promoted to major. M. 
A. Stewart was raised in his native county, attending school and working 
on the farm, and when a young man was employed as salesman for a live 
stock dealer, serving in that capacity for about three years. In 1838 or 
1839 he commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. 
John Thompson, one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Kanawha 
County, and in 1843 oi" 1844 took a course of lectures at the Medical 
University, of Philadelphia. Moving to Missouri with his parents in 
1844 he settled in Henry County where he bought land and improved a 
farm which he now occupies. After finishing his studies at the medical 
college, the doctor commenced the practice of his chosen profession in 
Henry County and was one of the pioneer physicians of the locality. 
He was married in Cooper County, in October, 1865, to Miss Alice 
Amanda Philips, a Kentuckian by birth, and a daughter of Willam and 
Mary Philips. There are three children by this marriage : William A. 
Daniel W. and Susan Alice. Mrs. Stewart died, November 8, 1879. Mr. 
S. is identified with the Democratic party and was once elected one of 
the county judges and has since been twice re-elected, serving in this 
capacity with distinction for three consecutive terms. He is well posted 
in the political issues of the day and has been a delegate to numerous 
political conventions. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. 
Stewart has 870 acres of valuable land, located about three miles north- 
west of Montrose. There are about 100 acres in tame grass, and an 
orchard of some 200 trees. Coal underlies a large portion of the place, 
which is in section 3. The judge is a man of large and varied experience 
and one of the leading men of the county. 

EDWIN TAYLOR 

came originally from Medina County, Ohio, where he was born Decem- 
ber 8, 1833. Jonathan Taylor, his father, was a native of Connecticut, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 623 

and his mother, formerly Lydia Taylor, was born in New Hampshire. 
Edwin accompanied his parents to Illinois and settled first in Hancock 
County, where they lived about five years, moving thence to Iowa and 
locating- in Fairfield, in 1844. The subject of this sketch passed his 
youth on a farm and at school until about the age of sixteen years, 
when he was employed as stage agent in Iowa and Missouri until 1859. 
He came to Missouri in 1855 and worked for the stage company after 
this for about four years. In 1859 he engaged in the drug business at 
Calhoun, Henry County. He was appointed postmaster shortly after 
and continued in business there until the breaking out of the war. In 
1863 Mr. Taylor moved to Germantown and opened a stock of general 
merchandise, which business he conducted till 1871, then closed out and 
came to Montrose and embarked in the hotel and livery business. He 
sold his hotel in a short time, and since then has been carrying on the 
livery business. His large barn contains a number of excellent horses 
and buggies, and being a pleasant, social and accommodating man, he 
is very popular and is having an extensive patronage. Mr. Taylor was 
married in Warsaw, Benton County, in August, 1858, to Miss Ada V. 
Oliver, who was born in Warsaw, but educated in Springfield, Missouri. 
They have had four children, Edwin O., William H., who died in Decem- 
ber, 1879, ^t the age of fourteen years, Lulie and Arthur. 

JAMES H. VICKERS 

is a native of Virginia and was born in Kanawha County, February 14, 
1847. Henry C. Vickers, his father, a Kentuckian by birth, married 
Miss Elizabeth A. Roberts, originally from Virginia. James H. moved 
to Missouri with his parents in the spring of 1852, and located in Henry 
County, where his youth was passed on the home farm, and he received 
a common school education, supplemented with a course at the Rice & 
Stewart Commercial College, at St. Louis. After completing his studies 
he returned to Henry County, where he was engaged in farming until 
1872, then going to Colorado. After remaining about two years in the 
mining districts, prospecting and mining, he came back from Colorado 
and spent several months in St. Louis, occupied in the interest of his 
mines. He located in Montrose in the summer of 1877, ^'"^^ opened a 
real estate office at this place, where he is now doing a general land 
agency business and has long lists of valuable wild lands and improved 
farms for sale. Mr. Vickers was appointed notary public in November, 
1879. He is a gentleman of excellent business qualifications and of 
high standing in the community. He was married in Montrose October 
25, 1870, to Miss Kate Chilton, of Cooper County, and a daughter of 
Dr. E. Chilton, one of the pioneer physicians of Montrose. Mr. and 
Mrs. Vickers lost three children in infancy. Airs. V. is a member of the 



624 HISTORY OP^ HENRY COUNTY. 

Old School Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the Masonic frater- 
nity, and his lodge has recognized his ability by electing him secretary. 

JAMES K. WHITEHEAD. 

Among the pioneer merchants of Montrose is the subject of this 
sketch. Mr. Whitehead is a native of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and 
was born April i, 1832. His father, Dr. Harmon Whitehead, was born 
in Pennsylvania in 1802, and his mother, whose maiden name was Har- 
riet Kinney, was born in the same state in 1807 and is still living. J. 
K. Whitehead moved with his parents to Illinois in 1837 and located in 
Peru, LaSalle County, where his youth was spent on a farm and in 
attending the public schools, where he received a good education in the 
common English branches. Dr. Whitehead died in 1849, and as James 
was the oldest of four sons, the care of the family devolved upon him, 
and he took charge of the farm and business and carried it on very suc- 
cessfully. After reaching his majority he attended the Lombard Uni- 
versity in Knox County for one term. He was married in Peru Novem- 
ber 3, 1857, to Miss Sarah J. Brookie, of Glasgow, Kentucky, and a 
daughter of Dr. John Brookie, a druggist of St. Louis. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Whitehead continued his farming operations and opened out 
a new farm in Bureau County, which he conducted for about ten years. 
In 1863 he returned to Peru, and was engaged in handling grain and 
agricultural implements for other parties until 1871, when he settled in 
Montrose, Henry County, where he embarked in mercantile pursuits 
under the firm name of W. H. Chamberlain & Co., hardware, implements 
and grain dealers. This firm commenced business in March, 1871, and 
continued about one and a half years, when they met with a misfortune 
and were burned out. After this loss Mr. Whitehead started in the same 
occupation alone. He erected a business house in the spring of 1874 
and remained in business until June 13, 1882, when he was again burned 
out. He is an energetic, enterprising and ambitious man, and during 
the past season erected a good two-story brick business house, 25x72 
feet, where, in connection with his son, he is now carrying on the same 
line of trade. He has a good stock of heavy and shelf hardware, stoves, 
tin, sheet iron and copper ware and farm implements, and is very suc- 
/ cessful. He was appointed postmaster of Montrose and took charge of 
the office in June, 1875, and has since that time discharged the duties of 
the office in a satisfactory manner. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead have three 
children: Howard L. (a partner in the firm), Edwin J. and Edith A. Mr. 
W. and his family are members of the First Presb}-terian Church. He 
belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 625 

WILSON BROTHERS, 

farmers and stock dealers, section 9, are the sons of James R. and Susan 
(Everett) Wilson. The former was a native of Ohio, but moved to Vir- 
ginia with his parents, where he grew to manhood. Their mother was a 
Virginian by birth. Mr. Wilson came from Virginia to Missouri in 1840, 
and bought land and settled in Henry County, on the farm where the 
family now reside. J. H. Wilson, the oldest of the brothers was born in 
Virginia, October 30, 1880. W. W. was born in Henry County, on 
the home place, December 26, 1857, and R. B. Wilson was 
born on the same farm, April 9, 1854. They are among the largest 
land owners and stock feeders of Deepwater Township, having in the 
home place 640 acres, most of which is in a fine state of cultivation and 
pasture land; 320 acres are in Bear Creek Township on the county line, 
and adjoining this in St. Clair County, they have ninety-eight acres, 
and in section 36, in Deepwater, are 160 acres of improved land, making 
in all over 4,200 acres. A large residence is on the home place, together 
with a good barn and a fine young bearing orchard. The past season, 350 
acres were planted to corn, which made an average of thirty-five bushels 
per acre. They are among the most extensive stock feeders and dealers 
in the county, and handle from 200 to 500 head of cattle, and about the 
same number of hogs annually. J. H. Wilson was married in St. Clair 
County, November 8, 1866, to Miss Susan Bruce, who was reared and 
educated in St. Clair County, and a daughter of Simeon Bruce. There 
are five children by this marriage: Bruce, Katie, James, Susie and Wal- 
ter. W. W. and R. B. Wilson were educated in the public schools of 
the county, supplemented with about one year's attendance at the State 
Normal at Warrensburg. J. H. Wilson and wife are members of the M. 
E. Church, South, 

JOSEPH WITMER, 

farmer and carpenter, is a native of Switzerland, and was born Decem- 
ber 25, 1836, being the son of Joseph and Mary (Hefner) Witmer, also 
of that country. The subject of this sketch spent his youth in the 
country of his birth, and was educated in the public schools, working on 
a farm and in a dairy until 1853, when he emigrated to the United States 
and located in Toledo, Ohio. There he lived about three years, and 
while in that city learned the carpenter's trade. From Toledo he went 
to Indiana and worked one year at his trade in Hundingdon county. In 
1857 he went with some government troops to Salt Lake, where he 
passed about nine months, when he returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, 
and worked in that city until 1861. In July, i86r, he enlisted as a pri- 
vate in Company A, Thirteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, serving 
until mustered out March 19, 1865. After the battle of Lexington he 

40 



626 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

was promoted to second lieutenant for meritorious conduct, and after- 
ward, in November, 1863, to first lieutenant. He was made prisoner at 
the battle of Lexington, but was parolled in three days. His regiment, 
after this engagement, was reorganized, and was known as the twenty- 
fifth. He participated in the battles of Shilo and New Madrid, and a 
number of other important engagements. In 1862 his regiment went 
on the plains and served on the frontier until 1864. After his discharge 
Mr. Witmer engaged as wagon master and went across the plains to 
Denver and Salt Lake. In the fall of 1866 he returned to Missouri and 
located in Clinton, where he followed his trade for three years. In the 
winter of 1870 he went to Indiana and was married January nth of that 
year in Huntingdon County, to Miss Mary Lennartz, of that county, and 
a daughter of Peter Lennartz. Returning to Henry County he worked 
at his trade during that' year, and in the spring of 187 1 he came to 
Montrose and bought the farm where he now resides. Mr. Witmer has 
a fine farm of 106 acres in section 24, just in the suburbs of the town, 
which is well improved. Since moving to this place, besides overseeing 
and attending to it, he has also been engaged in working at his trade, 
and is ,one of the best workmen in his line in Montrose. He and his 
wife are members of the Catholic Church. They have a family of two 
children, Mollie and Willie G. 



-^ 



^ 



??)— ■ 



TFBO TOWNSHIP. 



ROBERT W. ALLEN 



was born September 3, 1850, in Tebo Township, Henry County, Missouri, 
and was the son of George Jones Allen, who was born April 5, 1809, 
in East Tennessee. His mother, formerly Miss Esther M. Mitchell and 
a daughter of William and Nancy Mitchell, was born May 17, 181 5, in 
Brownsborough, Washington County, East Tennessee. They were mar- 
ried April 17, 1833, and by this union had four sons and four daughters, 
of whom there "are still living four daughters and three sons. They 
emigrated from their native state to Boone County in 1834, where Mr. 
Allen was engaged in farming for one year. In the following year he 
removed to Tebo, then in Rives County, and entered a tract of 350 acres, 
where he commenced to make improvements, there remaining until his 



BIOGRArillCAL. 627 

death on March 5, 1850. Mrs. A. survived him only three years, dying. 
February 13, 1853. The homestead remained as an inheritance to their 
children, an estate of 350 acres of land and under a good state of culti- 
vation, of which R. W. Allen owns 190 acres. Of the children now liv- 
ing the eldest is a daughter, Ann E., who was born February 2, 1836, in- 
Rives County, and has for many years been one of the leading educa- 
tors of her native county; William M., born December 10, 1838, who 
married Miss Julia M., daughter of Aurelius B. and Eliza Harris, of 
Henry County; James F. and Isabella J., twin brother and sister, were 
born September 17, 1841; the brother died May 8, 1863, while in the 
Confederate service, and Isabella is now a resident of this county; George 
J., born January 19. 1844, married Miss Bettie J. Fisher, daughter of 
Jacob and Jane E. Fisher, of Howard County, April 22, 1874; Emma E., 
born November i, 1847, married Joseph W. Huston, of this county, 
November 2, 1871; Robert W., born September 3, 1850, married Miss 
SalHe Sutherland, daughter of Judge W. L. and Margaret J. Sutherland, 
October 9, 1879, ^"d they have have two children: Clara B., born Sep- 
tember I, 1880, and Robert Logan, born June 28, 1882. Robert Allen 
has been a constant resident of the county since his birth. For two 
years he attended Lenox College, in Iowa, under the tutorship of Samuel 
Hodge, D. D. Though not having commenced life for himself until at 
the age of twenty, he has been successful thus far, and now has a fine 
residence, a good orchard, etc. He received at first from the home- 
stead only thirty acres, but purchased twenty acres subsequently, in 
1879, ^"d in 1881, 140 acres more, all of the the original 350 entered 
by his father in 1835. Four members of this family are connected with 
the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Allen's political sentiments are Demo- 
cratic. 

M. R. AMICK 

is the owner of "Elm Grove" farm of 400 acres, composed of fine rolling 
prairie, well watered by springs, and is under good cultivation. He was 
born December 8, 1846, in the township where he now resides. His 
father, Marandy Amick, a farmer, and millwright by occupation, was 
born March 25, 1808, in Kentucky. He came to Henry County in 1840* 
and was the architect of the first steam mill west of St. Louis, it having 
been erected by Major William Wall, and burned by command of Gen. 
Pope, during the war. His mother, who was formerly Sarah E. Wall, 
daughter of Major William and Elizabeth Wall, was born October 
6, 1 8 18, in Rockingham County, North Carolina. They were married 
June 27, 1843, and to them were born three children, of whom but one 
is now living, M. R. Mr. A. died February 26, 1847, and his widow died 
August II, 1854. Our subject was thus left an orphan at the age of nine 
years. Dr. James W. Wall (his uncle) then took him under his care, 



628 tllSTOKV OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and became his guardian, and he remained with that relative until he 
attained his majority. Falling heir to an estate of 500 acres he took 
charge of the same, it consisting mostly of unimpro\'ed lands. January 
18, 1872, he married Miss Cerepta V., dai^ghter of Judge M. K. and 
Susan A. Merritt. B}' this union there were six children, of whom five 
are living: Walter M., born February 12, 1873; the second son died while 
very young; Lillian Blanch, born November 24, 1875; Mary Ida, born 
September 18, 1877; Milton C, born January 22, 18S0; Arthur, born 
August II, 1881. Mr. Amick commenced his improvements in 1874, 
and now has a residence that is an ornament to the fine farm it helps to 
adorn. He is a man of great energy, is a successful stock raiser, and 
his superior herd of short-horns and pure Berkshires are of the finest 
grade. He feeds about a car load of each annually. Himself and wife 
are members of the Sardis-Bethlehem Baptist Church. Politically he is 
a Democrat. 

R. L. AVERY. 

farmer and stock raiser, was born December 12, 1824, in White County, 
Tennessee, where he also received his education. His parents. Rev. 
Henry Avery, born October 18, 1793, in Roane County, Tennessee, and 
Elizabeth (Green) Avery, born November 10, 1798, in Barren County, 
Kentucky, were married November 10, 18 19. They had eight children, 
five of whom are still living, three sons and two daughters. Henry 
Avery at the age of nineteen enlisted under General Jackson as a pri- 
vate soldier," and served during the entire war of 1812. He was almost 
constantly with that general and on very intimate terms with him. He 
was engaged in general merchandising in Bibb County, Alabama, during 
the years 1818, 1819 and 1821, and then closing his business, was 
appointed secretary of state, which office he held for two years. He 
was for nine years occupied in farming in White County, Tennessee, and 
then removed to St. Louis, where he remained only a short time, when 
he went to Morgan County, Missouri. Li 183 1 he came to Lafayette 
(now Henry) County, and at that time was the only man that took a 
paper here, it being the Missouri Republican, published at St. Louis. 
He pre-empted 160 acres of land in 183 1 in Tebo Township, and in 1838 
purchased 1,000 acres of the government at $1.25 per acre, and in 1839 
340 more. He was ordained a minister of the gospel in May of 1834 by 
Revs. Ricketts, Warder and White, and continued to preach as long as 
strength lasted. He died September 18, 1845. The subject of this 
sketch soon received 220 acres of the homestead, upon which he com- 
menced farming at the age of twenty-one, and he has since that time 
continued upon it. He was for several years employed in teaching dur- 
ing the winter season and can show the oldest teachers certificate in the 
county. He m:irried Miss Venezuela Palmer, daughter of Drury and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 629 

Mary Palmer, (born January 8th, 1S39,) December 8th, 1857. By this 
union there have been six daughters and four sons, of whom three sons 
and two daughters survive. Mary C, born October 5th, 1858, married 
David Chipman, of Henry County, December 20th, 1882. Henry F., 
born January i8th, 1864. Serepta E., born August 27th, 1868. James 
W., born September 15th, 1870. Robinson E., born November 29th, 
1875. Mr. Avery has remained upon the same farm fifty-one years, and 
was for forty years an inmate of the first dwelling house erected in 
the county. This house, a double log structure, was raised July i8th, 
1832, by Drury Palmer, Judge Thomas Arbuckle, Rev. Henry Aveiy, 
John Wade, Martin Wade, and Judge William Goff Mr. Avery has a 
fine farm, well watered, and is one of the enterprising farmers of this 
district, dealing quite extensively in stock. He was a Union man during 
the war and did much to harmonize feeling during that period. Mrs. A. 
is connected with the Old School Presbyterian Church, and his views 
are Democratic. 

C. E. AND R. W. AVERY 

are the owners and managers of a fine 460 acre farm, and are sons of 
the late Hon. William L. Avery, who was born November 14, 1822, in 
White County, Tennessee, and who married January 17, 1843, Miss 
Saphronia C, daughter of Major John W. and Nancy A. Williams, of 
Henry County. She was born December 8, 1826, in Simpson County, 
Kentucky. They had nine children, seven of whom are living: Nancy Eliza- 
beth was born May 10, 1845, and married Mark F. Finks, October 20, 1864; 
Leonora A. was born August 2, 1847, and married John W. Coppage, 
October 23, 1867. Charles E. was born July 4. 1849, ^''"d married Miss 
Lelia Theressa, daughter of Judge M. B. and Susan A. Merritt, of this 
county. Robert W. was born June 15, 185 i; Emma O., was born Sep- 
tember 9, 1853, and married J. W. Wall .in August, 1873 (she died Janu- 
ary 7, 1876); Idora F., who was born February 4, 1855, married Nicholas 
Mars, December 19, 18/0, and died September 18, 1874; Mary H. was 
born January 28, 1857, married Peter B. Mars, October, 1874; Lillian M. 
was born May I, 1861, married Nicholas Mars, and now residing in Cedar 
County Misouri; John H. was born September 3, 1863. C. E. Avery, 
after attending the Calhoun and Clinton High Schools, took a course at 
the Missouri State University. He is a gentleman of good education 
and well cultured, yet altogether unassuming in manner. Robert W., 
his brother is assisting in the farm management. They are capable 
energetic young men, and rank high as farmers and raisers ot fine graded 
stock. They have an excellent farm upon which are good buildings, etc. 
This farm was settled in 1845, by their father, who although he served 
the county with honor to himself, and satisfaction to her people, found 
time, aside from legal hours, to train his sons for success in future life. 



630 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

He was a prominent public man, his first office being that of county 
assessor, which position he filled for two years, in 1850- 1. He was next 
elected judge of the county court in 1852, and served for twelve years, 
or until the general ousting ordinance in 1864. He was again elected in 
1870, as judge of the court of common pleas, and held the office for four 
years. In 1874 he became judge of the probate court, holding his seat 
until the time of his death, March 2, 1875. Politically these brothers are 
Democratic. 

ROBERT HENLEY COURTS BERRY, 

was born May 13, 1827, in Olham County, Kentucky, being the son of 
Jonathan T. Berry, born in 1776, in Henry County, Kentucky. His 
mother, formerl}' Eleanor M. Taylor, was born in Jefferson County, of 
the same state. They were married in 1825, and to them were born 
eleven children. Of these only four are now living, three daughters and 
one son. They emigrated from Kentucky to Henry County, Missouri, 
in 1835, and in that year Mr. B. entered a tract of land of 740 acres, 
mostly in Windsor,- but on the line pf that and Tebo Townships. He 
remained a resident of the count}- until his death, June 6, 1872. He was 
for many years judge of this county, and was acting judge at the out- 
break of the war, in 1861. Mrs. B. now resides with William R. Taj'lor, 
of Windsor Township. R. H. C. Berry, their only surviving son, mar- 
ried Miss Olivia N., daughtei of Dr. William and Ann E. Taylor, of 
Olham County, Kentucky. Br this union there were seven children, of 
whom six survive, four daughters and two sons. Eleanor C, born June 
23, 1854, married William Hurt, February 6, 1883; Jonathan T., born 
May 22, 1856; Lawrence W., born November 11, 1857, now in New Mex- 
ico; Ann E., born October 5, 1859, married Benjamin Palmer, of Henry 
County, June 5, 1881; Virginia M., born July 2, 1862, died March 6, 1865; 
Olivia M., was born June 19, 1865; Lucy Alice was born January 13, 
1868. In 1853 Mr. Berry purchased a farm of 160 acres in Windsor 
Township, and after his marriage he settled upon it, soon adding forty 
acres. Here he remained for nearly four years, then purchasing 353 
acres. To this he has added thirty-nine acres, and he has steadily pur- 
sued farming since 1858. He deals in stock quite largely, and also 
raises it to some extent. Their daughters, Mrs. Hurt and Palmer, are 
members of the Baptist Church of Calhoun. His political sentiments 
are Democratic. 

JAMES H. BLACKWELL. 

■ The subject of this sketch was born in Macon County, Missouri, 
February 19, 1834, being the third son and the fifth child of a famil}' of 
eight children, of William and P^iizabeth Blackwell. William Blackwell 
was born in Madison County, Kentucky, Januar\- 13, 1797, and was mar- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. . 63 1 

ried September 18, 1823, to Miss Elizabeth Lynch, a native of Virginia, 
and daughter of Henry Lynch, a Revolutionary veteran. William Black- 
well immigrated to Missouri and settled in Boone County November 7, 
1827, living there one year, when he went to Howard, where he resided 
three years. In 183 1, he removed to the territory of what is now Macon 
County, then a portion of Randolph, where he lived till his death, which 
occurred in July, 1882, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. His widow 
still lives on the same farm, being eighty-four years of age. Mr. Black- 
well well remembers the time when the country in which he was born 
was almost a wilderness, when it was too remote from the settlements 
to have what would now be termed the necessaries of life. When the 
few inhabitants had to go from thirty to forty miles to mill, when they 
could not get shoes or boots, and in consequence wore moccasins, and 
the men wore a great deal of dressed buckskin clothing, when nearly 
every man laid in his barrel of wild honey every fall from the woods, 
when deer, wildcats, catamounts, wolves and panthers were plentiful. 
He worked with his father on the farm till twenty-one years of age, 
receiving what education he could obtain in the common schools at odd 
times when he could be spared from the farm. From early boyhood he 
had serious religious impressions made upon his mind, to a great extent 
through the instrumentality of his mother, who was an earnest Meth- 
odist, and afterward by his father, who become a faithful Cumberland 
Presbyterian, aild when about thirteen years old, at an old fashioned 
camp meeting, made a public profession of faith, and soon after joined 
the M. E. Church South, of which he has lived an humble member ever 
since. In 1855, he started in the world for himself by teaching his first 
school, near Lancaster, Schuyler County, in which he succeeded well. 
In 1856, he taught in Howard County, and in 1857, being ambitious for 
higher attainments in education, entered Central College at Fayette, 
remaining during two sessions. In 1858, he taught school in Randolph 
County, and in 1859 and 1861, in Chariton County. 

Although Mr. Blackwell had received an early Whig training, and 
cast his first vote for Millard Fillmore for president, yet he had been 
taught that ours was a federal union, and steadfastly believed in the 
doctrine of state sovereignty; hence, when the southern states began to 
secede he doubted not their constitutional right to do so, but thought it 
bad policy, that it would result badly, and when the war broke out in 
1861 he went with his convictions of right, rather than those of policy, 
and entered the army as sergeant major of Bevier's regiment, M. S. G., 
August 8, 1861. In February, 1862. being severely afflicted with chronic 
ophthalmia, he left the army for medical treatment, and came to the north- 
ern portion of Henry County, where he remained five months, during 
which time he resolved to make Henry County his home, if he should 
ever get through the war, where he had found such a rich, lime stone 



632 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

soil, SO genial and healthful a climate, and last, but not least, such a kind 
hearted people, such as the Walls, the Fewells, the Averys, the Wilsons^ 
the Wylies and the Garretts. In August, 1862, he assisted in raising a 
company of men, of which he was elected first lieutenant, and was sworn 
into the Confederate service proper at Sutliff's Mill, in Bates County, by 
Colonel J. V. Cockrell August 14, 1862, and on the i6th commanded his 
company in the hard fought little battle of Lone Jack. Mr. B. then 
retreated with the Confederate forces to Arkansas, where he remained 
till July, 1865, (after the Confederate surrender) when he returned to his 
people in Macon County, broken down in health and in fortune. In 1866 
he again resumed his old profession as teacher in Howard County, and 
so continued, receiving good wages, till October, 1867, when he returned 
to Henry. On the 17th of November he was married to Miss Fannie 
Gilbert, daughter of Samuel D. Gilbert, who had been a prominent min- 
ister of the Regular Baptist Church, and a granddaughter of Major Wil- 
liam M. Wall. Mr. Blackwell has ever since his marriage, followed 
farming and teaching at intervals. His marriage relation was of the 
happiest type, his wife being a favorite of all, till in 1875 she became a 
victim to consumption, and died December 20, 1876, loved and regretted 
by all. Mr. Blackwell remained a widower four years, and settled the 
farm he now occupies in 1878. December 16, 1880, he was again mar- 
ried to Miss Alice Owen. He is very strongly devoted to his church, 
taking great interest in religion and good morals, and hates trickery and 
dishonesty. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Pat- 
rons of Husbandry, and in politics a Democrat. Though modest and retir- 
ing, he sometimes takes the stump in advocacy of any doctrine he may 
espouse, and in 1880 canvassed his county for the nominee of his party 
for representative, but was defeated. 

JAMES H. BRONAUGH, 

physician and surgeon, was born in Mason County, Virginia, October 6, 
1839, a"d was a son of Thomas J. and Nancy (Henderson) Bronaugh, 
who were also natives of Virginia. James was the third in a family of 
seven children. When he was about six years old his parents moved to 
Henry County, Missouri, where he was reared on a farm. At the age of 
twenty-one he began farming for himself and continued it till June, 18^1. 
when he enlisted in the Windsor Guards in which he was third lieuten- 
ant, participating in a number of important battles. Among these were 
Lexington, Prairie Grove, Wilson Creek, Lone Jack and others. In May, 
1865, he surrendered at Shreveport, Louisiana, and afterwards returned 
home. Subsequently he began the study of medicine with his brother. 
Dr. J. W. Bronaugh, of Calhoun, reading with him till 1867, when he 
entered the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis. From this institu- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 633 

tion he was graduated in March, 1870, after which he located at Coles- 
burg for six months. Since that time he has continued his practice in 
Calhoun and is here known as one of the prominent physicians of Henry 
County. He is also a large land holder. Having returned from the war 
a penniless man, what he now owns he has accumulated by his energy 
and business tact. December 25, 1868, the doctor was married to Miss- 
Leona C. Knox, a native of Henry County, Missouri. They have four 
children living: Bessie, Lillie M., John K. and Thomas, having lost one 
child. He and his wife are members of the Old School Presbyterian 
Church. He is also a leading constituent of the A. O. U. W. fraternity. 

JAMES D. BURNS 

was born in Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri, April 10, 1858, and was 
the son of James Burns, who was a merchant of that town for a number 
of years. He was a native of Missouri and was killed at the battle of 
Jenkins' Ferry. The mother of James D., also a native of Missouri, was 
formerly Eliza McNeala. When the subject of this sketch was three 
years old his parents removed on a farm, where he was reared, being 
educated in the common schools. He remained on the farm until 1880,. 
then went to Windsor and began to work at the tinner's trade, for Cal- 
bow & Lewis. After about six months they opened a branch house at 
Calhoun and he took charge of the business for them, and is now man- 
aging it to the entire satisfaction of his employers. Mr. Burns is a 
member of the M. E. Church, South. He is N. G. of the I. O. O. F. fra- 
ternity at this place. 

WILLIAM BUSH, 

city marshal of Calhoun, was born October 10, 1831, in Tippecanoe 
County Indiana, and was the son of Abraham and Mary B. (Tullisj Bush,, 
both natives of Ohio, the former having been born in Logan County in 
1815, and the later in 181S. They were married in 1829, and had four 
children, of whom William is the only surviving child. The senior Bush 
died in Indiana in 1836, after having lived there six years. In 1837 his 
widow married Richard Bush, and by this marriage there were four sons 
and three daughters. Of these two sons and two daughters are living. 
Mrs. B. died in May, 1873; she had made her home with her son for two 
years previous to this date. Our subject started in 'ife for himself at the 
age of fifteen years as a farm laborer, continuing that occupation until 
the opening of the war. In February, 1862, he enlisted as private in 
Company F., Eighth Missouri Cavalry, commanded by R. H. Mel- 
ton, captain, and Joseph J. McClurg, colonel. He was appointed ser- 
geant in March, 1862, and held this position until the close of the war, 
being mustered out of service March 31, 1865, and regularly discharged 



\ 



634 HISTOR\ OF HENRY COUNTY. 

at Springfield, Missouri. He received a wound in a battle at Warsaw. 
In 1843 Mr. Bush removed from Indiana to Illinois; in 1844 came to Mis- 
souri; in 1846 went to Iowa, and in 185 i returned to Missouri and has 
since resided in Henry and Benton Counties. In 1866 he was appointed 
deputy sheriff under Harrison Mitchell, and held that position for three 
years. In 1868, purchasing a farm in Lindsay Township, Benton Count}-, 
he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits for four years, when, sell- 
ing this property, he, in the spring of 1872, engaged in the construction 
of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, now the Sedalia Branch (narrow guage). 
After four months, he entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific Rail- 
road, and eighteen months later suspended work on account of failing 
health, then going to Brownville, Saline County. He remained there for 
six years. After his return to Calhoun he was appointed city marshal 
in the spring of 1880, and is now acceptably discharging the duties of 
that office. Mr. Bush was married January 17, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth 
Graham, of Benton County. They have had four sons : John W., born 
July 25, 1858, died September 25, following; James T., born July 22, 1859, 
married Miss Alice Motsinger; William N., born February 15, 1862; and 
Charles E., born April 7, 1866. Mr. B. is connected with the M. E. 
Church. In politics he is a Republican. 

EMANUEL BUSHNELL 

was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, July 21, 1827. William 
Bushnell, his father, a carriage maker by trade, was born March 22, 1787, 
in Saybrook, Connecticut, and on May 29, 1817, married Miss Polly 
Harnsberger, daughter of Adam and Catherine Harnsberger. She was 
also born in Rockingham County, December 3, 1788. They had five 
children, four sons and one daughter, of whom Emanuel is the only sur- 
viving child. They both lived in Virginia until their deaths, Mr. B. 
dying February 20, 1845, and his widow August 8, 185 1. Young Bush- 
nell obtained a good practical schooling in youth, and at the age of 
fourteen years commenced life for himself In 1854 he emigrated to 
Henry County, Missouri, landing at Calhoun on April 19, and with him 
came his sister, Mary Ann. They brought a colored family consisting 
of seven persons, and Mr. B. made his home for sometime with an older 
brother who had preceded him to Missouri in an early day. October 
30, 1855 he was married to Miss Mary E. F. Watson, daughter of John 
and Ellen Watson, of Boston, Massachusetts, where she was born March 
14, 1836. They have had six children, three sons and three daughters: 
William Tupper, born August 12, 1856, died June 22, 1882, soon after 
having graduated from the Missouri Medical College, in the class of 
188 1-2; John Archibald, born April 17, 1859, ^"<^ ''^ow in the mercantile 
establishment of J. W. Keyser, at Calhoun; Richard Ira, born March 25, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 635 

1861, and died in February following; Mary Ann, born March 28, 1863, 
married E. H. Fox, of Henry County; Eleanor L., born September 6, 
1870; and Virginia A., born June 3, 1872. For nearly four years Mr. 
Bushnell was engaged with his brother J. A. as salesman. In the fall of 
1857 he purchased a tract of 240 acres, known as the Brummetfarm, and 
continued farming until the outbreak of the war. Since then he has 
been a resident of Calhoun and for the last four years has acted as city 
collector. Since 1870 he has been more or less of the time a member of 
the school board. He belongs to Calhoun Lodge No. 409, I. O. O. F. 
His wife is connected with the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a 
Democrat. 

• JOHN A. BUSHNELL. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Calhoun, Henr}- County, 
Missouri, April 17, 1859, ^"^ "was the son of Emanuel and Mary (Wat- 
son,) Ikishnell. John A. was raised to manhood in this county, and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools. In 1872 he graduated at 
Eastman's Commercial College of New York, after which he acted as 
salesman in different stores in Calhoun until 1879. Then he embarked 
in the mercantile business with Mr. Squires, they doing a large and suc- 
cessful business until August, 1880, when they sold out to Mr. Keyser. 
Mr. Bushnell has since remained with him as head salesman. He is a 
member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. He is Past Grand of 
Calhoun Lodge, No. 409 of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

WILLIAM C. BUTLER, 

dealer in furniture and hardware, is the son of John B. Butler, Esq., a 
native of Germany, and by occupation a shoemaker. His mother, whose 
maiden name was E^liza A. Short, was born in Missouri. William C. 
Butler was born in Calhoun, Henry County, Missouri, November 4, 1S62. 
While he was but an infant his parents moved to Benton County, and he 
received his education in that county, and at Palmyra. After complet- 
ing it he followed farming in Benton County till 1882, when he began 
business in Calhoun. Now he has one of the finest stores in the place, 
and is doing a thriving business. He is a member of the M. E. Church 
South. Mr. Butler was married June 22, 1882, to Emma E. McEntire, 
of Benton County, Missouri. 

J. G. CALLISON, 

is the proprietor of Locust Grove Farm, section 35 ; was born October 
17, 1854, in Lafayette County, Missouri, and was the son of David N. 
and Louisa H. (Oglesby,) Callison. The former died while J. G. was 
but five years of age, and the latter now resides in Missouri. Of their 



636 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

family one son and a daughter only survive. For two years, our subject 
was a student at Columbia College, after which he commenced giving 
his attention to farming and stock raising. He is one of the most 
thorough agriculturists in the county, and though a young man, fully 
understands his chosen calling. His farm, containing 500 acres, is 
located about 7 miles northwest of Calhoun, and he raises about 10,000 
bushels of corn and 800 bushels of wheat annually. He also feeds a 
quantity of stock, and has some fine colts of the Hambletonian breed. 
His residence is situated on a slight elevation, commanding a good view 
of the surrounding country, the city of Windsor appearing in the dis- 
tance, and everything about the place indicates the successful and pro- 
gressive farmer. May 17, 1877, Mr. Callison was married to Miss 
Hildred R. Wall, daughter of Wm. J. and Martha Wall, of this county, 
she having been born June i, 1856. They have three sons: George F., 
born April 16, 1878 ; Sterling M., born August 13, 1879, and John G., 
born June 27, 1881. Politically Mr. C. is a Democrat. He is a member 
of the " County Line Church" of the Baptist denomination, and also 
belongs to Cold Spring Lodge, No. 274, of Johnson County. 

ANDREW H. CLARK, 

farmer, stock raiser and wagon maker, was born in the state of Kentucky, 
as were also his parents, Andrew R. and Hannah Y. (OwsleyJ Clark. 
They were born in 1826, and to them were born eleven children, of whom 
eight — five daughters and three sons, are now living. In 1835, leaving 
Kentucky, they came to Johnson County, Missouri, and purchased 160 
acres of land, improved it, and after three years or in 1838, removed to 
Henry County. The senior Clark bought 320 acres of timber and prairie 
land, now known as the Hanger Farm, remained upon it until 1858, when 
he sold that property and took up his location three miles south, on a 
one hundred acre tract. This was his home until his death, which occurred 
in January, 1863. His widow died in November, 1864. Andrew H. Clarke, 
bought his first farm in this township in 1856, consisting of eighty acres, 
living upon it until 1865, when through misfortune he lost it. He 
removed into Calhoun, where he engaged in wagon making, apph'ing 
himself for thirteen years, and in 1878, he again purchased eighty acres 
of land and resumed agricultural pursuits. He is a man possessed of an 
indomitable will and energy, and now has in course of erection a fine 
residence. Mr. Clark, his wife and three daughters are connected with 
the First Baptist Church of Calhoun. Politically he is a Democrat. 

JOHN W. COPPAGE, 

proprietor of "Pleasant Valley" farm, was born in Clinton, Henry 
County, Missouri, October 19, 1844, being the son of William Coppage, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 637 

a farmer and tailor by occupation, born December 17, 18 ii, in Culpeper 
County, Virginia. He emigrated to Howard County, Missouri, in 1834, 
removing thence to Henry (Rives) County in 1836, and February 7, 
1837, he married Miss Nancy Jennings. She was born November 2, 1818, 
in Tennessee, and in 1835 accompanied her parents to Henry County. 
They had six children, Thersa Jane, born February 22, 1839, now Mrs. 
B. P. Anderson; Mary S., born March 24, 1842, wife of A. J. Bailey; 
William T., born February 19, 1849, died December 7, following; Vir- 
ginia L., born November 17, 1850, died at the age of eight years, and 
Louis J., born May 9, 1855, died October 12, 1882. Mr. William Cop- 
page died May 28, 1877, and his widow December 14, 1879. For more 
than forty years they were esteemed residents of this county, and he 
had been an active business man up to 1866, when he retired to settle 
upon his fine farm. The subject of this sketch was married October 
23, 1867, to Miss Lenora A. Avery, who was born August 2, 1847, in 
this county, she being the daughter of Judge William L. and Sophronia 
Avery. To them were born nine children: William Otis, born April i, 
1870, died October ii, 1871; Lena Opal, born September 14, 1871; 
Harley T., born November 29, 1872; John O.. born April i, 1874; Ida 
L., born June 15, 1875; Clara E., born September 5, 1877; Horace M., 
born February i, 1879, died August 7, 1880; Owen C, born September 
20, 1880, and Fisher, bprn February S, 1882, died January 23, 1883. Mr. 
Coppage received as an inheritance from his father's estate i5o acres of 
land, to which he has added twenty acres. This valuable property is 
located about six miles northwest of Calhoun, and upon it he raises 
good graded stock, having some fine grades of Cotswold and South- 
down sheep. During the war he enlisted in the first company raised in 
the county, Captain Owen commanding, and was in several hard fought 
battles. After six months the company was disbanded, and he then 
re-enlisted in the Confederate service under General Joe Shelby, his 
first battle then being at Newtonia, Missouri. He was twice made 
prisoner and paroled, finally surrendered at the close of the war at 
Memphis. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the M. E. Church South. 
Politically he is Democratic. 

W. P. DAMRON, 

manufacturer of and dealer in stoneware, was born in Macomb, McDo- 
nough County, Illinois, October 31, 1856, and was the son of William 
H. Damron, a native of Kentucky, who went to Illinois about the year 
1830, where he married Miss Susie Pace, of that state. The subject of 
this sketch was the second of a family of seven children. His youth 
was spent in his native town and he received his education in the pub- 
lic schools of Illinois, supplemented by attendance at the Gem City 
Business College, at Ouincy, from whence he graduated in 1876. When 



638 HISTORY O]^ HENRV COUNTY. 

fourteen years old he entered a dry goods house in Macomb and held 
the position of salesman and bookkeeper until 1881, except during the 
time when he was attending commercial college. In March, 1881, he 
removed to Calhoun, Henry County, Missouri, and became engaged in 
the manufacture of stoneware, under the firm name of Damron & Miller. 
They have a large patronage, employ about fifteen workmen and have 
two traveling salesmen. This ware is as good as any in the state and 
they were the first firm west of the Mississippi to manufacture round 
bottom pans. Mr. D. is a member of the A. O. U. W. He was married 
May 15, 1879, to Miss Edna B. Bonham, a native of Illinois. They have 
one child, Frank. 

J. T. DAWSON, 

of the firm of Dawson & Son, manufacturers of stone ware, owes his nativ- 
ity to Holmes County, Ohio, where he was born, March 24, 1855, being 
the son of J. L. and Sarah (Price) Dawson, natives of the Buckeye state. 
J. F., the fifth child in the family of six children, accompanied his par- 
ents to Henry County, Missouri, in 1867, receiving his education in the 
two states. He followed farming till 1S76, since which time he has been 
engaged in his present business, having about the largest establishment 
of that kind in Calhoun, and furnishing employment to a large force of 
men. 

R. Z. FKWELL, 

the owner of a farm of 500 acres and an extensive stock breeder and 
feeder, was born March 9, 1827, in Rockingham County, North Carolina. 
His father, Wm. Fewell, was born in 1792, in Culpeper County, Virginia, 
and at the age of 21 years left his native state and located in Chillicothe, 
where for a year he was engaged in teaching. Returning to Rocking- 
ham County, he was elected clerk of the County Court for a term of 
four years. The mother qf R. Z., formerly Elizabeth D. Wall, daughter 
of Richard and Susan Wall, of Rockingham County, North Carolina, 
was born about the year 1796. They were married near 1814, and had 
seven daughters and two sons, of whom three daughters and one son 
survive: Richard Z., Elvira A., the wife of William T. Wilson, of Henry 
County; Elizabeth D., now residing with William P. Millner, of this 
county, and M. Rebecca, wife of William P. Millner. Richard Z. Fewell 
married Miss P^lizabeth H., daughter of Johnson and Amy R. Crawford, 
of Rockingham Count3^ North Carolina. There have been born to them 
eleven children, of whom there are ten living: Robert H., born May 8, 
1849 ; '^^'^s assassinated at the age of 33 years in Sedalia, leaving a wife 
and two sons ; Varona M., born December 11, 1854, and married Au- 
gustus E. Stone, of Henry County, September 14, 1871 ; Elizabeth A., 
born March 8, 1854; William C, born January 22, 1856, and married 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 639 

Miss Mahala Green, of Henry County; Eugene E., born April 16, 1858 ; 
Louisa B., born July 7, 1861 ; Richard P., born August 12, 1866; Luther 
J., born December 15, 1S68; Annie C, born May 25, 1870; Lee H., 
born March 2, 1S72, and Emma F., born January 22, 1874. Mrs. Wm. 
Fewell died September 28, 1844. In 1845 Mr. Fewell married Mrs. 
Sarah T. Lindsay, the widow of Reuben Lindsay, of North Carolina. 
In 1849 the family emigrated to Henry County, Missouri. Mr. F. had 
long owned a tract of land here, and upon coming to the state, he 
bought the Major J. W. Williams farm. To his son Richard Z. he gave 
the former, and with his family settled upon the latter. He was for 18 
years a resident of this county, an extensive farmer and highl}- re- 
spected. He was for many years a member of the Sardis-Bethlehem 
Church. He died in 1868. R. Z. Fewell, since 1849, has been engaged 
in farming upon the farm he first settled. He has a large, commodious 
residence, erected 1859-60-61. In 1851 he was elected a major in the 
army, serving in that capacity until the opening of the war. He has 
made many distributions of land among his children, but has reserved 
a farm of 500 acres for himself. ^ He is connected with the A. F. and A. 
M. order. Politically he is a Democrat. 

NEWTON N. FEWELL, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born September 26, 1844, in Missouri. His 
father, Benjamin C. Fewell, who was born in Tennessee, July 18, 1817, 
was married July 13, i8zj.i, to Miss Thursa Merritt, born May i, 1821. 
Newton was one of a family of nine children, of whom three besides 
himself survive: Milton C, Benjamin J. and Sylvester A., all being married. 
In October, 1841, the family emigrated from Tennessee to Henry County, 
Missouri, and have since been among its prominent citizens. Mr. F. 
purchased the farm which he now occupies, in 1852. He has divided 
the greater part of his property among his sons but now retains 120 
acres on section 9, of this township. He and his wife have for many 
years been identified with the Sardis-Bethlehem Baptist Church. In his 
political preferences he is democratic. Mr. N. C. Fewlll is one of the 
most progressive agriculturists of this county and also deals quite exten- 
sively in cattle and other stock. Upon his farm^ is quite a fine coal bed. 
Like his father, he is a Democrat. 

JOHN J. GOODRICT, 

senior member of the firm of Goodrict & Kensinger, proprietors of the 
flouring mill of Calhoun, was born in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, 
December 17, 1848. His parents were Charles and C. A. (Buck) Good- 
rict, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Connecticut. John 
J. was reared on his father's farm in Wisconsin, obtaining a common 



640 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

school education. In 1869 he went to California, where he followed 
teaming until 1870. Coming to Henry County, Missouri, he was engaged 
in running a saw mill till 1878, when he erected his present mill at Cal- 
houn. In April, 188 1, he was married to Ella Lehman, a native of Ohio. 
They have one child, Nannie. Messrs. Goodrict & Kensinger have 
endeavored to do much to advance the quality of flour in this vicinity 
and in this undertaking have succeeded admirably, and their manufac- 
ture finds a ready sale. 

EZEKIEL S. GOODRICH, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born October 23d, 18 18, in Madison County, 
New York, and was the son of josiah Goodrich, born September 2d, 1789, 
in Vermont, and Hepswath (Lovell) Goodrich, born December 15th, 
1786, also in that state. They were married in November, of 1810, and 
had eleven children, of whom five are living. In the spring of 18 16 they 
emigrated from their native state, and Mr. G. took up an Indian lease 
from the Stockbridge tribe, in Stockbridge, Madison County, New York, 
100 acres, which he improved and ultimately bought. He remained 
there until 1827, when he sold it, and purchased ninety acres of the same 
tribe, which he also improved. After living upon it for several years he 
again sold out and removed to Vernon, Oneida County, but two years 
later disposed of this property and bought fifty acres, upon which he 
made his home until 1844. Selling it, he emigrated to Wisconsin, while it 
was still a territory. They obtained a tract of 160 acres, in Oakland, Jeff- 
erson County, and there Mr. G. died October 2d, 1865. He had been for 
a long time in feeble health, and was found dead in his bed one morning. 
He had lived for years with his son Ezekiel S. The subject of this sketch 
married Miss Lucinda Goodrich, daughter of Charles and Clarisa Good- 
rich, of Oakland, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, December 30th, 1852. 
They had eight children, of whom there are six living, three sons and 
three daughters. Emily, who died at the age of 15, was born October 
I2th, 1853. Nancy G. was born December ist, 1854, and died December 
25th, 1881. Lillian G. was born October 30th, 1857, at home. Lucinda 
and Clarinda, twins, born July 5th, 1859. Henry Charles born October 
6th, 1863. Hall G. born July nth, 1867, and Perry Leigh was born May 
3d, 1876. Mr. Goodrich, in 1850, in companj^ with five others, started 
from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, on an overland trip for the gold regions 
■of California. In the outstart they provided themselves with two good 
wagons and seven horses and, although la}'ing in a large supply of feed 
and provisions, were compelled to leave two of their horses in the midst 
of the great desert, between Humboldt and Carson River, from want of 
food and water. The\' took, in starting 1,000 pounds of hard tack, 
designed for horse feed, but finding m.an)- j^erishing emigrants along the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 64I 

route at these points divided their substance among them to prevent 
starvation. They succeeded in reaching the summit of the Sierra Nevada, 
and there, partaking- of their very last meal of supplies, were met by a 
train sent out from Sacramento with supplies of relief for the perishing 
ones behind them. They reached their destination unaided, and went 
to work to carve out their fortunes. At Hangtown the party separated. 
Mr. Goodrich taking one of them, Joel Ives, as partner, started with the 
two remaining horses for Sacramento, at which place they arrived on the 
15th day of July, 1850, after five months wearisome travel. The five 
reached their destination, with one more who had joined the expedi- 
tion at St. Joseph, Missouri. Mr. Goodrich and Mr. Ives worked until 
August, when the latter sickened and died. Mr. G. remained but little 
more than a year, establishing a ranch and keeping supplies for miners, 
in connection with his other business. He bade farewell to the land of 
gold about the middle of November, 185 1, taking homeward passage on 
a sail vessel for San Juan, on the Nicarauga route, arriving at New York 
about the 20th of January. Upon reaching his home in Wisconsin he 
resumed farming on the old place, where he remained until 1869, when 
he sold his property in Wisconsin and made arrangements for a perma- 
nent home in Missouri. In that year he bought a portable saw mill and 
•erected it on the Tebo, near Calhoun, which he operated for about eight 
years. In 1871 he bought eighty acres of land near Calhoun, and moving 
his family settled upon it, still continuing to operate the mill until 1878, 
He then built a grist mill in Calhoun, which he still owns, in company 
with a partner, the style of the firm being Goodrich & Medberry. It is 
the only grist mill in the place. He now has 160 acres of beautiful 
farm, with fine buildings, and is one of the leading farmers of his neigh- 
borhood. His politics are Republican. He has one son connected with 
the Presbyterian Church of Calhoun. 

DR. J. W. GRAY, 

physician and surgeon at Calhoun, was born in Tebo Township, Henry 
County, Missouri, January 9, 1845. His father is W. A. Gray, a Baptist 
minister and a native of Kentucky, and his mother's maiden name was 
Mary Lofftus, also a Kentuckian by birth. J. W. was the fourth child in 
a family of twelve children. He was reared as a farmer, obtaining an 
education in the common schools and when seventeen years old he 
accepted a situation as clerk in a store at Windsor, which position he 
held till 1865. Going to St. Louis he studied dentistry for one year and 
afterwards returned to Windsor where he practiced dentistry and pros- 
ecuted the study of medicine. In 1870 he attended medical lectures at 
St. Louis one term then came again to Windsor and practiced both dent- 
istry and medicine till 1876. In the same year he was graduated from 

41 



642 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

the Keokuk Medical Collegr*. of Keokuk, Iowa, since which time he has 
followed his profession at Calhoun. He is a member of the Baptist 
Church and also belongs to the Masonic fraternity. May i, 1876, Dr. 
Gray was married to Miss Ada Munn, of Illinois. 

W. H. GUTRIDGE, 

druggist and dealer in druggist's sundries, a native of Lincoln County, 
Ohio, born March 17, 1830, and was asonof Payton and Elizabeth (Harbert) 
Gutridge, who were born in Ohio. W. H. was the eldest of a family of 
five children. When he was about three years old his parents removed 
to Missouri and located in Bates County, where he grew to manhood on 
a farm, receiving his education in the common schools. In 1847 he came 
to Calhoun, and followed farming till 1866, since which time he has been 
engaged in the drug trade, and in which he has been very successful. 
He is now one of the leading business men of the town. He is a mem- 
ber of Calhoun Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & A. M. July, 11, 1855, Mr. G. 
was married to Miss Delia Buster, a Virginian by birth. The}' have three 
children living: Edward B., Euphtus and James A. 

THOMAS J. HASTAIN, 

the owner of a fine farm of 243 acres about four miles northwest of Cal- 
houn, is an enterprising farmer and stock grower. He was born March 
20, 1841, in the township where he now resides. His father, Daniel M. 
Hastain, was born December 25, 1808, in White County, Tennessee, 
while his mother, whose maiden name was Martha J. Wade, and a 
daughter of Dr. Wade, of Henry County, Missouri, was born in Cum- 
berland County, Kentucky. They had nine children, six daughters and 
three sons, of whom six are still living. One daughter, Susan M., was 
born February 23, 1844, and married George W. Pigg, of Henry County, 
October 12, 1861, and to them were born seven children, five sons and 
two daughters, of whom four survive, two sons and two daughters. 
Thomas J. Hastain commenced life for himself at the age of sixteen 
years, when he took charge of his father's farm, consisting at the time of 
720 acres, located in Tebo. The senior Hastain at that time was pro- 
prietor of a hotel at Warsaw, which he had just purchased. He has had 
the principal management of the farm since then and a part of it he 
still owns, and now resides upon. November 6, 1877 he married Miss 
Sally M. daughter of Seymore and Julia A. Stone, of Henry County, 
They have one son, Thomas Stone, born September 30, 1878. Mr. Has- 
tain received for his services rendered upon the estate, ninety-five acres 
of the same, and subsequently bought 108 acres at one time and forty 
at another, holding now a tract of as fine land as can be found in his 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 6^3 

locality. He is quite extensively engaged in farming operations, and 
deals largely in stock, horses, mules, and fine grades of cattle, hogs, etc. 
Although comparatively a young man, he has from long experience ren-- 
dered himself thoroughly competent to manage successfully his farn:> 
and all the legitimate business in connection therewith. He gives his- 
attention to his own business and this is to a certain extent the secret 
of his success. He is connected with the A. F. & A. M., belonging tc" 
Lodge No. 184, Calhoun ; also Clinton Royal Arch Chapter No. 
y^, and is one of the Patrons of Husbandry Grange No. 1064, of Cal- 
houn. Mrs. H. is identified with the Missionary Baptist Church oi' 
Calhoun. His political views are Democratic 

C. A. HILL, 

wagon maker and blacksmith, was born in Carroll County, Virginia;, 
March 15, 1819, and was a son ot William Hill, a Virginian by births 
who also followed that trade. His mother, formerly Hannah Anthony,, 
was a native of Virginia. When C. A. was twelve years of age his- 
parents moved to Centerville, Wayne, County, Indiana, where he was 
reared to manhood and received his education, there also learning his. 
trade in the wagon shop of his father. At the age of twenty-two he 
began to learn the blacksmith trade, following both of these occupa- 
tions in Indiana until 1865, when he moved to his present location. 
Here he has since carried on his business. He is a member of the 
Christian Church, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. In April, 1845-, 
Mr. Hill was married to Miss Sallie Wilson, a native of Kentucky. The;^ 
have four children, William, John, George and Sallie M. 

NATHAN HINKLE, 

farmer and stock raiser was borr. September 21, 1852, in St. Clair 
County, Missouri, while his brother, Elisha Hinkle, was born November 
18, 1858, in the same county. Both have acquired a good, practical 
English education. Their father, Mellville D. Hinkle, a farmer and' 
stock raiser by occupation, was born December 11, 1813. in Cumberlanci 
County, Kentucky, and married September 22, 1835, Miss Elizabetb 
Smith, who was born October 10, 1815, in Pulaski County, of that state 
They had nine children: Thirsa Ann, was born October 20, 1836, and' 
married William ToWns, of St. Clair County, June 29, 1853, dying March 
21, 1855; George W. born May i, 1838, married Miss Phelps, of Cumberland' 
County, Kentucky; William McDonald, born March 29, 1840, died March 3.. 
1845; Jane H. born October 9, 1842, died during the war. Hannah T. was* 
born February 24, 1845, and married Wilson Arnold, of St. Clair County;. 
Octavia, was born April 10, 1848, and married James P. Hastain, of' 



644 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Henry County. John R. was born October 3, 1850, and married Miss 
Sally Crabtrce, also of this county. Nathan and Elisha Hinkle are the 
joint owners of 200 acres of fine farming land in this township, and here 
their parents reside with them. Though young men they possess the 
thrift, energy and ambition so necessary for success in farming. In 18S2, 
they completed a fine residence upon their farm. Elisha Hinkle is con- 
nected with the M. E. Church, South, Hickory Grove, of Tebo, Henry 
County. The mother's religious preferences are also with that church. 
They are Democratic in their political views. 

MRS. ELLEN HUKELL, 

daughter of Jacob and Eleanor Chastain, was born in Logan County, 
Kentucky, August 9, 1836. In April, 1837, she accompanied her parents 
to Benton County, Missouri, they settling near Warsaw, where her father 
entered a tract of 360 acres. Upon this he settled, occupying it until 
1873 when he gave a portion of the land to his son, and exchanged the 
remainder for property in Springfield Township, Henry County. He 
died October 17, 1874, leaving besides his widow, three children to 
mourn his loss : John H., Susan A. and Ellen. The latter was married 
January 28, 1854, to Mortimer Hukell, who was born in 1817 in Ken- 
tucky. His early youth was passed there and at the age of seventeen 
he moved to Bourbon County, which was his home for four years. He 
came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1838, and subsequently, in company 
with J. C. McDaniel, improved a farm four miles southeast of Calhoun. 
In 1844 he married Miss E. Parazette and to them were born two child- 
ren, one of whom now survives, she now being the wife of Henry Dod- 
son, a resident of Kansas, and ex-sheriff of this county. In 1849 Mr. H. 
went overland to California, remaining there for three years. He returned 
but subsequently visited the same locality in the spring of 1853, retrac- 
ing his steps to Missouri the same year. His first wife died in 1847, ^"^1 
he remained a widower until his marriage to Miss Chastain. They had 
,a family of four daughters and two sons, of whom there are now living : 
Amanda L., born March 26, 1859, married E. B. Gutridge,. October 5, 
\i88o; Jacob A., conductor on the Missouri Pacific Railroad; Kate L., 
born April 26, 1864, and Bud, born September 18, 1866. Mr. H. died 
July 30, 1881, and from numerous newspaper articles written at his death 
we find that though prosperous in early life, and in possession of a for- 
tune at the commencement of the war, he, like others, met with reverses 
during that conflict, which swept away a greater portion of his property, 
after which he resided in Calhoun. He was a man of generous impulses, 
ever ready to afford help to the needy, and the esteem in who he was 
held was manifested by the large concourse of friends which attended 
his funeral, Mrs. Hukell now resides with her aged mother. She is a 



II 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 645 

member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Chastain still owns a fine farm of 
100 acres in Springfield Township. She is one of the constituent mem- 
bers of the Clear Creek Baptist Church. 

GILBERT HUDSON 

was born June 13, 1833, in Rush Township, Champaign County, Ohio, 
being the son of Shapley F. and Sarah (Cooper,) Hudson. The former^ 
a farmer and a stock raiser by occupation, was born April, 1805, and the 
latter, originally from New Jersey, October 15, 1807. They were mar- 
ried in 1832, and had seven children, of whom three daughters and a 
son are living. When a young man, Shapley Hudson went to Ohio, 
where he was engaged as foreman or overseer of the building of the 
Ohio canal for two years, being one of the first to make a trip upon that 
canal from Chillicothe to the terminus. Later, he was occupied in the 
construction of the National pike, and remained with the company until 
the completion of the road. Purchasing a tract of 300 acres of land in 
Champaign County, he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits for 
three years, sold his farm and moved to Auglaize County, same state. 
He resided upon a farm of 120 acres until 1856, when, going to Iowa, he 
leased a flouring mill, which he conducted until his death, April lO^ 
1862. Mrs. Hudson now resides in Hardin County, and though 76 years of 
age, is still strong and in good health. Our subject was married March 
2, 1854, to Miss Margaretta A. Suder, of Hardin County. They have 
six children : Minerva, born December 4, 1854; William H., born No- 
vember 6, 1856, and married Miss Lucy A. Hoover, of St. Clair County, 
July 17, 1875 ; Minda A., born February 25, 1858, married Cleveland 
Ballew, of this county, December 25, 1879; Dorinda A., born November 
26, 185Q; John Shapley, born August 15, 1861, and Nancy E. S., born 
December 3, 1863. Dorinda was married December 25, i88i,to Edward 
Spivey, of Henry County. He was at work as eager in the employ of 
the Osage Coal Company at Lewis Station, and in January, 1882, met 
with an accident by falling 126 feet. He survived but 96 hours, dying on' 
the 8th inst. In 1865 Mr. Hudson, leaving Ohio, came to Missouri and 
purchased his present farm in 1866. He has 108 acres of fine bottom 
land, a part of which is within the corporation of Calhoun. He does 
considerable in the threshing business and has one of the Nichols & 
Sheppard's machines with a capacity of 600 bushels, and a Kinglan- 
Ferguson corn sheller. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. fraternity. 
Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. H. is connected with the Christian; 
Church. 

G. A. JEGGLIN 

is an extensive manufacturer of stoneware. The subject of this sketch 
was born in Boonville, Missouri, April 2, 1856. His father, John M.. 



f646 HISTORY OF henry county. 

Jegglin, a native of England, has been a large manufacturer of stone- 
•ware in Boonville for a number of years. His mother's maiden name 
iwas Anna M. Balliger. G. A. was the second of a family of lour child- 
u'cn. His youth was spent in Boonville in attending the public schools, j 
and he worked with his father until 1875. when he went to Marshall and ■ 
<:lerked in a store for fifteen months. Returning to his birthplace he j 
remained until becoming proficient in his present business. He worked 
5even months at Palmyra, Missouri, and in 1880 came to Calhoun, where 
he labored at his trade until 188 1, then engaging in the business. This 
has rapidly increased from the start, and he now has in his employ about 
ten men, his ware finding a ready sale in Missouri and Kansas. 

L. L. KENSINGER, 

! 

a member of the extensive milling firm of Goodrict & Kensinger, was j 
born in Miami County, Ohio, September 20, 1852. He is a son of E. S. I 
and Mary (Eller) Kensinger, natives of Ohio, and was the eldest of four I 
children. His youth was divided between working on a farm and attend- ■ 
ing the common schools, up to the age of sixteen, when he was occupied I 
in a mill at Covington. Ohio. He continued the milling business in i 
■different parts Of Ohio till 1878, and then moved to Clinton, Henry 
County, Missouri, where he was employed in a mill one year. Since 
that time he has resided in Calhoun. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
-fraternity. Mr. K. was united in marriage June 22, 1880, to Miss E. E. 
.Lehman, who was born in Ohio. They have one child, Luther C. 

J. F. KEYSER, 

•dealer in groceries, was born in Page County, Virginia, July 23, 1833, 
and was a son of Andrew and Mary (Braubaker,) Keyser, also Vir- 
ginians by birth. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the revolu- 
lionary war. J. F. was reared on a farm and educated in the subscrip- 
tion schools of his native state. In 1853 he went to California, where 
ilie was engaged in mining for 7 years, then returning to Virginia. In 
.April, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, loth Virginia Cavalry and par- 
ticipated in many important battles, receiving two severe wounds. In 
.1866 he emigrated to Cooper County, Missouri, where he resided till 
?88o, (except one year while in California,) subsequently coming to 
Calhoun, Henry County, and here he has since resided, occupied in 
business. He is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Keyser was 
married January 23, 1866, to Miss Susie F. Williams, a native of Vir- 
ginia, by whom he has two children — William Frank and Maggie E. 



J \ 








^' V ' <^Lj2^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 647 

J. P. LEGG, 

owner and proprietor of a fine farm, comprising nearly 1,000 acres, located 
about three miles northwest of Calhoun, was born September 18, 1837, 
in Tebo Township, Henry County, Missouri. His father, Archibald C. 
Legg, was born September 12, 1804, in Greenbrier County, Virginia, and 
his mother, formerly Ann C. Cecil, was born October 2, 18 13, in Mont- 
gomery County, West Virginia. They were married December 23, 1834, 
and to them were born three children, two of whom are living. William 
T. was born September 13, 1835, and in January, 1861, married Miss 
Mary F. Thompson, of Jackson County, Missouri. He died December 
26, 1872. Mary E. was born October 17, 1839, ^^^ is a resident of 
Henry County. Archibald C. Legg emigrated from his native state to 
Saline County, Missouri, in 1830, where he first bought eighty acres of 
land, and some village property, consisting of houses and building lots. 
He remained there for two years, engaged in merchandising, when he 
turned his attention to freighting, plying the trade between St. Louis 
and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Discontinuing that business at the expi- 
ration of two years, he settled again in Missouri, this time in Henry 
County, in 1836, He bought at first 160 acres in Tebo Township, and 
subsequently added to it, until he became one of the largest land own- 
ers in the county." He was one of the earliest pioneers here, and was 
for more than forty years identified with the growth and prosperity of 
the county. He seemed to be prospered in every avocation in life, and 
though for years afflicted with deafness, and toward the close of life 
with paralysis, he was a genial, pleasant man in the society with which 
he mingled. During the late war he was a Union man. He died July 
15, 1879. His widow now lives with her only son, who conducts for her 
the affairs of the estate, in connection with his own farm. John P. Legg 
commenced life for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He mar- 
ried Miss Mary J. Finks December 13, 1858. She was the daughter of 
Captain Mark and Eliza Finks, of Henry County. By this union there 
were ten children, seven daughters and three sons, of whom eight sur- 
vive. Etta A. was born June 30, 1862, and died July 19, 1872; James 
A. was born May 25, 1864; Minnie F. was born December 13, 1866; 
Anna E. was born August 28, 1867; Mary J. was born February 15, 1869; 
Willie C. was born April 25, 1870; Clara B. was born April 20, 1872, 
and died August 16, 1875; Charles M. was born August 9, 1874; John H. 
was born July 19, 1876; Katy was born March i, 1878. Mr. Legg has 
for more than twenty years been engaged in farming and the raising and 
handling of stock. He has an estate second to none in this county, 
well watered, etc. He also has good timber lands. In the raising of 
stock Mr. L. takes great interest, especially in the Short Horn Durham 
breed. He has a number of well bred calves in the line of Short Horn 



648 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

registered stock, and raises graded stock for the Texas market. In his 
transactions he is peculiarly fortunate. In order to provide water for 
his cattle he has recently been occupied in sinking a well shaft. Coal 
is abundant on his farm. His workmen, at the depth of forty feet,, 
passed through a fine vein of coal three and a half feet in thickness, at 
at depth of sixty feet four and a half feet, and still another of three feet 
at ninety feet below the surface, with an abundance of rock and slating 
for roofing purposes. At a depth of 180 feet a magnesian rock of more 
than thirty feet in thickness was found. Mr. Legg is Democratic in pol- 
itics. He belongs to the A. F. & A. M. and A. O. U. W. fraternities, 
having joined the former in 1869, and the latter in 1881. 

MAX McCANN, 

druggist, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, March 14, 1846, his father being 
Samuel McCann, a native of Pennsylvania. In 1816 he removed to Ohior 
and married Miss Caroline Irvin, originally from New Jersey. They had 
a family of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was 
the sixth child. He was reared and educated in Ohio, and at the age 
of seventeen years began school teaching there, which he followed for 
fifteen years. In 1867 he removed to Henry County, Missouri, and settled 
at Shawnee Mound. He taught school in different parts of the county 
until 1881, when he engaged in the drug business at Calhoun, which he 
has since successfully continued. In September, 1878, Mr. McCann was 
appointed county school commissioner, and held the office until the 
spring following. He is a member of Calhoun Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & 
A. M. Novem.ber 5, 1877, he was married to Miss Bettie Givens, a 
native of Henry County. They have one child, Allen. Mr. and Mrs. 
McCann are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN W. MORGAN, 

one of Calhoun's most enterprising business men was a son of Jonathan 
and Nancy (Simpson) Morgan, who were both natives of Virginia- 
John was the ninth child of the family, which consisted of twelve child- 
ren and was born in Warren County, Kentucky, January 26, 1843. He 
was educated in the common schools of his native county and at Louis- 
ville. At the age of twenty he accepted a situation in a general store 
at Greencastle, and held the same position for four years, after which he 
was engaged as an educator till 1867. Coming to Calhoun, Henry 
County, Missouri, he continued to impart knowledge to the youthful 
minds till 1880. Since that time he has been manager of the lumber 
business in Calhoun for the Aurand & Dulany lumber company. In 
1862 he enlisted in Company F, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, in which he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 649 

served till the close of the war. Mr. M. is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. September 7, 1873, he was married to Miss Priscilla Ford, a 
Virginian by birth. They have three children: Earnest, Lillian and 
Norma. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are members of the Christian Church. 

CHAUNCEY C. MAUPIN, 

miller, farmer and stock raiser, was born March 12, 1844, in St. Charles 
County, Missouri, being the son of Wallace C. Maupin, born October 25, 
1817, in Albemarle County, East Virginia. His mother, formerly Mary 
Elizabeth Martha Jane Scott, was born in East Virginia about 1820. 
They were married near the year 1837, and by this union had six child- 
ren, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. They emi- 
grated in an early day to Missouri, and here Mrs. Maupin died March 6, 
of 1844 or 1845. Mr. M. is now a resident of Cedar County, Missouri. 
Chauncey C. Maupin, when a young man of twenty-one years, begran 
business for himself. He married Miss Lizzie M. Bass, daughter of 
Peter and Marian Bass, of Henry County, Missouri, May 18, 1865. They 
have six children, all sons, and residents of Henry County. In 1877 he 
bought eighty acres of land in Tebo Township, and in 1881 added eighty 
more. Li 1879 he erected in the township a mill for sawing purposes 
and the grinding of corn. He is actively engaged, both in farming and 
the mill business, and is constantly driven with custom at his mill, but 
does not allow his farm to lay idle. He is a thorough farmer and is 
highly respected in this vicinity. Mr. M. is a member of the Patrons of 
Husbandry. Both himself and wife are connected with the Methodist 
Church, South, of Calhoun. His political views are Democratic. 

JOHN MEDBERRY, 

livery man, at Calhoun, was born in Windham County, Connecticut, March 
28, 1836, his parents being John and Lucy (Harvey) Medberry, natives 
of Connecticut. John was the only child in the family. He was reared 
and educated in his native county and when seventeen years ot age went 
to Wisconsin, where, in different parts of the state, he followed farming 
till 1878, except for three years while engaged in freighting in Colorado 
and Montana. In 1878 he came to Calhoun, Henry County, Missouri, 
and was interested in a flouring mill till August 1882, at that time com- 
mencing in his present business. Mr. M. is one of the leading citizens 
of Calhoun and has been one of its councilmen. March JO, i8s8, he was 
married to Miss Charlotte Potter, a native of New York. In October^ 
1871, he was married to Susan Dawson, originally of Wisconsin. The 
family of Mr. M. consists of three children: Alvaro, Byron and Frank. 



650 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

JUDGE M. B. MERRITT, 

owner of Cherry Grove farm, a fine estate of 520 acres, is a Tennesseean 
by birth, and was born April 27, 18 19, in Williamson County. His 
father, Benjamin Merritt, was born September i8th, 1782, in Wake 
County, North Carolina, and his mother, whose maiden name was Eliza- 
beth Barnett, was born May ist, 1791, in the same state. They were 
married January 21st, i8i3,and were the parents of eight children, three 
only of whom survive. Milton B., Mahala, (now the widow of Benjamin 
Fewell, of Callaway County, Missouri, who was born January 8th, 1804, 
and died June i8th, 1870, in Callaway County,) and Thirsa, now the wife 
of Benjamin C. Fewell of Henry County. Benjamin Merritt died May 
13th, 1844, in Tennessee, and his widow died September 23d, 1872, in 
Tebo, Henry County. M. B. Merritt married Miss Susan A., daughter 
of Mason C, and Malinda L. Fewell, of Henry County, Missouri, Sep- 
tember 25th, 1844. ^y t'lis union there were eleven children, eight 
daughters and three sons, of whom eight are now living. Emily Dophe- 
lia, who married Richard F. Gaines, of this county, March i6th, 1876. 
Cerepta Virginia, who married Maranda R. Amick, also of the same 
county. Roschen Medora, who was born March 27th, 185 1, died Decem- 
ber 27th, 1869. Edith Livona, born February 7th, 1853, died September 
7th, 1854. Lelia Theressa, born December 6th, i854,*and married Mr. 
C. E. Avery, February 21st, 1883. Arthur Fewell was born December 
rst, 1856, and is now a practicing physician and surgeon at Lucas. He 
received training at the St. Louis Medical College, and afterwards took 
his honors at the Jefferson College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in class 
of '81. Amantha A. was born January 5th, 1859. Serena E. was born 
March 28th, 1861. Mary E. was born June 3d, 1866, and Milton Edwin 
was born November 6th, 1871. Mason C. Fewell, the father of Mrs. 
Merritt, was born January 30th, 1797, in Culpeper County, Virginia, 
and was married in 1822 to Miss Malinda L. Wall, who was born Sep- 
tember 2d, 1799, i" Rockingham County, North Carolina. There were 
four children by this marriage, of whom only two are living, Mrs. Merritt 
and Harriet E., widow of Dr. Jacob Sipe, of this county. Mrs. Fewell 
died September 17th, 1829, in North Carolina, and Mr. Fewell died Feb- 
ruary 8th, 1873, in Tebo. The subject of this sketch, while a young 
man, came in company with Benjamin C. Fewell from Tennessee to 
Henry County, Missouri, in 1841. He was engaged in teaching for two 
years, when he was called by the death of his father, to his native state. 
Settling up the affairs of the estate he returned to Missouri in Septem- 
ber of 1844. He received 320 acres of land from his wife's father, and 
since that time has gone on improving his fortune and winning his way 
to the hearts of the people by whom he is surrounded. His lands are 
not confined to Henry County alone. He is also the owner of consider- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 65 I 

able property in the county of Johnson. As a farmer and stock handler, 
he ranks high in this vicinity. His farm is well watered, and 300 acres 
are devoted to blue grass. He also handles cattle and hogs of good 
grades. Progression is the motto, and he has not failed to give honor to 
it through life. A man of high and generous impulses, of cheerful and 
genial spirits, he is boundless in his hospitalities. He is one of the 
directors of the First National Bank of Clinton. Politically he is a Dem- 
ocrat, and has served as judge and held other official positions for many 
years. He was compelled to resign his seat on the bench after the last 
election (in 1882) on account of deafness. He made an excellent judge 
and was held in high esteem by the members of the bar. 

WILLIAM P. MILLNER 

is the owner of "Glen Anna" farm, which contains 1,080 acres, and is 
situated eight miles northwest of Calhoun. He was born October 25, 
1840, in Cascade, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, receiving his educational 
training in the Hampden-Sidney College of Prince Edward County, 
which school he left with honors, second to one only — W. H. Murkland, 
iate pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, Maryland. 
Hi.^ father. Colonel M, M. Millner, was born in July, 1815, in Cascade, 
Pittsylvania' Comity, and his mother, formerly Lucy Maria Price, daugh- 
ter of Williamson Price, of Danville, Virginia, was born in the same 
county. They were married in 1838, and by this union there were three 
sons, of whom two are still living, William P. and James W. Mrs. Mill- 
ner died in 1845 in her native state. Mr. M. afterwards married Miss 
Mary S. Reynolds, of North Carolina, August 20, 1850. They had nine 
children, eight sons and a daughter, who is now deceased. M. M. Mill- 
ner died November 5, 1882, and his widow now resides on the old home- 
stead, formerly the home of Patrick Henry, a tract of 1.500 acres. W^il- 
liam Price Millner, the subject of this sketch, emigrated from his native 
state to Henry County, Missouri, in ^uly, 1873. He married Miss Mariam 
R., daughter of William and Elizabeth Fewell, October 12, of the same 
year. She was born June 11, 1838, in Rockingham County, North Caro- 
lina. Miss Fewell, after the death of her father, November 26, 1866, 
came into possession of the " Glen Anna" estate, which is now so ably 
managed by her husband. Their residence, a large and commodious 
one, was erected by Major John Williams in 1834, and remodeled by 
William Fewell in 1858. Mr. M. takes great interest in stock matters 
and has become well known in this connection. He has a fine half-mile 
track for the training of his fast stepping colts, and now has the far- 
famed Al. West, of the Hambletonian stock, valued at $5,000 and sired 
by General Wither's celebrated Al. Mont, of Lexington, Kentucky, by 
Alexander's Abdallah, and he bv Rysdvk's Hambletonian, etc. Al. West's 



652 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

first dam, Bohanna's Wallace; second dam, Mambrino Chief; third dam» 
Mason's Whip, etc., etc. At the same age as Al. Mont, this promising- 
colt will be as renowned, heading the list as a breeder of trotters. Al. 
West's time is already 2:34, with very little training. Mr. M. has a cele- 
brated jack, while his sheep of the cctswold grade are superior to and 
unsurpassed by any, as conceded by Baldwin, an eastern dealer in Can- 
ada sheep. They have taken the lead in the county, and at the fairs and 
in market since 1876. He also gives some attention to hogs of the finer 
grades, and has twenty-one fine-bred cows. Mr. M. is connected with 
the Sardis-Bethlehem Baptist Church. He is a Democrat. 

JOHN R. PIGG, 

merchant at Calhoun, is the son of David H. Pigg, who was born in 
Clark County, Kentucky, December 23, 18 19. His parents were William 
and Polly (Hampton) Pigg. In 1843 he removed to Henry County, 
Missouri, and settled in Calhoun, where John R. was born July 19, 1850. 
He passed his youth in Calhoun, receiving his education in the common 
schools, and when about fifteen years old he went to work in his father's 
mill, remaining therein until 1S69, Then he engaged in merchandising 
with J. W. Tutridge, with whom he was associated until 1875, when- he 
sold out. He again embarked in the same business in that year and 
now owns a good store building which is filled with a large stock of 
general merchandise. He has taken a great interest in educational mat- 
ters, and has been elected director of the district a number of terms. 
He belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity of which he is secretary. At 
Cartnage, Illinois, July 4, 1872, Mr. Pigg was married to Miss Lucy J. 
Smith, a daughter of J. B. and Harriet Smith. They have three child- 
ren: Hattie M., Ella F. and Aggie D.; one, an infant is deceased. 

DR. J. F. ROBINSON, 

was Dorn February 15, 1S47, in Johnson County, Missouri, his parents 
being Jehu and Julia Ann Robinson, nee Oglesby. The former was born 
in 1812, in Tennessee, and the latter in 1822 in Kentucky, she having 
accompanied her parents to Cooper County, Missouri, in an early day. 
They were married about the year 1840, and had four sons and three 
daughters: Mary M., John E., Louisa, Jeremiah T., Sallie B. and James 
L., and of these our subject was the second son. Jehu Robinson was 
one of the first judges of Johnson County, and with his wife is now resid- 
ing at Warrensburg. Joseph F. entered the Missouri State University 
at the age of sixteen years, and was a student there for five years, gradu- 
ating in the class of 1870. In the fall of 1871 he entered the medical 
college at St. Louis, remained until July following, and upon leaving 



BlOGRAPIiiCAL. 653 

that institution commenced the practice of his profession with Dr. J. W. 
Wall, an old and skilled physician and surgeon of this county. In two 
years Dr. R. entered the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, graduating with honor therefrom in the class of 1875. 
Coming again to Henry County, he resumed his practice, and has since 
had a most successful and uninterrupted patronage with the exception 
of the winter of 1878-Q, which he spent in New York City, attending a 
course of medical lectures. Dr. Robinson was married November 14, 
1878, to Miss Linnie A., daughter of Dr. Jacob and Harriet E. Sipe, of 
Warrensburg. She is a lady of culture and refinement, and presides over 
the household affairs in a most worthy manner. The doctor is the 
owner of the extensive estate of 736 acres, located six miles north of 
Calhoun, known as "Meadow Farm." He has also 210 acres in this 
county, and 358 acres in Johnson County. He is now occupied in con- 
ducting this large farm together with his practice. He belongs to Cold- 
spring Lodge, No. 274, A. F. & A. M. of Henrietta, Johnson County, and 
is also a member of the Baptist Church at High Point. In politics he is 
a Democrat. 

MRS. HARRIET E. SIPE 

is the daughter of Mason C. Fewell, who was born January 8, 1797, in 
Culpeper County, Virginia, and who married in 1822, Miss Melinda L. 
Wall, originally of Rockingham County, North Carolina, born Septem- 
ber 2, 1799. She died in that state September 17, 1829. In 1839 Mr. 
Fewell, with three of his children, his mother and sister, came to Henry 
County in company with a colony of relatives and friends to the num- 
ber of 144 souls. For many years he was closely identified with the 
growth and prosperity of this county, and among its largest property 
holders and heaviest stock men. He owned, at his death, a fine estate 
of 1,000 acres, of which "Meadow Farm," (the present residence of Mrs. 
Sipe) forms a part. Harriet E. Fewell was married, September 10, 1857, 
to Dr. Jacob Sipe, of this county, and they had one son and one daugh- 
ter: Linnie A., born September 3, 1858, and Undrie T., born May 2, 
1861, died July6, following. Dr. Sipe was a well known physician and 
surgeon and had an extensive practice in Henry County. In later life 
he gave considerable attention to the disease of the eye and was making 
the treatment of that member a specialty. November 14, 1862, he was 
appointed surgeon in Company K, Seventh Regiment Missouri Infantry, 
of the Confederate service, receiving his discharge September 16, 1863, 
Soon after this he was made prisoner and taken to Rolla, being placed 
in the hospital November 21, 1865. He died the third day after and his 
burial place is marked by a suitable monument erected by his widow. 
Mrs. Sipe is now residing at "Meadow Farm," near Calhoun. 



654 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

HENKY SLACK 

was born in Linn County, Missouri, January 5, 1843. James C. Slack, 
his father, a native of Kentucky, came to Missouri, in 18 15, where he 
was married to Miss Carolina Humphry. The subject of this sketch 
was reared on a farm and obtained a common school education in Linn 
County. In 1865 he went to Nebraska, where he clerked in a general 
store for two years. In 1867 he removed to Henry County, Missouri, 
and followed farming until December 11, 1873, then engaging in the 
grocery business at Calhoun. In December, 1877, he was burned out. 
In the following year he built his present store building, a large brick 
structure, in the second story of which is the Masonic hail. He carries 
a complete stock of groceries, boots and shoes, etc., and is doing a sat- 
isfactory business. He has held the office of constable for four years 
and that of justice of the peace for eight years, and has been secretary 
of Calhoun Lodge No. 184, A. F. & A. M., for eight years. October i, 
1873, Mr. Slack married Miss Martha Carter, a native of Virginia. Her. 
death occurred January i, 1881. Three children had been born to them: 
James, Harry and Vest. Mr. S. was again married November 30, 1881, 
to Mrs. Bettie Gray, a daughter of Judge Calvert. They have one child, 
Clifton. 

MRS. M. C. SQUIRES, 

was born July 24, 1846, and is the widow of the late Hon. G. W. Squires, 
of Henry County, Missouri. Her parents, J. R. and Elizabeth Linn, 
emigrated from North Carolina to Henry County, Missouri, in 1852, set- 
tling in Tebo, where they remained for many years, and they were ident- 
ified with the county's interests until their death. Mrs. L. died April 
20, 1875. She was a member of the Christian Church, and led a consist- 
ent and faithful christian life, although a severe sufferer for years. Mr. 
L. was a carpenter by trade. He was also an exemplary member of 
the same church as his wife and a deacon therein for several years prior 
to this death, which occurred December 28, 1881. Both died at Cal- 
houn, and were taken to the Kidd Cemetery for interment. Mattie C, 
their daughter, was born in Surry County, North Carolina. She married 
Hon. G. W. Squires, of Henry County, Missouri, September 17, 1866. 
By this union there was one son, Case Burdett, born January 23, 1868. 
Mrs. S. is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, of Calhoun. Her 
husband died May 6, 1879. After his death the following account of his 
life was written : "Hon. George W. Squires was born in Athens County, 
Ohio, February 15, 1802. In 1818, being then a lad of sixteen, he com- 
menced steamboating on the Ohio River, between the cities of Pitts- 
burg and Louisville, on the first steamer launched upon that stream. 
After following that calling for eighteen years he emigrated to Missouri 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 655 

and located in what is now called Henry County, but then Rives. At 
that date this locality was comparatively a wilderness, sparsely inhabi- 
ted and infested with Indians and wild beasts. In 1837, the year follow- 
ing his settlement in his new home, he took command of a company 
against the Osage Indians, and a year later commanded another com- 
pany against the Mormons, then at Far West, where he assisted in tak- 
ing the prophet, Jo. Smith, a prisoner. In 1850 he made an overland 
trip to California, in charge of one of the largest trains, which up to that 
time, had crossed the plains. After a sojourn of two years in the gold 
region he returned to Missouri, and again engaged in steamboating; this 
time on the Osage River, and did much to open navigation on that 
stream. In 1858, leaving the river, he went upon a farm in Henry 
County, and for a time was engaged extensively in handling stock for 
the southern market. On the outbreak of the civil war he retired to 
his farm where he remained up to the restoration of peace. Though 
advanced in years, his seat in the house of representatives was the only 
♦ civil office to which he had ever aspired, or had ever held. While he 
was the oldest member of that body, he was scarcely less active or atten- 
tive in the house than the youngest of his associates. His excellent 
judgment on all matters, aside from his years, served to secure for him 
universal respect at the capitol. Politically he was a life long Democrat, 
casting his first vote for Jackson. He was a valuable member of the com- 
mittee on banks and corporations, and was one of the men whose mem- 
ory will live in the minds of those who knew him both as a private citi- 
zen and a public man." 

JEROME B. SQUIRES, 

is an enterprising, capable and thoroughgoing farmer. He was born 
November 12, 1837, '" ^^e township where he now resides, acquiring a 
good business education in youth. His father, the Hon. G. W. Squires, 
was born February 15, 1802, in Ohio, while his mother, whose maiden 
name was Adelaide Banister, was born November 9, 1805, in Putnam 
County, Virginia. They were married in 1823, and were the parents of 
six children, of whom four are living, three sons and one daughter. They 
emigrated from Virginia, to Henry County, Missouri, in 1835, and bought 
a tract of 260 acres near Calhoun. Here JVIr. Squire's remained for the 
remainder of life, with the exception of two years spent in California, 
and two years while occupied in steamboating upon the Osage River. 
In 1850 he was at the head of one of the largest companies that up to that 
day had ever crossed the plains. After his return from California he 
was for a time engaged upon the Osage River, and did much toward 
opening the stream to navigation, from St. Louis upward, in company 
with James Atkisson, of Warsaw, Benton County. Mrs. Squires died 
May 2, 1862. Mr. S. married Miss Mattie C. Linn, of this county, Sep- 



656 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

tember 17, 1866. They had one child, a son (C. B.) who still resides with 
his widowed mother in Calhoun. Hon. G. W. Squires, departed this life, 
May 6, 1879. His son, Jerome B. Squires, at the Age of eighteen years, 
became a salesman in the mercantile business in the wholesale and retail 
establishment of James Atkisson, at Warsaw, Benton County, then the 
largest business place in Southwest Missouri. In 1865, he embarked in 
business at Sedalia, Pettis County, for L. S. Florshiem. In 1867, he 
•engaged in business for himself in Calhoun, where he dealt in general 
merchandise, doing a thriving trade for three years. He then sold his 
stock and formed a partnership with J. O. Edmondson, of that place, 
which existed for three years, when he disposed of his interest and com- 
menced dealing in stock. In 1861, February 12, he married Miss Hen- 
rietta, daughter of Asa and Sarah McNeely, of Benton County. She 
was born June 4, 1843, in that county. They had four children: Ella, 
born March 20, 1862, died January 17, 1863; Maggie, born September 
16, 1864, married Dr. B. B. Barr, a physician and surgeon, now practi- 
cing at Shawnee Mound, with Dr. J. W. Bronaugh; George William; 
born May 12, 1866; Mamie T., born September 25, 1869, now attending 
school at Windsor. Mr. Squires, after buying and selling stock for three 
years, decided again to start in mercantile pursuits. He opened busi- 
ness at Calhoun, and after nearly four years attention to that calling, 
bought in the spring of 1878, his present farm, a tract of fine land, 208 
acres. After closing his business in Calhoun, he engaged in farming, 
and has since that time made this and the raising of stock his exclusive 
business. He is a fine farmer and deals quite largely in stock. He has 
•some excellent cattle, and also does something in the line of raising 
"hogs. He is a member of the order of A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 184, 
•Calhoun. Both himself and wife are of the Presbyterian faith. His 
polirical views are Democratic. 

ROBERT TREVEY, 

physician and surgeon of Calhoun, was born in St. Charles County, Mis- 
souri, September 13, 1840, and was a son of Joseph Y. Trevey, a native 
of Virginia, who was by occupation a farmer. The mother of Robert, 
formerly Jane Adams, was a daughter of Hugh Adams, a direct des- 
'Cendant of John O. Adams The subject of this sketch was principally- 
reared and educated in his native county. When sixteen years of age 
he went to Virginia, where he attended an academ}' for three years. 
Returning to Missouri he was a student at the college at St. Charles 
one year. When about twenty years of age he entered the office of Dr. 
Samuel Overall, of St. Charles, with whom he read medicine two years, 
and subsequently attended a term of lectures in the St. Louis Medical 
•College. Upon going back to St. Charles he continued to read with his 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 657 

preceptor, and was later graduated from the St. Louis Medical College 
in March 1866. In the same year he began the practice of his profes- 
sion in St. Louis, and followed it there till 1869, when he moved to his 
present location. Dr. Trevey is an excellent physician, deserving of 
being placed among the leaders in his profession. He has held many 
prominent offices in Henry County, in all of which he has proved a suc- 
cess. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity. He was mar- 
ried Novem.ber 26, 1867, to Miss Marcie P. Thomas, of St. Louis. They 
have a fantWly of five children, Robert, Ola, Velpeau, Hale M. and 
Hallie. 

H. J. UNDERWOOD, 

of the firm of Underwood & Son, manufacturers of stoneware, Calhoun, 
was born in Starke County, Ohio, April 26, 1855, his father, H. H. 
Underwood, having been born in Pennsylvania February 3, 1833. He was 
a son of Joseph and Frances (Marsh) Underwood, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania. H. H. was taken to Ohio by his parents, where he was reared 
and educated. In 1852 he engaged in the manufacture of stoneware 
which he followed there until 1880, then removing to Calhoun. Octo- 
ber 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Forty-second Ohio Infantry, and 
was discharged in November, 1864, having been in the hospital at New 
Orleans three months. He was married to Miss Caroline Rochess, 
October 7, 1852. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in 
Ohio, and has followed his present business since arriving at manhood. 
The firm are doing a good business and sell their ware to dealers in dif- 
ferent parts of this and other states. They make a specialty of vases, 
flower pots and terra cotta ware. Mr. Underwood was married October 
27, 1878, to Miss Ada M. Dawson, a native of Ohio. They have two 
children, Carrie M. and Paul H. Mr. U. is a leading member of the 
Christian Church. 

MRS. MARTHA J. WALL, 

who at this time resides with her son-in-law, J. G. Callison, was born in 
Rockingham County, North Carolina, June 23, 1820, being the daughter 
of William M. and Elizabeth Wall, nee Walker, who were married May 
II, 1816. They had four children, of whom Martha is the only one now 
living. His first wife dying in May, 1825, William Wall married July 31, 
1827, Miss Sarah A. Fewell. He came to Henry County, Missouri, in 
1838, located six miles north of Calhoun and became quite wealthy. He 
erected the first steam flouring mill west of St. Louis in 1841 or 1842, 
but during the war it was burned by order of General Pope. Mr. W. 
died August 2, 1865, at the age of seventy-two years. Martha J. Wall 
was married May 17, 1843, to Rev. Samuel D. Gilbert, and to them were 
born two children. A daughter, Sarah F., was born September 26, 1844. 

42 



658 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and subsequently became the wife of James H. Rlackvvell, she dying 
soon after her marriage. The son, William P., was born November 2, 
1845; died May 3, 1857. Mr. Gilbert died September 13, 1847. On Aug- 
ust 21, 1850, Mrs. G. married William J. Wall, and they had four child- 
ren, two of whom survive, James R. and Hildred R. Mr. Wall departed 
this life August 19, 1873. Mrs. W. has been a member of the Sardis- 
Bethlehem Baptist Church for thirty years. 

THEODORE O. WILLIAMS, 

attorney-at-law, was born in Marion County, Missouri, April 17th, 1847, 
his parents being Lemuel and Nancy M. (Hammond) Williams, natives 
of Worcester County, Maryland. They were both born in February, 
1808, and were married in 1835, emigrating to Hannibal, Missouri, in 
1836. Lemuel Williams died in Windsor, Missouri, April 23, 1879, and 
his widow departed this life in Monroe County, March 9. 1883, aged 75 
years. Theodore passed his youthful days in Monroe and Macon Coun- 
ties, this state, and in 1869 he took up his location near Tipton, where he 
taught school for four years. In January, 1870, he married Miss Sally J. 
Jones. They had four daughters, Rosa Lee, Cora V., Jessie M. and 
Shelly, of whom Rosa and Shelly died, while small. In 1873 Mr. Williams 
began the study of law with H. F. Rothwell, late congressman from the 
Tenth District of Missouri, and subsequently with his brother, T. N. 
Williams, in Lynchburg, Virginia. In 1878 he returned to Henry 
County, at first engaging in the practice of his profession at Windsor. 
He is now located in Calhoun, where he has built up an enviable reputa- 
tion as an attorney, and he is especially successful in his career as a 
criminal lawyer. Though comparatively a young man, he has become 
recognized as a prominent counselor among his brother practioners. 
Politically he is a Democrat. 

JOHN WILSON, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born June 18, 1806, in Greene County, Ten- 
nessee, acquiring his only education in the common schools of that 
locality. His father, Thomas Wilson, was an extensive farmer and stock 
raiser and a carpenter by trade. He was born in Botetourt County, Vir- 
ginia, December 6, 1771. His mother, formerly Margaret Sherrell, was 
born May 14, 1774, in North Carolina. They were married October 8, 
1794, and had nine children, six daughters and three sons, of whom 
there are but four living, three daughters and one son. They emigrated 
from Tennessee to Lafayette County, Missouri, in 1830, settling near 
Lexington, where they remained for five years, then going to Tebo 
Township of the same county, now Henry. Mr. Wilson entered eighty 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 659^ 

acres of land and commenced farming, which he continued until his 
death, May 22, 1836. Mrs. W. survived him but eighteen months, depart- 
ing this life in October of 1839. The subject of this sketch was the only- 
administrator of the estate and bought the farm in 1839, of which he 
held possession until 1866, when he sold it, being settled upon land he 
had purchased in the years of 1839, 1840. 1842 and 1843, consisting of 
700 acres, lying north of the old place. He married Miss Elizabeth, 
daughter of Samuel and Susan Jennings, of Lafayette County, and to- 
them were born eight children, four sons and four daughters. The eldest,. 
William T., born December 28, 1833, married Mrs. Eleanor, widow of" 
Samuel Reynolds and daughter of William M. Fewell, of Henry County, 
March 17, 1867. Thomas J. was born April 19, 1835, and married Miss 
Mary E. Gilliland, of Bates County, in March of i860. Harriette Ann 
was born August 22, 1838, and married Thomas J. Jennings, of Living- 
ston County, Missouri, November 14, 1882. John W. was born Decem-^ 
ber 5, 1847, and married Miss Nancy Woolfolk, ot Henry County, Mis- 
souri, January 22, 1871. Lon was born October 16, 1843. Mary E., born 
October 4, 1848, married T. J. Bosley, of Bates County, February 18,. 
1879. Martha Jennie was born July 4, 1854. Charles E. was born Novem- 
ber 9, 1857. Mrs. W. died May 28, 1872. Mr. Wilson has resided upon 
his present farm ever since 1833, except for two years, when in Cali- 
fornia. In 1850 he took the overland route and went to California, mak- 
ing a stay there of two years, with a result of success. He returned via 
New York in 1852, and then engaged in farming and in the general rais- 
ing of stock. He was given a lieutenant's commission in 1832 by Gov- 
ernor Boggs. He erected his present residence in 1849. He belongs to- 
Lodge No. 29, A. F. & A. M., his membership dating from 1863. He 
has for nearly fifty years been identified with the M. E. Church South, of 
which his wife was also a member for many years. Five of his children 
also hold that relationship. Democratic in his views, he cast his first 
vote for Jackson in 1832 with nineteen other Democrats, two men voting 
for John O. Adams at that election, making a vote of twenty-two in the 
county of Lafayette. His sons now conduct the farm. They are capa- 
ble men and excellent managers of the place. 

WILLL-\M T. WILSON, 

owner of "Woodlawn Farm," an excellent tract of 992 acres, located in • 
the northwest portion of Tebo Township, about nine miles from Cal- 
houn, was born December 28, 1833, in Lexington, Lafayette County, . 
Missouri. His education xvas acquired in the common schools of that 
day. His father, John Wilson, was born June 18, 1806, in Greene 
County, Tennessee, and married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel 
and Susan Jennings, of Lafayette County, Missouri. By this union 



660 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

there were four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living. The 
subject of this sketch commenced for himself in life at the age of twenty- 
one years. He married Mrs. Ella A. widow of Samuel M. Reynolds, 
and daughter of William and Elizabeth D. Fewell, of Henry County, 
Missouri, March 17, 1867. By her former union Mrs. W. had three 
children, and all are living. The eldest, William F., was born July 28, 
1854, and married Miss Sallie B. Robinson, daughter of Colonel Jehu 
Robinson, of Johnson County, Missouri, October 15, 1878. Samuel M. 
was born September 11, 1859, and is now a merchant of Shawnee 
Mound. Anna L., was born September 22, 1861. By the last marriage 
there were three sons: Claude, born February 7, 1869, died July 28th of 
the same year; Arthur, born September i, 1870, died February 18, 1872; 
Oliver H., born August 26, 1874, died March 27, 1876. In 1868 Mr. 
Wilson began improvements upon a farm in Tebo Township, consisting 
of 440 acres, to which, in 1882, he added 452 acres, making 992 acres of 
magnificent land, and well watered with living springs. He raises not 
less than 15,000 or 20,000 bushels of corn, and is endeavoring to make 
wheat growing a success. He has a fine herd of short-horns, and is a 
man who thoroughly understands his business. He is one of the direc- 
tors of the First National Bank, of Clinton, and has resided in the county 
for half a century or more, and has been successful through all these 
years. He feeds from two to four or five car loads of cattle annually, and 
also makes the raising and handling of hogs a prominent thing. He is 
a member of the A. F. & A. M. order, belonging to lodge No. 274. 
Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. W. is identified with the Sardis- 
Bethlehem Church. 



SH.^WNEE TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM ADAIR, 

section 14, is among the prominent farmers and stock raisers in this 
county. He is a son of Abner J. and Mary (Adkins) Adair, natives of 
Kentucky. William was the third in a family of eleven children, and 
was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, January 26, 183 1. While he 
was a child his parents removed to Missouri and settled in Jackson 
County, where he grew to manhood on a farm. In 1849 he went to Cal- 
ifornia, and was engaged in mining and stock raising until 185 1, when 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 66l 

he returned to Missouri. After remaining a short time he took a trip to 
New Mexico, but a few months later located again in Jackson County, 
where he followed farming until 1854, then he came to Henry County. 
His farm is one of the best improved in the county, and contains 870 
acres, surrounded and sub-divided with good fences. His fine residence 
was built in 1877, at a cost of $3,000. Mr. Adair is one of the leading 
stock men of the state, and owns a fine herd of Short Horns, and feeds 
a large number of the best cattle shipped from this market. He is also 
interested in two large stock ranches in the state of Texas. He belongs 
to the Baptist Church, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
March 17, 1853, he married Miss Dorcas A. Fuqua, a native of Kentucky, 
born June 20, 183 1. They have four children living, Susa Ann, Emma, 
Henry Clay and Canarisa. They have lost six: Martha E., Francis M., 
Laura, Johnnie and two infants. 

F. M. ANDERSON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 26, is the son of Isaac Anderson, a native 
of Tennessee, who came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1835, and located 
in Big Creek Township where F. M. was born December 27, 1837. His 
mother's maiden name was Eliza Sharp, also originally from Tennessee. 
Young Anderson was reared on a farm and educated in the common 
schools of this county, and has since been engaged in farming, now 
owning 122 acres of land, well improved. During the late war he served 
under Colonel Lewis and participated in the battles of Lexington and 
Bear Creek. He is a member of the L O. O. F. fraternity. October 19, 
i860, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Ocia Pernell, a daughter of F. 
A. Pernell, who served as clerk of the county court in Henry County for 
eighteen years. Mrs. A. is a native of Henry County, Missouri. They 
have two children: Ada B. and Charlie. 

BENJAMIN BARKER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 9, v/as born in Kent County, Delaware,, 
in 1820, and was the son of John and Marion (French) Barker, who were 
natives of Delaware. Benjamin grew to mannood in his native state,, 
and received a common school education. In August, 1842, he came 
to Henry County, Missouri, where he has since resided, following farm- 
ing as his occupation. His estate contains 700 acres of level land, in a 
high state of cultivation. July 31, 185 1, Mr. Barker was married to Miss 
Mary Martin, originally from North Carolina. She died March 31, 1871, 
leaving one child, John R., who was born in Henry County, Missouri, 
April 10, 1852. John R. Barker was married November 27, 1879, to 
Miss Ella Casey, a daughter of George M. Casey. She was born Jan- 
uary 7, i860, in this county. 



662 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

B. B. BARR. 

is a prominent physician and surgeon at Shawnee Mound. The subject 
of this sketch was born in Henry County, Missouri, January 4, 1857. His 
father, William T. Barr, was a native of Tennessee and a son of Robert 
Barr, originally of the same state. His father, Patrick Barr, was a native 
of Ireland. When B. B. was four years old his father went to Tennessee, 
•where he grew to manhood, being educated in the schools of Gallatin. 
When twenty years old he entered the office of Dr. J. B. Heard, of Gal- 
latin, Tennessee, with whom he read medicine for three years. In 1878 
he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, and in 
1880 was a student at the Bellevue Medical College, of New York, grad- 
uating from there in March, 1881. Since that time he has practiced his 
chosen profession at Shawnee Mound. He is a member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. order. Sep- 
tember 15, 1881, the doctor was married to Miss Maggie Squares, of this 

• county. 

JUDGE LEWIS P. BEATY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 16, is among the prominent men of this 
county, and none are more worthy of a representation in this work than 
he. He was born in Henry County, Missouri, October 16, 1837. His 
father, Joseph R. Beaty, was a native of Kentucky, and a son of Wil- 
liam Beaty, of the same state. Joseph R. was married December 1, 
.1836, to Miss Mary Prigmore. She was born in Allen County, Kentucky, 
"May 22, 1816, and came to Missouri in 1818, and in 1836 to Henry 
■County. Joseph Beaty died in Henry County May 17, 1843. Lewis P. 
grew to manhood on the farm upon which he now lives, and obtained 
his education in the common schools. July 20, 1862, he enlisted in Com- 
pany F, Sixteenth Missouri Infantry of the Confederate army, and sur- 
rendered at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 5, 1865. After this he returned 
to Henry County, where he has since followed his chosen occupation, 
that of a farmer. He owns a landed estate of 175 acres, well improved. 
September 2, 1873, he was elected judge of the county court, and was 
re-elected to that office every term until 1882, when he was elected pre- 
siding judge of the county court. He is a member of the Christian 
Church, and belongs to the Masonic fraternity. September 30, 1856, 
Judge Beaty was married to Miss Frances E. Prewitt, a native of this 
county, born September 3, 1840. She died June 10, 1876, leaving four 
•children, Joseph G., James C, T. Dick and Walter L. Two children are 

-deceased. 

BENJAMIN BEATY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 17, is the son of Joseph R. Beaty, a Ken- 
tuckian by birth, who was born March 23, 1803. He married Mary 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 663 

Prigmore, also a native of Kentucky. They came to Henry County, 
Missouri, in 1836. Benjamin was born here April 26, 1839. He passed 
his younger days in the county of his birth, receiving a common school 
education. January 26, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, First Missouri 
Cavalry, and at the battle of Oak Hill received a wound in the foot. 
He remained in service until the close of the war, when he returned to 
this county. He owns 304 acres of good land and well improved, upon 
which is a barn built in 1881, at a cost of over $400. Mr. Beaty is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married to Miss Louisa 
Kimsey, a native of Henry County, March 26, 1868. She was born Janu- 
ary 16, 1 841. They have six children. Samuel, Joseph, Mary S., Jack- 
son, Abner and Fannie A. 

JOHN W. BRONAUGH, 

physician and surgeon, Shawnee Mound, was born in Mason County, 
Virginia, April 28, 1834, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Henderson) 
Bronaugh, natives of Virginia. The subject of this sketch was the oldest 
child in a family of seven children. In 1846 he moved with his parents 
to Henry County, Missouri, locating on a farm near Calhoun, where he 
grew to manhood. In 1856 he began the study of medicine under Dr. 
Sites, of Calhoun, with whom he remained till 1858, when, in the fall of 
that year he entered the St. Louis Medical College. He then began 
practicing at Germantown, Missouri, and continued it till the fall of i860, 
when he again entered college. He was graduated in the following 
spring. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army as assistant 
surgeon of Col. Owen's battalion, resigning in October of the same year. 
He then settled in Arkansas, where he practiced his profession till June, 
1862. Returning to Henry County, he practiced in Calhoun and vicinity 
till 1879, since which time he has resided at his present location. He is 
a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the 
Masonic fraternity. July 10, 1862, Dr. Bronaugh was married to Miss 
Georgia Knox, a native of Henry County, Missouri, where she was born 
February, i, 1844. They have four children, J. Frank, Marshal K., Percy 
and John F. 

R. L. CAMPBELL, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 33, was born in Lafayette County, Mis- 
souri, December 12, 1854, and was the son of G. K. Campbell, a farmer 
by occupation and a native of Alabama, and one of the early settlers of 
Lafayette County. His father was James Campbell. The maiden name 
of the mother of our subject was Louisa Walker, a native of Missouri. 
R. L. was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and was educated in 
the common schools, following farming and stock raising at his birth- 
place until 1880, when he came to Henry County. His farm contains 



664 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

360 acres of well improved land. His residence was built in 1880 at a 
cost of $1,000. He has two good orchards on the farm, and is feeding 
sixty-two head of cattle and 100 head of hogs. February 12, 1880, Mr. 
Campbell married Miss Lydia Huff, a daughter of Willis and Martha 
(Hocker) Huff She was born in Henry County, Missouri, December 29^ 
1857. They have two children: Samuel K. and Warner Hocker. Mrs. 
C.'s father died October 21, 1865, and her mother, August 27, 1866. 
After their death she went to her Grandfather Hocker's, in Johnson 
County, where she grew up. 

GEORGE M. CASEY, 

section 24, is one of the representative citizens of Henry County, and 
none are more worthy of success than he. John Casey his father 'was a 
son of Stephen Casey, who was a native of South Carolina. John Casey 
was born in Kentuck)' in 1808, and was there married to Miss Amanda 
Smith, of the same state. Their family consisted of seven children, of 
whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth child. He was born in 
Hardin County, Kentucky, April 3, 1837. In 1842 his parents moved to 
Henry County, Missouri, and entered land in Shawnee Township, 
where George M. has since resided, and where he received his education. 
He now has a landed estate of 1,520 acres. His home farm is known as 
"Tebo Lawn," and contains 1,200 acres, ten miles northwest of Clinton. 
This is one of the finest improved farms in Southwest Missouri, being 
surrounded by hedge and rail fences, well watered by living springs and 
wells. His residence is a fine brick one, built in 1876, at a cost of $6,500 
and his out buildings, etc., are excellent. Mr. C. has a superior herd of 
shorthorns, representing many of the most popular families of English 
and American Herd Book record. He is a successful breeder and one of 
the ranking shorthorn men of Southwest Missouri. He also owns large 
interests in two stock ranches in Texas, stocked with 35,000 head of cat- 
tle. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Sixteenth Missouri 
Infantry of the Confederate service, and remained in action till the close 
of the war. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
and belongs to the Masonic fraternity and commandery. August 13, 
1857, Mr, Casey was married to Miss Lucy Croswhiet, of Randolph 
County, Missouri. They have nine children living: Thomas M., Amanda 
E. (now Mrs. John Barker), John S., Lulu, Minnie, George R., Eflfie, 
Annie P., and Lucy M. They have lost one, Mary A. 

JASPER L. COATS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 3, was born in Cooper County, Missouri, 
February 2, 1828, his parents being William and Martha (Tracey) Coats, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 66$' 

natives of Tennessee. He was the seventh of a family of nine children, 
and when six years old, his father removed to Callaway County, where 
he grew to manhood, receiving his education in common schools. At 
the age of eighteen years he began working at the blacksmith trade in' 
Fulton, which he followed two years. In 1848 he came to Henry County, 
Missouri, and worked at his trade one year in Calhoun. In 1849 he went 
to California, but returned to Henry County in 1850, and engaged in 
farming. He now owns a landed estate of 315 acres, well improved with 
a good house, outbuildings and an orchard, besides a supply of water. 
In 1865, he enlisted in the Union service, but was mustered out in six 
months, after which he was with the Enrolled Missouri Militia, until the 
close of the war. In i86i he was appointed sheriff of Henry County,, 
and held the office for about one year. He is a member of the Christian 
Church. April 11, 1854, Mr. Coats was married to Miss Sallie Freeman,, 
a native of Henry County, Missouri. She died September 28, 1862,. 
leaving two children: James W. and Lizzie. He was again married' 
March 30, 1845, to Mrs. Eliza Foster, a daughter of James- Patrick, They^ 
have three children: Marsh, Sallie, and George. 

R. E. COMER, 

farmer, section 25, was born in Cole County,. Missouri, May i, 1837, and 
was the son of Mark and Edna (Elliott) Comer. When he was about 
two years old his parents removed to Cooper County, where he passed 
his youthful days and attended the common schools. In March, 1854, 
he came to Henry County and engaged in farming. His farm now con- 
tains eighty acres, all in cultivation with good improvements, orchard, 
etc. Mr. Comer served nine months in the Missouri State Militia dur- 
ing the late war. He is a member of the M. E. Church. September 30^. 
1866, he was married to Mrs. Amanda Barlow, a daughter of Jacob 
McFarland. They have five children: Aldridge, Emma A., Frank,. 
Reuben and William, 

CHARLES W. DRAKE, 

druggist at Huntingdale, was born in Henry County, Missouri, October 
22, 1848, his parents being Jesse W. and Sallie Drake, nee McCarty. 
Charles divided the early days of his youth between working on a farm 
and attending the common schools in the county. In 1880 he embarked 
in the dry goods and grocery business at Huntingdale, following it until 
becoming engaged in the drug business. In 188 1 he was appointed jus- 
tice of the peace and in 1882 he was elected constable. February 4,. 
1869, Mr. Drake married Miss Lucy A. Covington. They have three 
children: Hattie A., William C. and Harvey W. Mr. D. is a member of 
the M. E. Church South. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and 
is also connected with Agricola Lodge, No. 343, A. F. & A. M. 



666 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

JOHN DUNAWAY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 31, is a son of Isaac Dunaway, who was | 
born in Clark County, Kentucky, August 11, 1800. His father, William j 
Dunaway, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier of the revolution- 
ary war. Isaac Dunaway come from Kentucky to Missouri in 18 19, 
locating in Lafayette County. He married Miss Rebecca Howard, a 
native of Tennessee, who is now deceased. Her husband resides with 
the subject of this sketch, who was born in Jackson County, Missouri, 1 
April 24, 1828. When he was one year old the family moved to Johnson ' 
County, where he grew up. In 1844 he went to Arkansas and followed ' 
his chosen occupation for one year, and later in Cedar and Bates Coun- , 
ties, Missouri, till 1849, when he located in Henry County, where he ; 
now owns a landed estate of 1,000 acres, 880 of which are in cultivation. : 
It is one of the best stock farms in the county. Mr. Dunaway devotes 
his principal interest to the raising of stock. November 26, 1846, he was 
married to Miss Zenba Davis, of Bates County, Missouri. She died Octo- J 
ber 5, 1871, leaving a family of ten children, Susan J., Mary E., William 
M., Jasper, Malissa M., (deceased), Laura, (deceased), Cynthia, Maranda, 
Leonard and Bell. He was again married July 17, 1874, to Lucinda J. ] 
Cull, of Missouri. ] 

JASPER N. DUNAWAY | 

is also a leading farmer and stock raiser of this township. His father 
was Isaac Dunaway, a mention of whom was made in the sketch of John j 
Dunaway. Our subject was born in Johnson County, Missouri, Septem- 
ber 8, 1841. In 1844 he accompanied his parents to Arkansas, remain- 
ing there one year, and in 1844 came to Henry County, where he was 
reared and educated. He has since been engaged in farming in this 
county, except for six years, while in Barton County, Missouri. His 
farm contains 180 acres, most of it being in cultivation, and he is recog- 
nized as one of the prominent stock men in the county. He is a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. December 23, 1867, Mr. Dunaway married \ 
Miss Matilda Johnson, of Missouri. They have three children living, | 
Ada O., Elva D. and Edesa. They have also lost four children, William 
T., Lulu A., Alberta and Orestas. ', 

S. H. ELLIOTT, ' 

blacksmith, merchant and farmer, Shawnee Mound, was born in Cooper 
County, Missouri, February 27, 1847, his parents being William C. and : 
Sarah D. (Throckmorton) Elliott, the former of Tennessee and the lat- ; 
ter of North Carolina. S. H. was the seventh child in a family of eleven 
children. He was brought up and educated in his native county, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 66/ 

from 1862-4 was employed by the government as teamster. In 1864 he 
enlisted in Company H, Forty-fifth Missouri Infantry, and was dis- 
charged in June, i86s. He then worked at the blacksmith trade for one 
year in Bates County, subsequently moving to Calhoun, Henry County, 
where he followed his chosen calling till 1874. Then he came to 
Shawnee Mound. In June, 1882, he embarked in the hardware business. 
He also is the owner of a good farm of seventy acres. August ii, 1868, 
Mr. Elliott married Miss Mary Y. Clark, who was born in Henry County, 
Missouri, February 28, 1843. They have four children, Sarah O., George 
W., John H. C. and Lena J. They have lost two. Mr. and Mrs. E. are 
members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He belongs to the 
Masonic Fraternity. 

JAMES M. FREEMAN, • 

% 

farmer and stock raiser, section 29, is a son of Judge James Freeman, 
whose parents, Garratt and Nancy (Compton) Freeman, were natives of 
Maryland. He was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, April 18, 1806. 
He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a common school 
education, and in 1839 he came to Henry County, Missouri, where the 
subject of this sketch was born March 11, 1844. He was reared as a 
farmer's boy, also being educated in the common schools and his occu- 
pation during life has been that of farming and stock raising. His farm 
is one of the best improved in the township, and contains 520 acres. 
His fine frame residence was built in 188 1 at a cost of $2,000. Mr. Freeman 
is one of the leading stock feeders in the township and is now feeding 
150 head of cattle. He also has some fine short horns. He was a mem- 
ber of the Missouri State Militia during the late war. June 25, 1867, he 
married Miss H. A. Drake. Her death occurred June 6, 1877, and she 
left four children: James W., Willie R., Anna and Hattie A. Mr. F. 
was again married February 9, 1882, to Miss Lucy Howard. She was 
born in St. Clair County, Missouri, October 28, 1854. He is connected 
with the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

D. T. HAMPTON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 17, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, 
October i, 1835, his parents, George W. and Nancy (Jones) Hampton, 
also being natives of Kentucky. In 1839 ^is father removed to Henry 
County, Missouri, where D. T. grew to manhood, receiving a common 
school education. From the age of twenty-one until he was twenty-four 
years old he was engaged in school teaching. In 1858 he was employed 
as clerk by Kahn Bros, at Huntingdale, where he remained until 1861. 
Then he enlisted in Captain Stone's company, and was in the battles of 
Dry Wood, Lexington and Lone Jack. At the last battle he received a 



668 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. , 

gun shot wound in the thigh. At the close of the war he was lieutenant! 
in Colonel King's regiment. After this Mr. Hampton returned to Henry 
County and resumed farming. His farm now contains 155 acres of well 
improved land. He is township trustee of the township and is also a 
member of the Christian Church. December 18, 1866, Mr. H. was mar-j 
ried to Miss Mary S. Lane, a native of Henry County. She died Novem- 
ber 10, 1880, leaving five children: Joseph R., Lucy, George W., Nora 
O. and James H. He was again married December 27, 188 1, to Mrs. 
Melvina Ross. 

L. H. HAMPTON, ^ 

agriculturist and raiser of stock, section 6, is the son of George W. 
Hampton, who was born in Clark County, Kentucky, September, i8i2.| 
His parents, David and Mary (Bryant) Hampton, were natives of North, 
Carolina. January 9, 1834, George W. Hampton was married to Miss 
Nancy Jones, of New York. He came to Henry County, Missouri, iri: 
1839, and here L. H. Hampton was born, November 27, 1839. He has 
during life lived in his native county, making farming his occupation.! 
He now owns 245 acres of land in Johnson County and 270 acres in 
Henry County. In 1861 he enlisted in Capt. Gillits company and was; 
with Gen. Joe Shelby, in the battles of Cross Hollow, Springfield and 
Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was captured in Illinois and placed iiij 
prison at St. Louis, where he was confined at the close of the war. Hei 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. April 16, 1871, Mr. Hampton 
was married to Miss Mary E. Hodges, a native of Johnson County, Mis-j 
souri, born February 14, 1855, she died June 31, 1881, leaving three! 
children: William, David and Louis. 

SAMUEL G. INGRUM, 

• . . . I 

contractor and builder at Huntingdale, is the son of Hugh Ingrum, a! 

native of North Carolina, whose father was Walter Ingrum. The mother 

of Samuel, previous to her marriage, was Malinda Kennady, a Virginian 

by birth. Samuel was born in Washington County, Virginia, December^ 

28, 1841. He was there reared on a farm and educated, and June 21, j 

1861, enlisted in Company I, Forty-eighth Virginia Infantry, serving 

under Stonewall Jackson. He participated in many important battles, 

and surrendered in March, 1864, at Cumberland Gap. In the same year] 

he went to Lexington, Kentucky, where he was engaged in contracting 

and building, till 1879, when he moved to Henry County, Missouri. i 

Here he has since resided. January 13, 1866, Mr. Ingrum was married] 

to Miss Bettie Collins, a native of Washisgton County, Virginia, born; 

August 10, 1840. They have five children living: Samuel L., James L., 

Charles, Hester A. and Katie, and have lost one, Nannie D. Mr. and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 669 

Mrs. Ingrum are members of the M. E. Church, and he belongs to the I. 
O. O. F., in which lodge he is deputy grand master. 

FRANCIS M. LAND, 

farmer, stock raiser and carpenter, section 36, was born in Washington 
County, Illinois, September 20, 1848. His father, Thomas Land, was a 
native of Illinois, and a son of Aaron Land, a Virginian by birth. His 
mother's maiden name was Lydia Harggamon, originally from Tennes- 
see. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Illinois, and 
worked at carpentering in that state until 1867, when he removed to 
Henry County, Missouri. Here he followed his chosen calling for one 
year. Since that time he has given his attention to farming, stock rais- 
ing and carpentering. His farm embraces 227 acres, 160 acres of which 
are in cultivation, and will average with any in the county. Mr. Land 
is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was married 
to Miss Martha A. Thomas, a native of Henry County, November 17, 
1871. They have three children, Minnie, Nathan and Francis C. They 
lost one child, Alphus. 

J. HARVEY McCANN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 4, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, 
was born November 4, 1835, and is a son of Samuel and Caroline (Irvin) 
McCann, the former a native of Pennsylvania and son of James McCann, 
who came originally from Ireland. His father, John McCann, was born 
in Scotland. Caroline McCann was a native of New Jersey, and of 
Scotch ancestry. Young McCann was the second of a family of thirteen 
children. He grew to manhood in Ohio, and was there educated, and in 
1857 he went to Watson, Illinois, where he was employed as an educator 
for five years. After this time he followed farming till 1867, when he 
moved to Henry County. Missouri, where he now has a farm of 127 
acres. Since 1868 he has held the office of justice of the peace, and has 
ever taken great interest in educational matters. He is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity. September 27, 1859, Mr. McCann was married 
to Miss Eliza McKee, of Ohio. She died December 3, 1879, leaving four 
children, Edgar, Elmer, Clarence and Clara. He was again married Jan- 
nary 26, 1881, to Miss Sallie Callaway, a native of Tennessee. 

F. M.. MAIZE, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 34, was born in Cape Girardeau County, 
Missouri, June 24, 1825. His parents were George W. and Arminta 
(Hayes) Maize, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of 
Missouri. When F. M. was fourteen years old they removed to Buch- 
anan County, Missouri, where he grew to manhood, there attending the 



6/0 HISTORY OI' HENRV COUNTY. '. 

common schools. In 1847 he located in Nodaway County, and was , 
engaged in farming and stock raising until 1865, when he came to Henry , 
County. His landed estate now contains 325 acres in a high state of ' 
cultivation. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Captain Burns' Company, 
under General Price and remained with them until the close of the war. 
In March, 1847, Mr. Maize married Miss Rosana Cox, a Kentuckian by I 
birth. She died in 1855, leaving four children: Bettie (deceased), George ' 
W., Mintie and Joseph. In 1856 he was again married to Miss Sarah i 
Lawson, who died in 1866, and on January 8, 1867, Mr. M. married Mrs. 
Elizabeth Neal, a daughter of William Howerton. They have five child- , 
ren : Elmer, Rosia, Lee, Leonard and Walter. 1 

V. J. MOORE, 

is a leading merchant and the postmaster of Huntingdale. The subject 
of this sketch was born in Simpson County, Kentucky, September 24, 
1824. His father, John Moore, a native of Virginia, was a son of Thomas 
Moore, an old Revolutionary soldier. Mary A. Christman was the mai- 
den name of the mother of V. J., and she was a Kentuckian by birth. 
John Moore and his family moved to Macoupin County, Illinois, in 1828. ' 
Young Moore was reared and educated in Illinois on a farm and there 
followed agricultural pursuits till i855, when he came to Henry County, 
Missouri. Here he resumed the same occupation, now having a farm of I 
240 acres. He began merchandising at Huntingdale in September, 
1881, at which time he was appointed postmaster. He is a member of 
the M. E. Church, and also is connected with the Masonic fraternity. 
March 8, 1845, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Benie Husk}^ a native of 1 
Alabama. She died in 1856, leaving two children, Milo C. and Clarinda | 
C, the latter now deceased. Mr. M. was married again in 1857, to < 
Rhoda C. Pinkerton, by whom he has seven children living: Uriah P., 1 
John H., Mary J., Edwin P., Malinda M., Littie E. and William V. P. ' 
They have lost three children. I 

JOHN L. MOORE, \ 

merchant at Shawnee Mound, is a son of P. W. Moore, who was born in 1 
Butler County, Kentucky, September 16, 1829. His father, James L. { 
Moore, was a native of Virginia, and a son of Samuel L. Moore, orig- j 
inally of the same state. P. W. Moore grew to manhood in his native 
county, where he was interested in farming until 1855, then coming to 
Henry County, Missouri. Here he has since followed the occupation of 
farming. November 25, 1856, he was married to Miss Miriam E. Casey, 
of Kentucky. She died March 10, 1862, leaving three children, John L., '' 
Martha P. and Robert E. now deceased. He was again married in 1865 : 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 67 1 

to Miss Mary Croswhiet, also a native of Kentucky. They have five 
children, Amanda E., Thomas W., Alice, Lulu and Samuel F. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Henry County, Missouri, January 28, 
1858. He spent his youth on his father's farm, and received his educa- 
tion in the common schools of the county, and in January, 1883, he 
engaged in the hardware and implement business at Shawnee Mound 
with S. H. Elliott. They carry an excellent stock of goods, and are 
doing a thriving business. 

JAMES L. PAGE, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 26, was born in Logan County, Ken- 
tucky, April 18, 1835, being the son of Lemuel J. and Susan (Thomas) 
Page, natives of Virginia. His youth was divided between working on 
a 'farm and attending the common schools of Kentucky. In 1855 he 
came to Henry County, Missouri, where he has since been engaged in 
farming, except for three years during the war, when in Hancock County, 
Illinois. July 16, 1857, Mr. Page was married to Miss Marthy Levy, a 
native of Illinois. They have two children living, Laura and James L., 
and have lost one daughter, Susan. Mr. Page is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church. 

WILLIAM PAUL, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 32, was born in Hardin County, Ken- 
tucky, July 5, 1820. His father, George S. Paul, a native of Pennsylvania, 
was born in 1766, and was in the battle of New Orleans, which was fought 
on the 8th day of January, 181 5. His death occured in 1837. Elizabeth 
Purcell was the maiden name of William's mother. The subject of this 
sketch was the second of a family of seven children. He remained on 
his father's farm in Kentucky until February 5, 1842, when he came to 
Henry County, Missouri, settling on the farm which G. M. Casey now 
occupies. In 1845 he purchased his present place and commenced its 
improvement. It contains 610 acres of as good land as there is in the 
township, all well improved, with good houses, barns and orchards. He 
is now feeding three car loads of cattle. Mr. Paul has held the office of 
justice of the peace for thirty years, and was the first commissioner of 
Shawnee Township. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity 
for thirty-three years. April 10, 185 1, he married Miss Millie A. Casey, 
a native of Kentucky. Her death occurred February, 1852. He was 
again married March 26, 1856, to Miss Angatela Barker, of Missouri. She 
died May i, 1873, leaving four children: John, Samuel, James and Rich- 
ard. They had lost four: George, William, Benona, Elizabeth. Mr. P. 
is connected with the M. E. Church. 



^2 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

SAMUEL M. REYNOLDS, 

postmaster and junior member of the prominent firm of Wall & Rey- 
nolds, general merchants at Shawnee Mound, is the son of Samuel Rey- 
nolds, Esq., whose father, John Reynolds, was a native of North Caro- 
lina. The mother of our subject, formerly Ella Fewell, came originally 
from North Carolina. Samuel M. was the second of a family of three 
children. He was reared in the county of his birth, and was educated 
in the Fayette College and State University. After completing his 
education he returned to the home farm, upon which he remained until 
June, 1882, when he embarked in business at Shawnee Mound. In the 
same month he received the appointment of postmaster of the place. 

E. C. ROYSTON, 

physician and surgeon, Huntingdale, was born in Caroline County, Vir- 
ginia, March 4, 1830, being a son of Thomas and Susanna (Thornton) 
Royston, natives of Virginia. The subject of this sketch was the sev- 
enth of a family of twelve children. In November, 1839, his parents 
•removed to Marion County, Missouri, where his mother died in 1841. 
The same year his father came to Henry County, Missouri. E. C. received 
liis education in the common schools of Missouri, and when nineteen 
years old he began the study of medicine with Dr. R. T. Thornton, of 
Jackson County, Missouri. He read with him until 1850; then visited 
■California and followed mining until 1852, when he returned to Missouri. 
He clerked in a store in Clinton until March, 1853, and at that time 
again took up the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Salmon. He 
■continued this until 1854, when he entered the St. Louis Medical Col- 
lege. In March, 1855, he located southwest of Clinton and practiced 
until November of the same year, when he settled near Huntingdale. In 
1868 he moved into that place. In October, 1872, he returned to the St. 
Louis Medical College, and was graduated in March, 1873. The doctor 
"has a very fine frame residence here, built in 1878 at a cost of $2,000. 
He was assistant surgeon in the Missouri State Guard for six months 
during the war and surgeon in the First Regiment of Missouri Rovers 
for twelve months. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. July 24, 1854, 
Dr. Royston was married to Mrs. Eliza J. Drake, a daughter of F. A. 
and Sallie (McCarty) Pernell. She was born in V^irginia November 15, 
1827, and came to Henry County, Missouri, with her parents in 1834. 
There she married Jesse Drake August 16, 1845. His death occurred 
■October 23, 1850. They had two children, Harriet and Charles W. The 
■doctor and his wife have four children: Ida Belle, Eddie A., William P. 
and Sallie. William Royston is a graduate of the St. Louis Medical 
College. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 673 

JOSEPH SHARP, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 3, was born in Scotland, March 2, 182 1, 
his parents being Robert and Elizabeth (Hair) Sharp, natives of Scot- 
land. Joseph was the third in a family of six children. He grew to 
manhood in his native country and was there educated. In 1848 he emi- 
grated to America and located in Bond County, Illinois, where he was 
engaged in farming until 1865, then coming to Henry County, Missouri. 
He owns a well improved farm of 260 acres, upon which is a good house, 
an orchard and out buildings. He is a member of the Old School Pres- 
byterian Church. December 25, 1847, Mr. Sharp was married to Miss 
Ellen Scott, who was also born in Scotland. She died in October, 1862, 
leaving five children: Jane A., Robert, Frank, Elizabeth and Mary (now 
deceased). 

SAMUEL M. THOMPSON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 35. The subject of this sketch was born 
in Henry County, Missouri, January 13, 1850. His father, Harrison Thomp- 
son, was a native of Indiana, and a son of Samuel Thompson. His 
mother's maiden name was Ella Gillit, of Missouri. S. M. was reared in 
this county and was educated in our common schools. When twenty 
years old he engaged in farming and stock raising, which occupation he 
has since followed. His farm contains 140 acres of land that will aver- 
age with any in the county, and upon it is a good orchard. Mr. T. has 
held the office of township clerk and assesor. He is a member of Agri- 
cola Lodge No. 343, A. F. & A. M., and Carr.sville Lodge No. 281, I. O. 
O. F., and the Encampment. February 3, 1876, he was married to Miss 
Fannie Quarles. She was born in Marion County, Missouri, January 
2S, 1854. They have two children, Nellie and John. 

JACOB TINGLER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section i, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, 
February 27, 1827, and was the son of Frederick and Lydia (Dunham) 
Tingler, natives of Pennsylvania. Jacob grew to manhood in his native 
county and was educated in the common schools of the vicinity. In 
1855 he went to Iowa, where he followed farming until 1867, then com- 
ing to Henry County, Missouri. Here he has since been interested in 
farming and stock raising. Mr. T. is truly a self-made man, starting in 
the world a poor boy. By his own energy he is now one of the promi- 
nent men of the county. His farm is one of the best improved in the 
township and contains 300 acres, surrounded and subdivided with good 
fences. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Twentieth Iowa, 
and was discharged in July, 1865. February 15, 1870, Mr. Tingler was 



674 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

married to Macila Whitermack, a daughter of P. Whitermack. She was 
born in Indiana May 24, 1845. ! 

JAMES W. WALL, i 

1 

of the firm of Wall & Reynolds, merchants at Shawnee Mound, was 
born in Henry County, Missouri, September 22, 1851. His father, James 
Wall, was a native of North Carolina, and a son of William M. 
Wall, of the same state. His mother's maiden name was Mary 
J. Fewell, of North Carolina. The subject of this sketch was the 
oldest of a family of six children. His youth was spent on a farm in ^ 
this county, and he attended for some time the common schools. Sub- i 
sequently he followed farming here until 1876, when he was employed as ' 
salesman in a store in Calhoun. In the same year he engaged in mer- 
chandising at Burnett's store, in Johnson County, and continued the 
business there and at other places in the same county until 1880, when 
he returned to the farm and lived upon it till July, 1881, when 
he established himself in the grocery business at Calhoun, and in 1882 
he started in business at Shawnee Mound, with S. M. Reynolds. They 
carry a large stock of general merchandise, and are enjoying a most ] 
remunerative trade. Mr. Wall also owns a fine farm of 160 acres, well 
improved, with good house, out buildings, etc. Besides this he pos- ! 
sesses town property in Calhoun. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. August 14, 1872, he married Miss Emma O. Avery, a daughter 
of Judge William Avery. Her death occurred January 7, 1875. 

JAMES WEBB, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 32, was born in the city of Baltimore, 
Maryland, May 25, 1821, and is a son of Samuel Webb, a weaver by occu- 
pation and a native of England, who emigrated to America in 1818. His 
mother's maiden name was Ellen Fletcher, and she was also born in 
England. James was reared and educated in his native city and there , 
learned the trade of machinist, at which he worked in Baltimore till 
1842. From that time till 1848, he followed the same ocupation in Spring- 
field, Pekin, and Beardstown, Illinois. Farming then received his atten- 
tion till 1867, when he came to Henry County, Missouri, where he now 
owns a farm of 350 acres. May 27, 1845, Mr. W. was married to Miss '. 
Elizabeth Elam, a native of Illinois. They have nine children: Samuel 
A., Robert H., Francis A., Dora A., Mary E., Floda A., Mira T., Cora J., | 
and Malissa K. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 675 



FIELDS' CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

• — "•>?— «^— — 00 — - ^ ?< * 

LEWIS C. ALLEN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 8, was born in Cumberland County, 
Kentucky, March 18, 183 1, being a son of George and Parmelia (Criss- 
man) Allen. The former a farmer by occupation and a native of Vir- 
ginia, was born April 23, 1787, and when a mere boy accompanied his 
parents to Kentucky where he was reared, educated and married. His 
death occurred January 31, 1858. Mrs. Allen came originally from Cum- 
berland County, Kentucky, where she was born March 14, 1798. She 
died September 4, 1835, leaving a family of eight children: Mary, Nor- 
man, Martha, Albert, Alfred, Robert, Lewis C. and James C. George 
Allen was married the second time to Hettie Hillis, and to them were 
born four children. Lewis C. was brought up as a farmer boy in his 
native county, and was also educated there, first starting out in life for 
himself as an agriculturist. In 1858 he removed to Missouri, settling in 
Linn County, where he improved a farm, and in the fall of 1866 came to 
Henry County. He now owns 190 acres of well watered and improved 
land, the result of his own industry and good management. Mr. Allen 
was married March 17, ^853, to Miss Fannie Pace, of Lewis County, Mis- 
souri, born March 13, 183 1. Her parents were Thomas and Dosia Pace 
nee Williams, both Virginians by birth. Her father was born December 
5, 1801, and her mother, October 15, 1803, and after being married they 
settled in Cumberland County, Kentucky, moving thence to Lewis 
County, Missouri, in 1830. In 1841 they returned to Kentucky. Mrs. 
Pace died May 3, 1841, and left seven children : William, Sarah, Joseph, 
Fannie, Edward, John and Henry. Mr. P. is still living in Kentucky, 
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Allen have two sons living: Albert M.,born Decem- 
ber 27, 1853, and James M., born November 5, 1859, ^"d one Elmer, 
deceased. Albert was married February 8, 1877, to Miss Nannie White,, 
a native of Pike County, Illinois. They have one child, Ernest. Mr. 
and Mrs. A. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

ALBERT M. ALLEN, 

section 17, is among the prominent young farmers and stock raisers of 
Henry County. He was born December 27, 1853, in Cumberland County^ 
Kentucky, his father being L. C. Allen, a sketch of whose life appears 
elsewhere in this work. In 1858 Albert came to Linn County, Missouri, 



^f]6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUX'l Y. 

with his parents, where the}- remained until 1866, then removing to 
Henry County. Here he was reared to manhood on his father's farm, 
receiving his education in the common schools of the county. When 22 
years old he engaged in farming and stock raising. His farm now con- 
tains eighty acres, all in cultivation and well improved, upon which is a 
good young orchard. Mr. A. is a large cattle feeder and shipper. Feb- 
ruary 8, 1877, he married Miss Nannie White* a daughter of Joseph 
White. They have one child living, Ernest M., born December, 1881. 
They have lost one son, Elmer P. Mr. Allen is connected with the 
Cumberland Presb}-terian Church. 

DR. GEORGE M. BRITTS. 

At the beginning of the second quarter of the present century, the 
state of Indiana was a comparatively new territory, and known as a part 
of the Great West, which, from its unsurpassed fertility and the advant- 
ages it offered for settlement, was attracting an immense emigration 
from the older states, especially from Virginia and Kentucky. Among 
those from the former states who sought a fortune in the new Eldorado, 
was John Britts, father of the subject of the present sketch. The home 
\& left in Virginia was near Fincastle, Botetourt County, in the Roan- 
oke Valley, where his father, Adam Britts, a native of Prussia, had set- 
tled about the middle of the last century. John Britts' famih' consisted 
of ten children, five boys and five girls: Elizabeth (married to John 
Myers), Samuel, Catherine (John Myers' second wife), Margaret, died 
young, Joel, John, David, George M., born September 11, 1812, Mary 
(married to James Foster), Sarah (married to Allen Harrison). From 
the oldest to the youngest in the order named, all came west with their 
parents in 1832, and settling near Ladoga, Montgomery County, Indiana, 
coming overland down the great Kanawha Valley to Gallipolis; thence 
through Dayton, Ohio, and on to their new home. 

About the same year, 1S32, Dr. Henry Rogers, who was born Feb- 
ruary 9, 1792, and married June 5. 18 17, to Elizabeth Mackey Reid, emi- 
grated from near Winchester, Clark County, Kentucky, and settled in 
Montgomery County, Indiana. His family consisted of four sons and 
txvo daughters: John Alexander Rogers, born March 29, 1818; William 
Burgess Rogers, born March 29, 1819; Mary Jane Rogers, born November 
27, 1820; Sophia Ann Rogers, born February 12, 1822; George Reid Rog- 
ers, born January 27, 1823, and Thomas S}'denham Rogers, born Febru- 
ary 18. 1824. 

The heads of these two families were neighbors and friends at this 
early day, and the families were more closely united by the marriage of 
Geo. M. Britts and Mary I.Rogers Dec. 10, 1835. From this union there 
were six children, all living at this date. John Henry, born Nov i, 1836, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 677 

named after his two grandfathers. Susan Elizabeth, born February 5th, 
1839, single, named for her two grandmothers. Sarah Jane, born Jan- 
uary 19th, 1842, married to Elijah Reid, of Cass County, Missouri. 
Sophia Alice, born December 9th, 1844, married to Herman J. Huiskampi, 
Keokuk, Iowa. Mary Isabell, born December 20th, 1848, and married 
to Emerson Harris, Henry County, Missouri, and Georgie Ann Britts, 
born January 3d, 1855, married to Frank Taylor, of Henry County, Mis- 
souri. Immediately after his marriage George M. Britts began the study 
of medicine witn his father-in-law, which calling he has followed con- 
tinuously to the present day, though without the advantage of an edu- 
cation in a medical college. He, by virtue of native talent and ability, 
has obtained an honorable position in his profession, and enjoyed an 
extensive practice, and is now in his seventieth year and in vigorous 
health. In the fall of 1842 Dr. Henry Rogers' family, his son John A. 
Rogers, married to Catharine Gorman, Dr. George M. Britts, wife and 
his then two children, and two families by the name of Arnett, in all 
five families, emigrated from Indiana and settled in Henry County, Mis- 
souri, Dr. Henry Rogers locating in Clinton. Dr. John A. Rogers in the 
Parks neighborhood, twelve miles east of Clinton, and Dr. G, M. Britts 
at Calhoun, where he lived the remainder of 1842-3, and then in the 
summer of 1843 moved to Clinton. In a few months after their arrival 
in Missouri Dr. Henry Rogers lost his wife, who died at her brother's, 
John Reid's, house January 19th, 1843, and is buried in the family 
grounds, three miles southeast of Clinton. This misfortune and the idea 
that the climate was not healthy rendered Dr. Rogers dissatisfied. He 
remained at Clinton in the practice of medicine till August, 1843, when 
he determined to return to Indiana on a visit, taking with him his 
daughter Sophia and youngest son. After reaching his old home he was 
married September 26th, 1843, to Mrs. Jane Kirkpatrick, and decided 
never to return to Missouri. 

This was a great disappointment to the family as most of them, 
desired to remain in Missouri and make it their future home, but rather 
than have the family separated, especially the two daughters, all in 
1844, except Dr. John A. Rogers and family, returned to the old home- 
stead in Indiana, where Dr. Britts lived until 1857, when he once more 
retraced his steps to Henry County, Missouri. Here he has since lived., 
lollowing his chosen profession with a good degree of success. 

WILLIAM H. CHILDERS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 2, is a native of Henry County, Missouri, 
and was born December 30, 1842. His father, Washington Childers, 
originally of Logan County, Kentucky, came to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, in 1842. He married Miss Catharine Yates, also a Kentuckian by 



6/8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

birth. The subject of this sketch spent his youth on' the farm in this 
county, and received his education in the common schools. He followed 
agricultural pursuits until January i, 1862, when he enlisted in Captain 
Beaty's company. He was in a number of important battles, and sur- 
rendered at Shreveport, Louisiana. After the close of the war he 
returned to Henry County, where he has since continued to till the soil, 
and also the raising of stock. His farm contains eighty acres of good 
land, well improved, upon which is a fine orchard, and he is feeding 
thirty head of cattle. Mr. Childers was married November 24, 1866, to 
Miss Martha Webster, who was born in North Carolina. They have 
four children, John H., Lillia, MoUie and William P. He is connected 
with the Baptist Church. 

D. R. CLARK, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 8, owes his nativity to Estill County, 
Kentucky, where he was born May 26, 1842, being the son of William 
Clark, a farmer and moulder by occupation, and a native of Virginia. 
His mother's maiden name was Marion McKiney, and she was a Ken- 
tuckian by birth. Mr. Clark died in 1868. Mrs. C. is still living in Mis- 
souri. D. R. was the ninth of a family of fifteen children. His youth 
was passed on the farm in Kentucky, and when twenty years old he 
engaged in farming. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Ken- 
tucky Cavalry, remaing in the service until the close of the war. He was 
captured in Ohio, and spent about eighteen months of the time in prison 
at Camp Morton and Camp Douglass. At the close of the war he 
returned to Kentucky, and was located there until 1868, when he came 
to Henry County, Missouri, and here he has since resided, following 
farming and stock raising. His farm contains 202 acres of good land 
and well improved, with a fine residence, barn and orchard. Mr. C. is 
one of the largest stock feeders in the township, and usually feeds about 
100 head, and he owns some fine stock. He is a. member of Tebo Lodge, 
No. 68, A. F. and A. M. July 22, 1862, he was married to Miss Celia 
Kimbrell, who was born in the State of Kentucky, December, 1837. 
Her death occurred August 26, 1882, and she left two charming daugh- 
ters: Alice D., and Fannie R. 

ALBERT COWDEN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 7. was born in Boone County, Missouri, 
February 27, 1847, his parents being Robert A. and Catherine (Steffy) 
Cowden, natives of Virginia. He was the fifth of a family of seven 
children. His youth was spent on his father's farm and in attending the 
district schools of this county, and after arriving at his majority he 
engaged in farming. In 1867 he removed to Henry County, Missouri, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 679 

and has since resided here, following farming and stock raising. He owns 
150 acres of land, of which 140 acres ^re in a high state of cultivation, 
and upon it is a fine residence, built in 1879. I" the spring of 1864 Mr. 
C. enlisted in Captain Ballard's Company, General Price's Army, with 
whom he remained until the close of the war. He is a member of the 
Baptist Church. March 29, 1877, Mr. Cowden married Miss Laura Cov- 
ington, a native of Henry County, Missouri, born October 2, 1859. They 
have two children, Owen and Charley. 

N. A. FIELDS. 

farmer, section 31, is a pioneer of this county, having came here May 10, 
1834, and he is now the oldest settler in Fields' Creek Township. He was 
born in Grayson County, Virginia, February 24, 1812, and was a son of 
Joseph and Margaret (Hash) Fields. The former, a native of Guilford 
County, North Carolina, was born in 1761 and died in 1844. He went 
to Grayson County, Virginia, when a young man, and was there married 
in 1780. His wife was born in that county in 1764, and was there reared. 
They had a family of twelve children. In 1834 N. A. Fields accompanied 
his parents to Henry County, Missouri, settling where he now resides. 
He was the first deputy sheriff of Henry County, Missouri, appointed by 
the governor of the state. He early entered about 1,600 acres of land, 
and now owns some 700 acres. Mr. F. was married April 27, 1837, to 
Miss Mary E. Graham, a native of Smythe County, Virginia, born Decem- 
ber 9, 1816, and her parents were Robert and Catherine (Crockett) 
Graham, both originally from Virginia, who settled in Johnson County, 
Missouri, in 1833, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. F. have a family of 
eight children, Margaret C, Mary M., Amanda, Selest, Helen G., Telitha 
G., James E. and Sarah E. They have lost three, Robert G., Joseph and 
an infant. 

W. H. GRANT, 

farmer, section 24, is the owner of a farm consisting of 90 acres of 
improved land, underlaid by a strata of good coal forty inches thick. 
He is a native of Lafayette County, Missouri, born August 4, 1840. His 
parents were Vincent O. and Sarah A. (Burks) Grant, the former of 
Genessee County, New York, was born July 24, 18 12, and was a son of 
John and Mary (Osgood) Grant, natives of New York. Vincent O. was 
reared in his native state, and later went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with 
his parents, and while there served as sheriff for two years. He was a 
carpenter by trade, and in 1836 moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and in 
1837 to Glasgow. There he was married October 9, 1839, his wife having 
been born in Jackson County, Alabama, October 31, 1818. She was a 
daughter of William and Sallie (Frost) Burks, of that state, and with 



680 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

the family settled in Boone County, Missouri, in 1827. They came to 
Henry County in 1842, where they died. The subject of this sketch 
located in Clinton Township, Henry County, Missouri, in 1841, moving- 
to where he now resides in 1871. His father died March 17, 1880, leav- 
ing three children, W. H., Thankful Ann and Thomas A. His mother 
still survives. W. H. Grant was married November 8, i860, to Miss 
Emily A. Childers, a native of Logan County, Kentucky, born August 
17, 1838. She was a daughter of George W. and Cassandra (Yeates) 
Childers, who were born and reared in Adair County. The father was 
born in 1814, and died September 18, 1882, while the mother, who was 
born in 1813, died in 1854. They settled in Henry County, Missouri, in 
1841. Mr. and Mrs. G. have a family of four children living: Charles 
H., Anna A., Mary F. and Sarah A. They have lost three, Thomas B., 
William and an infant. Mr. Grant served in the late war as a member 
of the Eighth Regiment Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He is a Mason 
in good standing, belonging to Tebo Lodge at Clinton. 

F. C. HOLLAND, . 

farmer, section 32, is one of Henry County's earliest pioneers, having- 
come to the county in 1837 with his parents, Whitemill and Jane (Alex- 
ander) Holland, they settling near Brownington. He is a native of 
Trigg County, Kentucky, and was born January 15, 1819. His father 
was born in North Carolina in 1794 and was married in Kentucky, Mrs. 
H. being a native of that state. They had a family of nine children, ot 
whom F. C. was the eldest. He was married December 6, 1849, in Mis- 
souri to Miss Eliza A. Arnett, who came orginally from Bath County, 
Kentucky, born April 8, 1823. She was a daughter of Ahi and Parmelia 
(Evans) Arnett, both Kentuckians by birth. The former was born in 
1800 and the latter in 1802. To them were born ten children, and of 
these Eliza was the eldest. The family moved to Montgomery County, 
Illinois, and later to Henry County, Missouri, in 1842. Mr. Holland and 
his wife settled in Clinton Township after their marriage and remained 
there till 1867, then moving to where they now reside. The farm con- 
sists of eighty acres of fine land, improved and well watered. They have 
reared a large family of children and are known for their kindness to 
orphans. They have lived to see Henry County in all the varied stages 
of her growth, and during the late war afforded relief to many widows 
and orphans. They are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church. 

CONSTANTINE KECK, 

farmer, section 28, owes his nativity to Germany, where he was born 
July 4, 1835, his parents being M. J. and Margaret Keck, nee Kerns, also 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 68l 

originally of Germany. The latter died, leaving a family seven children: 
Michael, Catharine. Constantine, Herman, Carl, Margaret and Kilean. 
The senior Keck, subsequently married Miss E. C. Lefler, of Germany.. 
By this union there were two children, Anna and Isabel. When sixteen 
years of age, Constantine Keck emigrated to America, landing at New 
Orleans, going thence to St. Louis, Missouri, and finally he located at 
Boonville. In 1863 he came to Henry County, and during the late war 
was engaged in carrying passengers and the United States mail from 
Clinton to Sedalia. January 21, 1864. he was married to Miss Emaline 
Holly, of Montgomery County, Ohio, born October 9, 1843, and a daugh- 
ter of Daniel and Catherine Holly, both natives of Germany, who came 
to America, and finally settled in St. Clair County, Missouri. Mrs. Holly 
died in 1863, at the age of fifty-three years, but Mr. H. is now a resident 
of Sedalia, and is seventy-nine years old. They had eight children, 
besides Emaline, viz: Barbara, Phoebe, Elizabeth, Rudolph, Daniel, Ken- 
nel, Lou and Catharine. In 1866 Mr, Keck located where he at present 
resides, and now has a well improved farm of 160 acres, upon which is a 
fine brick house of eight rooms, costing $3,000. His other buildings are 
among the best in the township. He and his wife have five children: 
Joseph F., Katie, Herman, John and Fred. 

S. W. LEWIS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 6, is the son of Robert Lewis, a native 
of Virginia, who removed to St. Louis County, Missouri, in 1818, remain- 
ing there until 1855, when he located in Cass County. S. W. was born- 
in that county December 30, 1855. His mother's maiden name was- 
Lucy Bacon, and she was also born in Missouri. Young Lewis spent 
his boyhood days on a farm and has since followed the occupation of 
farming, and in 1863 he came with his mother to Henry County, where 
he has continued to live. He was educated in the common schools of 
this vicinity, and also attended William Jewell College. His farm con- 
tains 203 acres of some of the finest land in the county, and is well 
improved. March 6, 1879, Mr. Lewis married Miss S. P. Covington, a 
daughter of John O. and Elizabeth (Barke) Covington. Her father was 
born in Delaware January 19, 1819, and came to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, in 1840. His death occurred September 13, 1863. Her mother 
was born in Kentucky July 13, 1825. Mrs. Lewis was born in Henry 
County, Missouri, April 2, 1862. They have two children, Ann B. and 
Alvia. 

JAMES M. LINDSAY, 

one of the early settlers of Henry County, was born in Madison, Rock- 
ingham County, North Carolina, February 2, 18 16. His father, Reuben* 



682 IIISTOKV OF HENKV COUNTY. 

! 

Lindsay was born in Virginia; he died in 1827. The maiden name of ! 
his mother was Sarah Wall, and she was born and reared in North Caro- 
lina. James Lindsay emigrated to Henry County, Missouri, in 1836, and 
settled in Fields' Creek Township, five miles north of Clinton, and was 
long numbered among the leading citizens of the county: He was twice 
married; first to Miss Mary A. Fox, of Kentucky, who died in 1847; his 
second marriage occurred September 23, 1848, to Miss S. Stone, a native 
of North Carolina. She was a daughter of S. Stone, originally of Salem, 
Stokes County, North Carolina. He was a large planter, and held various 
ipositions of honor and trust, but owing to impaired health, he came to \ 
Missouri, thinking a change of climate would be beneficial, having been 
induced to come to this locality, through his sons who had preceded 
him. Mr. Lindsay was engaged largely in farming and handling stock. 
He died August 28, 1864. His widow and daughter still survive him. 
Mrs. Lindsay, has in her possession a chair, which has long been in the 
family, and it is now 240 years old. It was made in early colonial days 
in Maryland, and from there taken to North Carolina, and thence to 
Missouri. 

R. T. LINDSAY, 

farmer and feeder of cattle, section 10, is one of the pioneers of this ' 
county, and was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, April 3, 
11827. His father, Reuben Lindsay, a native of Maryland, born in 1787, 
•moved with his parents to Rockingham County, North Carolina, when 
three years old, and was there reared and educated, later in life becom- ; 
ing an extensive planter and speculator in tobacco. He married Miss ! 
Sarah Walls in 1815, she being a native of Culpeper County, Virginia, \ 
born in 1790. After this event they settled in North Carolina. To them 
were born five children : Joshua, James, Morrison A., Robert arrd R. T. 
"The senior Lindsay, who had served as quartermaster at Norfolk, Vir- 
iginia, during the war of 1812, died in 1827, and his widow, with the fam- 
ily, came to Henry County, Missouri, settling where R. T. now resides. 
She was married a second time in 1844 to William Fewell and subse- 
quently returned to North Carolina where she died in April, 1865. The ! 
subject of this sketch is the only child of the family, now living. He 
•took up his permanent location in this county in 1839, and until the 
:spring of 1840 lived in Tebo Tjownship, at that time moving to his pres- 
ent residence. He was the second settler in Fields' Creek Township. 
Joseph Fields having preceded him only a short time. He was married I 
April 28, 1856, to Miss Margaret C. Stone, a native of Stokes County, ' 
North Carolina, born January 16, 1825, and a daughter of Salathiel and 
Jane (Close) Stone. Her father was born in Davidson County, North ., 
Carolina, in 1786, and died in 1862, while her mother, originally of Stokes ' 
County, was born in 1796, and died in 1872. They were married in 181 1 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 683 

and in 1847 came to Henry County, Missouri. They had a family of 
twelve children: Rebecca, Margaret, Eliza, C. D. C, C. L., Minerva, 
Flavety, John C, Susan, S. A., Nancy C. and Jesse T. After his mar- 
riage Mr. Lindsay and his wife settled in this township where Mrs. 
L. died March 2, 1881, leaving four children: James D., born November 
7, 1857; Sarah J., born June 5, 1859; Reuben T., born November 2, 1861; 
and John S. W., born October 25, 1866. Mr. Lindsay's second marriage 
occurred July 28, 1881, to Mrs. C. A. Cummings, whose maiden name 
was Stone and a sister of his former wife. Her first husband, Rev. James 
Cummings, a native of North Carolina, who was born in 1826, died in 
this state, leaving two sons living: David S. and James F.; one, Jesse, 
was deceased. Mrs. Lindsay was born in North Carolina January 3, 
1831, and accompanied her parents on their move to Missouri. During 
the late war Mr. L. served in the Sixteenth Regiment Missouri Volun- 
teer Infantry. He is a Royal Arch Mason and the family are members 
of the M. E. Church, South. 

WESLEY LOUDERMILK, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 26, owes his nativity to Caldwell County, 
North Carolina, where he was born September 27, 1838, being a son of 
Jacob and Sarah (Bently) Loudermilk, who came originally from the 
same county. They are now residents of Sangamon County, Illinois. 
Wesley began life for himself as a farmer. In 185 1 he went to Iowa, 
and in 1852 removed to Livingston County, Missouri, going thence in 
1854 to Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1867 he first came to Henry 
County, Missouri, and settled in Deer Creek Township, where he farmed 
until December 2, 1868, then purchasing his present farm. This con- 
tains 130 acres of well improved land, situated one and one-half miles 
south of Clinton. His buildings are excellent, his residence being one 
of the best in the township. Mr. L. was married in Sangamon County, 
February 12, 1863, to Miss Minnie Organ, who was born in that county 
March 20, 1846. Her parents were George and Mary (Foster) Organ, 
Kentuckians by birth. The former is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Louder- 
milk have a family of five children: Alice, Iva, Ella, Arthur, and Maude. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Tebo Lodge 
No. 68. 

EDWARD CRESAP McCARTY 

was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, July 4, 1805, and is a direct 
descendant of some of the leaders of old revolutionary families. His 
paternal grandfather was a captain in the Virginia militia and partici- 
pated in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Trenton, and was 
under the command of Lafayette at the surrender of Cornwallis at York- 



684 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

town. His maternal grandfather, was also a commissioned officer in 
Maryland. On the death of his father in 1828 Edward, as the oldest of 
a family of eight children, became the head of the household, and in the 
following year, with his mother and the family, he removed to Missouri 
and located on a tract of land in Saline County, where he remained till 
1846. He then sold his farm and for several years was engaged in 
freighting government stores, and also in the Santa Fe trade. In 185a 
he ceased that business and moved to Jackson County, Missouri, where 
he gave his attention to farming. In 1857 he embarked in the commis- 
sion and forwarding business, and soon after was elected cashier of the 
branch of the Mechanics' Bank of St. Louis, situated at Kansas City. 
This position he filled until 1863, when he resigned and, returning to 
Saline County, resided there till the close of the war, when he came to 
Henry County. He found a wife in the person of Miss Mary Brown, a 
daughter of Judge B. B. Brown, of Virginia, and by this union there are 
eleven children living, Burnis C, Nora B., (now Mrs. R. McCarty) Bet- 
tie, Ruth, (now Mrs. E. Allison) Mary B., Nannie, Fannie, Charles I., 
James E., Edverda, Patrick H. They lost one daughter, Annie. In his 
political affiliations Mr. McCarty was an old line Whig, and as such was 
elected a member of the lower house of the general assembly of the 
state of Missouri, from Jackson County. In later years he has acted in 
the interest of the Democratic party. For almost half a century he has 
been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was appointed by the 
Grand Lodge to superintend the erection of the building for the Masonic 
College at Lexington, Missouri. 

RICHARD McCARTY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 15, is a native of Kentucky, and was 
born in Woodford County, September 14, 1827, being the son of Dennis 
and Ellen (Tombling) McCarty, natives of Virginia. In 1830 they came 
to Howard County, Missouri, and remained there until Richard was 
nine years old, when they removed to Boone County, which was their 
home for about six years. After this they spent two years in Cole 
County, next settling at Boonville. Young McCarty received his edu- 
cation in the common schools of the state, and in 1850 he went to Cali- 
fornia, where he followed mining and selling groceries for about three 
years. Returning to Missouri he bought cattle and in 1854 went back 
to California, and until 1857 was occupied in trading in cattle. He then 
retraced his steps to Missouri, and dealt in horses and mules at Boon- 
ville. At the commencecent of the late war he raised Company B, of 
Parson's Regiment, and was captain of the company for one year, when 
he was appointed recruiting officer for Gen. Price. He was in the bat- 
tles of Boonville, Wilson's Creek and Dry Wood, and was made prisoner 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 685 

in 1863, and was taken to Fayette, Arkansas. He surrendered at 
Shreveport, Louisiana. After the close of the war Mr. McCarty fol- 
lowed farming- in Texas one year, and in 1866 he again located at Boon- 
ville, where he was in the livery business until 1868. Comingto Clinton, 
Henry County, Missouri, he embarked in the grocery trade with Mr. 
Allison. After living in Clinton for about two years he resumed agri- 
cultural pursuits. His farm contains 160 acres of good land. He is a 
member of Tebo Lodge No. 68, A. F. & A. M. January 8, 1868, Mr. 
McC. married Miss Nora McCarty, a daughter of Col. E. C. McCarty. 
They have five children: Edward, Richard, Ruth, Burnis and Mary E. 

WILLIAM J. McCULLUM, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 2. The subject of this sketch was born 
in Hardin County, Kentucky, October i, 1845, his parents being Macon 
and Jane (Miller) McCullum, Kentuckians by birth. William J. was the 
fifth of a family of seven children. When he was about four years old 
the family started from Kentucky to Iowa. The night after taking the 
boat at Louisville his father was missing, and no trace of him could ever 
be found. The supposition was that he was drowned. His mother and 
family continued there journey and settled in Iowa, where they remained 
two years, then moving to Scotland County, Missouri. There the sub- 
ject of this sketch was reared and educated, and upon arriving at man- 
hood he engaged in farming, which he has since followed. In 1874 he 
came to Henry County. His farm embraces 140 acres of good land, well 
improved and all in cultivation. Mr. McC. has always taken a great 
interest in educational matters. Septem.ber 8, 1872, he was married to 
Miss T. Patterson, a native of Iowa. They have two children, Alva and 
Ida May. 

GEORGE B. McLEOD, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 21, was born in Morgan County, Mis- 
souri, July 4, 1847, being the son of William H. McLeod, a farmer by 
occupation, and Martha (Salmon) McLeod, both natives of North Caro- 
lina. George B. was the fifth of a family of seven children. He 
remained with his parents in Missouri until twelve years old, when he 
went to the state of Georgia with his grandfather, F. H. McLeod. There 
he continued to reside until 1866, receiving his education in the public 
schools and the military college at Marietta, Georgia. In 1866 he 
returned to Missouri and lived in Morgan County until the fall of 1867, 
when he came to Clinton, clerking in Salmon & Stone's Bank for ten 
months. Since that time he has followed farming and the raising and ship- 
ping of stock. His farm contains 160 acres, 1 10 acres of which are in culti- 
vation and under improvements, and it is well adapted for a stock 



686 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

farm. Beneath it is a good vein of coal. Mr. McLeod was in the 
Georgia state service a short time during the war, and then enlisted in 
Company A, Battalion of Georgia Cadets. He was discharged at 
Augusta in May 1865. October 25, 1875, he married Miss Tabitha Fields, 
a daughter of N. A. Fields. She was born in Henry County, Missouri, 
January 4, 1853. They have two children, Catherine A. and Helen E. 
Mr. and Mrs. McLeod are members of the Cumberland Presb3'terian 
Church. 

WILLIAM MUNSON, 

a native of New York, was born August 14, 1823. His father, Frederick 
Munson, came originally from the same state. At the age of four years 
young Munson was taken to Portage County, Ohio, where he remained 
three years. Thence he removed to Muskingum County, and was edu- 
cated there. In 1846 he located in Green County, Wisconsin, and fol- 
lowed lead mining until March, 1865, when he went to Cole County, Illi- 
nois, farming in that vicinity for two years. In 1867 he came to Henry 
County, Missouri. He now has a farm of 470 acres of land, north of 
Clinton and 118 acres, where he lives, all well improved and surrounded 
with a hedge fence. He is feeding eighty head of cattle. Mr. M. was 
married November 15, 1846, to Miss Cynthia Trembley, of Ohio. They 
had eight children, Nannie A., Samuel W., Frederick F., Lucy C, Charles 
E., Cynthia E., Ida and Edgar C. Mrs. Munson's death occurred Novem- 
ber 15, 1874. February 22, 1879, he married Miss Sarah A. Smith. Mr. 
M. held the office of county judge from 1870 to 1876. His son, S. W. 
Munson, was born in Green County, Wisconsin, December 24, 1847. His 
youth was spent on the farm and he received his education in the com- 
mon schools of Wisconsin. He accompanied his parents on their move 
to Henry County, and has since resided here, following farming and stock 
raising. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 
Frederick Munson was born in the same county and state as his brother, 
August 18, 1852. He was educated in the schools of Henry County and 
the State University at Columbia. He is connected with the Cumber- 
land Presbj'terian Church, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. fra- 
ternity and commandery. Their farm is well improved, aud upon it they 
are feeding thirty head of cattle. They also have eighteen head of horses 
and mules. 

JOHN ODLE, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born in Franklin County, Indiana, March 6, 
1835, being the son of John and Dorothy (Pertra) Odle. He was the 
youngest of a family of nine children. When about three years old his 
parents removed to Ray County, where he was reared to manhood on a 
farm, receiving his education in the common schools. He followed farm- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 687" 

ing in that county until i860, when he came to Henry County, and here 
he has since resided, criving his attention to agricultural pursuits. His- 
farm contains 120 acres of well improved land. He has held the offices- 
of school director and road overseer. September 3, 1857, Mr. Odle mar- 
ried Miss Jeanette M. Wiggins, who died June 5. 1869, leaving four child- 
ren: Calvin, Annie, James W. and John H. January 16, 1870, he mar- 
ried Mary J. Martin. They have six children: Emilo, Frank, Ralph,. 
Lee, Grove and Kilby. Mr. Odle is a member of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church. 

D. E. PRICE, 

farmer, section 33, a native of Washington County, Virginia, was born in^ 
1842. His father, R. M. Price, married Miss Jane Dishman, and they also* 
were originally from Washington County. In 1867 they came to Henry 
County, Missouri, but in 1873 returned to Virginia. The subject of this 
sketch was brought up and educated in the state yf his birth, and during 
the late war served in Company I, Forty-eighth Regiment Virginia Vol- 
unteer Infantry. In 1867 he accompanied his parents to Missouri, set- 
tling where he now resides and has since devoted his time and attention 
to the tilling of the soil. In 1871 he married Miss Sarah R. Stolling who' 
was born in Henry County, Missouri, in 1852, being a daughter of Jacob 
and Jennie (Estus) Stolling of Virginia. She was brought up and 
attended school in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Price have a family of four 
children: Minnie, Gertrude, Sterling and Raleigh. They are bothi 
members of the Christian Church. 

GEORGE W. SINKS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 8, was born in Hamilton County, Illinois, 
August 3, 1837, his parents being Paul and Elizabeth (Lyle) Sinks,, 
natives of Virginia. When George was twelve years old, they removed 
to St. Louis County, Missouri, where he resided until nineteen years of 
age, then returning to Illinois. He farmed in Hancock County, for 
about eighteen months, after which he worked at the cooper's trade for 
fourteen months in southern Illinois. In 1858 he crossed the plains to- 
Pike's Peak, but in about three months retraced his steps to Illinois. 
August 3, 1859. Mr. Sinks married Miss Armelia Lambrith, a native of 
Kentucky. He followed farming in Illinois until 1865, when he went 
to Kansas, farmed there until 1868 and then came to Henry County, 
Missouri. His farm embraces 197 acres, all under fence and v/elli' 
improved, upon which is a good house, barn and orchard. Mr. S. handles 
some cattle and hogs and also owns a number of fine cattle. He is a 
member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and belongs to the Encampment. 
He and his wife have a family of five children: Armila, William, LewiSj. 
Walter and Arthur. Mr. Sinks is connectedv/ith the M. E. Church. 



688 HISTORY OF HEXRV COUNTY. 

L. A. SPANGLER. 

The subject of this sketch was born in McDonough County, Illi- 
nois, March 20, 1850. His father, Lewis Spangler, a native of Ken- 
tucky, came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1858. He married Miss Har- 
riet Sarles, originally from New York. L. A. was the eighth of a family 
■of ten children. In 1863 his father returned to Illinois, where they 
remained a short time, then going to Idaho, where he followed farming 
four years. In 1863 he moved to Cass County, Missouri, and farmed 
until 1876, when he came to Henry County. There he has since resided, 
giving his attention to farming and the handling of stock. His educa- 
tion was obtained in the common schools of Missouri. Mr: S. is a mem- 
ber of Tebo Lodge, No. 68, A. F. & A. M., Signet Royal Arch Chapter 
and commandery. October 26, 1882, he married Miss Fannie Houston. 
She was born in Henry County, Missouri, October 19, 1863. 

WILLIAM STEEPS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 29, was born in Germany in 1829. When 
about twent}' years of age he emigrated to America, and was engaged 
in farming near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until 1867. when he came to 
Henry County, Missouri, and here he has since made his home, giving 
his attention to tilling the soil. His farm contains 140 acres of some of 
the richest land in the county and this is in a high state of cultivation, 
and the improvements are excellent. He handles stock quite exten- 
sively and has over 100 head of cattle. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. After settling in Wisconsin Mr. Steeps was married to Miss 
Dora Purath, a native of Germany. They have four children: Minnie, 
Ella, William and Johnnie. Mr. S. is connected with the M. E. Church. 

JOHN W. TAYLOR, 

farmer, section 32, originally of Woodford County, Kentucky, was born 
October 6, 1834, his parents being Richard and Caroline Ta\-lor, 7iee 
Whittinger, natives of the same county. The former was born in 1807, 
and is now a resident of Honey Creek Township, this county, the latter 
•died in 1841. They had a family of three children, of whom John W. 
was the oldest, and the only child now living. He started in life for 
himself in Kentucky as an agriculturist, and in i860 removed to Henry 
County, Missouri, settling where he now resides in the spring ot 1868. 
February 5, 1861, he married Miss Nancy Nash, who was born in Henry 
County, Missouri, March 15, 1841. She was a daughter of James and 
Sarah (Pegg) Nash, Tennesseeans by birth, who emigrated to Missouri 
in 1832, and located upon the present site of Calhoun. During the late 
war Mr. T. was in Colonel Owens' resfiment. He and his wife have a 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 689 

family of two children. Kate F. was born January 21, 1862, and Wil- 
liam E. born September 17, 1867. They are both connected with the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. T. is also a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

ELI WADE. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Floyd County, Virginia, Janu- 
ary 20, 1837, being the son of Owen and Lavina (Fliger) Floyd, natives of 
Virginia. Eli was the third of a family of twelve children. His youth 
was passed on the farm in Virginia, and he received a common school 
education, following farming until 1871, when he began working at 
wagon making and carpentering in Tennessee and Illinois. In 1872 he 
removed to Lafayette County, Missouri, giving his attention to farming 
two years, after which he worked at wagon making in Higginsville for 
three years. In 1876 he came to Henry County, Missouri, and remained 
in Clinton for one year. Since that time he has been occupied in farm- 
ing. In March, i88q, he took charge of the county farm and has con- 
tinued to manage it to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of the county. 
In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, Fifty-fourth Virginia Infantry, and 
was sergeant of his compan}'. At Bentonville he was captured and taken 
to Point Lookout, where he was confined for three months. He is a 
member of the M. E. Church, South. Mr. Wade was married November 
14, 1874, to Miss Bettie Albine, of Lafayette County, Missouri. They 
have two children: Laura and Herbie. They have lost one child, Edgar. 

JOSEPH WHITE 

is a native of Brown County, Indiana, and was born September 13, 1834. 
His father, Michael White, a Virginian by birth, was a farmer by occu- 
pation, while his. mother came originally from Tennessee; her maiden 
name was Elizabeth Robertson. Joseph was the fourth of a family of 
thirteen children. His youth was spent on the farm and he received his 
education in common schools. When 21 years old he engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising in Indiana, which he followed there until 1864. 
Then he removed to Cass County, Missouri, and remained there until 
1868, tvhen he came to Henr}^ County, where he has since resided. His 
farm contains 610 acres, 520 acres in cultivation, embracing the best of 
land and well improved. Mr. White is a large stock raiser and feeder. 
He is one of the directors in the Henry County Bank. He was married 
May 21, 1856, to Miss Lavina Mitchell, a native of Pennsylvania. They 
have four children, Nancy, wife of Albert Allen, J. R., O. P., G. Lee. He 
is a member of Tebo Lodge, No. 68, A. F. & A. M. 



44 



690 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



BOGARD TOWNSHIP. 



JOHN W. BYERS, 

physician and surgeon, section 17, was born in Sullivan County, Tennes- ' 
see, April 5, 1829. His father, Benjamin Byers, a native of Maryland,' 
was a cabinet maker by trade. He removed to Tennessee and was mar- | 
ried there to Mary Owen. They raised a family of six children, the sub- 
ject of this sketch being the the third. His youth was spent in Tennes- 
see, and he received his education in the schools of that state and Vir- 
ginia. When nineteen years old he entered the office of Dr. A. C. 
Maxwell, of Washington County, Virginia, with whom he read medicine 
for about three years, when he began the practice of his chosen pro- 
fession. In 1855 he went to Kentucky and practiced there until 1865, 
then becoming an attendant at the Bellevue Medical College. After 
one term, in June, 1866, he graduated at Long Island Medical College. 
Returning to Kentucky, he resided there until 1867, when he came toj 
Missouri, stopped in Johnson County a short time and then removed to] 
Henry County. In 1873 he went to Arkansas and stayed until 1876,1 
when he returned to Henry County. Here he has since been having aj 
successful practice. His farm contains eighty acres of choice land well! 
improved. The doctor is a member of the Presbyterian Church. June! 
23, 1859, he married Emila J. Bofferd, a native of Kentucky. She died 
February 6, 1863. They had lost two children. He was again married 
May 7, 1867, to Sarah J. Bankinship, also of Kentucky. They have three { 
children: Herschel M., John M. and Benjamin Owen. 

RICHARD S. CORWINE, 1 

farmer and stock feeder, section 28, was born February 9, 1813, in Mason j 
County, Kentucky, and was the son of George Corwine, a native of New! 
Jersey, who, when only five years old went to Kentucky with his parents,! 
where he was reared and then married Miss Nancy Thornton, a Vir-j 
ginia by birth. The subject of this sketch was the third child in the 
famih'. His youthful days were spent on his father's farm, his education! 
being received in the subscription schools. When nineteen years old he| 
went to Indianapolis, Indiana, and there worked at house carpentering 
for two years, when he became engaged in farming in Henry County, 
Indiana, though following his trade a part of the time. In 1872 he 
removed to Henry County, Missouri, and has since given his attention 



¥ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 691 

to farming. His farm contains 160 acres surrounded and subdivided 
with hedge fence, well improved, etc. January 28, 1835, Mr. C. married 
Elizabeth B. Thornton, who was born May 21, 1813, in Mason County, 
Kentucky. They have seven children: George, Mary, Lucindia, Wil- 
liam, Richard, Ruth and John. They lost three children: Amanda C, 
Nancy A. and an infant. Mr. and Mrs Corwine and all their children 
are members of the Christian Church. 

DANIEL R. GARRISON, 

farmer and stock raiser section 4, was born in Woodford, Illinois, July 4, 
1842. His father, Jacob J. Garrison, was a native of New Jersey. He 
followed steamboating for a number of years and then engaged in farm- 
ing. D. R. was the oldest of a family of five children. When he was 
fourteen years old his parents removed to Henry County, where he was 
brought up a farmer, being educated in the common schools. Upon 
arriving at manhood he commenced tilling the soil and now has a farm 
containing eighty acres of choice land, well improved. In [861 he 
enlisted in Company A, Seventh Missouri State Militia, and remained 
in the field for about three years. January 20, 1866, Mr. Garrison was 
married to Miss Eliza Dunham, a native of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. G. 
are leading members of the United Brethren Church. 

CHARLES I. GOOCH, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 22, was born in Mason County, Ken- 
tucky, July 20, 1828. His father, Charles I. Gooch, was a horse dealer, 
and a native of Virginia. In 1800 he removed to Kentucky, where he 
married Tabitha Walton, a Virginian by birth. Young Charles was the 
sixth in a family of seven children. He was reared on a farm in Ken- 
tucky, and received his education in the subscription schools and 
commercial college at Covington. In 185 1 he came west and stopped 
at the town of Boonville, engaging in farming near there, where he 
remained for five years. In 1856 he was informed by an old friend of 
the excellent land to be entered in Henry County, and accordingly he 
came here and entered his land, which now constitutes a farm of 340 
acres, under fence and improved, with a good house, barn and orchard. 
A superior vein of coal is on this farm. February 7, 1857, Mr. Gooch 
married Miss Sophia Ililigas, a native of Ohio. They have seven child- 
ren, Martha, Mary, Lucy, George, Henry and Eddie, living, and one, 
Samuel, deceased. 

WILLIAM W. HALL, 

tarmer and stock raiser, section 13, was born in Stokes County, North 
Carolina, March 26, 1823. His parents were William and Rhoda (Read- 



692 rilSTORV OF HENRY COUNTY. I 

ford) Hall, also natives of North Carolina. The subject of this sketch' 
was the third of fourteen children, and when he was nine years old the 
family removed to Moniteau County, Missouri, when he was brought up| 
to labor on a farm. For a time he attended the subscription schools,! 
and when about 25 years old, engaged in farming, which occupation he; 
has since followed. In 1870 he came to Henry County. His farm is one! 
of the best improved in the township, and is well adapted to the raising 
of stock and grain. It contains 410 acres. Mr. Hall is a large cattlej 
feeder. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and also belongs to the' 
Masonic fraternity. March g, 1847, he was married to Miss Nancy J.i 
McDaniel. She was born in Cole County, Missouri, March 29, 1829- 
They have nine children, Rhoda J., John W., James R., Sarah A., Fan-] 
nie E., Jackson D., Henry O., Van Buren and Alonzo E. i 

J. D. HALL. ; 

The subject of this sketch came originally from Stokes County, 
North Carolina, where he was born October 11, 1828, the son of Williami 
and Rhoda Hall, nee Readford, who were also born in North Carolina.! 
J. D. was the seventh of a family of fourteen children. When he was 
about six years old his parents took up their residence in Moniteauj 
County, Missouri, and here he was reared to manhood on a farm and 
educated in the subscription schools of the county. From the age of 
twenty to twenty-five years, he worked at blacksmithing, after which he, 
became interested in the occupation of farming, which he has since' 
continued. In 1868 he removed to Henry County. His farm consists of 
280 acres, all under fence, and is giving some attention to the cattle 
business, feeding at present about forty-five head. July 20, 1858, Mr. Halli 
married Miss Mary Cornell, a native of Jackson County, Missouri, born 
November 16, 183 1. They have seven children : Walter F., Oreon O., 
Jessie D., Alice C, Albert H., Hickman B. and Cora Belle. Mr. H. is 
connected with the Baptist Church, and is also a member of the Masonic 
order. \ 

RICHARD JEFFERSON, 

farmer, section 4, was born in the state of Delaware, November 16, 18 16, 
being the son of Isaac and Sarah (Groves) Jefferson, natives of Dela- 
ware. The former was a soldier in the war of 1812. Richard was the 
oldest of a family of nine children, six of whom grew up and only one 
of the family ever married. When he was an infant one year old he was 
taken to Kentuck3^ where he remained until 1821, then removing to 
Callaway County, Missouri. They lived there and in Benton, Platte anci 
Buchanan Counties until 1857, when Richard Jefferson came to Henry 
County, and engaged in farming and stock raising. His farm contains 



BIOGRAPniCAL. 693 

216 acres of good land, well improved. His sister keeps house for him 
and is an excellent manager of household affairs. 

J. B. KNIPE, 

farmer and stock raiser, section ij, was born in Fayette County, Indiana, 
March 26, 1830, his parents, Thomas and Agnes (Briggs) Knipe, being 
natives of England. Young Knipe was the ninth of a family of ten 
children. His youth was spent on the farm in Indiana and he received 
his education in the common schools of that state, following farming 
and trading in stock until 1868, when he removed to Henry County, 
Missouri. Here he resumed the same calling, He owns 220 acres which 
will compare favorably with any in the county, as a stock and grain 
farm. Mr. Knipe is one of the largest stock feeders in the township. 
November 18, 1852, he was married to Miss Nancy M. Milliner, a native 
of Indiana. Her death occurred December 12, 1873. He has lost three 
children: Marshall E., Alsa F. and Lina M. He is a member of the 
Christian Church. 

THOMAS B. LITTLEJOHN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 21, was born in the city of Brooklyn, 
New York, May 19, 1859. His father, Duncan Littlejohn, was a native 
of England, and for many years was a leading merchant and importer 
of Brooklyn. His mother's maiden name was Robina Woodford, also a 
native of New York. Thomas was the youngest of a family of five 
children, three sons and two daughters. He received his education in 
the schools of his native city, and when only sixteen years old became 
employed as a clerk in a large drug house in New York City. He held 
that responsible position for about two years. In 1877 he turned his 
face towards the West, and, becoming pleased with the appearance of 
the fertile prairies of Henry County, cast his lot with her people and 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. His farm, containing 320 acres, is well 
improved. Mr. L. is a large raiser and feeder of cattle. October 3, 1881, 
he was married to Miss Sarah Richardson, a most estimable lady and a 
daughter of D. C. Richardson. She was born in Cass County, Indiana, 
April 24, 1863. They have one child, Robina, born October 5, 1882. 
Mr. Littlejohn is a leading member of the Baptist Church. 

MILLER BROTHERS 

are prominent merchants at Urich. The firm is composed of Henry F. 
and R. F. Miller. The former was born in Bedford County, Pennsyl- 
vania, August 8, 1842, and was the son of Jonathan and Sarah A. (Gump) 
Miller, natives of that same county and state. The subject of this sketch 
was the oldest of a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters. 



694 HISTORY or henr\ county. 

When eleven years old he removed to Illinois with his parents, where \ 
they remained on a farm until 1857, then coming to Henry County, Mis- 
souri. Henry lived on his father's farm until April i, 1862, when he 
enlisted in Company G, Seventh Missouri State Militia. He was dis- 
charged April 20, 1862, after which he returned home and engaged in 
farming. In May, 1880 he embarked in general merchandising at Urich, 
and in May, 1881, he entered into partnership with his brother. They ' 
carry a large stock of general merchandise and do a good business. 
Henry F. also owns a fine farm of eighty acres near the town. He held 
the office of township collector for three years, and that of justice of the | 
peace for four years. March 7, 1876, he married Miss Nancy Page, a 
native of Henry County, Missouri. They have a family of three child- 1 
ren, Iney, Jonathan and Erastus. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of ] 
the Baptist Church. 

•Rhotew F. Miller, of this firm, was born in Henry County, Missouri, 
July 7, 1861. He also remained on his father's farm until sixteen years 
old, when he started in the mercantile business as salesman for J. A. 
Wells & Son, at Urich, being with them until 1881, when he formed a , 
partnership with his brother. He is a wide awake and energetic young 
business man. and is bound to succeed in his undertakings. 

S. M. OVERBEY. 

farmer and stock raiser, section 15, has in his possession a farm contain- 
ing 200 acres of well improved land, upon which is a good house and 
orchard. He was born in Halifax County, Virginia, March 30, 1831. 
His father, Zachariah Overbey, a farmer by occupation, was a native of 
Virginia, as was also his mother, Elizabeth. S. M. was the second in a 
family of ten children. When he was about three years old his parents 1 
removed to Kentucky, where he grew up on a farm, obtaining a common 
school education. When twenty-one years of age he engaged in farm- 
ing, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Eighth Kentucky Cavalry, ' 
being discharged in 1863. In the fall of the same year he was commis- 
sioned captain of Company C, Seventeenth Kentucky Cavalry. He was 
mustered out in 1865, after having participated in several most impor- 
tant battles. After the war Mr. Overbey returned to Kentucky, where 
he followed farming until 1867, when he came to Henry County, Mis- 
souri. He has held the office of township trustee. September 30, 1852, I 
he married Miss Margaret C. Reed, a Kentuckian by birth, born April 
28, 1829. They have six children living: John A., William W., Eugene 
R., Robert A.. Fannie E. and Maggie. The}- have lost five children. 
Mr. O. is a member of ihe M. E. Church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 695 

LTNDILLE McB. PAGE, 

farmer and school teacher, is one of the pioneers of Henry County. He 
was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, April 27, 1833, and is the son 
of Joseph and Sallie (Wade) Page, the former a native of North Caro- 
lina, and the latter a Virginian by birth. Joshua Page was a minister of 
the Christian Church, and also a school teacher. He preached the first 
sermon and taught the first school in Bayard Township, the latter being 
in a log school house in section 5- The subject of this sketch was the 
seventh of a family of twelve children. In 1835 his father settled in this 
county, and here his youth was spent on the farm and in attending the 
schools of the district, where he received a good education. He has 
remained in the county all the time since, except two and one-half years 
while in Texas, and he has continued the occupation of farming and 
teaching. His farm contains 200 acres of choice land, well improved. 
In 1858 he was elected justice of the peace, and has since held the office 
most of the time. He has also been a notary public for a number of 
years. He is a member of the Christian Church. May 27, 1856, Mr. 
Page was married to Miss Sarah J. Page, a native of Missouri. They 
have ten children living, Jennie, Royal M., John McB., William J., Flor- 
ence E., Dora D., Benjamin P., Lennie H., James J. and Richard. They 
have lost one child, Nancy E. 

JOHN POWERS, 

physician and surgeon, Urich, owes his nativity to Rensellaer County, 
New York, where he was born March 26, 1859. His father, John R. 
Powers, was a farmer by occupation and a native of New York, while his 
mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Williams, originally of Germany. 
When John was seven years old the senior Powers removed to Minne- 
sota where they remained until 1868, then coming to Henry County, 
Missouri. He received his education in the common schools of the 
county and at the State University, at Columbia. When only nineteen 
years old he attended the medical school at the State University and in 
1880 he entered the Missouri Medical College, of St. Louis, graduating 
from that institution in March, 1881. In May of the same year he loca- 
ted at Urich, where he began the practice of his chosen profession. The 
doctor is having a large and successful practice and is a favorite of all 
who know him, and though young in years is looked upon as one of the 
rising members of the medical fraternity of this county. 

A. O. QUICK, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 34, was born in Johnson County, Mis- 
souri, September 3, 1853, ^"d was the son of D. C. Quick, a farmer and 



696 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Stock raiser by occupation, who was born in Ohio, coming thence to 
Missouri, in 1844. Bessie E. Tannahill was the maiden name of the mother 
of the subject of our sketch. A. O. was reared on his father's farm, Johnson 
County, attending the district schools until he acquired a fair education. 
When twenty-two years old he engaged with his father in stock raising. 
In 1880 he removed to Henry County, and settled where he now resides, 
owning 320 acres of choice land that will average with any in in the 
county, and well improved. Mr. Quick has 100 head of fine cattle, 100 
head of hogs, lO head of horses and mules. May 20, 1880, he was married 
to Miss Flora Davis, of Ohio. They have one child, Carrie, born June 
5, 1881. Mr. Quick is a member of the United Brethren Church, 

GEORGE B. SIMPSON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 21, was born in Kemp County, Canada, 
August 25, 1845. His father, George Simpson, was a native of Scotland, 
and by calling was a teacher and farmer. His mother's maiden name 
was Mary Truxler. George W. was the youngest in a family of three 
children, two sons and one daughter. He grew to manhood on the home 
farm and received his education in his native county. When about 
eighteen years old he engaged in farming, which he continued for about 
two years, then embarking in the milling business. This he followed 
until 1867, when he came to Henry County, Missouri, and resumed farm- 
ing. His estate embraces eighty acres of the best of land and is well 
improved, with a good residence and fine young orchard. In February, 
1875, Mr. S. married Miss Ann Kepner, a native of Pennsylvania. They 
are members of the Baptist Church. They have two interesting daugh- 
ters, Effie and Maud. 

BROWNING STEWART, 

a prominent druggist at Urich, is a son of Harvey and Maggie (Burchnal) 
Stewart, the former a Virginian by birth, and the latter a native of 
Pennsylvania. Browning, the eldest of a family of five children, was 
born in the state of Virginia, October 26, 1855. When he was 12 years 
old his father came to Henry County, Missouri, and engaged in farming, 
and the son received his education in the public schools of Clinton. 
When he was 18 years old he began teaching school, and he taught in 
different parts of the county until 1881, when he engaged in the drug 
business at Urich. He has the only stock of drugs in the town and is 
enjoying a liberal patronage. May 16, 1882, Mr. Stewart married Miss 
May Stewart, a daughter of Dr. J. W, Stewart, She is a native of Mis- 
souri. Mr. S. is one of the leading men of the town, and is respected by 
all who know him. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 69/ 

OLIVER E. WALLACE, M. D., 

physician and surgeon, at Urich, was born in Johnson County, Missouri, 
February 19, 1857, being the son of George W, and Margaret (Given) 
Wallace; his father a native of Tennessee and his mother of Missouri. 
Oliver was the second of a family of three children — two sons and one 
daughter. He was reared as a farmer's boy attending the schools of the 
county and the Warrensburg Normal School. In 1878 he began the 
study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Day, of Pittsville, with whom he 
remained for about eighteen months. In 1879 he entered the Physio- 
medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating there in March, 1881. 
In April of that year he located at Urich, where he began the practice 
of medicine, which has since been constantly increasing. During the 
winter of 1881-82 he returned to Cincinnati where he lectured in the 
college from whence he graduated. The doctor is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity. December 4, 
1882, he married Miss Lillie Harris, a native of Illinois. 

JOHN A. WELLS. 

The subject of this sketch resides on section 17, where he owns a 
fine farm of 280 acres, 180 of which are in cultivation and well improved. 
He is senior member of the firm of J. A. Wells & Son, merchants at 
Urich and Gunn City, and they carry a large stock of general merchan- 
dise and are enjoying an excellent trade at each place. Mr. Wells was 
born April 9, 1820, in Cumberland County, Kentucky, his parents being 
Joel and Martha (Allen) Wells, the former a native of Kentucky, and 
the latter of North Carolina. John A., the oldest in a family of ten 
children, was reared on his father's farm in Kentucky, and received his 
education in the subscription school. Upon arriving at manhood he 
became interested in farming, which he followed in Kentucky until 185 1, 
when he removed to Henry Countj^ Missouri. In 1859 he came to his 
present home. Mr. W. was in the Enrolled Missouri Militia and Home 
Guards during the late war. In 1866 he was elected county assessor of 
Henry County, and held the office for two years, and has also held the 
position of township clerk and assessor. December 13, 1849, he married 
Miss Molly A. Reed, a native of Kentucky. They are members of the 
Christian Church.' They have one child, Thomas W., who was born in 
Christian County, Kentucky, September 16, 1850. One child died in 
infancy. 



698 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



BIG CREEK TOWNSHIP. 



^ • ST ^^^^-y^i S-vz 



WILLIAM F. BARNETT, 

■section 6, is among the thrifty farmers of Big Creek Township. He is a 
native of Johnson County, Missouri, and was born February 21, 1849, 
'being the son of George H. Barnett, a Kentuckian by birth, who came 
to Missouri when a young man and located in Johnson County, where 
he entered land and improved a farm. He married Miss Mar^- F. 
Strange, also originally from Kentucky, and there continued to reside 
on his farm until his death in 1859. William F. Barnett grew to man- 
hood in the county of his birth, spending his youth on a farm. He was 
married there November i, 1874, to Miss Anna E. Satterwhite, a daugh- 
ter of John Satterwhite and a native of Virginia. Mrs. Barrett was 
born and reared in Johnson County. After his marriage Mr. B. farmed 
in that vicinity for about two and a half years, and in March, 1877, he 
•came to Henry County and bought the farm where he now resides. He 
has over 227 acres of land in fair cultivation, with a young orchard, and 
is now feeding sixty head of cattle and 150 hogs. Mr. and Mrs. Barnett 
have four children: Dora May, Daniel E., John H. and William. Mr. B. 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Norris. 

A. M. BUTCHER, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 17, was born in Licking County, Ohio, 
February 5, 1837. His father, Nathan Butcher, was a native of Hamp- 
shire County, Virginia, but removed to Ohio with his parents when a 
youth and settled in Licking County, being among the pioneers there. 
He grew to manhood, and was married in that county to Elizabeth Sil- 
lin, originally of Loudoun County, Virginia. After his father's death in 
1843, A. M. Butcher resided with James Butcher, his grandfather, and ac- 
•companied him to Indiana in 1849, locating in Montgomery County. His 
youth was spent on a farm there and in attending the common schools, 
where he received a fair education. He was married October 27, 1859, 
to Miss Margaret E. Waugh, a daughter of Milo and Elizabeth Waugh, 
of Montgomery County, and after this continued to reside in Montgom- 
•ery County, occupied in farming and stock raising, until coming to Mis- 
souri in February, 1866, when he settled in Henry County. He has 440 
■acres of improved land, upon which is a good residence, barn, outbuild- 
ings, etc. There are about 200 acres in cultivation, the remainder being 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 699 

pasture and timber. Mr. Butcher and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church, South, and he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He has held 
several local offices in his township, such as township clerk and treasurer. 
They have a family of nine children : Lizzie (wife of F. M. Engle, of 
Johnson County), James W., Parris P., Frank S., Charles W., Mary A., 
Milton E., Clinton E., and Harry E. 

H. C. CHITWOOD, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 16, is a native of Henry County, Mis- 
souri, having been born here October 23, 1840. Daniel Chitwood, his 
father, originally from Scott County, Tennessee, was born February 24, 
1808, and grew to manhood in his native county, and was there married 
to Sally Pruett, a Kentuckian by birth. In 1829 the family removed to 
Missouri and located where the town of Lexington now is, but after 
residing there a short time came to Henry County, in 1833. He entered 
land for two years and improved the farm which the subject of this 
sketch now occupies. In 1850 Mr. Chitwood went overland to Califor- 
nia, and after spending one year in the gold mines returned by the way 
of the Isthmus and New Orleans. They had a family of eight children, 
all of whom grew to maturity and married, but only four of them are 
living at this time, H. C being the fifth child. His youth was spent on 
the farm in this county, and he enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862 
in Colonel Lewis' regiment, participating in the battle of Prairie Grove, 
where he was taken prisoner. Upon being paroled he returned home, 
having served about six months. Mr. Chitwood was married January 
24, 1861, to Miss Jane Hicks, a native of Moniteau County, but who was 
reared and educated in Henry County. She was a daughter of Abner 
Hicks. There were eight children by this marriage: Thomas H., VVil- 
lard A., Charles F., Viola A., Melissa A., Nancy E., Lavina and Willie. 
Mr. C.has a farm of 273 acres, with a good new residence and other 
improvements on the place. He and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church South. 

JOHN DARK, 

farmer, section 15, was born in Ross County, Ohio, March i, 1821, being 
the son of Peter Darr, a native of Virginia, who removed to Ohio 
with his parents when a lad. There he grew to manhood and married 
Eve Eckenbarger, of German birth, but who was raised in Ohio. Peter 
Darr went to Elkhart County, Indiana, in 1827, and was one of the pion- 
eers of that county, where he entered land and improved a farm. John 
Darr spent his youth on this farm and in a flouring mill, and was mar- 
ried in Goshen, Indiana, January i, 1846, to Miss Ann Margaret E. C. 
Henkle, born in Germantown, Ohio, November 26, 1S27. She was a 



700 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

daughter of the Rev^ Andrew Henkle. Mr. and Mrs. Darr have four 
children, Julia B., (wife of John Fleming) Edwin, Lucy E., (wife of Dr. 
Kinsey) and Frank C. They have lost three children, two of whom died 
in infancy, and Andrew M., died in Johnson County, October 15, 1852, 
at the age of 21 years. After his marriage Mr. Darr was occupied 
in conducting a flouring mill in Middleton, Butler Countj^, Ohio, for two 
years. In 1848 he returned to Indiana, where he resumed the flouring busi- 
ness until coming to Missouri in 1866, when he purchased a farm in John- 
son County. There he resided about fourteen years. In 1880, selling 
his Johnson County property, he settled on his present place. He has 140 
acres of land in a fair state of cultivation and under improvements. 

DANIEL DAVIS, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 31, was born in Greene County, Ohio, 
March 28, 183 1, and was the son of Absalom Davis, a native of Kentucky, 
who went to Ohio when a young man and located in Greene County, 
being among the early pioneers there. He married Miss Elmira Searls, 
of Virginian birth but who was raised in Ohio. Daniel Davis grew to 
manhood in his native county on a farm, receiving a common school 
education. He was married in Madison County, Ohio, December 6, i860, 
to Miss Margaret Hill, a daughter of C. C. Hill, and originally from 
Clarke County, Ohio. They have seven children: Edna (wife of Isaac 
Farnsworth), Minnie D., Elmer H., Absalom, John, Bertha and Lida. 
They have lost two children: James M., died at the age of eighteen, 
and Willie, aged four years. After his marriage Mr. Davis resided in 
Madison County, occupied in farming and stock raising for ten years. 
In February, 1870, he came to Henry County, Missouri, and purchased 
the farm where he now resides, consisting of 240 acres, of which 200 are 
under fence and about 100 acres in pasture and meadow. There are fair 
buildings and improvements and a good orchard on the place. He feeds 
on an average two car loads of steers and about 200 head of hogs anually. 
Mr. Davis and wife are members of the United Brethren Church. 

WILLIAM H. DORMAN, 

merchant, a native of Henry County, Missouri, was born in Clinton, 
October 18, 1855, and is the son of Judge J. G. Dorman, a sketch of 
whose life appears elsewhere in this work. William H. spent his youth 
at Clinton attending the public school, where he received a good educa- 
tion in the common English branches, supplemented with a course at 
Jones' Commercial College, at St. Louis. In 1877 he became engaged in 
selling musical instruments and sewing machines at Clinton, and in 1880 
started in the mercantile business at Warsaw, continuing in trade there 



BlUGRArHICAL. 7OI 

about one year. Selling out he purchased the property and stock of 
merchandise at his present place of business in Norris. He carries a 
large and well selected stock of general merchandise, including dry 
goods, clothing, groceries, etc., and is doing an extensive business. Mr. 
Dorman was appointed postmaster at Norris October 25, 1882. He is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also of the 
Encampment. He was married in this county February 12, 1880, to 
Miss Alice L. Gray, a daughter of John L. Gray, who was one of the 
pioneer settlers of Henry County. They have one child, Lilith M., 
born October 12, 1882. Mr. Dorman is an enterprising business man, 
and one of the substantial men of this localit}'. 

JAMES A. DUNN, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 35, owes his nativity to Cooper County, 
Missouri, where he was born December 24, 1843. His father, Nathan J. 
Dunn, originally from Harrison County, Kentucky, grew to manhood 
there and married Zulina Ogle, who was a native of the same county. 
He came to Missouri in about 1835 and was one of the early settlers of 
Cooper County, where he entered land and improved a farm, the family 
living there until 1854, when they removed to Henry County. James A. 
Dunn grew to manhood in this county on the home farm, attending the 
common schools. He was married August 12, 1866, to Miss Jemima H. 
H. Harrington, of Henry County, and a daughter of William Harring- 
ton. She died January 21, 1879, leaving four children: William E., 
Nathan J., Eliza M. and Mary E. Mr. Dunn was married to Miss Mar- 
tha J. Tarter September 14, 1880. She is a Kentuckian by birth and a 
daughter of Calvin Tarter. They have two children, Ida J. and an 
infant. Mr. Dunn removed to his present farm in the spring of 1870. 
He has 508 acres of land, with 250 acres in his home place in cultivation 
and pasture, and he is also the owner of a farm of 160 acres on Big 
Creek. He makes a specialty of feeding stock, and feeds on an average 
two car loads of cattle and about seventy hogs. In May, 1861, he enlisted 
in Price's army and Colonel Lewis' regiment, and participated in a 
number of important engagements, among which were the battles of 
Lexington, Pea Ridge and Helena (Arkansas), Pleasant Hill (Louisiana). 
Mansfield and Jenkins' Ferry, besides numerous skirmishes. He escaped 
without a wound, but was knocked down with a bomb shell at Helena. 
Mr. Dunn is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He and his wife are 
connected with the M. E. Church South. 

M. R. GILLETTE, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 10, is one of the substantial men of Big 
Creek Township, and was born in Henry County November 18, 1832. 



702 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Captain George H. Gillette, his father, was a native of Lincoln County, 
Kentucky, and was born April 8, 180,^. He came to Missouri when a 
young man, and was one of the pioneer settlers of St. Charles County, 
removing from there to Jackson County, and thence to Texas, where he 
spent but a short time. Returning to Missouri he located in Saline 
County, where he was married to Miss P'rances E. Hayes, af Tennessee. 
After his marriage he came to Henry County, which at that time was a 
part of Rives. He entered a section of land in Shawnee Township and 
improved a farm, upon which he lived until his death in 1857. He was 
captain of a militia company during the Mormon troubles. M. R. Gil- 
lette spent his youth on a farm in this county, and was married in the 
fall of i860 to Miss Sybbellow B. Huston, a Kentuckian by birth, but 
who was reared in Scotland County, Missouri. She was a daughter of 
John A. Huston. They have one daughter, Florence Belle. Mr. Gil- 
lette enlisted in the Confederate service in the fall of 1861, in Colonel 
Hunter's Cavalry Regiment, and served one year as General Hindman's 
escort. After this he was transferred to the St. Louis Legion, where he 
served until after the Helena fight; then joined General Hunter's regi- 
ment, in which he remained until the close of the war. He participated 
in a number of important engagements, among which were the fights of 
Lone Jack, Booneville and Springfield, Missouri, and at Pea Ridge and 
Helena, Arkansas. After the surrender of his army at Shreveport he 
returned to Missouri, and has since devoted his attention to farming and 
raising and dealing in stock. Mr. Gillette has 315 acres of land, with 
280 acres in cultivation. 

WEBSTER W. GRAY, 

farmer and breeder of Hereford cattle, is a native of Henry County, Mis- 
souri, and v/as born July 9, 1853. His father, John L. Gray, who was 
born in Tennessee, came to Missouri when a young man and was or.e of 
the pioneer settlers of this county, here entering a tract of nearly 3,000 
acres of land and improving a farm in Rig Creek Township. He was 
married here to Catherine E. Ross, of Kentucky, but also among the 
first settlers of the county. W. W. Gray passed his younger days on a 
farm and in attending the common schools. He received a good educa- 
tion at Central College, where he spent four years, nearly finishing the 
mathematical course. He was married February 7, 1877, to Miss Mattie 
E. Mclntire, also of Henry County, where she was reared and educated, 
and a daughter of D. C. and Agnes Mclntire. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have 
three children: Jessie Lee, Nellie Temple, and baby. They have lost 
one child, in infancy. After his marriage Mr. G. located on his farm, 
and has since been engaged in farming. He has 680 acres of good land, 
with 600 acres fenced and in cultivation, and two orchards of 250 trees, 
consisting of apple, peach, cherry and other fruits. He is extensively 



BIOGRAPrilCAL. 705 

engaged in feeding cattle for the market, and has a patent burr for 
grinding feed for his stock, which is operated by wind power. This alsO' 
operates a large corn sheller and a cutting box. He is now making a 
specialty of breeding for the market thoroughbred and half-blood Here- 
ford cattle and has some fine animals. His herd is headed by Nobleman- 
6th, a fine male animal, two years old, with Lady Lorn, 2d. Mr. Gray 
is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders. His wife is con- 
nected with the M. E. Church South. 

JAMES HOUK, 

farmer and breeder of Berkshire hogs, was born in Moniteau County^ 
Missouri, June 30, 1850, his parents being Squire Houk, a native of Cooper 
County, and Susan (Howard) Houk. also of this state. James was 
brought up in his native county, spending his youth on the farm and 
attending the common schools. He was married March i?, i87i,toMiss 
Sarah Ann Redford, a daughter of William Redford, and also a native of 
Moniteau County. They have three children: Lucy Belle, Robert Lee 
and John Wesley. They have lost one daughter, Nora Lee, at the age 
of fifteen months. After his marriage Mr. Houk resided for three years- 
in Moniteau County, removing thence to Henry County in 1874. He 
owns a farm of eighty-six acres, all in cultivation, with a good young 
orchard, and he also has fifteen acres of timber. Mr. Houk is making a 
specialty of breeding thorough bred Berkshire hogs, and has some as- 
fine animals as can be found in the state. 

T. S. HOWARD, M. D. 

The subject of this 3ketch is a native of St. Clair County, Missouri^ 
where he was born January 24, 1853. His father, John G. Howard, a 
Kentyckian by birth, came to Missouri with his parents when quite 
small and first located in Morgan County, being among the pioneers 
there. He was married in Benton County to Amanda M. Cock. T. S, 
Howard was brought up in this county, and for quite a while attended the 
public schools. He commenced the study of his profession about the 
year 1872, at Huntingdale, under the tutorship of Dr. E. C. Royston, one 
of the pioneer physicians of the county, and attended his first course of 
lectures at the St. Louis Medical College in the winter of 1873-4, gradu- 
ating from that institution in the spring of 1876. After completing his 
studies, the doctor began the practice of medicine at Chilhowee, John- 
son County, where he remained about two years, removing thence to- 
Huntingdale in 1878. He practiced at that place for four years, and in 
1882 came to Norris, where, though a recent arrival, he has built up a 
successful and increasing patronage. Dr. Howard was married Novem- 



704 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ber 29, 1876, to Miss Ida Royston, of Henry County, and a daughter of 
Dr, E. C. Royston. They lost their only child, Georgie Garnett, who 
died March 25, 1881, at the age of three years and six months. Mrs. 
Howard is a member of the M. E. Church, South. The doctor belongs 
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows fraternity. 

J. S. HOWERTON, ,, 

1 

farmer and stock raiser, came originally from Rockingham County, North ; 
Carolina. His father, William Howerton, was a native of Virginia. There j 
he grew to maturity, and was married in North Carolina, to Miss Fran- | 
ces P. Wall, of that state, and a daughter of Richard Wall. William \ 
Howerton, Richard Wall and others, removed from North Carolina to 
Missouri in 1839, and located in Henry County. The former entered 
land and improved a farm in the northern part of the county, and resided 
upon it till his death in 1876. For seven years he had been a sufferer j 
from paralysis. J. S. Howerton passed his youth upon the home farm, ! 
and was married July 18, 1867, to Miss Eliza Ann Harrington, a native ] 
of Henr)^ County, and a daughter of William Harrington, who was 
also one of the pioneer settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Howerton • 
have four children: Dophelia Belle, Susan Frances, Nancy Ann, and Sal- 
lie T. They have lost two: Oscar Lee, died September 10, 1872, at the j 
age of four years, and Mary E., died May 10, 1873, at the age of three 1 
years and three months. After his marriage Mr. H. resided on the old 
homestead about six years. He removed to his present place in 1872, 
and now has 180 acres of land, 160 acres being in his home farm, fairly 
improved, with a good house and a young, bearing orchard. He enlisted 
in the Confederate army in 1862, and served in Hindman's body guard j 
until April, 1863, when he was transferred to Young's Battalion, serving 1 
in the cavalry until the fall of Vicksburg. After this last engagement, J 
his regiment was reorganized and was known as the Tenth Missouri \ 
Cavalry, in which he served till the close of the war. He participated \ 
in a number of important engagements, among which were the fight at 
Helena, and Little Rock, Arkansas, Glasgow, and the numerous battles [ 
of Price's raid through Missouri. After the final surrender he returned | 
to Missouri. 

P. D. LANE, 

merchant and postmaster at Petersburg, is recognized as one of the 
thrifty and enterprising business men of Big Creek Township. He was 
born in Brown County, Ohio, January i, 1840, his parents being N. D. 
and Jane (McMahan) Lane, also natives of Ohio. In 1842 the family 
removed to Missouri, settling in Big Creek Township, Henry County. 
P. D. Lane grew up on this farm, receiving a good common school edu- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 705 

cation. When in his nineteenth year he taught a winter term of school, 
and after the close of his school he commenced clerking in a store at 
Shawnee Mound, remaining there about one year. In the spring of 1861 
he enlisted in Owens' Battalion Cavalry, and in the spring of 1862 
enlisted in the regular Confederate service, Colonel Jackman's Sixteenth 
Missouri Infantry, serving for about six months. He was imprisoned 
and then on parole the rest of the time till the close of the war. He 
participated in the engagements of Carthage, Wilson Creek, Pea Ridge 
and Walnut Grove. Returning to Missouri in 1865 Mr. Lane was 
engaged in farming and trading in stock about fifteen years. He built 
a business house at his present stand in 1880, put in a stock of general 
merchandise and is now doing a good business. He was appointed 
postmaster at Petersburg in the spring of 1881. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, (Agricola LodgeJ and is secretary of his lodge. Mr 
Lane was married in this county March 3, 1867, to Miss Christine Hiser, 
a native of Hickory County, but who was reared and educated in Henry 
County, and a daughter of John Hiser. They have a family of five 
children: Edwin, Minnie, Lena, Alice and Albert. He and his wife 
are members of the Baptist Church. 

WILLIAM J. McFARLAND, 

section 2, is a prominent farmer and stock dealer, of this township, and 
was born in Cooper County, Missouri, September 26, 1834. Jesse McFar- 
land, his father, a native of North Carolina, was born April 17, 1800. He 
removed to Missouri with his parents in 1811, and in 1816 located in 
Cooper County, and was among the earliest settlers of Missouri. He 
grew to manhood in Cooper County and married Ann McFarland,a dis- 
tant relative. The former was a farmer and mechanic and also a sur- 
veyor by occupation and when nineteen years old he assisted in the sur- 
veying of Rives County, and held several local offices in the county. 
He now resides at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and celebrated his sixtieth 
wedding anniversary January 7, 1880. W. J. McFarland spent his youth 
on a farm in Cooper County and received a common school education. 
He was married there October 10, 1865, to Miss M. E. Mitchel, also of 
Cooper County, and a daughter of William J. Mitchel. They have three 
children: Edith L., Clarence W. and Albert W. After his marriage 
Mr. McFarland resided about two years in Cooper County and then 
removed to Henry County, buying land and improving the farm where 
he now resides. He has 355 acres, with 320 in good cultivation and 
under improvements, with an orchard of 100 choice bearing apple trees 
and a variety of other fruits. Mr. McFarland makes a specialty of rais- 
ing and handling stock, and feeds on an average two car loads of steers 

45 



706 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and fifty hogs annually. He has some good graded stock. He and his 
wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

D. C. McINTIRE, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 22, was born in Clark County, Kentucky, 

October 25, 182 1, and was the son of Hugh Mclntire, a native of North ' 

Carolina, who moved with his parents at the age of seven to Clark j 

County, Kentucky, there being brought up. Francis Mclntire, his father, I 

was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and carried during life five i 

wounds received in that long struggle for American independence. D. ; 
C. Mclntire accompanied the family to Trimble County when seven 

years old and there grew to manhood. He came to Missouri in i84i,but , 

previously had spent six years traveling through Wisconsin, Iowa and , 

Illinois. He was married in Scotland County, Missouri, September 23, : 

1847, to Miss Agnes F. Huston, of Boone County, Kentucky, who was 1 

reared and educated there, and a daughter of Archibald Huston. They \ 

have six children: William Seldon, Joseph M., Homer H., Martha E. j 

(wife of W. W. Gray), Ada Lee and Daniel M. After this marriage Mr. | 
Mclntire located in Adair County, where he entered land and made a 
farm, making it his home for about eleven years. In 1858 he came to 
Henry County, locating on Honey Creek, and built a flour, grist and saw 
mill, and was engaged in milling about seven years. Selling his mill 

property, he purchased the farm where he now resides in 1865. This ] 

place consists of 270 acres of land, with 240 acres in cultivation and ] 

pasture, and upon it is a good residence and a fine orchard of about 250 | 

bearing trees of select fruits Mr. and Mrs. Mclntire are members of I 

the M. E. Church South. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. I 

GEORGE W. McOUITTY, * 

a native of Boone County, Missouri, was born September 16, 1839. His ^ 
father. G. W. McQuitty, was a Kentuckian by birth, but removed to Mis- 
souri with his parents when a lad, and they were among the pioneer set- 
tlers of Boone County. He grew to manhood and was married there to 
Miss Elizabeth Roland, who also was of Kentucky birth, and a daughter 
of William Roland. After his marriage he located on a farm in Boone | 
County, where he resided till his death, in 1870. George W. Jr., spent 
his youth in his native county, receiving a good common school educa- 
tion He enlisted in the confederate army in February, 1862, in Com- j 
pany C, Sixth Missouri Infantry, under Col. Irvin, and participated in a I 
number of engagements, among which were the second fight at Corinth, 
luka, and Grand Gulf where he was taken prisoner and parolled after ' 
two months, then returning home. He was married in Boone Count)-, 1 



BIOGRAPHICAL. JOf 

March i8, 1866, to Miss Lucinda Goslin, of the same county as himself^ 
and a daughter of Sylvester F. Goslin, one of the pioneers of that 
county. I'he year after his marriage Mr. McOuitty came to Henry 
Coun _,, bought land and improved the farm where he now resides. He 
has 280 acres, with about 230 acres fenced and in cultivation, a large- 
residence and a fine orchard being on the place. He has some good' 
stock and high graded cows and one thoroughbred male animal. Mr.. 
McQuitty lost his first wife by death October 25, 1870, she leaving two- 
children, John R. and Elizabeth A. He was married in Henry County 
January 25, 1875, to Miss Martha M. Johnson, a native of Kentucky, and 
a daughter of Robert R. Johnson. There are four children by this mar- 
riage: William T., Edith B., George N. and Alice D. He is a member 
of the Baptist and his wife belongs to the Christian denomination. 

A. B. REDFORD, 

section 18, owes his nativity to Knox County, East Tenessee, where he 
was born July 18, 18 19. His parents, Noah and Phebe (Dodson) Red- 
ford, were natives of Stokes County, North Carolina. In 1832 the family 
removed from North Carolina to Tennessee, and thence to Missouri, 
locating in Moniteau County. Here A. B. spent his 3^outhful days on a 
farm. He was married in Johnson County in March, 185 1, to Miss Han- 
nah Anderson, of that county and a daughter of John Anderson, one of 
the early settlers of Johnson County and a Kentuckian by birth. After 
his marriage Mr. R. lived for about six years in Johnson County, and in 
March, 1857, he came to Henry County, purchasing the farm where he 
now resides. He has about 1,500 acres, all under fence, with 200 acres 
in timber, the balance being in pasture and cultivation, with a good 
residence and orchard. He makes a specialty of feeding and dealing in 
stock, and feeds annually about lOO head of steers and a like number of 
hogs. Mr. Redford has raised a family of four children, all of whom are 
married: Noah O., John E., Robert V. and Serepta A., (wife of John A. 
Overby). He is a member of the Masonic order, and Mrs. R. belongs, 
to the M. E. Church South. 

MILO SPAULDING, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 27, was born in Seneca County, Ohiov 
February 3, 1846, and was the son of Daniel D. Spaulding, a native of 
New York, who grew to manhood there, removing to Ohio when a young 
man, and locating in Seneca County, where he married Mary Ann Trail, 
of Pennsylvania. Milo Spaulding spent his youth in Seneca County on 
a farm, enjoying the advantages of attending the public schools. In the 
fall of 1861, when in his sixteenth year, he enlisted in the Forty-ninth 



708 HISTORY OP^ HENRY COUNTY. 

Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served thirteen months. He participated 
in the battle of Pittsburg Landing and minor engagements and skir- 
mishes. After his term of service expired he passed some four years in 
Indiana, Illinois and Kansas. He was married in Weston, Missouri, 
February, 7, 1866, to Mrs. Sarah Jane Millen, widow of John VV. Millen. 
Mrs. Spaulding was a daughter of James Lime, and is a native of Ken- 
tucky. Mr. S. subsequently removed to St. Louis, where he resided about 
three years, going thence to Henry County, Illinois, where he farmed one 
year. In the spring of 1870 he located in Henry County, Missouri, pur- 
chased land and improved a farm where he now resides. He has 120 
acres in his home place, in cultivation with a good house, barn and out 
buildings and a young orchard. He also owns a farm of eighty acres in 
another tract, and sixty acres of timber land. Mr. Spaulding is one of 
the most successful farmers of Big Creek Township. He makes a 
specialty of feeding about one car load of steers and about thirty hogs 
annually. Mrs. Spaulding has three children by her first husband: John 
W., Mary E. and Charles Henry Millen. She is a member of the Mis- 
sionary Baptist Church. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

DR. T. T. THORNTON 

was born October 18,1846, in Henry County, Missouri, and was the son 
of W. B. Thornton, a native of Kentucky, who was married to Augusta 
Toliver, also a Kentuckian by birth. About the year 1846 the family 
removed to Missouri, and located in Henry County at Calhoun, where 
W. B. Thornton carried on his trade, that of a saddler, until his death 
in 1850. After his father's death T. T. Thornton returned to Oldham 
County, Kentucky, and there grew to manhood, spending his youth on 
a farm. His education was acquired principally through his own efforts. 
At about the age of eighteen years he commenced the study of medi- 
cine under the tutorship of Dr. H. G. Duerson, one of the prominent 
physicians of Oldham County, and later attended lectures at the Ken- 
tucky School of Medicine at Louisville. After completing his studies at 
this college the doctor commenced the practice of his profession at 
Shady, Crittenden County, Kentucky, where he remained four years. In 
1872 he located at Huntingdale, Henry County, Missouri, and continued 
practicing, in partnership with Dr. E. C. Royston.for two years. In 1874 
he came to Norris, and here has built up a fine practice. Dr. Thornton 
was m'lrried in Huntingdale in October, 1873, to Miss Sallie Lewis, a 
daughter of Robert Lewis. She was born in St. Louis County, but was 
reared and educated in Cass County. Dr. and Mrs. Thornton have a 
family of five children, Lucy A., Alice, Emma L., Genevieve and Samuel 
L, The doctor is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders. 
His wife belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 709 

I. M. VANCE, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 11, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, 
February 2, 1844. His parents, were B. H. Vance, born in Ohio in 1812, 
and Adeline (Myers) Vance, a native of the same state. The former 
was a farmer and stock dealer by occupation, and followed the stock 
business for a number of years. He removed with his family to Missouri 
in 1858 and located in Cooper County, where he lived about nine years, 
coming thence to Johnson County in 1867 and to Henry County in 1868. 
I. M. Vance spent his youth on a farm. He was married in Cass County 
in March, 1870, to Miss CyrenaCain, a native of Adams County, Illinois, 
but who was reared in Harrison County, Missouri. She was a daughter 
of Ephraim Cain. They have six children: Loella, Cora E., Anna Kate, 
Walter S., Frank and Henry B, Mr. Vance purchased and moved on 
his present farm in 1872. He has 183 acres of land, with 160 acres fenced 
and in a good state of cultivation, well improved, etc. He enlisted in 
April, 1863, in the Missouri State militia cavalry and served till dis- 
charged in September, 1865. He participated in the fights of Price's raid 
from the Osage to Jefferson City, some sixty days, with skirmishing 
every day, and he was also in a number of other important engage- 
ments. 

JOHN W. WAUGH, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 17, a successful and enterprising citizen 
of this locality, is a native of Montgomery County, Indiana, and was born 
December 13, 1839. His father, Milo Waugh, was born in Ross County, 
Ohio, and there grew to manhood and was married to Elizabeth Kiousa, 
of Fayette County, the same state. The family removed to Indiana in 
183 1, and were among the pioneers of Montgomery County. Milo 
Waugh entered land there, and improved a farm, living upon it until his 
death in June, 1859. They had a family of eleven children, six sons and 
five daughters, the subject of this sketch being the fifth child. His youth 
was spent on his father's farm, with common school advantages, and he 
was married in the county of his birth, July 19. i860, to Miss Mary Hen- 
derson, of the same county, and a daughter of Alexander Henderson. 
She died in Indiana, June 28, 1864, leaving two children, William B., and 
Martha (wife of Ed. Dower). Mr. Waugh was married in Montgomery 
County, April 20, 1865, to Miss Julia A. Hamilton, who was also origin- 
ally of Montgomery County, and a daughter of John Hamilton. There 
are six children by this marriage: James H., Ed. R., Richard H., Mary 
E., Walter S., and Jennie May. After his marriage Mr. Waugh, was 
engaged in farming in his native county until his removal to Missouri, 
in 166, when buying land, he located where he now resides. He has a 
fine farm of 550 acres, about 400 acres of which are in cultivation and 



.7IO HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

pasture, upon which is a good two-story dwelling and outbuildings and 
a splendid orchard. 

PLEASANT R. WEBSTER. 

farmer and stock raiser, section 5, is one of the pioneer settlers of Henry 
County. He was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina, in April, 
1821, his parents being Richard and Betsy (Black) Webster, also natives 
■of North Carolina. Pleasant R., grew to manhood in his native county, 
•and spent his youth on a farm, enjoying fair opportunities for acquir- 
ing an education. He was married in Stokes County, North Carolina, 
to Miss Matilda J. Webster, of the same state. In 1854 Mr. Webster 
came west to Missouri and settled in Henry County, near Clinton, 
removing to his present farm in February, 1880. He has 120 acres of 
land under fence, and nearly all in cultivation. Mrs. Webster died July 
28, 1880, leaving eleven children: Martin V.; Elizabeth, (wife of William 
H. Childis); Susan, (wife of Benjamin Childis); James R.; Hester J. (wife of 
Byron Dunham) ; Nancy J., (wife of John Newman) ; William, Siby, Everett 
Salina, Richard Lee, and Luther L. Mr. W. is a member of the Baptist 
Church. 

JAMES H. WEBSTER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 19, a well known and prominent man of 
this township, is a native of Stokes County, North Carolina, and was 
born February 14, 1827. Pleasant Webster, his father, also originally from 
North Carolina, grew to manhood and was married in Stokes County to 
Miss Hester Foy, of that county. The subject of this sketch passed his 
youthful days in tilling the soil, and in his 19th year came to Missouri in 
the fall of 1845 and located in Henry County. Three years later, March 15, 
1848, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Carpenter, of Kentucky, and 
a daughter of Wilson D. Carpenter, one of the pioneers of this county. 
She died February 4, 1864, and left four children living: P. W., Hester 
Ann (wife of J. Anderson), Sarah E. (wife of William Stanberry), and 
May C. Mr. Webster married his present wife, Mrs. Mary A. Lotspeich, 
widow of William Lotspeich and a daughter of Abraham Fisher, May 
3, 1868. They have four children: Charles, Dora, Walter and Oscar. 
After his first marriage Mr. Webster located on Honey Creek, where he 
improved a farm and where he resided for seven years. He has since 
improved three other farms, and now owns i SO acres of land, with no 
acres fenced, upon which is a good house and a young orchard. He was 
elected justice of the peace for Big Creek Township and has since been 
re-elected, and has served continuously in that capacity for twelve years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Webster are members of the M. E. Church South. The 
former is connected with the Masonic fraternity. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. /I I 

L. A. WISELY, M. D., 

merchant at Norris, is a highly respected citizen of this locality, and 
was born in Wythe County, Virginia, May 25, 1829. His parents were 
Daniel and Mary A. (Straw) Wisely, also Virginians by birth. In 1837 
the family came to Missouri and located in Callaway County, where Mr. 
Wisely entered land and improved a farm. In 1841 they removed to 
Howard County, where Daniel Wisely was engaged in farming until his 
death, in 1868. L. A. served an apprenticeship in the office of the Mis- 
souri Democrat, at Fayette, Missouri, and worked at the printing busi- 
ness for eight years, three years of the time in St. Louis. While in St. 
Louis he took advantage of the night schools and supplemented this 
knowledge by two years attendance at Howard College. After com- 
pleting his studies he bought out the Platte Argus, at Weston, publish- 
ing that paper, in connection with his brother, for three years. He 
studied medicine under the instruction of Dr. Bowers, of Weston, and 
took lectures at the University of Virginia, in i8S7, graduating in Phila- 
delphia from the Jefferson Medical College, in 1859. Upon the com- 
pletion of his medical course Dr. W. commenced the practice of his pro- 
fession in Howard County, in i860, continuing there for six years. In 
1866 he came to Henry County, locating at Windsor, where he practiced 
for two years. In 1866 he purchased a farm, removed to Big Creek 
Township and carried on agricultural pursuits in connection with his 
professional duties. He removed to Norris in 1879 ^^^ engaged in the 
drug business, and now has an excellent stock of everything in his line 
of trade. The doctor is Democratic in politics, and takes a leading part 
in all the political issues of the day. He received the appointment and 
held the office of postmaster at Norris for four years, and was appointed 
notary in May, 1882. He was married in Howard County June 23, 1863, 
to Miss Mary F. Bass, a daughter of George P. Bass. She is a native of 
that county, and received her education at the Howard College. Dr. 
and Mrs. Wisely have three children, Edna M., George D. and Sally 
Tuttle. The former is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows 
orders. 






712 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP. 



OWEN M. BUSH, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 24, was born March 4, 1843, i" Clark 
County, Kentucky, and was the son of Phillip W, Bush, a farmer and 
stock raiser by occupation, born October 31, 18 12, in Clark County, and 
Jane (Monroe) Bush, born April 12, 1823, in Jessamine County, Ken- 
tucky. They were married in December, 1841, and had six children, 
three sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living with the 
exception of one daughter. Owen accompanied his parents to Marion 
County in 1850, but remained there only one year, they then removing 
to Lafayette County, Missouri, and buying 240 acres of land. Here he 
obtained a common English education. In 1859 ^^- ^- ^^^^ ^is farm 
and purchased 640 acres in Bates County, but never settled on it on 
account of the war. In 1868 he sold his land in Bates County, returning 
to Lafayette County in 1874. O. M. Bush was married January 4, 1866, 
to Miss Mary E. Noel. By this marriage they have two sons. He came 
to Henry County in March, 1873, and bought (on section 24) eighty-four 
acres of land, upon which he located. In April, 1881, he purchased 
ninety acres more, on section 28, making for himself a fine farm of 174 
acres. Mr. Bush is a man of extensive observation, and has held the 
office of magistrate, for several years in the township, having been first 
appointed to fill a vacancy for one year, and afterward elected for the 
term of four years in 1877. Politically he is a Democrat. 

PHILLIP BUSH, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born February 14th, 1856, in Lafayette 
County, Missouri. His father, Phillip W. Bush, was born October 31, 
1812, in Clark County, Kentucky, and married in December, 1841, Miss 
Mary Jane Monroe, who was born April 26, 1823, in Jessamine County, 
Kentucky. By this union there were six children, three sons and three 
daughters, and all survive but one daughter. The subject of this sketch 
came to Henry County, Missouri, in November, 1880, and after remain- 
ing a few months, spending his time in farming and looking for a favor- 
able opportunity to locate, he bought eighty acres of la,nd on section 14. 
He resides with his mother, who lives near the farm he has recently 
purchased. He received in his boyhood a good English education, and 
although still a young man, is a practical farmer. He has a fair resi- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. /1 5. 

dence upon his farm, and everything about him denotes thrift and the 
successful agriculturist. In his political preferences he is a Democrat. 

WILLIAM A. McREYNOLDS 

was born February i, 1833, in Butler County, Kentucky, his parents 
being Benj. S. McReynolds, born July 15, 1806, in Logan County, Ken- 
tucky, and Elizabeth Ann, }iee Askew, who was born in July, 1809, in 
Campbell County, Virginia. They were married in July, 1830, in Logan 
County, Kentucky, and by this union had six children, four sons and 
two daughters, of whom our subject was the eldest son. Benjamin 
McReynolds remained a resident of Kentucky until his death. In youth 
he received only common school training, but being of studious habits 
became a most learned scholar. He learned the carpenter's trade and 
worked at it a number of years, and also took up carriage making, hir- 
ing several hands in that industry. He employed a blacksmith, and by- 
degrees became skilled, to some extent, in that business also. He fol- 
lowed both occupations for several years, and finally turned his atten- 
tion to the study of medicine, continuing the practice in after years, as 
taught by the Thompsonian schools of his day. Later in life he became 
a farmer, and the owner of quite a large tract of land in Kentucky, a 
part of which, proving rich in coal, he opened into mines, and did quite 
an extensive coal trade, shipping to different points both north and 
south. He served, during the early part of his career, as magistrate, 
for eighteen years or more, until (by virtue of the law of the state) he 
became sheriff, being the oldest official in the capacity of magistrate. 
This position he filled for one term. He was nominated in 1845 for the 
state legislature, his opponent being Lot Moore, of the same county, but 
was defeated on account of his scruples against being elected as a 
whisky candidate. He was also a candidate on the Democratic ticket 
for the succeeding term, but died before the election, July 3, 1847. 
William A. McReynolds, at the death of his father was a lad of but four- 
teen. At the age of nineteen he left home, determined to seek his own 
fortune, and commenced by working at the carpenter's bench. He 
learned the trade in Clarksville, Tennessee, remaining there for three 
years and then returned to Todd County, Kentucky, where he entered intO' 
business as a builder and contractor, continuing it for several years. He 
was engaged in building at Cairo during one season, where he owned 
considerable city propery. He spent one year in Illinois. In the year 
1873 he was occupied during the winter in stock feeding, in company 
with a brother, and also for several years thereafter. Finally he decided 
to make Missouri his permanent home, and accordingly in the spring of 
1882 bought a tract of nearly 1,200 acres, mostly in Honey Creek Town- 
ship, Henry County, his residence being on section 18. He has the 



714 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

supervision of his estates in both townships, much of his land lying in 
White Oak. All of it is devoted to farmin'g purposes with the exception 
of forty acres of timber. Mr. McR. makes his home at present with 
Mrs. McKinney, his sister, a widowed lady, and her sons. He was once 
placed in nomination as a candidate in Todd County. Tennessee, for 
the legislature, on the Republican ticket, but was defeated through the 
■treachery of some of his pretended friends, who had been instrumental 
in securing his nomination. He is Republican in sentiment, and has 
been since i86i. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, of Elkton. Todd County, Kentucky, having never changed his 
membership from that place. 



WHITE OAlt TOWNSHIP. 



1.-^^!=®= 



EMANUEL BLECHER, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born September 22, 1827, in Columbia 
County, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Blecher, a farmer and weaver 
by occupation, was born in Pennsylvania in 1798, and died at the age of 
seventy-seven years in Columbia County, that state, in 1875. He mar- 
ried Miss Susanna Keller, of Columbia County, and they had seven 
children, three of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the 
sixth. P2manuel spent his boyhood and youthful days at his birthplace, 
receiving but three months' schooling. He was married October 25, 
1855, to Miss Mary Ann Farwer, of Wayne County, Ohio. By this union 
they have had nine children, five sons and four daughters, all living, 
except one daughter. In 1855 Mr. Blecher removed from his native state 
to Wayne County, Ohio, v/here he remained for three years, going thence 
to Wells County, Indiana, where for eight years he tollowed farming and 
stock raising. Moving to Champaign County, Illinois, he continued to 
farm for fourteen years, and in March of 1881 he came to Henry County, 
Missouri, with a view to settling in the state as a permanent resident. 
He has as yet purchased no farm, but intends to invest his means in 
farming and stock raising as soon as a suitable location can be found. 
Politically, he is a Democrat. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. ' 715 

SAMUEL C. CRAIG, 

physician and surgeon, was born March 2, 1850, in Harrison County, 
Indiana, and was the son of P. R. Craig, who was born March 3, 1806, in 
Virginia. He was in early life a cooper by occupation, but abandoned 
his trade for farming. After leaving his native state, he moved first to 
Ohio, while a young man, and then to Indiana, where he settled as an 
agriculturist. In 1827 he married Miss Elizabeth Hiestand, born in 
Pennsylvania in 1809. By this marriage they had seven children, four 
of whom are living, our subject being the youwgest. He was early edu- 
cated in the common schools of Iowa, but fixing upon the practice of 
medicine as his profession, at the age of nineteen he commenced attend- 
ing a course of medical lectures at Ames, Story County, Iowa. His 
preceptor was James Bradley. In 1877 he came to Lucas, Henry County, 
Missouri, and commenced the practice of medicine, and since that time 
has remained there with a constantly increasing patronage. Dr. Craig 
was married March 8, 1877, to Miss Mary Shaw, of Ames, Iowa. They 
have one daughter, Winona Florence. 

JAMES GODWIN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 29, was born February 28, 1808, in Fin- 
castle, Botetourt County, Virginia. His early history is shrouded in 
mystery, he having been found, together with another child, supposed 
to be a brother, on or near Delaware Bay. Consequently he is unable 
to give nativity, date of birth or nationality of his father. These broth- 
ers were taken up and cared for, and a man named Godwin reared our 
subject, giving him his name. The maiden name of his foster mother 
was Polly Mefford, a native of Fincastle, Virginia, at which place their 
marriage occurred. They had fifteen children, seven sons and eight 
daughters, of whom tvvo sons and one daughter survive. James was 
brought up in Rutledge, Granger County, Tennessee, where he received 
his education, which was limited to six months' schooling. He left home 
when 19 years of age, and has since worked his own way in life. He 
apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith's trade, and after becoming 
proficient therein, commenced work at Sparta, Middle Tennessee, where 
he labored for six years as journeyman. For four years thereafter, he 
was engaged in business for himself at that point. Leaving there in 
March, 1837, he came to Missouri, and in April settled in Benton County, 
purchasing 320 acres of land, where he remained for twenty-seven years. 
February 5, 1833, he married Miss Elizabeth M. Anderson. They had 
no children of their own, but have brought up eleven children, and are 
now rearing a little boy and girl, making thirteen, who have found good 
homes under his hospitable roof Seven weddings have been celebrated 



7l6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

in his house. During war times Mr. Godwin disposed of his property 
in Benton County and came to this county, where he has since princi- 
pally resided. He owns 146 acres of land on sections 28 and 29. He 
and his wife have for many years been active members of the M. E. 
Church South. 

GEORGE H. HACKNEY, 

a native of Cole County, Missouri, was born January 2, 1842, being the 
son of William VV. and Celia (Ragsdale) Hackney. The former was 
born August 10, 1798, in Chatham, North Carolina, while the latter came 
originally rrom Huntsdale, Alabama. To them were born seven sons 
and four daughters, all of whom survive but one son, who died at the age 
of eleven. George, the eighth child in the family, passed his youth and 
early manhood in the county of his birth, receiving a good English edu- 
cation. For three years he gave his attention to teaching, and in 1862 
he enlisted as private in Co. E., Tenth Missouri cavalry. He was soon 
appointed duty sergeant and acted in that capacity during the remain- 
der of the war, being regularly discharged at Edgefield, Tennessee, June 
27, 1865. Mr. Hackney was married December 26, 1866, to Miss Jose- 
phine E. Riggins, of Clinton, Missouri. They have had five sons and 
two daughters, and all are now living except one daughter, who died 
when three years old. In 1868 he commenced farming in Henry County,, 
and has since remained here. In 1870 he purchased 180 acres on sec- 
tion 27, to which he has later added eighty acres, and on this place he 
has lived for twelve years. His residence is situated on an eminence,, 
commanding an excellent view of the surrounding country. There is a 
very good prospect for coal underlying his farm. Politically he is a 
Democrat. He raises stock quite extensively. 

CHAPMAN H. Mcdonald, 

merchant, farmer and stock dealer, was born May 13, 1833, i" Frankfort, 
Kentucky, his parents being John McDonald, born December 2, 1805, in 
Culpeper County, Virginia, and Elizabeth W. (Knight) McDonald, born 
May 26, 1808, and also a Virginian by birth. They were married in 
Franklin County, Kentucky, in 1826 or 1827, and moved to the state of 
Illinois in 1834, in 1838, settlilig in Audrain County, Missouri. Here, 
on the 20th day of August, 1854, Mrs. McDonald died, leaving a family 
of eight children. In 1857 Mr. McD. came to Henry County, Missouri, 
and died June 29, 1880. They reared eight children, five sons and three 
daughters, only two of whom are now living: Chapman H. and Josiah 
G., the latter born September 20, 1836. at Mechanicsburg, Illinois. They 
emigrated with their parents about 1838 to Audrain County, Missouri,, 
and were educated in the common schools in their locality. The elder 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 717 

brother subsequently attended a course of studies at the Commercial 
College, in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1857. He commenced life for 
himself in 1856, at Montevallo, Vernon County, Missouri, having chosen 
the mercantile channel for which he had been previously making prep- 
aration. On May day, 1S79, he was married to Miss Mariah E. Benner, 
of Vernon County. He opened his place of business as a merchant at 
Montevallo, in 1856, where he continued until 1863, then closing his 
store on account of the war. After the cessation of hostilities he 
resumed his business, settling in Henry County, Missouri, at Lucas Post- 
office, in White Oak Township, where he has since remained, doing bus- 
iness at present with his younger brother, Josiah G. Their interests 
in the main are one, both in merchandising, farming, and as general 
raisers of stock. Mr. C. H. McDonald is postmaster here, succeeding 
his father. He owns ninety acres (aside from the business interests) in 
or near his place of business. He has five children : William, Ida, 
Betsy, Olive and Parel. Politically he is a Democrat and religiously a 
Christian. 

JULIUS A. MATHEWS 

was born April 17, 1849, in Chariton County, Missouri. His father, 
Samuel Mathews, was born in October, 1810, in Mississippi, and was a 
farmer during his early life, emigrating to Chariton County, Missouri, in 
1844. He purchased 160 acres in that county and remained until the 
commencement of the war, when he removed to Brunswick, and in 1861 
engaged in merchandising. This business he continued for twelve years; 
then went to Kansas City, and after a short time came to Henry County 
in April, 1870. He was married in 1835 to Miss Betsy Avery, of Jack- 
son County, Mississippi. By this union there were eleven children, six 
sons and five daughters, of whom four only are now living. Three sons 
died in the Alton Prison during the civil v/ar, two in 1862 and the other 
in 1864. The subject of this sketch came to Henry County in 1867 and 
embarked in farming. He has remained here since that time, with the 
exception of three years, while in his native county and at Kansas City, 
though not permanently located at either place. He was married June 
17, 1867, to Miss Nancy Jane Bruett, of Henry County, Missouri. To 
them have been born six children, three sons and three daughters, five 
of whom are living. Mr. M. was elected magistrate in White Oak Town- 
ship in November, 1882, for the term of four years. Himself and wife 
are connected with the Christian Church of Lucas. His political senti- 
ments are Democratic. 

GEORGE F. MITCHELL. 

merchant, born October i, 1854, in Perry County, Ohio, being a son of 
George and Eliza (Huston) Mitchell. The former was born in Virginia, 



7l8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

December 4, 1804, and the latter was a native of Ohio. They were mar- 
ried in 1834, and to them were born nine children, of whom only four are 
living. The youngest child, George F., accompanied the family to 
DeKalb County, Missouri, in 1868, but they remained there only a short 
time, coming thence to Henry County, and purchasing a tract of I40> 
acres of land. Young Mitchell received a limited education in boyhood, 
and resided upon the home farm until seventeen years of age. He then 
went to Clinton, resumed his studies at the Clinton High School, from 
which he afterwards graduated. At the age of nineteen he apprenticed 
himself to the printing business, and u^as in the employ of one office for 
four years, when he entered as partner for three years. Then he sold his 
interest and moved on to his father's farm, located three miles northeast 
of Clinton, in Fields' Creek Township, Henry County. After following 
the pursuit of agriculture for two years, he turned his attention to mer- 
chandising, opening his business at Lucas, March i, 1881. Here he has 
continued up to this time. He married Miss Blanches Stewart, Novem- 
ber, 12, 1876. They have three daughters: Carrie, Eliza, Jessie Hart^ 
and Nellie Lee. Miss Mitchell is a member of the Masonic fraternity,, 
belonging to Tebo Lodge, No. 68, of Clinton. He is a member of the 
M. E. Church, and Mrs. M. of the Cumberland Presbyterian. He is meet- 
ing with much success at Lucas, and his business is constantly increasing. 

JOHN SCHRODER, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born August 14, 1845, in Pittsburg, Penn- 
sylvania. Richard Schroder, his father, was born July 18, 1818, in Mont- 
gomery County, Pennsylvania, and married June 29, 1840, Miss Eliza 
Miller, who was born in March, 182 1, in Lebanon County, of that state. 
By this union they had three sons and two daughters, of whom all are 
living. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the 
common school in his native state, and later was sent to the Darlington 
Academy, at Darlington, Beaver County, for a term of two years, which 
institution he left at the age of twelve years. He came with his parents 
to Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1857, but after remaining a few months 
they removed to Bates County, settling in Prairie City, and here the 
senior Schroder erected the second house in that place. About a year 
later they came to Henry County. While a young man John Schroder 
was occupied as hotel clerk at Otterville for nearly three years. He 
subsequently entered Worthington & Warner's Commercial College and 
went through a six months' course, graduating in the spring of 1866. In 
the spring of 1867 the family returned to their farm in Henry County, 
consisting at that time of 480 acres, in a body. He was engaged in 
teaching for a short time in that locality, and during this period received 
an offer for his services at Jefferson Cit}', which offer was- accepted, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 719^ 

where he was employed from April i, 1868, to June i, 1871. Returning, 
to the farm he took charge of its affairs, and in 1880 came into posses- 
sion of 170 acres from the home farm, as his share of the inheritance, to 
which he has since added forty acres, erected a residence, etc. He was 
married March 14, 1872, to Miss Eliza Aiken, born in County Tyrone^ 
Ireland. November 7, 1844. She died November 17, 1875. Since 1871 
he has held the position of township register for one term, during the 
entire time of the existence of said office; was then elected township 
clerk, and in 1875 was elected magistrate. Mr. S. has an excellent 
library, and among his books are McCauley's writings, Knight's popular 
history of England, Rollin's ancient history. Gibbon's Rome, Lasting,. 
Headley's Indian Races of America, Hume and many more of the stand- 
ard authors. In politics he is a Democrat. 

LUTHER I. STEWART 

was born October 12, 1845, in Monongalia County, Virginia, being the- 
son of John Stewart, born in that county in 1801. He was a farmer by 
calling, and was judge of the county court at the opening of the rebell- 
ion. Luther's mother, formerly Elizabeth Cox, was born in the same 
county in 1804. They were married in the year 1822 and had eight 
children, three of whom are living, the subject of our sketch being the- 
youngest. The family came to Henry County November 28, 1867. 
Young Stewart was educated in Morgantown, Western Virginia, at the 
Morgantown Academy. On coming to Missouri he bought too acres of 
land, upon which he built a residence. He was married November 24, 
1869, to Miss Tennie C. Eliott. To them have been born eleven child- 
ren, and only four of these are living: Nattie M., Florence, Jennie Belle 
John W. Mr. Stewart formerly possessed 388 acres of farming land^. 
upon which he at present resides, but now he owns only forty acres. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. His political views are Dem- 
ocratic. Both himself and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church, Old 
School, holding their membership at Clinton. 

ZACHARY TAYLOR, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born November 2, 1851, at Cross Anchor,. 
Spartenburg County, South Carolina. His father, Steven Taylor, was. 
born in that county, and was an extensive planter and slave owner. He 
died in August, 1858. His mother, formerly Miss Matilda Jones, was 
born in the same locality as her husband. They were married about the 
year 1840, and had five children, three sons and two daughters, all stills 
living. Zachary Taylor was the youngest of them, and in 1866 he came 
to Henry County, with his sister's family, with whom he remained until; 



720 IIIsrORV OK HENRY COUN TV. 

July 3. 1867. Then he was married to Miss Margaret E. Elder. By this 
union they had two children, one son and one daughter. Mr. T. received 
his early education in his native county, at Anthon's Academy, attend- 
ing school regularly for a term of six years, in that institution. On 
coming to Henry County he resumed his studies, pursuing them at the 
public school in Holden, Johnson County, for two years. In 1874 he 
took a trip to Oregon, remained for one year and visited California on 
his return. He has 121 acres of land, upon which he has erected a new 
mill, for flouring, the sawing of lumber, etc. Politicalh' he is Independ- 
ent, sustaining the best men for office. 



WALKER TOWNSHIP. 

JOHN CALDWELL, 

was born in Noble County, Ohio, September 18. 1844, and was the third 
in a family of five children, of whom one brother, William, and two 
sisters, Jane Neptune and Mary Moberly, are living. His parents were 
Robert Caldwell, a native of Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Ann (Coles) 
Caldwell, originally from Ohio. His father died while the son was but a 
boy and his mother seven years after married a William Huddleston. 
Her death occurred in 1872. In the spring of 1864 Young Caldwell 
entered the Twentieth Ohio Infantry and was attached to General Sher- 
man's command and served with him through his memorable campaign, 
being discharged at Springfield in July, 1865. On Christmas day of that 
year, he was married in Noble County, Ohio, to Miss Abigal Neptune, 
who was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 9, 1844. In the spring 
of 1867 they came to Missouri and for two years lived at Dresden, Pettis 
County. There he engaged in milling at which he worked until 1880, 
coming to Henry County in 1877 when he erected the mill on Deep- 
^ater. In 1869 he purchased his present tract of land and in 1875 he 
moved upon it. He has 160 acres in cultivation and handles a number 
of cattle and hogs. He and his wife are identified with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and in politics Mr. Caldwell is Republican. He stands 
prominent among the enterprising men of Walker Township and takes 
an active interest in all matters of moral and educational tendencies. 
His family has numbered eight children: Charles W., William Hamp- 
son, Nettie Jane, Francis Marion, Flora Ellen May, Florence Matilda, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 72 1 

Clifford Levy and one who died in infancy. Recently Mr. C. and wife 
have had the misfortune to lose their second son, William Hampson, 
who died on the 17th of November, 1882. He was born March 3, 1869, 
and was a promising boy of nearly fourteen years. 

REV. ROBERT M. GRAGG 

was born in Howard County, Missouri, July 18, 1826, the seventh in a 
family often children. His father, Malcom Gragg was a native of Ten- 
nessee, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Rebecca Broad- 
hust. They were married in Tennessee. In or about 1833 they came 
to Missouri and located in Pettis County, where they lived some three 
years, moving in 1836 to Rives (now Henry) County, and settling on 
Deepwater, on what is now known as the "Stone Farm." He entered 
that tract of land and lived there some time, when, in company with his 
brother, Robert Gragg, he entered all of the timber land on what is 
known as Camp Branch. They both built houses on the creek and 
remained there until their deaths. Rebecca Gragg died in 1857, sr'd 
Malcom Gragg in the year 1862. Robert M. is therefore among the 
earliest settlers of Henry County. At the time his father settled there, 
only three families lived on the south side of Grand River for miles in 
either direction. He received comparatively little education, having 
attended school but four months, and his teacher was Miss Catherine 
Robards, the present wife of Dr. Toucey, of Bates County. Just after 
this term of school, young Robert was accidently shot by a schoolmate, 
and for many months his life hung in the scales that seemed about evenly 
balanced, but his youthful vigor carried him safely through the danger. 
On the 22d of February, in his twentieth year, he was married to Miss 
Catharine Cook, of Johnson County, and for several years he farmed in 
connection with his father. In 1855, he moved on his present farm, 
receiving eighty acres from his father. He entered two hundred acres 
more soon after, and until 1876, handled stock quite extensively. When 
about sixteen years old, Mr. Gragg united with the church, and until 
1850, he was attached to the United Brethren, when he joined the 
Methodist Protestant Church. In 1846 he was licensed to preach in the 
United Brethren Church, and continued as a local preacher until 1855, 
when he was ordained a regular minister of the gospel in the Methodist 
Protestant, and for over thirty years he has told the story of the Cross. 
His whole time was devoted to the cause of the church until 1863. He 
was placed upon the Warrensburg circuit several times, and much of his 
time was devoted to evangelical work. He was the only preacher in 
this section of the state who filled regular appointments during the war. 
Mr. Gragg has had a family of twelve children, of whom two died in 
nfancy, and two promising young men, Jasper Marion and Christopher 

46 



722 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

C. died in the summer of 1876, within five days of each other. Those 
living are : Rebecca M., John W., Elizabeth J., Burton H., Sarah A., and 
Mary B. Of his brothers who are now living: William R., and Henry 
H. Three sisters are still living: Susan Short, Mary Ann Poage and 
Ellender Crabtree. 

ADAM HARNESS, 

one of the pioneers of Henry County, was born in Hardiville, Virginia, 
on the 8th of March, 1808. He was the ninth in a family of three girls 
and seven boys, children of Adam and Elizabeth (Baker) Harness. In 
1836 Adam Harness, Jr., was married in St. Charles County, Missouri, 
to Miss Nancy Murdock. Before he had attained his majority he came 
to Missouri on business for his father, and subsequently engaged in 
teaching school, and taught in St. Charles and Gasconade Counties. He 
afterwards located in Jefferson County, where he lived for some time, 
then moving to St. Louis County, where he remained until the year of 
1854, when he came to Western Missouri, settling on the place which 
he now occupies. He at first bought a preemption claim and then 
entered his farm, entering and purchasing about 1,000 acres. He com- 
menced growing stock, which he has since continued. Mr. Harness' 
neighbors when he settled here, were Dr. Gates, Judge Stewart, Stephen 
and Henry Vickars, and a Mr. Sevier. He has reared a family of nine 
children, of whom five are living: William, Joseph, Alexander, Mary 
Ann and Nancy, Jack, Elvira, Adam and an infant, are deceased. ^ 

ALVIN C. HART, | 

section 29, is a native of North Carolina, and was born in Stokes County 
on June 4, 1846. His parents were Ashael W. and Verlinda Hart, nee \ 
Vanhoy. In 1852 his father came to Henry County and lived one year | 
in White Oak Township, and in 1855 he entered 120 acres of land, where ' 
he died November 3, 1865. His wife followed him on the 6th of April, \ 
1868. Alvin's youthful days were employed with his father until of age, \ 
and on December 28, 1869, he was married in Johnson County to Miss 
Lucretia Smith, a native of Johnson County. She lived but five years 
after her marriage, dying November 12, 1874, and leaving one child, | 
Arthur Wallace, born January 20, 1871. In 1875 Mr. Hart went to the | 
Pacific coast, where he remained one year. Since 1877 he has been 
farming, and now owns a farm containing 160 acres, about 100 acres 
being in cultivation. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church. Of his father's family of ten children, five of whom are 
now living: Sebastian C, Timothy, Sarah B., (wife of James H, Piatt,) j 
and Mary E., (wife of James W. Hunt.) 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 723 

HENRY R. HIBLER 

was born ten miles from St. Louis on the 30th of November, 18 12, and 
was the eldest of a family of eleven children, of whom three only are 
now living-, one brother, William, being in Jasper County, and a sister, 
Susan Sevier, living in Texas. He grew to manhood near St. Louis, and 
when twenty years old moved with his parents to Gasconade, now Osage 
County. After working several years in the lumber mills of South Mis- 
souri and rafting on the Osage River he began farming about the time 
of his father's death, in 1837, and he was married in Osage County 
March 6, 1842, to Miss Nancy Hill, of the same county. Her death 
occurred ten years afterward, and on the 28th of February, 1855, Mr, 
Hibler was married to Miss Paulina Parks. Subsequently he removed 
to Henry County, where he arrived in the winter of that year, soon 
securing a tract of 120 acres of a Mr. Landsman. Mrs. Hibler died Aug- 
ust 3, 1859, a"d two years thereafter Mr. H. married Miss Mary C. Shel- 
ley, who also died January 13, 1876. Mr. Hibler entered 160 acres of 
land in 1857 and had at one time nearly 800 acres. His farm now con- 
sists of 350 acres, in a good state of cultivation, and he has a place of 
about 100 acres near Clinton and two small farms in Walker Township. 
He has been an extensive buyer of stock, having followed shipping and 
driving for several years. He handles about fifty head of cattle, some 
hogs, a good flock of sheep and several horses. When Mr. Hibler set- 
tled in Henry County he had but few neighbors, the principal ones being 
Robert, John and Henry Gragg. He is a staunch Democrat and has 
voted at every presidential election since Monroe. He enlisted in the 
Mexican war as lieutenant in Colonel Daugherty's regiment, and was 
stationed for some time at Fort Leavenworth. Mr. Hibler's parents 
were Samuel and Charlotte (Groff) Hibler, both natives of Kentucky. 
His mother was born in Lexington December 10, 1791, and is yet living 
with her son. Though ninety-one years old, she retains much of the 
vigor of half a century ago. Mr. H. has had ten children, of whom four 
were of the first marriage; they are: Samuel S., the eldest, who died on 
Red River, Arkansas, December 9, 1864; Joseph F. and Franklin F,, 
twins (Joseph lives near his father and Franklin is in St. Clair County); 
the youngest is Mary Charlotte, wife of John Fisher, living in St. Clair 
County. There were two in the second family, Susan Margaret (wife of 
Jacob Marks), and Fieldon, who died in infancy. The youngest children 
are James W., Samuel H., Walie J. and Annie Isabel, all at home. 

NICHOLAS LONG, 

was born in Warren County, Tennessee, April i, 18 18, and was the son of 
William and Ruthie (Grimes) Long, the former of Virginia, and the latter 



724 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. | 

of Irish descent. They came to Missouri in 1834, and in the following year 
settled in Miller County where they lived until 185 1, when Nicholas 
removed to Henry County, locating upon a tract of 200 acres in White j 
Oak Township. He began to enter land and entered in all about 2,300 
acres. In 1857 he came upon his present farm. He was married in Mil- 
ler County, March 26, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Armstrong, who was born 
in Tennessee, April 5, 1823. They have reared a family of twelve child- 
ren of whom the two eldest, Mary and Sarah, and the youngest, Ben- 
jamin F., have died; Mary when seventeen years old, Sarah when twenty- 
one, and Benjamin F. at the age of twelve years. All of the others are ; 
married and living near their parents. They are John J. (whose wife j 
was Minerva A. Carter), James M. (who married Martha Engles), George ; 
W., (the husband of Mary E. Elliot), Henry P. (whose companion was 
Cordelia Koontz), William and Nicholas C, the youngest, (who married \ 
Mattie Toalson.) The girls are Margaret Ann (wife of George Bailey), ; 
Julian Ann, (wife of Tim Hart), and Elizabeth (who married John Hill). 
William, the seventh in the family, was born in Henry County, January 
16, 1856. He was employed on his father's farm until nineteen years old 
when his father gave him eighty acres of land and he began farming on 
his own account. On February 18, 1878, he married Miss Mary C Dix- 
son, daughter of Alfred Dixson. They have had four children: Annie E. \ 
Alonzo, Minnie, who died aged seven months, and Florence Eda. Mr. 
Long and wife are members of the M. E. Church, and he is a Republican 
in his political views. 1 

JOSEPH W. MOBERLY 

was born in Noble County, Ohio, September 14, 1846, his parents being 
Joseph and Margaret (Prior) Moberly. Joseph was the third of six chil- 
dren, one of whom, Hezekiah, lives in the same township. Mr. Moberly's 
young days were spent upon his father's farm in Ohio, and when in his 
twentieth year he was married to Miss Mary Caldwell in Lawrence 
County, Ohio. He began farming and continued that occupation until > 
1880, when he came to Henry County, Missouri, and located in Walker 
Township, buying a farm of eighty acres. He is now giving his atten- 
tion to tilling the soil, and is also raising cane to some extent, having 
the past year at least five acres, making 600 gallons. Mr. Moberly has I 
just erected a small store building on his farm and expects to put in a 
stock of general merchandise at an early date; and a postoffice will also 
be secured. He is one of the enterprising farmers of his section of the i 
county, and though a recent arrival here, is fast taking a position to 
which his business abilities and enterprise entitle him. Mr. Moberly has 
six children: Margaret Jane, Sarah Alice, Joseph William, Elbina, 
Ellen and Jeanettc May. I 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 725 

WILLIAM MOORE 

was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, September 22, 1830, and was 
the son of Samuel and Nancy Moore. He is the sixth of seven children, 
of whom one only, beside himself, is living, Mrs. Mary Bazzell. His 
parents died when he was quite young, and he grew to manhood in Mis- 
souri, having come to Johnson County in 1835. His youthful days were 
employed on a farm, and in November, 1852, he was married to Miss 
Nancy Tucker. In the spring of 1855 Mr. Moore came to Henry County 
and entered 160 acres of land, upon which he now lives. His farm con- 
tains 320 acres, and is in a fair state of cultivation, with good improve- 
ments. In April, 188 1, Mrs. Moore died, leaving nine children, six of 
whom are living: Mary A. Salmons; Emily, wife of Edward Walker; 
Louisa, Alice, Laura and George William. 

ROBERT A. THOMPSON. 

One of the most original minds in Henry County is that of Robert 
A. Thompson. Though quite a young man, and having received but a 
limited education, his genius and inventive mind are placing him among 
those who are public benefactors, through the means of his various labor 
saving inventions. He was born in Clarke County, Illinois, November 15, 
185 1, and is the fifth of ten children, four of whom are living, James, 
John D. and Melissa, now Mrs. Labaugh. His father, Robert Thomp- 
son, was a native of the North of Ireland, and his mother, formerly 
Margaret Birney, was born in Lawrence County, Illinois, where they 
were married March 23, 1841. In the same year they came to Clay 
County, Missouri, and after living there six years returned to Clark 
County, Illinois. Entering land he lived there six years, when he came 
to Henry County, in 1854. He has entered nearly 800 acres, and also 
owns 320 acres in Hickory County. Mr. Robert Thompson enlisted in 
the Seventh Missouri during the war, and participated in the battle of 
Lone Jack, where he received six wounds, and was discharged at Green- 
field in February, 1863. Robert A. Thompson was married January 23, 
1879, at Clinton, to Miss Mary C. McGrath, daughter of James McGrath, 
born February 10, 1858, in Jo. Daviess County, Illinois. They have two 
children, Anna Belle and Robert James. Mr. Thompson, being natur- 
ally of an inquiring disposition, closely noticed various labor saving 
inventions, and in the fall of 188 1 he began to experiment with a three 
horse equalizer, and has secured a patent on his invention. It has been 
pronounced the most complete equalizer ever patented. He has, also, a 
model for a corn planter attachment, for the check rower, which will 
obviate the necessity of a check line. He is also at work on a riding 
plow attachment which places the plow in front of the wheels. Other 



726 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

minor inventions are receiving his attention. He, as was his father, is 
identified with the M. E. Church, and in politics is a Republican. 

JOSEPH WAGNER 

was born on the Juniata .River, in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, 
May 26, 18 14, and is the eldest of a family of eight children, three of 
whom, beside himself are living. John T. Wagner, his father, was also 
a native of the Keystone State. His mother's maiden name was Eliza- 
beth Cross, originally from Maryland. While quite young Joseph was 
taken to Licking County, Ohio, where he grew to maturity and on Sep- 
tember 13, 1836, when in his twenty-third year, he was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Covey, born in Maryland. They rented a farm for ten years, 
when he settled in Union County, on land given him by his father. 
After living in that locality tor nine years he returned to Licking Count}', 
and remained there until 1864, when he emigrated west and located in 
Green County, Iowa, where he made his home until 1869. Coming to 
Henry County in the spring of that year he settled where he now resides. 
The family has consisted of eight children: Martha Jane, the eldest, (wife 
of Samuel Carrier), and living at Rich Hill; Francis Marion, lives at Mon- 
roe, Wisconsin; James Monroe, married Mary M. Bailey, and is in Lead- 
ville, Colorado; Mary Ann is wife of Nathan Lake; Nancy Elizabeth is 
the wife of J. W. Bennett, at Rich Hill; Emily Eliza married David T. 
Owens; John Wesley married Elizabeth Harrison, and lives in Davis 
Township; the youngest, Samuel Cox, was recently married to Miss 
Marian Birge, and lives with his father. Mr. Wagner has been a justice 
of the peace for about six years, a position which he has filled with 
credit. 

RICHARD R. WALKER 

was born in Stokes, (now Forsyth) Count)', North Carolina, March 24, 
1825. His parents, David Walker and Mary, m'c Bennett, who were 
both natives of North Carolina, had eight children in their family, of 
whom Richard was the sixth. Only five of the number are now living and 
he is the only one in Missouri. In 1855, September 2, he was married in 
Stokes County, North Carolina, to Miss Melissa Ann Hart, who died just 
four years afterward, on September 2, 1855. In the September following 
his marriage he came to Missouri and settled in White Oak Township, 
Henry County, where he entered a forty acre tract of land, upon which 
he lived one season. Then he entered forty acres on Grandady Branch. 
He also preempted a tract on Deepwater, upon which he built a house. 
In i860 Mr. Walker returned to North Carolina and remained four years, 
locating on his present place in the next year. His farm contains eighty 
acres, all improved. In 1874 he went to Texas, but stayed only two 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 72/ . 

years. He is a carpenter by trade, and much of his time has been 
employed at work at this calling. At the spring election of 1882 Mr. 
W. was chosen a justice of the peace. He is a Republican in politics, 
and is a micmberof the M. E. Church. He has one son, James T. 

ROBERT W. WALKER 

was born in New Forsythe County, North Carolina, (at that time Stokes 
County), October 15, 1845, and was the son of Ur. William and Eliza- 
beth B. (VanHoy) Walker, both natives of that state. The former was 
born in Stokes County, October 19, 1804, and his wife in November, 1809. 
His grandfather came from Ireland early in the last century. The family 
of VanHoys are of Holland descent, and the ancestors were probably co- 
temporaries with the Knickerbockers of New York, William and Eliza- 
beth were married October 19, 1828. Dr. Walker early began the practice of 
medicine, which he continued through life. He came to Missouri and to 
Henry County in the spring of 1852, in company with several other fam- 
ilies, and located on Deepwater, where he entered about 500 acres of 
land and where he lived until his death which occurred February 12, 
188 1. On the lOth of the month the doctor was superintending the 
loading of some saw logs, and one falling upon him he sustained injuries 
which resulted in his death. He had been one of the county's most 
highly respected and influential men, and his death was seriously felt 
by hundreds whose good fortune it had been to know him. He was 
one of the pioneer physicians here, and his practice extended over a 
large scope of country. His soul was in the work, and when called upon 
to render professional services to suffering fellow beings, he never hesi- 
tated to comfort the distressed, though often without hope of pecuniary 
gain. He became a professor of religion when a young man, and was a 
member of the M. E. Church for upwards of forty years, but since 1865 
he had been connected with the Cumberland Presbyterians, and lived 
a consistent Christian life. None were quicker to respond to charity's 
call, and to the stranger who approached his door the latch string was 
always on the outside. His wife, Elizabeth, survived him but a few 
months, dying on the 12th of the following September. Robert W. is 
the only son living, one, the second in the family, James H., dying in 
camp in 1862, at Georgetown, Pettis County, aged about thirty-one years. 
Four sisters are living : Flavia V., (wife of B. M. Wayne), Luzettie 
J. (wife of John C. Rice), Fiorina A., (wife of John R. Greenhalgh), and 
Candace O., (wife of John Anderson, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri.) Three 
sisters have died. The eldest of the family, Martha A., died in 
1855, at the age of twenty-six, Mary E., in 1852, when eighteen years 
old, and Verlinda E., also in 1855, at fifteen years of age. Robert Walker 
was married October 15, 1868, at Knobnoster, to Miss Mary E. Smith, 



728 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

daughter of a pioneer of Johnson County. She died of consumption 
November iq, 1877, leaving three children: Demarius Otelia, Charles 
Edward and William Jesse. Two years after this, Mr. Walker was mar- 
ried on November 24, 1879, to Miss Paulina McMillan, who was born in 
Forsythe County, North Carolina, January 17, 1859. They have one 
child, living: Lora Leona, and recently buried a little boy, Robert Ham- 
ilton, who died November 13, 1882. Mr. Walker received such educa- 
tion as could be gained in the schools of the county, prior to the war, 
and having access to his father's library, he soon acquired a thirst for 
reading and became familiar with standard works. He has served the 
people in the capacity of justice for some time, having been elected and 
afterwards appointed. Himself, wife, and eldest daughter are connected 
with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Walker lives on a part 
of the land which his father entered on his coming to the country. 



DAVIS TOWNSHIP. 

JAMES ARMSTRONG 

was born in Madison County, Ohio, September 20, 1833, being the sixth 
of fifteen children, whose parents were Robert and Elizabeth (Earl) 
Armstrong, natives of Ohio. One sister, Mary J., is the wife of Dr. D. 
R. Caldwell; one is in Kansas City, and one brother, Robert, is at Shel- 
byville. The young days of James were spent on a farm, and he then 
engaged in mercantile pursuits at London, Ohio. In 1855 he moved to 
Bloomington, Illinois, and in 1856 to Kansas. For some years he was 
on the freight lines to Santa Fe. During the war he served in the Sec- 
ond Kansas Cavalry, taking part in some of the principal border fights 
and receiving two wounds. In 1868 he came to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, and began to improve a tract of land which his father had entered. 
His farm contains 640 acres and is one of the best in the county. Mr. 
Armstrong deals extensively in stock and is considered one of the most 
reliable men of this locality. He was married April 16, 1867, in Cham- 
paign County, Illinois, to Miss Minerva Crozen, who was born at Har- 
per's Ferry, Virginia, May 14, 1834. They have four children living: 
Harry, Claude, Robert and James O. One, Gracie, died at the age of 
fourteen months. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 729 

R. P. BLEVINS, 

is probably the oldest person now living who was born in the present 
limits of Henry County. He was born October 20, 183 1, in what is now 
Shawnee Township, on the Pleasant Walker farm. One child only was 
born in the county prior to his birth and that was the son of a colored 
woman in the family of Lang Avery, and that child is supposed to have 
died in infancy. "Pres.," as he is familiarly called, is the eldest of a fam- 
ily of five children, of whom all are living but Stephen, who died of 
small-pox at Bloody Island, St. Louis, in 1863. He had entered Price's 
command and was captured at Prairie Grove. His father, Ezekial Blev- 
ins, came from Kentucky to Missouri when a young man, and in John- 
son County met Miss Theresa Young, to whom he wa.s soon after mar- 
ried. They settled in Henry County in 1830, and after living three years 
in Shawnee he went to White Oak, where he secured a small farm and 
afterward entered 600 or 700 acres of land upon which he lived until his 
wife's death in 1861. Going to Johnson County he died there in the fall 
of 1865 at the age of fifty-three. When twenty-three years old R. P. 
borrowed $ 100 and entered eighty acres of land in section 23, and began to 
make a farm. January 14, 1854, he was married in Bates County to Miss 
Missouri Crockett, daughter of James Crockett, an early settler of that 
county. She was born in Indiana, May 16, 183 1. Mr. B. soon built a 
little log cabin and began a life of hard work. His first dealing in stock 
was by trading a rifle for fourteen head of hogs. He raised hogs for quite 
a while, until able to sell at one time, and then buying a few heifers, he 
laid the foundation for a stock business unsurpassed by any man in 
Henry County. He now owns over 2,700 acres of land in the best part 
of the county, and during the past year raised 2,000 acres of corn, and 
fed 350 head of beef cattle, about an average number for him to feed. 
He has on hand also 450 stock cattle. He has 900 head of feeding hogs 
and nearly 1,000 pigs, together with a flock of 400 Cotswold sheep. He 
raises 400 acres of meadow, and has excellent success in cultivating the 
tame grasses. He was formerly one of the most extensive shippers 
from this section of the state, but for three years has not done much in 
this line. Mr. Blevins is Democratic in politics and takes quite an 
active interest in educational matters. He has acquired his splendid com- 
petency by adhering to strict business principles, and good judgment in 
his labors. Certainly no man in the county dispenses hospitality with 
a more liberal hand or is more sincerely liked by those with whom he 
has dealings than " Pres." Blevins. He has a family of seven children. 
The eldest, John, has a farm of 640 acres, and is a thorough business 
man; his wife, was a Miss Belle Tolston. Mary is the wife of Benjamin 
Collins, Sarah Jane is the wife of John B. Cornett. Nancy Ann married 
Robert DeArman and lives in Bogard; Fred, Julia and Lottie Pearl are 



730 HISTORY OF HENRV COUNTY. 

at home. Walter Reno, a lad of fourteen, has been in Mr. Blevins' fam- 
ily for four years. 

JEREMIAH BLEVINS 

was born in Johnson County, Missouri, October 24, 1837. ^ sketch of 
the life of his parents will be found in the biography of his brother, 
" Pres " Blevins. Jeremiah's early days were spent in hard work upon 
his father's farm, and in his twentieth year he was married, on Septem- 
ber 28, 1857, to Miss Mary E. Dunn. His father giving him a small piece 
of land, and managing to enter another small tract, he engaged in farm- 
ing, and in 1861 had acquired over 400 acres of land. When the call 
for arms was raised he enlisted at Lone Jack, at which place commenced 
his war record. Being in Colonel Cockrell's command he continued 
with him until the battle at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, where he and his 
brother Stephen were captured. He was confined at St. Louis, Alton 
and Chicago, and after being kept a prisoner for six months was 
exchanged at Petersburg, Virginia. He joined the forces again at Rich- 
mond and remained there for forty days, when he went south and re- 
joined his original commander at Meriden, Mississippi. He surrendered 
at Jackson, Mississippi, in 1865. He received but one serious wound, 
that being caused by a shell fracturing his left knee. When the war 
closed Mr. Blevins returned to Missouri and resumed his farming opera- 
tions, after an interruption of five years. His wife had lived but a few 
years after their marriage, and on his return in the fall of 1865 he married 
Miss Emily H. Feris, daughter of Charles Feris, of Bates County. His 
first wife had left him one son, George W., who has married Miss Martha 
DeArman. By his present wife he has five children: Virginia Ann, 
Stephen E. Dullie, Lizzie and Robert E. Lee. Mr. Blevins has been 
quite successful in his business undertakings, and now owns over 800 
acres of good land, and has also a good farm in Texas. He feeds a 
moderate number of cattle each year, having about 125 head of stock at 
present. 

DR. R. M. BOLTON 

was born at Jefferson City, Missouri, on the eleventh of January, 1846, 
and is the seventh of a family of twelve children, seven boys and five 
girls. His parents were Meredith N. and Sarah Bolton, fiee Hall. The 
former of North Carolina family and the latter of Virginia birth. They 
came to Missouri in 1828 and lived in and near Jefferson City until their 
deaths. Mr. B. dying in 1877 and his widow in the next year. R. M. 
received fair school advantages in youth, having attended the Lafayette 
high school, under that staunch old educator. Dr. Arnot. He began the 
study of medicine at home and continued studying under his brother, 
Rufus L., a physician of long practice at Holden. In 187 1 he com- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 73 I 

menced his practice in Johnson County, and after a time removed to 
Lucas, in Henry County, where he remained two years, then coming to 
Ladue, in 1874, and purchasing a drug store. He has since been prac- 
ticing his profession with good success. Dr. Bolton was married at 
Lucas, while engaged in his practice there, on October 15, 1872, to Miss 
Amelia K. Godwin, daughter of William Godwin. She is a native of 
Tennessee. They have two children, Howard and Roxana, and have 
also lost two, the eldest, Lewis, dying at three years, and the other in 
infancy. Mrs. Bolton is identified with the Methodist Church, South. 

DR. A. P. BOWMAN 

was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, on the 23d of May, 1819. His 
parents were of New Jersey birth, and were named Nathaniel and Ann 
(Buffin) Bowman. They reared a family of six children, of whom A. P. 
is the fourth, and he has been a resident of this state since the age of 
twenty years. He began to practice medicine when about twenty-seven 
years old, and followed the profession for ten years in Clay County, hav- 
ing spent one year in California. He came to Henry County in )86i, 
from Bates County, where he lived for four years just previous, and con- 
tinued the practice here under serious difficulties during the war, and 
since then until within the past three years, when he concluded to hand 
the practice to younger men. He has since devoted himself to the 
labors of the farm. Dr. Bowman was married October 28, 1846, to Miss 
Mariah M. Riley, daughter ot Major A. M. Riley, of Clay County. They 
have five children: Lucy Ann, (wife of John Henkle) Carrie A., (wife of 
J. T. Parks, in Franklin County), Alia L, in school at Kansas City, and 
two boys, T. C. and A. R. T. C. Bowman was born June 2, 1855, in 
Platte County, Missouri. A. R., born in Bates County, May 8, 185 1. 
They have received fair educational advantages, A. R. attending the 
Clinton public schools,'and T. C. having spent one year at Warrensburg 
Normal School. The youngest was married October 14, 1880, to Miss 
Ella Adair, daughter of William Adair. She died September 16, 1881, 
having one child, Locke. The brothers are farming quite extensively, 
having over 4Q0 acres of good land. They feed about fifty head of cattle 
and 100 hogs. The family are all identified with the Christian Church. 

JONATHAN W. BROWN 

is a native of Delaware, having been. born in Kent County May 31, 1843. 
His parents were F. C. and Ruth (Wyatt) Brown. J. W. is the eldest of 
fourteen children, eight of whom are now living in this county. The 
family came to Henry County in 1843 when he was but an infant, and 
his younger days were spent here. At the outbreak of the war he 



732 HISTORY OF HENRY COaNTY. 

enlisted in the Sixtieth E. M. M. and was in the Forty-third Volunteer. 
He was stationed for nearly two years at St. Louis, where he did gen- 
eral duty. When Colonel Hollis organized his command at Clinton Mr. 
Brown was chosen as second lieutenant in Captain Whitworth's com- 
pany, in which capacity he served fourteen months. Upon peace being 
restored he engaged in farming operations, and on February 6, 1866, he 
was married to Miss Margaret Morgan, a native of Kentucky. She lived 
until October 20, 1874, when she died,Jeaving one child. On July 13 
following Mr. Brown was married to Mrs. Eda A. Armstrong, widow of 
F. M. Armstrong. Mrs. Brown is the sister of R. P. Blevins. One child 
is living to bless this union, Josephine. In 1875 he moved upon his pres- 
ent farm, which contains eighty acres of excellent land. In politics he 
is Republican. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. fraternity and is 
identified with the Methodist Protestant Church. His wife is a Cumber- 
land Presbyterian. 

SAMUEL CALVERT 

was born in Franklin County, Kentucky, March i, 1831, being the son 
of Isaac and Mildred (Chambers) Calvert, both natives of Virginia. One 
brother, Cyrus, is in Kentucky, and one sister, Nancy MuUin, is in White 
Oak Township, this county. Samuel was reared on a farm, and Decem- 
ber 19, 1854, he was married to Miss Amanda E. Bodkin in Harrison 
County, Kentucky. March 31, 1868, she departed this life, and on April 
27 of the^following year he was married in Clarke County, Missouri, to 
Miss Mary S. Beckett, a native of that county. She died in January, 
1875. March 22, 1876, he married Mrs. Harriet N. Sullivan, whose 
maiden name was Wisely. She has one daughter, now the wife of S. C. 
Armstrong. Mr. Calvert has four children by his first marriage: Isaac 
N. (in Washington Territory), Catherine Z. (wife of James Shipp), Wil- 
liam S. and Mollie Belle. His second wife left him two children, Wood- 
ford and Ellen, in Clarke County. Mr. Calvert came to Henry County 
in 1858 and bought 620 acres of land. His farm now contains 280 acres, 
and he has been handling stock more or less while living here, now hav- 
ing one car load feeding, with about fifty head of stock cattle. During 
the war he served under Colonel Marmaduke and was wounded at the 
fight of Lone Jack. He is a thorough business man and a most hospita- 
ble gentleman. 

GEORGE W. CRUCE 

is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Livingston County, (now 
Crittenden) September 11, 1829. His parents were James and Nancy 
(Harrison) Cruce, also natives of Kentucky. George was the fifth of 
nine children, and he has one brother, James, in Vernon County, Mis- 
souri. In 1854 he first came to Missouri and then entered a half section 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 733 

of land, but soon after went back to his native home. After an. absence 
of two years he returned to Missouri and began to improve his land. On 
the 7th of February, 1858, he was married to Miss Frances Hester, orig- 
inally of Tennessee. In 1862 he again returned to Kentucky, and 
remained there until the close of the rebellion, when he once more came 
to Missouri, and for four years was occupied at Warrensburg in clerking 
for the firm of Cruce & Bell. In 1869 he removed upon his farm. This 
contains 315 acres in one of the most agreeable sections of the county, 
all of which is in a fair state of cultivation, and he is improving his 
stock to some extent. Mr. Cruce is one of the more substantial and 
reliable men of this vicinity, and for ten years has held the office of jus- 
tice of the peace. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having 
been admitted over thirty years ago. He has but two children, George, 
aged twenty-two, and Marshall, aged nineteen years. 

WILLIAM DAVIS 

was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, January 28, 1814, and was the 
son of Thomas and Sarah (Ruddell) Davis, natives of Virginia. William, 
the youngest of ten children, is the only one of the family now living. 
When he was eleven years old his parents removed to Pike County, 
Missouri, and settled near the village of Clarksville, being among the 
first settlers of that part of the state. At the age of twenty-two, Decem- 
'ber 24, 1835, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Elizabeth Price. He was 
subsequently engaged in farming in Pike County, until 1856, when he 
came to Henry County and settled in the tract of land upon which he 
still lives. He was the first man to settle away from the timber in that 
section, but he located on the prairie and entered. nearly 3,oco acres of 
land. The first year he put lOO acres under fence and raised a crop of 
corn. He now has 400 acres in the farm, all improved, and about one- 
half in cultivatior). He is growing tame grass quite successfully, having 
seventy-five acres. He has handled a large number of cattle, and now 
keeps about seventy-five head, "^twenty being high graded Short Horns 
from the noted herd of Kissinger. He also keeps sixty Cotswold sheep 
and 100 Berkshire hogs. The town of Ladue is situated on land granted 
by Mr. Davis to the railroad company. His father died in Pike County 
in 1837, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his mother lived until ten 
years ago, having reached the age of ninety-six years. Mrs. Davis died 
January 14, 1878, having borne a family of twelve children, six of whom 
survive: Margaret Ann, (now Mrs. Carl Shy) William B., Mollie, (wife 
of George Mayes) Ellen, (wife of Henry Settles) George and Jennie, 
(wife of Porter Settles). John, the eldest, died when twenty-three years 
old. Sarah Frances died at twenty, and Thomas having entered the 
militia of Pike County, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun 



734 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

in the hands of a comrade. Lucinda and Henrietta were each about two 
years old, and Joseph had just became of age. On September 19, 1878, 
Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Rutledge. Her 
maiden name was Mary F. Waggener, and she was born in Mason 
County, Virginia, May 6, 1833, and was married in 1857 in Putnam 
County, Missouri, removing thence to Texas, where she lived for several 
years. She had five children: Annie, the eldest, (wife of John Harri- 
son); William died at fifteen, and Joseph, Charles and Minnie, are at 
home. Mr. 13. and wife are members of the Christian Church, and in 
politics he is a Republican. He is an energetic, thorough business man 
and a model farmer. 

JUDGE JAMES M. HARRISON 

was born in Mason County, West Virginia, May 24, 183 1. His father 
was William H. Harrison,' and his mother's maiden name was Esther 
Allen, both of old Virginia families. She died in 1854, but the former 
is residing on the old home farm in Western Virginia. He is a hale old 
gentleman of seventy-four years, and is living with his third wife. James 
was the second of eleven children, six of whom are living, two besides 
himself in Missouri, Caroline, (wife of William A. Pfost) and Virginia, 
(wife of James Porter.) He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and 
in his twenty-first year was married, January 10, 1852, to Miss Esther 
Fisher, of Virginia. In 1856 they came to Missouri and settled near 
Calhoun, where they lived on the " Draper Farm " two years, moving 
thence in 1858 to his present home. He ertered 160 acres of land and 
bought more as his means would allow, and his farm now contains about 
700 acres of fine lartd suitable for stock growing or agriculture. Mr. 
Harrison is one of the substantial farmers of the county, and was chosen 
at the recent election judge of the county court, for the second district. 
During the war he served about six moftths with Price, and participated 
in the action at Drywood, and was also at the capture of Lexington. 
He afterward served in the state militia, and was at Sedalia at the time 
of the raid upon that place. In 1876, having suffered from poor health 
for some time, he went to California and spent one season in the moun- 
tains. Recuperating his failing health he has since devoted his atten- 
tion to the duties of the farm. Judge Harrison lost his wife on the 5th 
of December, 1877. She left four children: Mary Elizabeth, (wife of 
John W. Wagner), John W., (whose wife is Anna Rutlege), James H., 
(who married Mattie Birge) and Mordecia A. January 2, 188 1, he mar- 
ried Miss Margaret P. Green. They have one child, Clement J. 



BIOGRAPrilCAL, 735 

O. C. HORRELL 

was born in Scott County, Illinois, November 17, 1821, being the son of 
Charles W. and Elizabeth (Carson) Horrell, both Kentuckians by birth, 
who settled in Illinois in 18 19. O. C. is the third of six children. He 
was married at the age of twenty-seven years, on October 22, 1848, to> 
Miss Elizabeth Sawyer, after which he located in Iowa, where they lived 
until coming to Missouri, in 1870. Then they took up their residence 
where they now live. His farm contains 160 acres on section 15. He 
has a family of six children: James B., Charles W., William B., Clara L.^ 
Ida Ann and Alice G. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member 
of the M. E. Church, and has been a Mason for twenty years. 

J. M. AND H. M. HULL 

are prominent men of Henry County. Th£ former was born April 4, 
1854, and the latter September 8, 1859, J. M. in Oneida County, New 
York, and H. M. in DeKalb County, Illinois. Their parents were Silas 
C. Hull, a native of New York, and Augusta P., nee Linebeck. They 
were married in Oneida County, New York, in 1850, and in 1856 settled 
in DeKalb County, Illinois, where they remained ten years, coming 
thence to Missouri in 1866. Their father died March 20, 1877, and since 
that time the boys have conducted the operations of the farm. This 
contains 120 acres, all improved, upon which they annually feed a car 
load of cattle and keep twenty hogs and thirty sheep. The elder of the 
brothers managed to acquire a fair common school education in youth, 
and for some years has employed the winter months in teaching school, 
and is considered one of the successful instructors of the county. Neither 
are married. 

SAMUEL H. JONES, M. D. 

* 

was born in Warren County, Missouri, November 27, 1837. His father, 

John Jones was an old practitioner of Warren County, having settled 
there in 1818 from Kentucky. He met his death by assassination in 
1842. He had tried to have the laws enforced against evil doers, and at 
the hands of such men he received his death. Samuel's mother, for- 
merly Minerva B. Callaway, was a daughter of Flanders Callaway, promi- 
nent among the pioneers of Missouri, and who married the daughter of 
Daniel Boone, thus making Dr. Jones the great grandson of the famous 
hunter. A portion of the original stone that was placed at the head of 
Daniel Boone's grave, is now in Dr. Jones' possession. At his mother's 
death, when he was but sixteen years of age, he went to Franklin County, 
and lived with a brother. He attended DesPaine's College at St. Louis, 
and in 1857, he began to stud}' with Dr. Powell at Marthasville, Warren 



736 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

County, but at the end of a year, entered with his brother at Newport, 
Franklin County, In 1859 he attended the St. Louis Medical College, 
where he graduated in the spring of 1861. He then began the practice 
of his profession at Miller's Landing, and July 16, 1861, he was married 
in St. Louis, to Miss Cynthia A. Griswold, who was born February 8, 
1843. In the fall of the same year he entered the army service at Osceola, 
and was made assistant surgeon under Dr. Dorsey in Colonel Johnson's 
regiment in Parson's Brigade. He remained for eighteen months in 
Missouri and Arkansas, when he returned home and resumed' the prac- 
tice at Marthasville. In 1864 he removed to Williamsburg, Callaway 
County, and subsequently practiced in Warren County again for two 
years. In 1870 he came to Henry County, and located seven miles west 
of Clinton, and in 1872, took up his residence in Ladue, where he has a 
very successful practice. In 1878 he opened a drug store, and has since 
been handling a good stock. Dr. Jones has for a time been buying stock 
and grain and in each of these industries, is doing a fair trade. On the 
8th of March 1880, his wife died. He has seven children living: Lee, 
Archibald N., Caroline A., Sallie P., Harvey, Jeffie, and Daniel B. Dr. 
Jones has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for nearly twenty- 
five years. 

STEPHEN A. D. MANON, 

commonly known as " Doug." Manon, was born in Licking County, Ohio, 
on the 6th of January, i860, and is the youngest of a family of seven 
children. His father, H. S. Manon, a native of Pennsylvania, was born 
January 2, 1810. His mother's name before marriage was Mary Palmer- 
ston, and she was born in New York, December 14, 1822. Mr. Manon 
has long been a prominent character in the politics of the Buckeye State. 
He was a delegate to the presidential convention which nominated 
Greeley and Brown, and also of the convention that drafted the present 
constitution of Ohio. He is now living a retired life. Of the family 
two besides our suject are living in Henry County: Martin VanBuren 
and Mrs. Lida Harville, widow of Alexander Harville. The others are 
Miles P., S. H., Ella and John T. In 1865 the family settled in Mason 
County, Illinois, where they lived nine years. Removing to Logan 
County, they remained there until the spring of 1881 when they came to 
Henry County. The farm contains 104 acres of good land, well improved 
•with good buildings, etc. They handle considerable stock, including 
about forty head of Berkshire hogs. "Doug." has received a fair educa- 
tion, mainly at Lincoln University, at Lincoln, Illinois, and since com- 
ing to Missouri has been the Missouri correspondent to the Lincoln 
Democrat. His marriage occurred on December 31, 1882. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 737 

CHARLES H. MERTEL 

is a native of Prussia, where he was born October 25, 1852, being the 
youfigest of three brothers, Edward and Frederick now living- in Illinois. 
His parents, Frederick and Natalea (Witchel) Mertel, were also born in 
Prussia. When -but four years old Charles was brought to Missouri, and 
after a short residence here went to Keokuk, Iowa, and in 1859 to St. 
Charles County, Missouri. There his father served in the militia during 
the war. In 1868 he came to Johnson County, and in 1870 to Henry, 
locating where Charles is now living. The senior Mertel died at War- 
saw, November 18, 1878, from the effect of a gunshot wound in the 
breast, received while on a hunting expedition in company with several 
gentlemen. It is unknown who fired the fatal shot, but it is supposed to 
have been some person hostile to the hunting party. The shot was 
fired through the tent at night while all inside were asleep. Mr. C. H. 
Mertel is one of the most progressive farmers of this neighborhood. 
His farm contains nearly 200 acres of excellent farming land, situated 
two miles north of LaDue. He was married February 22, 1877, to Miss 
Kate Cook, of this county, where she was born January 5, i860, being 
a daughter of the late Jacob Cook. Two children have blessed this 
union, Anna Florence and Etna May. Mr. Mertel and wife are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he is Independent. 

WILLIAM F. AND EUGENE D. MING 

were both born in Franklin County, Missouri, the former February i, 
1849, and the latter January 25, 1855. Their parents were James M. and 
Jennie (Osborn) Ming. William was married January 30, 1878, to Miss 
Celeste Jeffries, who was born October 2, 1854, i" the same county as 
himself. They have one child, Robert D. Eugene was married Novem- 
ber 6, 1881, to Miss Laura May, born October 20, 1862. These brothers 
came to Henry County in 1878, and now have a desirable tract of 800 
acres of land, 600 being in cultivation. They have 400 acres of corn 
120 in wheat, and are feeding lOO head of beef cattle and a like number 
of stock cattle, with 400 hogs. They are men of more than ordinary 
culture and ability and have acquired a good education. William spent 
two years at the St. Louis University and was for some time at the 
Christian Brothers' Academy. Eugene received his education at the 
State University, and for a while was engaged in teaching after coming 
to Henry County. Both have passed some time in the mountains, where 
their father has large stock interests. 

HARRISON NOBLE 

was born in Franklin County, Kentucky, January 3, 18 18. His father, 
William Noble, a native of Virginia, was a soldier in the war of inde- 

47 



738 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 1 

pendence, participating in the battle of Guilford Court House. He mar- ; 
ried Hannah Miner, of Pennsylvania. Of a family of seven children, i 
Harrison was the sixth; four are now living. At the age of eleven years 
he was taken to Parke County, Indiana, where he grew to man's estate, 
and on his nineteenth birthday he was married to Miss OUey Spurgeon, 
also of Kentucky. His father died in 1841, and in the following year he 
emigrated to Missouri. Himself and wife drove with ox teams to their 
new home and settled in what is now Harrison County, Missouri, then 
a portion of Daviess. He was engaged in farming and in running a 
steam mill there for nearly forty years. In 1869 Mr. Noble came to 1 
Henry County and bought a tract of land four miles south of Clinton, 
consisting of nearly 900 acres. He began to handle stock, and con- 
tinued farming until 1876, when he became interested in selling goods 
at LaDue, having the second store of any note in the place. He and his 
youngest son Harrison, sold goods for about two years, when he dis- 1 
posed of his store interests and has since been occupied in handling and 1 
manufacturing "Thompson's " washer. Mr. Noble is the inventor of all 
improved washing machine, and has received letters patent on his inven- 
tion. He has been keeping the LaDue Travelers' Home for two years, 
and his attention as " mine host" have brought the house into popular 
favor. He has two farms, one of 300 acres and one of eighty acres, and 
both are underlaid with four foot veins of coal. On the 5th of February, i 
i87i,the companion of Mr. Noble, she who had lent the helping hand, | 
and had assisted and comforted him for thirty-four years, died on the | 
15th of May, 1875. He married Mrs. Margaret Mills, widow of James 1 
Mills, who died in 1870. Her maiden name was Margaret Tisinger and | 
she was born in North Carolina. Mr. Noble has four children: John, 
Elizabeth, Harrison and Lewis, the last dying in Daviess County in 
May, 1881. John lives in Harrison County. Elizabeth is the wife of 
W, P. Martin and lives in Clinton Township. Plarrison lives in LaDue. 
His wife was Miss Julia Saunders. Mr. Noble is a member of the Metho- , 
dist Church. In politics he is a Greenbacker, having formerly been a ' 
Whig, and casting his first vote for General Harrison. ; 

Dr. JOSEPH NOBLE, | 

physician and surgeon at LaDue, was born in Parke County, Indiana, on 
the last day of February, 1846, and was next to the last of ten children, 
of whom six are now living. His parents were natives of Shelby 
County, Kentucky, and settled in Indiana soon after the Indian war. j 
Our subject bears the name of his father, and his mother's maiden name | 
was Sarah May. His early days were fully employed assisting his 
father in the labors of the farm, and he acquired a fair education, mainly 
in the country schools and at Belmore Seminary. At the age of sixteen j 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 739 

years he enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Indiana Volunteers and remained in 
that command three months, being in the action at Richmond, Ken- 
tucky. At the expiration of a year spent at home he again responded 
to the call for troops, this time enlisting in the 149th Indiana, and 
remaining in service until discharged at Nashville in September, 1865. 
He then passed one year in school, and when twenty years of age came 
west and for two years was occupied in teaching in Henry and Jasper 
Counties, Missouri. Returning to Indiana in 1868 he began the study 
of medicine with Dr. John Wilcox, at Greencastle, Indiana, with whom 
he studied for two years, when he attended the lecture course of the 
University of Virginia. He graduated from that institution in June, 
1870. He retraced his steps to Coatesville, Indiana, and then began a 
practice that has extended over twelve years. In the Centennial year 
he again came to Missouri, and locating at LaDue has gained an envia- 
ble reputation among the successful practitioners of the county. As 
well as being a successful physician Dr. Noble is a farmer of exceptional 
success. His farm contains 420 acres of good land, well improved, with 
far better than the customary buildings, and making one of the most 
desirable stock farms in the county. He handles about 150 cattle, feed- 
ing forty head of good steers and sixty hogs. On the 23d of February, 
1873, the doctor was married to Miss Laura Layton, a native of Indiana, 
born July 16, 1856. Mrs. Noble is a member of the M. E. Church. Dr. 
Noble is Democratic, and for twenty years has been a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. 

J. W. PENLAND, 

farmer and stock grower, was born on the Holstein River, in Cocke 
County, Tennessee, August 23, 1845. His parents, Aaron and Catha- 
rine (Philips) Penland, were married in Tennessee, and were the parents 
of six children, three boys and three girls, all of whom are living. When 
seven years of age John W. was taken to Kentucky, but after living 
there orrly one year the family came on West to Illinois, settling in 
Washington County, where he lived with his father until the age of eigh- 
teen. Then he began to work by the month, which he continued for five 
or six years, and in 1869 he came with his father to Henry County, and 
for nearly two years had charge of the water tank at Grand River. His 
father, a brother and himself secured an interest in the Grand River 
toll road, and repairing the road they retained it until the expiration of 
the charter when it reverted to the county. Mr. Penland was then given 
charge of the Deepwater tank and ran that until August, 1880. In 1877 
he secured his farm which consists of 280 acres. He has a fine stock and 
grain farm and usually handles about fifty head each of cattle and hogs. 
April I, 1872, he married Mrs. Annie Vanscoyk, who was born in Ver- 
million County, Indiana, September 29, 1847. She was the widow of 



J-^O HTSTOKV OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Allen Vanscoyk. who died January /, 1870. They were married in Indi- 
ana in 1864, and soon after came to Missouri. She has one girl, Gracie 
A., aged fifteen years, and she also lost a boy of twelve years, Jesse A., 
who died October 26. 1879. 

W. A. PFOST 

was born in Jackson County, West Virginia, January 8, 1837, being the 
3on of Abraham and Elizabeth (Reader) Pfost. He was the third in a 
family of ten children, and one brother, Henry Clay, is in Montrose. 
Mr. Pfost was married at the age of twenty-two on F'ebruary 17, 1859, 
to Miss Caroline Harrison, sister of Judge J. M. Harrison. In 1869 he 
came to Henry County and began to farm in Davis Township, where he 
now lives, having 160 acres of land, nicely situated and well improved. 
He has been dealing extensively in live stock, and usually feeds two or 
three car loads of beef cattle and aims to handle a superior grade of 
stock. More men like our subject is what has made Henry County take 
ks place among the first counties of the state in a comparatively short 
space of time. Having but a very little property when he came from 
Virginia a few years ago, he has managed to acquire a fair competency 
by industry and good management. Mr. Pfost is Democratic in politics, 
and himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church South. They 
have a family of eight children: Lewis William (who has married Miss 
Katie Mullin), Theodore Henry, Geneva, Charlie, Nancy E., Erastus, 
Maude and an infant. 

MILES PRICE 

was born in Warren County, Missouri, October 25, 1834. His father 
was Job Price, and his mother's maiden name was Sarah Bryant. The 
former was born in St. Charles County, in 18 12, and his parents were 
companions of Daniel Boone and were with Boone when he lived at the 
present site of Brunswick. His grandfather settled on Camp Branch, 
Warren County, where he died, and where the family have since resided. 
Miles is the eldest of eleven children, all of whom have been spared by 
death's hand. Four are living in this county: William C, Rhoda, (wife of J. 
F". Archer), and Frances (wife of William C. Langford). Miles resided 
in Warren County until of age, when he came to Henry County, and in 
B856 he entered a half section of land in Clinton Township. Remain- 
ing two years he returned to Warren County, and in 1861 entered Maj. 
Breckenridge's regiment, with which he served until it was disbanded 
at Little Rock. The regiment was afterward reorganized at Red River, 
by Cal. A. W. Slayback, and he was elected captain of Company E. In 
13863, be was taken prisoner in Boone County, and after a confinement of 
tijree months in the Gratiot Street prison, he in company with six others 
made his escape, staying until the close of the war in Texas. In 1865 



15I0GRAPHICAL. 74* 

he returned to Warren County, and for five years was engaged in t'he 
Texas cattle trade. Coming again to Henry County, he settled on a 
tract of land which his father had secured some time previous. In i8Si 
he removed to his present farm, which contains i6o acres. He has z. 
valuable tract of land and has erected recently a handsome dwelling., 
which presents a most imposing appearance, standing as it does, upon 2. 
commanding eminence. Mr. Price was married March i, 1876, to Miss 
Julia Calvird, a sister of W. B. Calvird. They have three children: Johc 
K., Edna and an infant. 

GEORGE F. ROCK, 

dealer in general merchandise at LaDue, was born in Quincy, Illinois, July 
19, 185 1. His father, George Rock was an Italian by birth, and coming t© 
America when a young man, married and had a family of seven children, 
of whom none are living but George, who was the youngest. His mother 
dying when he was tour weeks old, he was taken by a family living in 
Belleville, where he was kept one year. Then he was adopted by a mats 
named Adam Gaupp, with whom he lived until twenty-three years ol 
age. In 1865 they came to Henry County and lived three miles soutk 
of Clinton. Since the age of twenty-three, Mr. Rock has been at work 
steadily. He worked for $15 per month as farm hand for several months;, 
and in 1876 went to Illinois, where he was running with a steam thresher 
one fall, and for several seasons he has been hunting during the winter 
time. In the summer time he has worked on a farm and hunted and 
shipped small game in winter. He also learned the carpenter's trade 
and worked for Woodruff & Fuqua, contractors until December, 188 1. 
He then entered the dry goods store of Dennis Kehoe, and when his 
business was closed, he carried on the business of T. P. Bolis for three 
months. In May, 1882, Mr. Rock began his present business at LaDue,, 
where he carries a stock of $1,200, and is enjoying a good trade. On 
June 14, 1882, he was married to Miss Julia P. Ramsey, daughter of 
Elijah Ramsey, of Clinton. She was born at Warsaw, Missouri. Decem- 
ber II, 1861. She is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. 
Rock is a Democrat. He has the push and energy that characterizes a 
live go-ahead business man, and ere long will doubtless receive the pat- 
ronage that he deserves. 

LAFAYETTE M. ROUNTREE 

was born in Greene County, Missouri, April 18, 1840, his parents being 
J. M. and Martha J. (Miller) Rountree, the former originally from North 
Carolina and the latter from Tennessee. They were married in Mis- 
souri in 1830. He is still living in Greene County but she died in 1872. 
Of twelve children Lafavette is the fifth and the eldest now alive. He 



742 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. , 

stayed on his father's farm until of age, and soon after entered the 
county service of the Missouri State Militia. He was in the battles of 
Springfield, Wilson Creek, etc., being for some time in the sanguinary 
guerilla warfare of Western Missouri. He entered the service as a pri- 
vate but soon rose to first duty sergeant and afterward to captain. He 
returned to Greene County and remained there until 1872, engaged in a 
store for two years, and was for some time deputy county clerk under 
his father, who was clerk. In 1872 he came to Henry County, and March 
23, of the following year he married Mrs. Diana Armstrong, widow of 
William J. Armstrong, who died in 1869. Her maiden name was Diana 
Blevins and she is the sister of R. P. Blevins. She had four children left 
her at Mr. Armstrong's death : Luellen, Thomas J., Matilda A. and 
Robert J. Luellen married T. M. Long and died at the age of twenty- 
two. Only one child survives to grace the home of Mr. Rountree and 
wife, James Lestie. They have lost two: Oscar, a boy of two years, 
and an infant. In 1877 Mr. Rountree came to his present farm which 
contains 120 acres. He is handling some cattle, having at present about 
eighty head, and 100 hogs. Mrs. Rountree is a member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. Mr. R. has been a Mason for several years. 

WILLIAM W. SALMON 

was born in Greenville District, South Carolina, March 6, 1832, and was 
a son of Ezekial J. and Narcissa R. (Merritt) Salmon, both natives of 
the same state. William was the fourth of six boys and three girls, five 
of whom are now living, three being in Henry County. In 1840 the 
family came to Missouri and settled at Versailles, Morgan County, where 
his mother died in 1845 and his father in 185 1. After receiving a fair 
education he was sent to Washington College, East Tennessee, where 
he remained two years. He then began to study law, and upon study- 
ing one year his health failed, and in company with his brother he went 
to California, and for two years was engaged in mining. Returning to 
Versailles, he was occupied in mercantile pursuits until the war put a 
stop to all business. In 1863 he removed to St. Louis, and until 1869 
was interested in the wholesale trade. Coming to Henry County in 1869. 
he located at Montrose, where he lived two years, and then removed to 
the farm. In 1876 he went to his present place. He has a desirable 
tract of 160 acres in a high state of cultivation and affording good 
improvements. Mr. Salmon was married in Cooper County May 30, 
1858, to Miss Ann G. Tutt, who was born in Rappahannock County, Vir- 
ginia, January 30, 1836, her parents being Gabriel and Jane (Gardner) 
Tutt. They have eight children: Edwin W. (in the collector's office at 
Clinton), Jennie W. (wife of F. S. Ware), Sallie G., James T., Rosa G., 
Carrie M., Anna T. and George W. Mrs. Salmon is a highly accom- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 743 

plished lady and is of a family prominent in Missouri affairs. Her father 
was one of the early settlers of Cooper County, and for many years was 
one of the most prominent physicians of that section of the state. He 
died about 185 1. One brother of Mrs. Salmon, Thomas E. Tutt, is presi- 
dent of the Third National Bank of St. Louis. One, D. G., is in one of 
the most extensive commission houses of that city, and one, Benjamin 
G., is a Baptist minister at Liberty, Missouri. 

CARL SHY 

was born in Hesse Cassel, near Maraberg, Germany, February 2, 1838, 
his parents being Ludwick and Margaret (Smith) Shy. He was the 
only child, and his mother died when he was three years old. In his 
fifteenth year he came to America in order to obviate the necessity of 
giving the seven years service requisite in the German army. His 
father's brother, Charles Shy, was living in Lincoln County, Missouri, 
and to him he made his way. He remained two years with his uncle, 
and they both started for California, and coming through Henry County 
visit Thomas Shipp, an old friend of his uncle, they began doing mason 
work, and concluded to remain here. Mr. Shy continued to work at his 
trade until 1859, when he secured a piece of land and commenced farm- 
ing. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted at Georgetown in the 
Seventh Missouri, and remained in the service for three years, taking 
part in the battles of Lone Jack, Booneville, etc. Toward the close of 
the war he served six months in Col. Weaver's company of militia. 
Returning to his farm on August 6, 1865, he was united, in matrimony 
with Miss Margaret A. Davis, and since then he has lived on the home 
place. This contains 480 acres of good land, 340 acres being in cultiva- 
tion. He handles from fifty to eighty head of cattle and keeps a good 
grade of Short Horns. He and his wife have eight children: Mattie, 
William, Nettie, Florence, Warren, Clarence, Roy, and an infant. Mr. 
and Mrs. Shy are members of the Christian Church, and in politics he 
is Republican. 

JOHN A. SISSON 

was born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, February 6, 1837. His 
father, James C. Sisson, was born December 25, 1820, in Kanawha County, 
where he was was married, in October, 1842, to Miss Esther Hultz, born 
May 28, 1824. They lived in Western Virginia until 1853, then moved 
to Missouri, and until 1859 resided in Johnson County. Coming to 
Henry County in that year they settled on Deepwater, where the family 
now live. Mr. Sisson's death occurred January 14, 1880, and since that 
time John has been the head of the family. The farm is pleasantly sit- 
uated on the south side of Deepwater, and contains 280 acres of 



744 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

improved land, and is well supplied with stock, he feeding each year 
from fifty to lOO head of beef cattle. The family has numbered eleven 
children, viz: Adam D., (who died at ten years), Henry, (living in But-^ 
ler), Martha, Nancy, John, Benjamin, Johannah, Mary, William, Laura 
and Lee. John was married September 24, 1875, to Miss Dora Dooley, 
daughter of H. J. Dooley. She died February 13, 1878, leaving two 
children, Lena, a bright little girl of seven years, and Pearl, aged four. 

DR. CHARLES R. STEWART, 

physician and surgeon, at Marvin postof^ce, was born in Greenup 
County, Kentucky, December 18, 1830, and is the eldest of ten children, 
five of whom are living. His parents were Price' Stewart, a native 
Kentuckian, and Mariah Remmek, who was born in New York. She 
died in 185 1, in Lee County, Iowa, and he in 1867 in Sullivan County, 
Missouri. When Charles R. was nine years of age the family removed 
to Lee County, Iowa, where he received a good common school educa- 
tion, and where he began the study of medicine under an old physician 
at Keokuk, with whom he studied two years. At the age of twenty-one 
he removed to Sullivan County, Missouri, and was interested in farming- 
until 1858, where he resumed the study of his chosen profession with 
Dr. Williams, at Newton, Putnam County. In 1861 he commenced 
practicing at Middlebury, Mercer County, and in the fall of the same 
year enlisted in Company C, Twenty-third Missouri Volunteers, and 
was in active service in Missouri and Tennessee for one year. He par- 
ticipated in the battle of Shiloh, and there received a musket ball in the 
right thigh. Being placed on detached service he did hospital duty for 
the remainder of the war, receiving the appointment of assistant sur- 
geon. He resumed the practice of his profession in Grundy County,. 
Missouri, and has since been engaged therein. He has practiced in 
Johnson, Cass, Bates, Benton, St. Clair and Henry Counties. In June,. 
188 1, he located at his present field of labor, and has a highly satisfac- 
tory practice. Dr. Stewart's wife was formerly Miss Mary E. Griffith, of 
Benton County, to whom he was married March 6, 1879. They have 
two children, Charles, William J. and Mary Ellen. Dr. Stewart has been 
a member of the Masonic fraternity for upwards of twenty years and 
holds his membership with the Montrose Lodge. 

SAMUEL VANSANT, 

was born in Madison County, Illinois, April 8, 1841, being the son of 
Abner B. and Susan Crist. The former died in 1856, and his mother 
has since married James Crabb, of Davis Township. Samuel was the 
eldest of a family of four brothers and two sisters, of whom Joel and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 745 

George live in Cedar County, William is in Sedalia and the two sisters, 
Mary Olive and Elizabeth, still live in Madison County, Illinois. Samuel 
grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving like a majority of the 
boys of that day, a limited education, such as was afforded in the com- 
mon schools, and such as he acquired by unassisted efforts. On the i6th 
of October, 1862, he married Miss Elizabeth Voyles, who was born in the 
same county as himself, on July 11, 1842. In 1868 he emigrated to Mis- 
souri and bought a tract of eighty acres, where he now lives, camping 
upon it until he had erected a suitable living room. He now has 160 
acres of land in cultivation, and well improved with a good house and barn. 
He has a twenty-six inch vein of coal near his residence, Irom which he has 
taken large quantities of the black diamonds. Mr. V. has been quite suc- 
cessful in raising wheat; one piece of twenty-five acres, making one hun- 
dred bushels per acre in four year. Mr. Vansant and wife are parents of an 
interesting family of eight children, all of whom are living and at home. 
They are George, Emma, Joel, James, Bertie, Thomas, Arthur and Mat- 
tie. Mr. VanS. is a good farmer, an estimable citizen and a staunch 
Democrat. His wife and daughter, Emma, are members of the Christian 
Church. 

HENRY C. VICKARS, 

Prominent among the pioneers of this township is Mr. Vickars, who 
settled in Henry County in 1852. After living one year near Stone 
Chapel he located on his present farm, buying eighty acres, upon which 
a small house had been built. He soon after entered more land until 
his farm contained 400 acres. It embraces 160 acres at present and is 
pleasantly located on the south side of Deepwater. For many years 
Mr. Vickars dealt extensively in stock, raising large numbers of cattle 
and mules, but of late years he has devoted his attention more directly 
to agricultural pursuits and is living comfortably on his farm in the com- 
panionship of his excellent wife. Mr. Vickars is the youngest of a family 
of seven and was born in Mason County, Kentucky, on the 15th of May, 
1819. His parents, James and Mary (Watson) Vickars, were natives of 
Virginia, and when Henry was six years of age they returned to Vir- 
ginia and settled in Kanawha County, where he grew to manhood. He 
was married February 7, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Ann Roberts, who was 
born in Kanawha County, September 18, 1821, her parents being James 
and Sarah (Halley) Roberts. They lived in West Virginia ten years 
after they were married and until coming to Missouri. They have three 
children: James H., real estate agent at Montrose; Edwin Lee, in 
Lincoln, Nebraska, and Rosa, (wife of Dr. Richard B. Fewel.) Mrs. 
Vickars is a member of the Baptist Church. In political opinions Mr. 
Vickars is Democratic. • 



746 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



OSAGE TOWNSHIP. 



ALBERT H. CAMP, 

merchant at Brownington, and one of the enterprising men of the town, 
was born in Chautauqua County, New York, February 9, 1855, being the 
son of A. H. Camp, a native of the same state. His mother, whose 
maiden name was Julia Hopkins, was born in Connecticut. Albert H. 
was brought up in the county of his birth, passing his youth mostly at 
school. He worked one year in the hardware business at Warren, Penn- 
sylvania, and in the fall of 1877 came west, and after looking through 
Kansas and parts of Missouri he located at Brownington. Here he 
embarked in his present business, and he now carries a good stock of 
shelf and heavy hardware, and is enjoying a thriving patronage. Mr. 
Camp was married in Norwalk, Ohio, December 25, 1876, to Miss Mary 
Watrouf, a daughter of George A. Watrouf, and a native of Ohio. They 
have one son, Frank. Mr. C. and his wife are members of the M. E. 
Church. 

CAPTAIN J. L. CONSALUS, 

a native of Seneca County, New York, was born January 23, 1835, his 
parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Consalus, nee Hendricks, having also 
come originally from that state. The youth of J. L. was spent on a farm 
and in attending the public schools. He came west in 1857, and after 
traveling through Michigan and Wisconsin, located in Henry County, 
Missouri, the same year, being one of the early settlers in this vicinity. 
At the breaking out of the war in 1 861, he enlisted in Co. I, Twenty- 
ninth Missouri volunteer infantry, and when his company was organized 
he was elected captain. He served in that company eight months and 
participated in the charge at Haines' BlufT, where he was wounded in 
the head. This produced a deafness, unfitting him for the service and 
causing his discharge. In the fall of 1864 he re-enlisted in the Forty- 
fifth Missouri infantry and served till the close of the war, taking part in 
the fights at Jefferson City and Arkansas Post. After the war he returned 
to Henry County, and in the following year located on the farm which 
he now occupies. In 1867 he laid out the town of Consville, near Brown- 
ing's Ferry and erected a store building and engaged in merchandising, 
and was appointed postmaster of his town. In this capacity he served 
several years. After Celling goods about six years he disposed of his 
goods, and has since been occupied in farming and stock raising. He 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 74/ 

owns 146 acres of land, with fair buildings and improvements. Mr. 
Consalus was married in this county in the fall of 1871 to Miss Jane 
Walker, of Indiana, and a daughter of David S. Walker. They have a 
family of three children: Samuel L., Fanny and Hattie. Mr. C. is a 
member of the M. E. Church. 

ISAAC N. DENHAM, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 32, originally from Barren County, Ken- 
tucky, was born August 4, 1840. His father, Joseph M. De'nham, was 
also a Kentuckian by birth and grew to manhood there, subsequently 
being married to Mary A. Parks, of the same state. In 1844 the family 
moved to Missouri and located in Osage Township, this county. Isaac 
N. was reared here. He was married December 29, 1864, to Miss Melissa 
J. M. Garland, a daughter of R. C. Garland, one of the prominent farm- 
ers and stock men of Osage Township. She is a native of Benton 
County, but was brought up and educated in Henry County. After his 
marriage Mr. Denham moved upon his present valuable farm, where he 
has since resided. He has 169 acres, with about 130 fenced. In Novem- 
ber, 1865, he had the misfortune to lose an arm by the accidental dis- 
charge of his gun. He enlisted in the Confederate service in August, 
1862, and served about one year and surrendered at Warsaw. He par- 
ticipated in the fight at Lone Jack and a number of skirmishes. After 
his surrender he was in the Union service in the Enrolled Missouri 
Militia. After the service he settled on a farm and has since devoted 
his time to farming and stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Denham have a 
family of four children: Richard G., Mary F., Lula Alice and Cora Edna. 
They lost one child in infancy, William C. Himself and wife are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. 

B. B. EDWARDS 

owes his nativity to Casey County, Kentucky, where he was born 
November 16, 1825. His father. Judge William B. Edwards, also of 
Kentucky birth, grew to manhood in Cumberland County, and was mar- 
ried there to Mariah Bledsoe, of that state. He was one of the promi- 
nent farmers of his county, and held several local offices. He was 
elected and held the office of county judge for a number of years. B. B. 
moved to Missouri with his parents in 1843 and first located in Johnson 
County, coming in about two years, or in 1845, to Henry County, where 
they entered land and improved a farm, and where William B. Edwards 
died in April, 1S60, his wife departing this life a few da}'s later. Our 
subject passed his youth on a farm, and he enlisted and served eighteen 
months in the war with Mexico, receiving a land warrant for his services. 



748 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. ; 

He was married in Benton County, April 7, 1850, to Miss Minerva A. j 
Hunter, of Illinois, and a daughter of Henry Hunter, one of the early ] 
settlers of this township. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted in Com- , 
pany E, Seventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry, and when the regiment 
was organized he was elected second lieutenant, serving as such till dis- 
charged, in 1865- He participated in a number of important engage- ' 
ments, among which was the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, and the ' 
fight at Jefferson City, Missouri, where nine of his company were killed, j 
After the close of the war he return to this county and engaged in the ; 
mercantile business at Leesville, selling goods there for two years. Dis- ' 
posing of his interests in this direction he came to his present farm, j 
This embraces 340 acres ot land, upon which is a good, large dwelling 
and orchard. He makes a specialty of the stock business, and is one of ' 
the largest dealers in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have six 
children: William H., Coleman C, B. B., Jr., N. G., Emery P. and Fanny ; 
F. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. ' 

RICHARD GARLAND, 

a thrifty farmer and stock man of this township, was born in Green '■ 
County, Kentucky, January 10, 1827. His parents, Jesse and Elizabeth 
(Smith) Garland, were Virginians b)^ birth. Richard accompanied the ! 
family to Missouri in 1836 and settled in Benton County, being among I 
the early pioneers there. He grew up in that county upon the home | 
farm, and was married there December 31, 1846 to Miss Nancy E. 
Edwards. After his marriage Mr. Garland resided in Benton County, 
(where he had entered and improved a farm) until about 1857, when he 1 
sold out and came to Henry County, purchasing a farm on Grand River, 1 
upon which he lived until i860. Selling that place, he moved to Osage | 
Township. He now has three farms, one of 320 acres of cultivated land 
in Fairview Township; one of 160 acres in Osage Township, and another 
200 acres improved. He also owns seventy-six acres of timber land in ' 
Benton County. He has a good residence property where he lives, in 1 
Brownington, upon which is a comfortable dwelling. Mr. Garland , 
makes a specialty of feeding cattle, and is feeding at this time seventy ■ 
head; also handles some mules and horses. He and his wife have a fam- 
ily of six children: Rosena E., Mellissa J., Ellen, Emily, Mary R. and 
Alice. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the Baptist Church. 



CAPTAIN REUBEN GOOD, 

a pioneer settler of this township, is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, 
and was born January 1 1, 1825. Adam Good, his father, originally of Lehigh 
County, Pennsylvania, went to Ohio when a young man and located ii^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 749 

Montgomery County, of which he was an early settler. He served in 
the war of 18 12. He was married in Montgomery County to Miss Mar- 
garet Hillagus who was born in Pennsylvania. Reuben Good grew to 
manhood in the county of his birth, spending his youth on the farm. 
In 1848, he moved to Indiana and located in Fountain County, where he 
resided about seven years. In 1856, going to Illinois, he passed the sum- 
mer in Hancock County, and coming thence to Missouri in the fall of 
1856, he settled in Henry County where he improved a farm. His farm 
contains 720 acres all in cultivation and pasture. A good orchard of 200 
apple, about 150 chefr}' and some plum trees is on the place. Besides 
his home place Mr. Good has a farm of 175 acres and a timber tract of 
160 acres, partly in Henry and partly in St. Clair Counties. He is one 
of the largest stock feeders in the township and feeds on an average 200 
head of steers and about the same number of hogs yearly. He was mar- 
ried June 20, 1854, to Miss Susan Huber, a native of Ohio, and a daugh- 
ter of Elisha and Catharine Huber. They have a family of five child- 
ren: Margaret C. (wife of John Darby), Ellen A., Theodore, Agnes J. 
and Christina. Mr. G. enlisted in 1862 in the Enrolled Missouri Militia 
and served as captain. He also served for about two }'ears in the army. 
He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN L. HARDEMAN, M. D., 

one of the leading members of the medical fraternity in this locality, 
was born in Saline County, Missouri, February 27, i8S5- His father. Dr. 
G. O. Hardeman, was a native of Howard County, and his mother, for- 
merly Permelia A. Townsend, of Cooper County, Missouri. John L. 
accompanied his parents to Franklin County in 1857 and located at 
Gray's Summit, vvhere his youth was spent in attending the public 
schools. There he received his primary education, and was also for one 
year a student at Pritchett's Institute, and the two following years at the 
State University. He began the study of medicine with his father, and 
attended lectures at the St. Louis Medical College, where he graduated 
March 8, 1878. After completing his course the doctor commenced tlje 
practice of his profession at Brownington the same year, remaining 
there about two months, when he moved to LaDue and practiced there 
one year. In April, 1879, he returned to Brownington, and since then 
has built up a large and increasing practice, and by constant study he 
keeps apace with the progress of the profession. Dr. Hardeman was 
married in Franklin County to Miss Lizzie Jeffries, a daughter of Dr. 
Charles Jeffries and a native of that county. They have one child, 
Elvira P., who was born August 2, 1880. Mrs. H. is a member of the M. 
E. Church South. 



750 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

JUDGE JOSEPH HILLEGAS, 

a representative man of Osage Township, was born in Burks County, 
Pennsylvania, April ii, 1812. His parents, Michael and Ann (Yeagle) 
Hillegas, were natives of Pennsylvania. Joseph accompanied the family 
to Ohio in 1815, they locating in Montgomery County, and being among 
the pioneer settlers here. He passed his youth on a farm and in learn- 
ing the tanners' trade, and was married there June 8, 1837, to Miss Han- 
nah Reed, a daughter of John Reed and originally of Pennsylvania. She 
was reared and educated in Montgomery County, where she had moved 
with her parents when four years old. In 1842 Mr. Hilligas went to 
Miami County, but in about four years returned to Montgomery County. 
After remaining about three years he located in Allen County, where he 
resided about five years, moving from there to Illinois, and living two 
years in Hancock County. In the fall of 1856 he came to Henry County, 
Missouri, and entered and purchased some land and improved the farm 
where he now resides. He has 660 acres, with 280 fenced and in fair 
cultivation. He was appointed one of the county judges in 1865, and 
was afterward elected and served six years in succession in that capac- 
ity. Mr. and Mrs. Hillegas have raised a family of six children: Mar- 
garet A., (wife of Samuel Evans) Michael J., William H., Sarah C, (wife 
of John Walker) George A. and Martin L. The judge and his wife are 
members of the M. E. Church. 

SAMUEL L. KIRTLY, 

stock dealer at Brownington, came originally from Boone County, Ken- 
tucky, where he was born July 10, 1846, being the son of Elijah and 
Mary Kirtly, nee Sandfords, also Kentuckians by birth. Samuel accom- 
panied his parents to Boone County, Missouri, in 1856, but after living 
there two years they came to Henry County, where he grew to man- 
hood, his youth being spent on a farm. In March, 1864, he enlisted in 
the Forty-fifth Missouri Volunteer Infantry and served till discharged, 
July 5. 1865. He participated in the fights at Jefferson City, Nashville, 
Tennessee, and Frankfort. After his discharge he returned to his 
home, and was married here December 24, 1867, to Miss Sarah F. Brown, 
a daughter of John P. Brown and a native of the county. After this he 
was engaged in farming and trading in cattle for about thirteen years. 
He is now giving his attention to the handling and feeding of cattle and 
hogs, and handles on an average about twenty-five car loads of cattle 
and twenty car loads of hogs annually. He is at present in partnership 
with J. L. Peeler in the stock business, and these gentlemen are feeding 
at this time 105 head of steers and about 175 head of hogs. Mrs. Kirtly 
died in March, 1873, leaving three children: Sidney May, Laura J. and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 75! 

Rosa Bird. Mr. K. was subsequently married October 8, 1876, to Mrs, 
Emma Wagnor, of this county. She has one son by her former mar- 
riage, Arna Wagnor. There are three children by this last marriage: 
Ura, Lock. H. and Jane H. Mr. Kirtly is identified with the Democratic 
party and has filled several local offices in this township, among others 
that of constable for four consecutive years. His wife is a member of 
the Christian Church. 

WILLIAM FRANK MARTIN, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 15, a native of McD'onough County, 
Illinois, was born February 26, 1852. William Martin, his father, was a 
Virginian by birth, and there grew to manhood and married Martha C. 
Kirk, of the same state. L^pon leaving Virginiahe went to Kentucky, where 
he resided for a number of years, moving thence to Illinois, and being one 
of the pioneers of McDonough County. In 1856 he came to Missouri and 
settled in Henry County, where he entered land and improved a farm. 
Frank grew to manhood here, enjoying fair opportunities for acquiring a 
common education. He was married in September, 1876, to Miss Julia 
Renfro, of this county and a daughter of John H. B. Renfro. They 
have two children: James C, born November 30, 1877, and Edna F., 
born December 3, 1880. Mr. Martin has 640 acres of land, of which 
about 340 are under fence and in cultivation and pasture, with fair build- 
ings and improvements, and a young bearing orchard. He makes a 
specialty of raising and feeding cattle and feeds on an annual average 
about three car loads of steers and 100 head of hogs. He went tec 
Texas in 1872 and was occupied four years in the stock business in that 
state. 

HENRY MERSCH, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 32, was born April 10, 1826, in Prussia- 
Herman William Mersch, his father, and also his mother, whose maiden 
was Katharine Kullarmier, were natives of that country. Henry spent 
his youth in the public schools, where he received a good education in 
the common branches, and he was married at his birthplace in 1855 to- 
Miss Elizabeth Sutmiller, a daughter of Conrad Sutmiller, of the same 
locality. Emigrating to the United States in the fall of 1856, Mr. Mersch 
settled in Warren County, Missouri, where he lived for about ten years. 
He removed thence to Henry County in the spring of 1867, and pur- 
chased a farm in Osage Township, where he now resides. He has 200 
acres of improved land, upon which is a good new house and convenient 
out buildings, and an orchard of about lOO apple and a like number of 
peach trees. Mr. and Mrs. Mersch have nine children: William, Mary 
(wife of J. G. Scheer), Herman, Caroline C, Henry, Frederick, John, 



7,32 HISTORY OF HENRY COUXTY. 

Elizabeth and Emma. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church. 

JOHN G. MOHRWEIS, 

a native of Wurtemberg, was born January 25, 185 1, and was the son of 
Peter Mohrweis. His mother's maiden name was Christena Wehrlin, 
and they were also originally from that locality. John G. passed his 
youth, up to sixteen years of age, at the public schools of his birthplace, 
where he received a fair education. Emigrating to the United States in 
1867 he located in Greene County, Illinois, where he commenced learn- 
ing the blacksmith trade, working there under instructions about two 
years. In 1869 he came to Henry County, Missouri, and for a time lived 
on a farm with his uncle, John M. Mohrweis, who is now one of the sub- 
stantial farmers of this county, where he settled in 1865. After remain- 
ing in Henry County about five years, Mr. M. returned to Illinois and 
worked on a farm about two and a half years. In 1877 he went to Ore- 
gon and located at Salem, where he spent two years in a machine shop. 
While in the west he passed some time traveling through Oregon and 
California. He retraced his steps to Missouri in the winter of 1882. 

PROF. R. D. MOORE, 

a man of recognized ability as a teacher in this community, was born in 
Fleming County, Kentucky, November 22, 1848, being the son of Thomas 
T. Moore, a native of Maryland, who early moved to Kentucky with his 
parents, where he was married to Delilah Stout, also of that state. R. D. 
grew to manhood in his native county, his youth being spent on his 
father's farm, and he received his primary education at the public schools. 
He afterwards entered the preparatory course of one year at Augusta 
College, and the next year entered the freshman class at Georgetown, 
College, of which he was a student for two years. He was then compelled 
to give up farther study on account of ill health, being at that time in the 
sophomore class. In the spring of 1878 he came to Missouri and located 
at Brownington, Henry County, where he has since been engaged in 
teaching the Brownington school with marked success. Prof. Moore 
was married in this county in August, 1879. to Miss Arizona Hudnut, of 
Iowa, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine Hudnut, of Fairview 
Township. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. 

GILBERT F. NALL, • 

farmer and stock feeder, section 33, came originally from Hardin County, 
Kentucky, where he was born July ii, 183S. His parents, A. J. and 
Theodocia Nail, 7iee Berry, were also Kentuckians by birth, Gilbert F. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 753 

spent his younger days in his native county on a farm, receiving his primary 
education at the common schools. When nineteen years of age he com- 
menced teaching, which he continued for six years. He was married in 
Washington County, Kentucky, April 9, 1863, to Miss Amanda F. Wright, 
of that county, and a daughter of Nathaniel Wright. Mr. Wall was sub- 
sequently engaged in farming in Hardin County, until he came to Mis- 
souri, in 1876, and locating first in Benton County. In 1871 he removed 
to Henry County and bought land and settled on his present place. He 
has 220 acres, of which 165 acres are in cultivation. Since coming here, 
he has taught two winter terms of school, but has since devoted his time 
to the farm and the raising and feeding of stock. Mr. and Mrs. Nail 
have a family of three children: E. F. Nail, Bertie Mabel, and Grace. 
He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. 

OVERTON PARK, 

also known as one of the pioneer settlers of Osage Township, was born 
in Madison County, Kentucky, November 14, 1822, and was the son of 
James and Polly (Benton) Park, also Kentuckians by birth. Overton 
moved to Indiana with his parents in 1826 or 1827, and located in John- 
son County, being among the first settlers there. He was reared a far- 
mer, and in 1841 he came to Missouri, making his home first in Benton 
County, where he entered land and improved a farm. He was married 
in that county July 19, 1844, to Miss Ellen Foster. In 1855, selling this 
property, he moved to Henry County and improved the place which he 
now occupies. This embraces 360 acres, all under fence and in cultiva- 
tion, with a good two story house, located in section 36. Mrs. Parks 
died in October, 1870, leaving a family of eleven children: James, David, 
Siegle, Chillion, Nancy (wife of R. Trigg), Purlina (wife of Reuben 
Brown), Emily (wife of John Bunch\ Samantha (wife of Joseph Bunch), 
Hannah (wife of John Newell), and Mary. Mr. Park was married the 
second time in the fall of 1861 to Mrs. Jane Holland, formerly the wife 
of John Holland. They have four children: George, Overton, Milo and 
Carrie A. Mr. P. served in the enrolled militia during the rebellion and 
was first lieutenant in Captain Good's company, and as such participated 
in a number of skirmishes. He and his wife are members of the Chris- 
tian Church. 

J. J. STEPHENS, M. D., 

a prominent physician and surgeon of Henry County, is a native of 
Cooper County, Missouri, having been born in Boonville March 15, 1842. 
His father, P. D. Stephens, was a Virginian by birth, but moved with 
his parents to Missouri in about 1820, and located in Cooper County, of 
which they were among the earliest settlers. P. D. Stephens was mar- 



754 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ried there to Miss Sarah Mitchell Howard. He was the first sheriff of 
Cooper County, serving two terms, and he was afterward engaged in 
merchandising at Boonville for a number of years. He subsequently 
went to Moniteau County, where he died in July, 1879. The subject of 
this sketch grew to manhood in Cooper and Moniteau Counties, his 
youth being spent at school and in his father's store. He received his 
education at high schools and Rose Hill Seminary. He commenced the 
study of medicine in 1871 at Leesville, under Dr. J. P. Trullinger, a pio- 
neer physician of the county, and after attending lectures in the Mis- 
souri Medical College in St. Louis, graduated in the spring of 1877. 
Upon completing his studies the doctor began the practice of his pro- 
fession at Quincy, Missouri, where he remained three years, coming 
thence to Brownington in the fall of 188 1. Here he has a large and 
increasing practice, and is one of the best read and most successful phy- 
sicians of this vicinity, and is a close student even now. In January, 
1882, he engaged in the drug business, and at this time carries a large 
stock of drugs and chemicals. Dr. Stephens was married at Tipton, 
Missouri, February 8, 1866, to Miss Lizzie J. Smith, a daughter of James 
T. Smith, and originally of Louisville, Kentucky. They have a family 
of six children: James Phillip, John Morse, Maria Laura, Joseph J., 
Minnie A. and Presley. Mrs. Stephens is a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church, and the doctor belongs to the Masonic fraternity. 

M. B. TAYLOR, M. D., 

was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, December 28, 1832, and was the 
son of Matthew and Mary (Baker) Taylor, also natives of that county. 
Our subject was reared in his native county on a farm, and in 1855 he 
went to Illinois and located in Coles County, engaged in the drug busi- 
ness at Mattoon for about one year. Shortly after settling in Illinois 
he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. T. B. Dora, one of the 
prominent physicians of Coles County. In the winter of 1856-7 he 
attended lectures at Cincinnati and graduated in January, 1858. After 
finishing his studies at college the doctor embarked in the practice of 
his profession in Moultrie County, Illinois, where he continued for about 
twelve years. Moving to Missouri in June, 1870, he located in Brown- 
ington, Henry County, and here has built up a fine practice and is recog- 
nized as one of the most successful physicians in the county. He was 
married in Moultrie County, Illinois, December 6, 1859, to Miss Mary E. 
Ellington, of that county, and a daughter of Daniel and Harriet Elling- 
ton. She died December 6, 1865, leaving two children, Laura B., now 
Mrs. C. W. Mercer, and Mattie E. The doctor was again married in 
Moultrie County, November 28, 1867, to Miss Mary F. Wilkerson, of Cal- 
laway County, Missouri, and a daughter of Moses Wilkerson. They 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 755,, 

have three children: Adda E., Lena L. and Ch'fford D. Dr. T. is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. He belongs to the Christian Church, as 
does also his wife. 

CHRISTIAN WIRTH, 

an enterprising mechanic of Brownington, owes his nativity to Prussia, 
where he was born July 2, 1845, being the son of Philip and Lizzie 
(Liasor) Wirth, also natives of that country. Christian was brought 
by his parents to the United States when an infant (in the winter of 
1845), and settled in St. Clair County, Illinois, where he grew to man- 
hood, his youth being spent on a farm and at the public schools, where 
he received a fair common education. When seventeen years old he- 
commenced learning the wagon makers trade, and worked under 
instructions three years. Going to Waterloo, Monroe County, he 
worked a short time there, and also at different towns in the county and 
state about three years. In the spring of 1869 he came to Missouri and 
located in Clinton, Henry County, following his trade one year. He 
removed to Brownington in 1870 and has since carried on a shop at this 
place. Mr. Wirth has built up a good business and has established a 
reputation for industrious and fair dealing, exceeded by few. He was 
married in Illinois to Miss Mary Dietz, of that state, and a daughter or 
Adam Dietz, who came originally from Germany, Mr. and Mrs. W. 
have six children: George, Edward, Louisa, Ellen, Charles and Julia. 



==^T^^^=^ i( ^5^:-^-^ 



FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP. 



SETH A. CALDWELL, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 31, is a native of Franklin County, Mis- 
souri, and was born July 10, 1838. John Caldwell, his lather, was born 
in Kentucky in 1796, and in 1805 moved to Missouri with his parents, 
who were one of the first families settling in Franklin County. There 
he grew to manhood and married Mary Ann Stockton, also a Kentuckian 
by birth. He resided in Franklin County till his death, which occurred 
in 1862. The subject of this sketch passed his youth on a farm, having 
but very limited opportunities for schooling. He has, however, obtained 
a good education in the common English branches, almost entirely by 



756 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

self culture, and he has taught in the public schools for a number of 
years. He was married in Franklin County, October 15, 1863, to Miss 
Paulina E. Campbell, of that locality, and a daughter of Harvey Camp- 
bell. Mr. Caldwell resided in Franklin County until February, 1878, 
when he came to Henry County and located in Fairview Township on 
the farm where he now resides. He has 240 acres of land, improved 
with a comfortable house and a young bearing orchard of 125 apple, 
about 1 50 peach and forty cherr}^ trees. During the past year about sixty- 
five acres of his farm, which were planted to corn, yielding forty bushels 
per acre. He is also engaged in feeding and trading in stock, and usu- 
ally feeds about one car load of steers and fifty hogs annually. He 
entered the Confederate service in the fall of 1864, in the Fourth Mis- 
souri cavalry, under Col. Burbridge, and served till the close of the vvar, 
participating in a number of engagements. After the close of the war 
he returned to his family. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have a family of five 
children: Robert E., Eugene S., Edgar V., Cynthia C. and John Harvey. 
He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

J. C. CALLAWAY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 22, was born in Edgar County, Illinois, 
August 25, 1831. Elijah Callaway, his father, was a native of Virginia, 
where he grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Peck, also of that 
state. He moved to Illinois in 1830, and was one of the pioneer settlers 
of Edgar County, where he died in the spring of 1832. J. C. Callaway 
grew to manhood in that county, his youth being spent upon the farm. 
He was married in Coles County, December 5, 1853, to Miss Harriet 
Ferguson, a Virginian by birth, and a daughter of Samuel Ferguson. 
He subsequently located in Coles County, where he lived until 1866, then 
sold out and came to Missouri, purchasing land and settling on a farm 
in Henry County, where he now resides. He has 210 acres, 200 under 
fence with fair improvements, upon which is a fine orchard of 300 apple 
and 300 peach and lOO cherry trees. He makes a specialty of raising 
corn and had the past year 155 acres, which yielded forty bushels per 
acre. Mr. and Mrs. Callaway have a family of eleven children: Cerilda, 
(now Mrs. Thomas Manbeck, of St. Clair Count}'), George W., Harriet, 
(wife of Oscar Roberts), Jerry M., Albert L., Katie, Sarah E., Minnie E., 
William H., Derinda and Myrtle Belle. Mr. C. is a member of the Bap- 
tist Church. 

DAVID A. CLARK, 

originally from Johnson Count)-, Missouri, was born February 14, 1835. 
His father, Andrew Clark, was a native of Kentucky, where he grew to 
manhood and married Miss Hannah Owsley, of the same state. He 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 757 

removed to Missouri in 1834 '^"d located first in Johnson County, of 
which he was one of the pioneers, coming thence to Henry County in 
1837. He then settled near Clinton. David grew up here on a farm 
and while young learned the blacksmiths' trade. He was married July 
18, 1859, to Miss Sarah A. Comer, a daughter of Mark Comer. She is a 
Tennesseean by birth but was reared and educated in Cooper County. 
They have four children: Andrew A., James H., Georgia and John W. 
After his marriage Mr. Clark resided on a farm north of Clinton until 
the spring of 1882, when he sold it and purchased the place in Fairview 
Township which he now occupies. He has ninety acres of valuable land 
with eighty acres in cultivation and a young bearing orchard of 14Q 
apple and some peach trees. Mr. C. and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Church. 

GEORGE H. CROMER, 

farmer, section 30, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Sep- 
tember 16, 1834, being the son of John Cromer, also a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, who was born in 1812. His mother, formerly Elizabeth Fink, came 
originally from the same state. John Cromer moved with his family 
from Lancaster to Adams County in 1841, where they lived about thir- 
teen years^ going thence to Darke County, Ohio, in 1854. George H. 
passed his youth on a farm and received a common school education. 
He was married in Darke County, November 25, 1856, to Miss Ellen 
Hufnagle, of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Benja- 
min and Elizabeth Hufnagle. She moved to Ohio with her parents when 
about three years old, they settling in Darke County, where she was 
reared and educated. He was engaged in farming after this nine years, 
and in the fall of 1865 he came to Missouri, locating in Henry County. 
He moved on the farm where he now resides in 1870, having 160 acres^ 
all fenced and in cultivation and pasture. His new residence is a neat 
and substantial one, and his yard is tastily ornamented. Mr. Cromer is 
one of the thrifty farmers of this township. He and his wife have four 
children: William D., James H., and Ettie Jane and Nettie Belle, twins. 
Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

ALBERT DUNNING, 

farmer and stock dealer, owes his nativity to Trego County, Kentucky,, 
where he was born January 13, 1838. His father, S. Dunning, and also 
his mother, whose maiden name was Ada Morris, were Virginians by 
birth. Albert moved with his parents to Missouri in 1839 and located 
in Henry County, being among the early pioneers here. He spent his 
youth on the farm and grew to manhood in the county, coming to his- 
present location in 1874. He has 560 acres of land, with 520 under fence 



758 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

and in cultiv^ation and pasture. He is quite extensively engaged in 
handling and feeding cattle and hogs, and the past season fed two car 
loads of steers and eighty-five head of stock cattle. Mr. Dunning was 
married in this county October lO, 1881, to Miss Ella M. Fudge, a native 
of Coles County, Illinois, and a daughter of Adam T. Fudge. There is 
one child by this marriage, Martha Belle, who was born March 17, 1882. 
Mr. D. is a member of the Browington Missionary Baptist Church. He 
served four years in the Confederate army during the war, having 
enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Colonel Lewis' Sixteenth Missouri Infantry. 
He participated in the fights of Carthage, Springfield, Lone Jack and 
Helena (Arkansas), where he received a wound in the cheek, and several 
other engagements. 

JOHN E. GANO, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 14, is a Virginian by birth and was born 
August 9, 1835, being the son of John S. and Mary (Hartsook) Gano, 
also natives of Virginia. The former moved to Illinois in 1841, and 
located in Greene County, where he entered and improved a farm. John 
passed his youth in that county on a farm, and in attending the common 
schools, where he received a fair education in the common English 
branches. He was married March 18, 1868, to Miss Isabella Long, a 
daughter of Edward and Priscilla Long, and a native of Greene County^ 
she having been reared and educated there. After this event Mr. Gano 
lived for two years in Greene County, and in the spring of 1870 he came 
to Missouri and located in Henry County, near Brownington, where he 
bought land upon which he resided eleven years. Selling that property 
he, in March, 1882, purchased the farm which he now occupies, consist- 
ing of 455 acres with nearly 400 acres under fence. Mr. Gano is an 
•industrious and thorough farmer and a man of good business qualifica- 
tions. He makes a specialty of feeding and handling stock and is now 
feeding fifty-five head of steers and 100 hogs. He gives considerable 
attention to corn raising, the past season having 270 acres, which yielded 
on an average forty bushels to the acre. 

THOMAS HAMILTON, 

farmer and stock raiser, sections 22 and 23, a native of Monogalia 
County, West Virginia, was born July 24, 1824. Stephen Hamilton, his 
father, was born in Virginia, and his mother, formerly Nancy Mackabee, 
was originally from Maryland. Thomas Hamilton moved to Indiana 
with his parents in 1830 and located in Delaware County, they being 
among the first families settling in that county, and grew to manhood in 
that county. He passed nis youth there upon a farm, and in 1848 came 
w-est to Illinois, locating first in Jersey County, where he farmed three 



BIOGRAPHICAL. • 759 

years, then removing to Coles County. Here he entered land, and after 
living upon it four years he sold out, and in 1857 came to Henry County, 
Missouri, entering and improving the farm where he now resides. He 
has a fine body of land of 320 acres, upon which is a large two-story resi- 
dence, one of the best in the township. Mr. Hamilton was married in 
this county in September, 1858, to Miss Ann Elizabeth Paterson, a native 
of Indiana, and a daughter of Samuel Patterson. They have five chil- 
dren: Henry E., Silas S., Charles D., U. S. Grant and Venora S. Mr. 
and Mrs. H. are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

JAMES M. HORNER, 

farmer and stock trader, section 20, was born in Darke County, Ohio, 
September 8, 1840, being the son of Alexander Horner, a native of 
Adams County, Pennsylvania, who married Margaret McGorgon. of 
Maryland. The former was a soldier in the war of 18 12, and at one time 
served as deputy sheriff of the county of his birth. He moved to Ohio 
in 1833 and settled in Darke County, of which he was a pioneer. He 
filled numerous local offices there, and was treasurer of his township for 
twenty years in succession. He died in the spring of 1870. James M. 
Horner grew to manhood in his native county, his youth being spent on 
a farm and at the common schools. When eighteen years of age he com- 
menced learning the blacksmith's trade, and worked two years as an 
apprentice. He was married December 27, i860, to Miss Jane H. Cromer, 
a daughter of John Cromer. She was born in Pennsylvania, but was 
principally educated in Ohio. In February, 1864, Mr. H. enlisted in the 
Eighth Ohio Cavalry, under Colonel Gilbert, and served till discharged 
in August, 1865. He participated in the Lynchburg raid, the fight at 
Winchester and Cedar Creek, and on the night of January ii, 1865, he 
was taken prisoner at Beverly, and was held in Libby Prison for three 
months, and exchanged. After his discharge he returned to his home, 
and in the fall of 1865 removed to Missouri. The following spring he 
purchased and moved on his present place. He owns 137 acres, of which 
100 acres are in cultivation and pasture, and well improved. His orchard 
contains 200 bearing apple, lOO peach and fifty cherry trees, etc; He 
makes a specialty of dealing in stock, and is one of the most successful 
farmers and stock men of this township. Mr. and Mrs. Horner have 
seven children: John A., Ettie May, Thomas Frank, James E., Claud 
Orville, and Anna V. and Glen Roy, twins. He is a member of the 
United Workmen and of the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically 
he is a Republican. 

HENRY HUDNUT, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 15, a thrifty and prominent farmer of 
Fairview Township, is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, having been 



760 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

born there May 22, 1S32. His parents were David B. and Rebecca 
(Skamp) Hudnut, both originally from New Jersey. Colonel Skamp, 
grandfather of Rebecca Skamp, served under General Washington 
through the revolutionary war. D. H. Hudnut moved to Ohio in an early 
day and was one of the pioneer settlers of Wayne County. They sub- 
sequently went to St. Joseph County, Indiana, where the subject of this 
sketch was reared on a farm, receiving a fair education in the common 
English branches. In 1853 he located in Johnson County, Iowa, bought 
land and improved a farm, and was married there November 26, 1857, tO' 
Miss Elizabeth C. Posey, of Montgomery County, Indiana, and a daughter 
of Benjamin and Orpha Posey. Mrs. Hudnut moved to Iowa when a 
child, and was educated in Johnson County. After his marriage Mr. H. 
resided in that county for ten years, engaged in farming, and in 1867 he 
came to Henry County, Missouri, and bought a partially improved farm 
and settled where he now resides. He has 193 acres of land, mostly in 
cultivation and pasture, his fine orchard of 400 trees consisting of apple, 
peach, cherry and pear trees. There is a good house on the place 
located about twenty rods from the public road. Mr. and Mrs. Hudunt 
have six children: Arizona (now Mrs. Reuben Moore), William H., 
Lydia D., Maggie A., Wade W. and Hale. Himself, wife and three 
daughters are members of the Missionary Baptist Church at Brown- 
ington. 

H. C. KERR, 

farmer, section 20, owes his nativity to Adams County, Pennsylvania, 
where he was born November 18, 1824. Josiah Kerr, his father, was 
also born in that county, October 27, 1784, and was married there to 
Mary Campbell of the same county, born September 3, 1785. In the 
fall of 1828, the family moved to Ohio, and settled in Darke County, 
being among the first in that locality. Here the doctor was engaged in 
farming until his death, August 20, 1873. His wife had preceded him, 
she having died January 12, 1836. H. C. Kerr divided his youth between 
working on the home farm and attending during the winter months the 
comrnon schools. He was married February 5, 1857, to Miss Anna 
Mary Cromer, a native of Adams County, and a daughter of John 
Cromer. He subsequently took up his location on a farm in Darke 
County, Ohio, where he resided until moving to Missouri in the winter 
of 1879, when he settled in Henry County. Then he purchased the place 
which he now occupies. He has 280 acres all in cultivation. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kerr have a family of five children: William J., James A., Josiah C.^ 
Izora J., and John H. C. Mr. K. and his wife are members of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 761 

STEPHEN J. LOYD, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 11, was born in Washington County, 
Virginia, near Abingdon, February 17, 1839. His father, Thomas Loyd, 
was born in Russell County, Virginia, August 10, 181 1, but grew to man- 
hood in Washington County, where he married Fanny Ellington, also of 
Russell County. The family moved to Illinois in 1850 and located in 
Coles County, where they resided about fifteen years. In the fall of 1865 
they came to Henry County, Missouri, and bought the farm where they 
now reside. Thomas Loyd lost his wife, who died while on a visit to 
Illinois in 1869, leaving two children, William C. and Stephen. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was reared in Coles County on a farm, and by attend- 
ing the common schools he received a fair education. He was married 
in that county in January, 1857, to Miss Sarah E. Hendricks, a daughter 
of Eureka Hendricks. She died in Illinois in 1859. He was again mar- 
ried in July, 1863, to Miss Nancy Ellington, and she also died, in Henry 
County, in 1866, leaving one child, William H. Mr. Loyd was married 
to his present wife, Mrs. Sarah Ellington, July [7, 1873. She was a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Pifer and is a native of Coles County, Illinois. Mrs. Loyd 
has three children by her former marriage: Sarah (now Mrs. John A. 
Wolf), Ida (wife of O. M. Potts), and George Ellington. By the last 
marriage there are four children: Stephen D., Wesley E. Martha A. and 
and Claud. Mr. L. and his father have 380 acres of land, with 220 under 
fence, upon which are fair buildings and other improvements. He is a 
man of good business qualifications, and has filled numerous local offices 
in his township. He is a member of the Masonic order. He belongs to 
the Christian Church and his wife is connected with the Missionary Bap- 
tists. 

WILLIAM McKEE, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 10, a native of Scotland, was born May 
13, 1S22, being the son of John and Jane (Steele) McKee, also of that 
country. William emigrated to the United States with an uncle in 1834, 
and settled in Hampden County, Massachusetts, where he passed his 
youthful days on a farm, receiving a common school education. When 
sixteen years of age he commenced learning the horse farrier business 
at which he worked for about ten years. Going to Michigan in 1855, he 
was married in New Buffalo duriijg Christmas week of that year to Miss 
Martha Blair, of Hampden County, Massachusetts, and a daughter of 
Samuel Blair, one of the prominent men of that locality. Mrs. McKee 
was a lady of rare culture and attainments and was a teacher for a num- 
ber of years previous to her marriage. The following spring Mr. McK. 
moved to Wisconsin and after living one year in Milwaukee County, in 
the spring of 1S57 he went to Illinois and located near Joliet, where he 



762 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

planted a crop. He soon sold out, and upon coming to Missouri the 
same year, settled in Henry County, bought land and began the culti- 
vation of the farm where he now resides. This contains 365 acres, of 
which 320 acres are fenced; twenty acres are devoted to tame meadow ' 
and there are about fifty-five acres of good timber, and plenty of living | 
water for stock. His house is a large, two-story structure, and his 
orchard consists of 100 bearing apple trees of select varieties. Mrs. 
McKee died February 29, 1880, and Mr. McK. was subsequently married 
in this county to Miss Charlotte Fisher, a daughter of James Fisher. 
They have one son, Lewis B., born December 28, 1881. Mrs. McKee is | 
a member of the Presbyterian Church. | 

JAMES F. FLECKER, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 28, a native of Augusta County, Vir- | 
ginia, was born August 29, 1843. His parents, John W. and Ann Eliza 
(Crawn) Flecker, were also born in the same county. James F. grew up 
there as a farmer's boy and enlisted in the Confederate army in March, 
1862, serving three years in the Tenth Virginia cavalry. He partici- 
pated in numerous important engagements, among which were the bat- ] 
ties of Williamsport, the fights at Richmond and Fredericksburg and all 1 
of the encounters around Richmond, and tvvo raids into Maryland and 
Pennsylvania, where they captured a large number of horses and cattle. 
Mr. Flecker came to Missouri with his parents in 1866 and settled in 
Henry County. He first bought only forty acres of land, but as his cir- 
cumstances would permit, he added to his original purchase until he 
now has 933 acres in cultivation and pasture, with the exception of 
about fifty acres of timber. He had planted in corn the past season 225 
acres, which yielded about forty bushels to the acre. He makes a busi- 
ness of trading and feeding stock, and is one of the most successful 
stock men in this township. He has over 200 head of cattle, and is 1 
feeding about fifty head of steers and seventy hogs. Mr. Flecker was ] 
married in the spring of 1874 to Miss Sarah Dodd, who died in about | 
five weeks thereafter. He was again married September 7, 1876, to 
Miss Millie Whiteford, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of George W. 
Whitford. They have three children: Ida Belle, Ettie May and Roberta 
Mendora. Mrs. P. is a member of the Christian Church. 

WILLIAM RUSK 

was born in Morgan County, Ohio, January 10, 1834. Humphrey Rusk, 
his father was a native of Belmont County, Ohio, while his mother whose 
maiden name was Margaret McDonald, was born in Washington County, 
Pennsylvania. William spent his early youth on a farm, and upon mov- 



DIOGRAPHICAL. 763 

ing to Illinois with his parents in 1855, located in DeWitt County, 
where he grew up. He was married there, September 19, 1862. to Miss 
Rebecca Ann Farhner, of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Farh- 
ner. Mr. Rusk, after his marriage farmed in DeWitt County for four 
years and in the fall of 1866, he went to Iowa, and settling in Linn 
County. After two years he came to Henry County, Missouri, in the 
fall of 1868, and bought land and improved the farm which he now 
occupies. He has 160 acres in a fair state of cultivation, and upon it is a 
good apple and peach orchard. He is devoting considerable attention 
to the cultivation of broom corn, and had raised the past year fifty acres 
of this product which averaged 500 pounds of brush to the acre. Mrs. 
Rusk died November i, 1872, leaving five children. The oldest, Jacob 
H. met with a runaway accident which caused his death at the age of 
twelve years. He died May 15, 1873. Horatio S., Lizzie M., James M., 
and Otha P. Mr. Rusk was afterwards married in Champaign County, 
Illinois, April 13, 1878, to Mrs. Mary S. Swayze, a daughter of Samuel 
Harnit. She is a native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and was reared 
and educated there and in Ohio. She is a lady of culture, and was a 
teacher for two years previous to her marriage with James Swayze, Mr. 
Swayze was originally of Ohio, but resided in Illinois at the time of his 
death, which occurred August 18, 1871. They had two children : Ira 
T. and James M. Swayze, Mr. and Mrs. Rusk have one son by their mar- 
riage, Willie H. C. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. Mr. R. is an Odd Fellow. 

ISAAC N. STRAW, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 32, v,^as born in Wyandot County, Ohio, 
October 27, 1836. Jason Straw, his father, who was a native of Vermont, 
went to Ohio when a young man, and settled in Wyandot County, of 
which he was an early settler. He was married in DeKalb County, 
Indiana, June 6, 1857, to Miss Ann Eliza Shock, a native of Tuscarawas 
County, Ohio, and a daughter of Peter Shock. There are ten children 
by this marriage Sarah E., (now Mrs. Homer Davis), Caroline, Charles 
E., Viola, Orin A., Milton O., Amanda, Homer A., Henry F. and Her- 
man. Mr. Straw moved to Missouri in 1869, and located on the farm 
where he now resides. He has 160 acres of good land, all in cultivation 
with improvements. His orchard contains 175 apple and 400 peach trees, 
about 200 of which are fine budded, and lOO cherry trees, with some 
smaller fruits. He enlisted in 1864 in the one hundred day service, in Com- 
pany C, I52d Ohio National Guards, and was a drummer of his company; 
and after serving his time he was discharged in the fall of 1864. Mr. 
Straw takes more than an ordinary interest in educational matters as 
indicated by his being elected and serving as a member of the school 
board for nine years in succession. 



764 HISTORY OF HENR\ COUNTY. 

WILLIAM O. TROUT, 

farmer, section 32, owes his nativity to Warren County, Missouri, where 
he was born June 6, 1848. His father, William M. Trout, a native of 
Trimble County, Kentucky, was born on the i8th of May, 18 12, his 
parents having been Virginians by birth. He was married in the county 
of his birth to Miss Frances B. Duncan, also ot Kentucky. There is one 
son by this marriage, D. B. Trout, who resides in Ohio County, Ken- 
tuck\'. This wife died in Warren County, Missouri, July 12, 1841. Mr. 
T. was married the second time in Warren County July 12, 1844, to 
Harriet M. Pringle, of Connecticut. They had six children, only two of 
whom are living, William O. and Mary C, now Mrs. R. H. Britell, of 
Whiteside County, Illinois. William M. Trout moved from Kentucky 
to Missouri in 1841, and settled in Warren County, afterward living in 
St. Charles and Lincoln Counties until 1865, when he went to Illinois. 
He was located in Macoupin County until returning to Missouri in 1880. 
William O. spent his youth on a farm, and attended the common schools, 
where he received his primary education, supplemented with a term's 
attendance at the Carbondale College, in Southern Illinois. After com- 
pleting his studies he was occupied in teaching for two winter terms in 
Illinois. He was married in Whiteside County December 24, 1879, to 
Miss Dilla H. Morton, a native of Missouri, but who was reared and 
educated in Illinois. They have one child, Jessie A. Mr. T. came upon 
his present farm in March, 1881. He has 240 acres, all fenced, with 160 
acres in cultivation, and eighty acres in pasture. He had the misfor- 
tune to lose a lower limb by an accident in 1868, while working with a 
threshing machine. The wounded member was amputated below the 
knee. 1 



BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP. 



1 5Sir^s=®=?r2£3^®^ 



NICHOLAS ERHART 



was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 19, 183 1, and was the son of George 
and Susana Erhart, //t'f Schreffer, also natives of Bavaria. Nicholas emi- 
grated to the United States in 1844, and while on the way to Missouri 
his mother died in Pennsylvania. He spent his youth on a farm and 
was educated in his native country. He served in the Mexican war six 
months, and after his discharge was engaged in freighting to Santa Fe 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 765 

for three years. In i(S52 he crossed the plains to California and remained 
two years. In the early part of 1855 he returned to Missouri and located 
land in Henry County with a warrant received for his service in the 
Mexican war. He now owns 1,300 acres. Mr. Erhart was married in 
this county in the summer of 1855 to Miss Melvina Coffelt, a Kentuckian 
by birth and a daughter of Philip Coffelt. They have four children: 
Melvina V. (now Mrs. C. Detro), Georgian G., Ida Belle and Nellie. Mrs. 
Erhart is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. E. served one year in the 
Missouri State Militia and participated in the battle of Lone Jack. He 
is one of the largest stock feeders and dealers in his township. 

FRANK M. FLEMING, 

farmer, sections 28 and 29, is a prominent citizen of Henry County, and 
was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1845, his parents 
being John and Mary E. Fleming, natives of the same count}'. The 
former was born in October, 1824, and died in 1857, aged thirty-three 
years. F. M. Fleming was reared in his native county on the farm. He 
enlisted in 1861, in Company C, 123d Pennsj-lvania Volunteer Infantry, 
and after serving three years re-enlisted in the same regiment, with 
which he remained till discharged in July, 1865. His regiment went out 
with loio men, and at the close of the service only seventy-two of the 
original members were alive. He participated in the battles of Wil- 
liamsburg, Bottoms' Bridge, White Oak, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Har- 
rison's Landing, Newbern, and others. After his discharge, Mr. Flem- 
ing came west to Illinois and was engaged in farming in Henry County 
for four years. In 1869, returning to Pennsylvania, he was married in 
Westmoreland County on December 2, of that year, to Miss Susan E. 
Yokey, of that county, born February 20, 1847, and a daughter of S. P. 
Yokey. In May of the preceding year, Mr. F. came to Missouri, and 
located in the northern part of Henry County, where he purchased land 
and improved a farm of 240 acres. He farmed there for ten years, and 
in January, 1880, he moved to Bear Creek Township, and improved his 
present farm. He owns 1341 acres. Underlying this place is a vein of 
coal of a superior quality, which varies in thickness from two to three 
feet. Two fair residences are on his place and two good orchards. Mr. 
Fleming has a family of five children: Lulu May, Albert P., Embree E., 
Ettie E. and Carrie A. He and his wife are members of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. 

JONATHAN FOGELSONG 

farmer and stock raiser, section 17, is a native of Jackson County, Vir- 
ginia, and was born September 27, 1831. His parents, John and Mary 
(Fox) Fogelsong, came originally from the same county. The former 



766 HISTORY OF HEXRY COUNTY. 

was a soldier of 1812. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a 
farm in the county of his birth, and in 1854 he came west, and settled 
in Bates County, Missouri, where he lived eleven years. In 1865 he 
moved to Henry County. He was married in Cooper County, October 
17, 1866, to Miss Martha E. Cordery, of Buchanan County, Missouri, and 
a daughter of G. R. Cordery. In the spring of 187 1 he settled on his 
present place. He has 195 acres of land, well improved and adorned 
with a good bearing orchard of 120 apple trees of select varieties. He 
makes a specialty of feeding and raising stock for which his farm is well 
adapted. Mr. and Mrs. F. have one child, Cordelia j. He and his wife 
are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

CHARLES E. FOWLER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 22, was born in Oldham County, Kentucky, 
February 15, 1855. Thomas C. Fowler, his father, was born in Brattleboro. 
Vermont. In early life he went on a vessel as a sailor and followed the 
seas for a number of years and then settled in Kentucky, where he 
was married to Miss Hattie McFadden, a native of that state. Subse- 
quently he engaged in the mercantile business in Kentucky, where he 
resided until 1856, and upon moving to Missouri he located first in Car- 
roll County, After living there nine years he went to St. Charles 
County, and here he was appointed railroad agent at Foristel, which 
position he occupied till his death, which occurried January 25, 1869. 
C. E. Fowler spent his youth until sixteen years old on a farm and 
attending the public school. In the spring of 1871 he commenced rail- 
roading, and was on the road as brakeman and fireman for about seven 
years. After leaving the business in 1878 he resumed farming in St. 
Clair County one year. He came to his present farm, which contains 
over 200 acres, in the spring of 1879. He is numbered among the thrifty 
farmers of this township. Mr. Fowler was married in this county Feb- 
ruary 10, 1880, to Miss Frances Williamson, a native of Missouri, and a 
daughter of John W. Williamson. They have one son, Winfield Scott, 
who was born March 13, 1882. Mrs. Fowler is a member of the M. E. 
Church, South. 

Jx-\MES W. GILBERT, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 18, was born in Cooper County, Mis- 
souri, August 31, 1839, ^^""^ ^vas the son of Benjamin Gilbert, a native of 
Virginia, who early moved to Kentucky, where he grew to manhood. 
He came to Missouri in about the year 1830, and settled in Cooper 
County. Locating at Boonville, he was occupied in working at his trade 
of cabinet making. He was married in that county to Miss Mary A. 
Neal, a Kentuckiaii by birth. James W. was an only child. He passed 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 767 

his youth on a farm until sixteen years of age, when he moved to Henry 
County, and in the fall of 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service in 
Price's cavalry, and participated in the battle of Lexington. In the 
spring of 1862 he was engaged as a teamster, and drove through to New 
Mexico, returning late the same year. The following winter he visited 
Denver. Early in 1863 he went to St. Louis and farmed near the city 
during the summer, and in 1863 he worked in Washington City at the 
carpenter's trade. In the summer of 1864 he followed carpentering in 
Leavenworth and Fort Smith in the quartermaster's department, and in 
the fall of the same year worked in Wyandotte. In the spring of 1865 
he went to Julesburg, Colorado, and in February of 1866 returned to 
Missouri and took up his residence at Osceola, being employed in a 
wagon and repair shop for the summer. In the fall of 1866 he moved to 
Stockton, Cedar County, and lived there till the spring of 1867, thence 
to Clinton, Henry County. Mr. Gilbert was married in the fall ot 1868 
to Miss Julia Atwood, of New York. In the spring of 1869 he moved 
to St. Clair County, bought a farm and devoted his time to agricultural 
pursuits for four years. In 1873 he came back to Henry County where 
he purchased a farm, where he now resides, containing 200 acres, all in 
pasture and cultivation. Underlying about forty acres of this place is a 
good vein of coal, about twenty-four inches thick. Mr. Gilbert and his 
wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He belongs _ 
to the Masonic order. 

GEORGE W. GUTRIDGE, 

a native of Henry County, Missouri, was born December 25, 1846, and 
was the son of George Gutridge, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, 
his mother also being a native of that state. George Gutridge came to 
Missouri in 1838 and located in Henry County. He entered land in 
what is now Bear Creek Township and improved the farm where his 
family at this time lives. George W. spent his youth on his father's 
farm, and attending the schools of that day. He afterwards passed nine 
months at a select school in Brownville, Ohio. He was married at 
Brownville, October 10, 1867, to Miss Mary Swan, who was born, reared 
and educated in Licking County, Ohio, and a daughter of Monroe Swan. 
After his marriage Mr. Gutridge returned to Henry County where he 
has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. He has lOO acres 
of land in cultivation, and with good buildings and other improvements. 
He and his wife have a family of five children: Flora P., Eugene, 
George M., Cora Swan and Wilber King. Mr. Gutridge is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity, and himself and wife are connected with the M. 
E. Church, South. 



768 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY'. 

HENRY HEARN, 

farmer, section 29, owes liis nativity to Auglaize County, Ohio, where 
he was born September 26, 1851. His parents, Jonathan and Louisa 
(Mason) Hearn, were natives of Maryland, where they grew to mature 
years and were married. They early went to Ohio and were among the 
pioneers of Auglaize County. Henry came to Missouri with the family 
in i860 and located in St. Clair County, only residing there however till 
the fall of 1 86 1, when they moved to Louisa County, Iowa. After liv- 
ing there till the close of the war, in the fall of 1865 they returned to 
St. Clair County. Henry Hearn passed his youth on a farm and in 
attending the common schools. He was married in St. Clair County 
March 9, 1878, to Miss Nancy A. Lotz, a native of Jay County, Indiana, 
and a daughter of James Lotz. He farmed after this three years in St. 
Clair and then came to Henry County. Subsequently he went to his 
farm, which contains fifty acres and valuable for its size, all being in cul- 
tivation with a good bearing orchard of about 120 apple and 100 peach 
trees, etc. 

THOMAL HUMMEL, 

farmer, section 22, is among the pioneers of Bear Creek Township and 
came originally from Mifflin County, Ohio, vvhere he was born October 
4, 1829. Jacob M. Hummel, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, as 
was also his mother, formerly Elizabeth Moyer. Thomas passed his 
younger days at his birthplace on a farm and worked about two years at 
the carpenter trade, receiving his education in the public schools of that 
county. He was married January 27, 1857, to Miss Catherine Miller, a 
native of Burks County, but reared and educated in Mifflin County. In 
March, 1857, Mr. Hummel moved to Illinois and located in Fulton 
County, where he farmed for about fifteen months, and in September, 
1858, he came to Henry County, Missouri. Here he bought land and 
improved the farm where he now lives. At that time there were but a 
very few families in the township and hardly a house upon the prairie. 
He owns a good farm of 120 acres. He enlisted as a private in the Sev- 
enth Missouri State Militia Cavalry in April, 1862, and served till dis- 
charged in April, 1865. After his enlistment he was appointed corporal 
and in 1864 he was promoted to quartermaster sergeant. He participated 
in the fights of Shelby's raid and numerous skirmishes. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hummel have four children: Catherine E., Nevada M., Sarah G. and 
William T. 

JAMES M. MILLER, 

farmer, section 7, is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Bourbon 
County April 26, 1822. His father, J. M. Miller, originally from Scot- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 769 

land, emigrated to the United States when very young-, landing at 
Charlestown, South Carolina. Afterward he went to Kentucky, where 
he married Miss Mary Wayne, of Virginia. J. M. Miller, Sr., was teacher 
in the public schools of Kentucky and Illinois for forty-five years. He 
moved to Illinois in 1830 and settled in Edgar County, holding numer- 
ous local offices in that county. He was once elected county clerk, a 
position he held when he died. He also was appointed postmaster and 
for sixteen years discharged the duties of that office. James M. went 
with his parents to Illinois, and was brought up in Edgar County on the 
farm. His school privileges were very limited, but the greater part of 
his education has been obtained by self application. He enlisted in 
June, 1846, in Company H, Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under 
Colonel Ed Baker, and served one year in the war with Mexico. He 
was married in Edgar County, Illinois, July 20, 1848, to Miss Artemesa 
Elledge, originally of Kentucky, but later of Edgar County, Illinois. In 
the fall of 1848 Mr. Miller was elected clerk of the circuit court of Edgar 
County, and served four years. After the expiration of this term he 
was engaged in farming for three years, and in the fall of 1855 he moved 
to Missouri and located in Scotland County, where he lived two and one- 
half years. In the summer of 1858 he came to Henry County and set- 
tled on a farm ten miles south of Clinton. He is identified with the 
Republican party. In 1867 he was elected sheriff and served two years. 
He has made four assessments of the county, and during his life he has 
served thirty-two years as a member of the school board. In the fall of 
1882 he was elected a justice ot the peace of Bear Creek Township, 
which office he now fills. In all of these positions he has proved a faithful 
and capable official. Mr. Miller's farm contains 300 acres, all fenced and 
in cultivation. He has raised a family of ten children: E. B., Clara, 
(wife of R. H. Dungan), William F., Ella, Isaac M., Maria L., Susan V., 
James M., Sherman and John S. Mrs. Miller departed this life June i, 
1873. Mr. M. enlisted in the enrolled militia in August, 1862, and served 
till discharged, July 4, 1865. Shortly after enlisting he received a very 
severe wound, caused by an accidental gun shot through the right arm 
and in the lung, where the ball lodged and still remains. After recov- 
ering in a measure from his wound he was promoted to sergeant in the 
quarter master's department, where he served till discharged. 

B. F. MILLER, 

farmer, section 8, is a Kentuckian by birth, and was born August 21, 
1828. B. F. accompanied his parents to Illinois in October, 1831, and 
settled in Edgar County, where he grew to manhood. His youth was 
spent on a farm and he received a common school education, supple- 
mented with two years attendance at the Paris Seminary. He was mar- 

49 



770 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

ried in that county December 25, 1855, to Miss Rebecca Laufman, a 
native of Maryland, but who was reared and educated in Pennsylvania 
and Illinois, and a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Keefer) Laufman. 
Mr. Miller farmed in Edgar County until he came to Missouri in 1871. 
He owns eighty-four acres of land, all in a fair state of cultivation, with 
a good two-story residence and a young orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Miller 
have twelve children, two of whom are married, Alice is the wife of J. 
E. Odom; Susan H. is now Mrs. James H. Gutridge; Mary F. and Mar- 
garet Eugenia are prominent school teachers; Franklin K., James L., 
William, Amanda M., Ola Belle, Julian, Cyrus E. and Royal Albert. 
Mr. M. and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, South. He is 
identified with the Democratic party and has been elected to several 
responsible positions. While a resident of Edgar County, Illinois, he 
was elected and served four years as county surveyor, and since living 
in Henry County he has been elected at different times to important 
township offices. He is a man of good business qualifications and 
judgment, and has the entire confidence of the people. 

JOSEPH O. PERSONS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 34, was born in Genesee County, New 
York, July 13, 1829, and was the son of Joseph Persons, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and Betsy (Farwell) Persons, originally from New York. The 
former served in the war of 1812 and was wounded in the service and 
drew a pension until his death, which occurred in August, 1877. J- O- 
Persons divided his youthful days, until his sixteenth year, in his native 
county, between working on a farm and attending the common schools. 
In the fall of 1849 ^^ went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and clerked in a 
grocery store for three years. Having entered a piece of land in Dodge 
County, he commenced improving it but after working for six months 
he sold the place and went to Neosho, in the same county, and learned 
the tinner's trade, after which he embarked in the grocery business at 
that place and was appointed postmaster there. He continued in busi- 
ness for about eighteen years, and in 1869 he sold out and moved to 
Pierce County where he took a homestead and improved a farm, which 
after living upon it for nine years, he sold, and in the fall of 1878 came 
to Henry County, Missouri, and purchased where he now lives. Mr. 
Persons was married in Neosho, Wisconsin, January 9, 1854, to Miss Cor- 
nelia Haun, of New York. She died in Pierce County, Wisconsin, 
December 4, 1873, leaving eight children: Alice E. (now the wife of D. 
Persons), Ella May, Dennis L., Alma V., (now Mrs. George Chapman), 
Francis H., Charles A., Reuben A. and James H. Mr. Persons was mar- 
ried in Neosho June 19, 1876, to Miss Louisa Wing, who was also born 
in New York. They are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Persons 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 7/1 , 

served three years as justice of the peace in Neosho and also for eight 
years in Pierce County. 

L. C. SHOMAKER, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 9, a native of Pendleton County, Ken- 
tucky, was born October 21, 1852, his parents being Landers and Cath- 
erine (Metcalf) Shomaker, also Kentuckians by birth. L. C. moved to 
Missouri in 1855 with the family and located in Buchanan County, where 
they lived ten years, going thence to Shelby County. He was reared 
upon a farm and received a common school education, supplemented 
with fifteen months' attendance in the high school at Atchison, Kansas. 
Since completing his studies at this school he has been engaged in farm- 
ing. He came to Henry County in 1870 and moved to his present farm 
in 1880. L. C. Shomaker and a younger brother, J. H., jointly own 805 
acres of land, with a sufficient supply of living water for stock. Four 
hundred acres are in cultivation and the remainder of the tract is pas- 
ture land. These brothers are prominent stock feeders and dealers in 
the township. L. C. Shomaker was married January 6, 1876, to Miss 
Anna E. Collins, a daughter of H. B. Collins, of Henry County. They 
have three children: Claude, Maud and Mark. 

JOHN SMITH, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 4, came originally from Adams County, 
Ohio, where he was born April 17, 1845. James P. Smith, his father, was 
a Kentuckian by birth, but early moved to Ohio with his parents, and 
settled in Adams County, where he grew to manhood and married Susan 
Thomas, also of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch went to Iowa 
with his parents in 1858, and located in Lee County, near Keokuk. His 
youth was spent on a farm, and he was educated at the public schools, 
supplemented with six months attendance at the Keokuk select school. 
In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-first Missouri Volunteer 
Infantry, and served till discharged in December, 1864, participating in 
a number of important engagements, among which were the battles of 
Shiloh. Corinth, and Red River, Arkansas, and after his discharge he 
moved to Clark County, Missouri, where he was engaged in farming 
until 1872. He came to Henry County in 1878. His farm contains 160 
acres. A large portion of the place is underlaid with coal. The soil 
is a black loam and very productive. Mr. Smith was married in Scot- 
land County, Missouri, March 22, 1870, to Miss Mary E. Bryan, of Iowa, 
and a daughter of Nicholas Bryan. They have three children: Walter 
F., born May 8, 1873; Luther H., born April i, 1876, and Mary I., born 
February 14, 1881. Mrs. Smith is a member of the M. E. Church South. 



772 MISTORV OK IIENRV COUNIV. 

ANDREW W. SNYDER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 33, is a native of Onondaga Count}', 
New York, and was born January 30, 1837. His parents, Christopher 
and Elizabeth (Liphite) Snyder were also natives of New York. The 
former served in the war of 18 12 and received a land warrant for his 
services. The family on moving to Wisconsin in the spring of 1846, | 
were among the pioneer settlers of Dodge County, where they improved j 
a farm. Andrew W. grew to manhood in that county, and in 3'outh 
attended the public schools. In 1879, after traveling through a number" 
of the western states and territories, he bought land and located in j 
Henry County, Missouri, and owns 120 acres. Mr. Snyder was married 1 
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 20, 1880, to Miss Ida May Miller, of 
Germany. Her mother died when she was a child, and she was reared j 
and educated in Milwaukee. She is a daughter of Stephen Miller. Mr. 
and Mrs. S. have one child, Matilda Augusta, born August i, 1881. He 
is an Ancient Odd Fellow, and is one of the neatest and most successful 
farmers in the township. 

TEAYS BROTHERS, 

James E. and Edward Teays, are natives of Missouri, and were born in! 
Henry County. Their father, James T. Teays, was born in West Vir- ; 
ginia, where he grew to manhood and married. He moved to Missouri 
in 1840 and settled in Henry County where he bought land and improved 1 
the farm where these brothers now reside. He was one of the early 
pioneers of the county and was a man esteemed by a large circle of: 
friends and acquaintances. James and Edward here grew to manhood, 
spending their youth on the old home farm, and attending the common 
schools, where they were educated. They now own 920 acres of land in 
a body and mostly improved and in cultivation. There are two goodi 
farm residences upon it and also other buildings. They are extensively; 
engaged in feeding and handling cattle and hogs. Edward Teays was 
married in February, 1875, to Miss Sarah E. Dickinson, a daughter of; 
Samuel E. Dickinson. They have four children: Willie C, Mary E., 
James D. and Sarah V. They are members of the M. E. Church, South. 
There is a new church building located on this land (Teay's Chapel), built 
by subscription, and to which these brothers contributed largely and! 
liberally of their means. J. E. Teays is connected with the Masonic; 
fraternity. ! 

JOHN W. WHITTAKER | 

was born in Greene County, Penns}dv.ania, December 15, 1845, and wasj 
the son of John D. and Rebecca (Hammers) Whittaker, also natives ofi 
Pennsylvania. The former was a stock trader by calling and was ai 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 773 

drover for over forty years. J. W. Whittaker passed his youth attend- 
ing school and assisting his father in the stock business until his six- 
teenth year. In 1862 he moved to Illinois and located in Woodford 
County, where he was engaged in farming for some nine years. Moving 
thence to Iroquois County in 1871, he was married there September 15, 
1874, to Miss Adaline Hicks of Ohio, who was reared and educated in 
Woodford County, Illinois. She is a daughter of Thomas Hicks. After 
his marriage Mr. Whittaker resided about eighteen months in Illinois, 
and in the spring of 1876 came to Missouri and located on the farm 
where he now resides. He makes a specialty of handling and feeding 
stock, and is also one of the successful farmers of the county. Mr. and 
Mrs. W. have three children: Charles A., born July 8, 1875; Willie E., 
born June 18, 1877, and Madge Myrtle, born December 18, 1881. Mr. 
Whittaker is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 



LEESVILLE TOWNSHIR 

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON 

was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia, August 24, 1820. His parents, 
Christopher and Mary Anderson, were natives of Kentucky. The former 
who was born in 1796, served in the war of 18 12, and died in his native 
state December 23, 1865. The subject of this sketch spent his youth 
on the home farm, enjoying fair educational advantages in the subscrip- 
tion schools. In 1844 he commenced merchandising at Woodsdale, in 
the county of his birth, where he sold goods for about eighteen months, 
removing thence to Lewiston, the county seat. He continued business 
in the county for about five years, and in 1849, ii"^ company with William 
P. Gunn, started to make the overland trip to California. After going 
as far as Independence, Missouri, Mr. Anderson was taken with the 
cholera, and was left by his party, and after partially recovering he 
returned to St. Louis, where he was taken with a relapse. Upon recov- 
ering from this attack he enlisted in the regular army at St. Louis for a 
term of five years. The regiment was ordered to Florida and afterward 
to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and then went to the Indian Territory, where 
he was discharged at the expiration of his term of service. In 1854, he 
came to Henry County, and in the fall of 1855 bought an interest in a 
grocery house at Clinton. He remained here about two years and was 



774 HISTORY OF IIENRV COUNTY. 

also engaged in the stock trade. In 1857, removing to the county h'ne 
of Morgan and Benton Counties, he started a country store, but after 
one year and a half moved to Benton County and was occupied in farm- 
ing until the breaking out of the war. From 1861 until 1865 he sold 
goods in Sedalia, and then went to Pleasant Hill, Cass County, and 
embarked in a retail and jobbing trade. In June, 1867, he brought his 
stock of goods to Leesville, and has since continued in the trade at this 
place. He owns about 400 acres of land, with good improvements, and 
in addition to being a successful merchant is a good farmer. Mr. Ander- 
son was first married in Benton County in 1857, to Miss Tobitha Brad- 
shaw, a native of Virginia. She died in Sedalia in 1864, leaving one 
child, Martha, wife of Dr. J. H. Baugh, of Leesville. Mr. A. was mar- 
ried again in Otterville, Cooper County, in February, 1866, to Miss 
Martha Bell, a daughter of B. H. Bell, an old merchant of that place. 
There are four children by this marriage: Christopher, Pauline, Mason 
and Berry. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Masonic order. His wife 
beloi'igs to the Old Shool Presbyterian Church. 

W. C. BRUMFIELD, M. D., 

is a native of Putnam County, Indiana, and was born May 16, 1854. being 
the son of Hon. James B. Brumfield, a Kentuckian by birth, who went 
to Indiana when a young man with his parents and located in Putnam 
County. James Brumfield was married in that county to Sophia Ann 
Rogers also of Kentucky. The former improved a farm and carried on 
a blacksmith shop in connection and afterward was also engaged in mer- 
chandising. He early took a prominent part in political matters; was 
nominated and elected to represent his count}^ and served two terms in 
the legislature. W. C. Brumfield passed his youth in his native county 
upon the farm, receiving his primary education at the public schools, 
supplemented with three years' attendance at the Green Castle College. 
He came west in November, 1873, settling at Clinton, Henry County, 
and commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Britts and Jennings as 
preceptors in the fall of the same year. He attended his first course of 
lectures at the St. Louis Medical College in the winter of 1874-75, and 
was graduated in the spring of 1877. He commenced the active prac- 
tice of his profession at Colesburg where he has built up a successful and 
constantly increasing pftitronage. He is a close student and keeps well 
posted in the advanced theories of his profession. 

FRANK CAMPBELL, 

deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in Ireland in March, 1830. 
His parents, Frank and Mary (Connell)^) Campbell, were both natives of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 775 

Ireland. Young Campbell grew to manhood in his native country on a 
farm, receiving a practical education in youth, but by self application in 
later years by a wide range of reading and close observation he was 
prepared, and taught several terms of school after moving to Henry 
County. He emigrated to the United States in about 1850 and located 
at Cincinnati, where he was a city mail carrier for four years. Coming 
to Missouri in 1855, he settled in Henry County, and bought land and 
improved the farm where his family now resides. He was married May 
5, 1866, to Miss Mary Martin, also of Ireland, but who was reared and 
educated in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Campbell has a fam.ily of five child- 
ren: Maggie May, Frank, Mollie, John Carl and Eddie B. Mr. C. con- 
tinued to reside on his farm until his death, which occurred March 17, 
1880. He took an active part in political matters and held several local 
offices in his township. Mrs. Campbell's farm contains 140 acres. 

CORNELIUS DIXON, 

section 6, is one of the enterprising farmers and stock dealers of this 
township. He was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, September 16, 
1840. His father, Hezekiah Dixon, a native of Ohio, grew to manhood 
in that state, and was married to Melinda HoUingshead, of the same 
locality. The family moved to Indiana in 1835 and settled in St. Joseph 
County, where they still reside. Cornelius passed his youthful days on 
the home farm, his early education being acquired in the common 
schools. He afterward attended the Mishawaka Academy, and spent 
about three years at the Northern Indiana College, preparing himself 
for a teacher. After completing his studies at this school he engaged 
in the mercantile business, in 1863, at Augusta, Illinois, continuing in 
trade there for one year. In 1864 he went to South Bend, Indiana, and 
gave his attention to business until 1870, when he removed to Missouri 
and settled in Henry County, working in a store the first winter, and in 
the following spring he went to farming, and has since divided his time 
between the farm in the summer and teaching during the winter. Mr. 
Dixon owns 300 acres of land in Henry County, 260 acres of which is 
fenced and under cultivation. Besides his home farm he owns a farm of 
160 acres in Minnesota and town property in Mishawaka, Indiana. He 
was married at Augusta, Illinois, June 26, 1865, to Miss Drucilla A. 
Browning, a native of Hancock County, Illinois, and a daughter of C. 
W. Browning. They have a family of six children: Henry A., Edna 
B., VVilber C, Susan M., James E. and Melinda May. Mr. Dixon is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity. 

C. W. DUDEN, 

of the firm of Duden Bros., merchants at Colesburg, came originally 
from Licking County, Ohio, where he was born December 25, 1844. 



•JJ^ HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

David Duden, his father, and also his mother, whose maiden name was 
Ann Barrick, were natives of Pennsylvania. The family moved to Ohio 
in 1838, but afterward went to Knox County, where the subject of this 
sketch grew to manhood, spending his youth as a farmer's boy, and in 
a blacksmith shop with his father, where he learned his trade. He 
received a good education in the common schools. In March, 1863, he 
enlisted in the Ohio National Guards, I42d Infartry Regiment, and in 
September of the same year was discharged. He participated in the 
battles of Shenandoah and Petersburg, and others of less note. In 1865 
Mr. Duden went to Iowa and taught school in 1865 and 1866 in Wayne 
County. He returned to Ohio in the fall and worked two years at his 
trade. In the spring of 1868, he came to Henry County, Missouri, and 
was occupied in teaching the first year, and in the fall of 1869, he resumed 
work at his trade at Colesburg, and continued that business nine years. 
In November, 1877, he embarked in the mercantile business, and he is 
doing a good trade. Mr. Duden was married in this county, December 
22, 1872, to Miss Mary A. Hallford, a daughter of J. R. Hallford, a native 
of Moniteau County, Missouri. They have five children: Delia E., 
Aubra E., Ollie E., Fred E. and Eva E. Mr. D is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. He was appointed postmaster at Colesburg in Octo- 
ber, 1 88 1. 

CHARLES P. DUNCAN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 24, was born June 30, 1840, in Newton 
County, Missouri, being the son of Frederick M. Duncan, a native of 
Virginia, and of Scotch descent. His father Charles Duncan and a brother 
emigrated to the United States just previous to the war of 1812, and both 
served through that war, after which they returned to Virginia, where 
Charles Duncan lived until his death in 1856. F. M. Duncan grew up in 
Fauquier County and came from there to Missouri in 1834, first locating 
in Cooper County. He was engaged in clerking in a store at Boonville, 
and he was married in that county to Martha E. Parks, of Kentucky. 
After living in Cooper County four years he removed to Newton County, 
where he entered land and improved a farm and lived there until his 
death in 1855. Charles P. Duncan was the oldest of a family of two 
sons and four daughters. After the death of his lather he came to Henry 
County with his guardian. He enlisted in i86r in Porter's Regiment of 
Missouri State Guards, and after serving two months was discharged, 
when he re-enlisted in the regular Confederate service known as the 
Fifth Missouri Infantry. He served till captured May i, 1863. After 
being held a short time he was exchanged and transferred to Woodson's 
Missouri Cavalry, and attached to the army of Northern Virginia, where 
he served till the final surrender. He participated in numerous impor- 
tant engagements, among which were the battles of Pea Ridge, Grand 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 77/ 

Gulf, Mississippi, Battle of the Wilderness, and Newmarket, where he 
received a flesh wound in the shoulder, also at the battles of Corinth 
and luka, Mississippi, and numerous others of less importance. At the 
close of the war, Mr. Duncan returned to Henry County, and was mar- 
ried February 27, 1867, to Miss Mary J. Gordon, a daughter of Patterson 
Gordon. After his. marriage Mr. D. settled on a farm and has since 
been engaged in farming and stock raising. He moved to his present 
place in 1872, where he owns eighty acres. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have 
one son, Elzie Duncan, who was born February 28, 1872, and daughter, 
Mattie L.. born December 23, 1867, died December 3, 1882. She was a 
universal favorite with her companions and teachers at school and was 
an invalid for two years and died as she had lived, respected by all who 
knew her. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members of the Christian Church. 

A. N. GORDON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 23, was born in Henry County, Missouri, 
on August 24, 1850. His father, Patterson Gordon, a native of Ken- 
tucky, came to Missouri when a young man and located in Boone County 
in 1829. He was married there to Lucretia Forbes, also a Kentuckian 
by birth. After this he moved to Johnson County and thence to Rives, 
now Henry County, in the fall of 1834, settling on the place which the 
subject of this sketch occupies, and which land he entered and improved. 
A. N. Gordon spent his youth on this farm, receiving a common school 
education. He was married December 25, 1873, to Miss Amanda Dun- 
can, a native of Newton County, Missouri, and a daughter of Frederick 
M. Duncan. They have one child. Myrtle L. Mr. Gordon has ninety- 
three acres of land, with seventy acres fenced and in cultivation, upon 
which is a good house and a young bearing orchard of select fruits. 

DR. W. T. HILL, 

a native of Moniteau County, Missouri, was born June 3, 1829. His 
father. Green B. Hill, was originally from Virginia, but went from that 
state to Kentucky with his parents where he grew to manhood and mar- 
ried Pelina Evans, a Kentuckian by birth. In 1827 he moved to Mis- 
souri with his family and was one of the early pioneer settlers of Moni- 
teau (then a part of Cooper) County. Entering land, he improved a 
farm where he resided till hi^ death in December, 1866. Dr. Hill was 
reared in the county of his birth on a farm where he received a practical 
education. He commenced the study of medicine in the spring of 1853 
under the instruction of Dr. William U. Smith with whom he remained 
for two years. He attended lectures at the St. Louis Medical College in 
the winter of 1853-54. After finishing his studies at this college he 



778 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

commenced the practice of his profession at California in the spring of 
1854, continuing it about one year when he came to Henry County, locat- 
ing at Leesville. He has built up a large and increasing practice and 
is one of the most successful physicians of this county. Dr. Hill was 
married in Benton County in May, 1857, to Miss Martha C. Chastain, a 
daughter of Joseph Chastain. Mrs. Hill is a native of Kentucky but was 
reared and educated in Benton County. They have a family of five 
children: Jennie, William O., M. M., Katie and Gertrude. Dr. Hill and 
wife are members of the Christian Church. He belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity and has been one of the most active members of his lodge 
since its organization. 

REV. WILLIAM B. LAWLER 

was born in North Carolina November 4, 182 1, being the son of Evan 
Lawler, a native of the same county, and Sarah (Barker) Lawler, origin- 
ally from Randolph County. In 1827 the family moved to East Tennes- 
see and located in Henderson County, where William was reared, 
acquiring his education mostly by self application. He moved to Mis- 
souri in 1838, first settling in St. Clair County, of which he was one of 
the pioneers. He was married in Polk County November 21, 1843, to 
Miss Amelia Molder, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of Daniel 
Molder. Mr. Lawler resided in St. Clair County after his marriage until 
1864, coming to Henry County in 1865, where he bought the farm and 
located where he now resides. He became a member of the Missionary 
Baptist Church in November, 1843, and in May, 1860, he began preach- 
ing and was regularly ordained a minister of the gospel in 1862, since 
which year he has devoted the most of his time to the study of his pro- 
fession and preaching. For the past sixteen years he has acted as pas- 
tor for different churches in the Tebo Association and is now serving 
three churches in that capacity. Mr. and Mrs. Lawler have seven child- 
ren: Daniel E., John T., William A., James W., Logan S., Theodocia E. 
and Robert T. G. They have also lost three children: Alfred F. died in 
December, 1878, at the age of twenty; May J. died June ii, 1871. aged 
sixteen years, and Sarah died in 1859, when seven years old. 

WILLIAM LOGAN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 36, also a pioneer of Henry County, was 
born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, April 22, 1825. His parents, David 
and Nancy Logan, ;z^^ Parks, were natives of Kentucky. In 1826, the 
family moved to Missouri, and first located in Cooper County, where 
they resided about seven years, coming thence to Henry County in 
1835, and being among the early settlers of the vicinity. They entered 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 779 

land on Grand River and improved a farm in what is now Leesville 
Township. William Logan grew to manhood here and was married in 
the county in December 1846, to Miss Nancy Parks, a daughter of Reu- 
ben Parks, of this county. After his marriage, Mr. Logan settled on the 
farm where he now resides, buying raw land and improving it. He has 
280 acres, with about 160 under fence and improved. Mr. and Mrs. L. 
have nine children: Franklin, Eliza J. (wife of Henry Pigg), Mary (wife 
of J. R. Parks), David R., William P., George V., Mattie P., Annie T., 
and John Alexander. 

DAVID LOGAN, 

a native of Henry County, Missouri, was born August 4, 1840, and is a 
son of David Logan and a brother of William Logan. David was born 
and reared on the farm which he now occupies. He received a fair edu- 
cation at the common schools, and was married in the county November 
2. 1859, to Miss Martha A. Gordon, also of this county, and a daughter 
of Patterson Gordon, an early settler here. Mr. and Mrs. Logan have 
six children: Patterson D., John H., Arthur E., Clay T., Hugh G., Lelia 
V. He owns 200 acres of land, of which 140 are under fence and in a 
good state of cultivation. Mrs. Logan is a member of the Christian 
Church. 

JOHN McGINNESS, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 17, is one of the thrifty farmers of Lees- 
ville Township, and was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, January 
31, 1827. His father, John McGinness, also a native of Pennsylvania, 
grew to manhood and was married in Greene County, to Eunice Wood- 
ruff, of the same state. Our subject was reared in the county of his 
birth upon the home farm, he enjoying good common school advantages. 
In 1848 he went to Virginia and located in Ritchie County, where he 
purchased a farm and where he resided until 1874. He came to Mis- 
souri in the following spring, and located in Henry County. Mr. Mc- 
Ginness was married in Ritchie County, Virginia, October 18, 1849, ^o 
Miss Mary Ann Woods, a daughter of James Woods, and originally 
from Pennsylvania. They have a family of eight children: James, died 
in 1878, at the age of twenty-eight years; Eunice, (now the wife of 
Reuben Rosebaugh); Eliza (wife of J. C. Jones); Adonigah W.; Lydia; 
Mary E. (wife of William Black); John L. and Josiah M. In January, 
1862, Mr. McG. enlisted in Company K, Third Virginia Volunteer 
Infantry, and served in the Union army until discharged, in the spring 
of 1863. He participated in the second Bull Run fight, where he was 
wounded in the right arm disabling him. He also was in a number of 
skirmishes. After his discharge he returned to his home in Ritchie 
County. 



780 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

E. SCULLY, 

of the firm of Anderson & Scully, merchants at Leesville, is a native of 
Stewartsville, Pennsylvania, and was born March lo, 1836. William 
Scully, his father, was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother, whose 
maiden name was Polly Frimyre, came originally from Germany, but 
was reared in Pennsylvania. E. Scully passed his youthful days mostly 
at school in Westmoreland County. He came to Missouri in 1858 and 
first located in Cooper County where he clerked in a store at Otter- 
ville for about fourteen or fifteen years. He was married at Otter- 
ville, December 31, 1869, to Miss Piety L. Bell, a daughter of B. H. Bell, 
a prominent merchant of Cooper County. In 1873, Mr. Scully moved to 
Leesville and since that time has been interested in business with Mr. 
Anderson, the first two years as clerk, and then in 1875 he bought a half 
interest in the establishment. They have since formed the firm of 
Anderson & Scully, and are now doing a good business, the patronage 
Avhich they are receiving, amply justifying them in keeping a complete 
and well assorted stock of general merchandise. 

HON. WILLIAM SHAKER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 14, is a native of Wayne County, New 
York, and was born March 27, 1824. His parents, Jonas and Hannah 
(Roosa) Shafer, were also born in New York. In 183 1 the family moved 
to Ohio and located in Ashtabula County, where young William grew to 
manhood, spending his youth on a farm. When seventeen years of age 
he taught a district school. In 1845 he went to Iowa, but one year later 
settled in Hancock County, Illinois, where he resided for about four- 
teen years, engaged in farming and teaching during the winter months. 
In 1855 he embarked in the mercantile business at Nauvoo, and contin- 
ued the trade there three years. In 1858 he came to Missouri, locating 
in Henry County. Since his residence here he has taught two terms of 
school, but has also been interested in farming and stock raising. In 
1866 Mr. Shafer was elected and represented Henry County in the state 
legislature one term. He has since held several local offices in his 
township. He was married in Ohio in 1848, to Miss L. C. Beckwith, a 
daughter of Jeremiah Beckwith, and a native ot Ohio. They have six 
children: M. W., Milo J., Mary E., Hannah Ida, William H. and Wal- 
ter P. Mr. Shafer, his wife and four oldest children are members of 
the Christian Church. Mr. S. owns a farm of 114 acres, with good 
buildings and other improvements. 

THOMAS J. SMITH, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 19, was born in Preston County, Vir- 
ginia, July 12, 1828, his parents being Riley and Eleanor Smith, both na- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 78 1 

tives of Virginia. The family early moved to Ohio, where they lived a few 
years, going thence to Indiana, locating in Hancock County, near Green- 
field, where Riley Smith died about 1838 or 1840. After his father's 
death, Thomas J. bound himself out until he arrived at his majority. 
His youth was spent on a farm mostly in Tipton County, and he had but 
limited opportunities for schooling, though having applied himself closely 
to study in later years. He was married in Tipton County, August 9, 
1849, to Miss Ann Dickson, originally from Fayette County, Indiana, 
and a daughter of William and Sarah Dickson. Mr. Smith located and 
improved a farm in the green woods of Tipton County, and lived on it 
six years. He then sold out and removed to the county seat, and 
embarked in the mercantile business and stock dealing, continuing in 
this trade for six years. Purchasing 365 acres adjoining the town, he 
gaving his attention to farming and stock trading until 1880. He came 
to Henry County, Missouri, in 1880, and purchased a farm containing 
162 acres, where he now resides. He makes a specialty of handling and 
feeding stock. Mr. S. is identified with the Democratic party and takes 
an active interest in political matters. He was elected and subsequently 
re-elected and served six years as county judge of Tipton County, his 
former home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a family of three children. 
William R., Charles Watson and Ora Dell. He is one of the leading 
auctioneers of Henry County, and has acted in this capacity for a num- 
ber of years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

THOMAS STEWART, 

another old settler of the county, was born in Blount County, East Ten- 
nessee, March 17, 1823. His father, William Stewart, and also his 
mother, whose maiden name was Celia Stanton, were natives of the 
same state, and in 1839 they moved to Missouri, settling in Henry 
County on Grand River, near Brownington, where they entered land and 
improved a farm. Afterward they went to Osage Township and improved 
a farm, where Mr. S. died in 1843. The subject of this sketch grew to 
manhood in this county, and was married in the fall of 1843 to Sarah A. 
Woolard, a native of North Carolina and a daughter of Thompson Wool- 
ard. After his marriage Mr. S. located on land in Leesville Township 
and improved his farm; he now owns 120 acres. Mr. Stewart is a black- 
smith and gunsmith by trade, and has worked at that business in con- 
nection with his farming operations for a number of years. He and his 
wife have a family of nine children: Sarah C. (wife of William Akers), 
Martha J. (wife of Wood Curds), James W., Celia E. (wife of Colman 
Edwards), Mary F. (wife of William McCowns), Thomas C, Andrew ]., 
Susan E. and Emma A. They have lost three children: Nancy P. died 
at the age of twenty- five j^ears; Margaret Ann, aged eleven years, and 
John H. when twenty-three years old. 



782 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

CAPTAIN JOHN P. TURNPLR, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 29, is a native of Bourbon County, Ken- 
tucky, and was born December 18, 182 1. His father, Joseph Turner, a 
Virginian by birth, went to Kentucky when a young man and there 
married Susan Parks. John P. passed his younger days on the home 
^arm, receiving his education at the Bourbon County Seminary where he 
acquired a fair education in the common English branches. In the 
spring of 1844 he came to Henry County, Missouri, and bought and 
entered 408 acres of land on Cedar Creek near Grand River. Mr. Tur- 
ner was married in this county in the fall of 1844 to Miss Rosa J. Parks, 
a daughter of Reuben Parks, a pioneer settler of the county. There 
were eight children by this marriage, three of whom are living: Perez, 
John and Nancy B.; five are deceased. Mrs. Turner died in November, 
1874. The captain was again married, this time in Indiana, March 8, 
1877, to Mrs. Harriet E. Duggins, a daughter of R. W. Mullis. She is a 
native of Hancock County, Indiana, but was reared and educated in 
Fayette County. They have three children: Lela Myrtle, Ala Delle 
and Bonnie. Mr. Turner served during the war in the Enrolled Missouri 
Militia and was captain of a company. He was also appointed and 
acted as county judge but resigned the position in 1864 and was then 
appointed assessor and made the assessment of the county. He also 
was elected under the township orgaization, assessor of his township, all 
of which positions he has filled faithfully and impartially. 

JUDGE VENLEMANS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 20, is recognized as being one of the 
prominent men in Leesville Township. Mr. Venlemans is a native of 
Belgium, and was born October 2, 1824, near the battle grounds of 
Waterloo. His father, John F. Venlemans and his mother also were 
born in that country, and in 1834 the family emigrated to the United 
States, locating first in Louisiana, where they lived about seven years. 
They then became residents of Cooper County, where John grew to 
manhood on the farm. He was married in that county in May, 1852, to 
Miss Sarah E. Randel, of Indiana, and a daughter of David Randel. 
Mr. and Mrs. Venlemans have five children: Teressa A., (wife of John 
D. Eliott); John D., who is a bookkeeper for a wholesale house in St. 
Joseph, Missouri; Margaret A., Sarah C, Stephen P. They lost four 
children, three in infancy and one, Laura Bell, (wife of Henry Eberding) 
who died in September, 1878, at the age of nineteen. After his mar- 
riage Mr. V. located on a farm in Moniteau County, which he had pre- 
viously purchased and improved, but selling that place in 1854 he came 
to Henry County, when he bought land and improved the farm which 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 785 

consists of 205 acres he now occupies. He enlisted in the Confederate 
service in November, 1862, and served till discharged in 1863. In 1864 
he moved to Nebraska and located in Saline County, and lived there 
fire years, having been one of the early settlers of that county, and he 
wrote the petition and helped to organize the county. He was elected 
and served as county judge there for three }^ears. In 1869 he returned 
to his farm in this county, where he has since resided. He was elected 
one of the county judges of Henry County during the time of the 
township organization, and has held other local offices. He was elected 
and reelected to the office of justice of the peace, and has served as 
such for about twenty years. The judge belongs to the Masonic frater- 
nity, and has been an active member of his lodge since its organization. 



P^:^ ^ 



BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP. 



C. C. BANTA 

was born in Cole County, Missouri, (now Moniteau) January i, 1833",. 
and is the third in a family of twelve children of whom eight are now 
living. His father was Henry Banta, and his mother^s maiden name wa.s 
Fanny Don Carlos, of Spanish descent. Her father was a soldier of the 
revolutionary struggle, and fought in the battle of Cowpens. In 1848' 
his parents came to Henry County and settled on Tebo, where they 
lived until 1861, then emigrating to the Pacific Coast, where they are 
still living. In 1852 Mr. Banta went to California and remained there 
until 1857, engaged in mining and lumbering. On his return to Mis- 
souri he settled on a farm. During a portion of the war he served in 
the militia. In 1866 he settled on his present farm, which consists of 
640 acres, in a good state of cultivation. He is largely engaged in stock 
raising. Mr. Banta was married in Cooper County June 28, 1859, to- 
Miss Mary Smith, a native of Cole County. They have four children 
living: Christopher C, William Sherman, Mary Frances and Artie. His- 
neice, Bettie Banta, is also a member of his family. Mr. Banta is a 
man of liberal views and is much interested in education, showing his- 
interest by giving his children the advantages of the best schools in the 
state. His wife is a member of the Cumberland Presb\terian Church. 



784 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

DANIEL A. BROOKS, 

farmer, section 25, came originally from Hopkins County, Kentucky, 
where he was born August 7, 18 14. He was there reared and educated, 
following farming till eighteen years of age, when he commenced clerk- 
ing at Belleville, Kentucky. After remaining there two years he clerked 
the succeeding two years at Princeton, Kentucky. In 1835 he engaged 
in the general merchandise business in his native county, continuing it 
till 1849. Removing to Caseyville, Kentucky, he was a merchant in 
that city till 1873. In the spring of 1874 he came to Henry County, 
Missouri, and settled on his present place, having entered the land in 
1838. He now has 610 acres of fine land, 440 of which are under fence. 
Mr. Brooks was united in marriage November 30, 1836, with Miss Han- 
nah W. Eckols, of Tennessee. They have nine children: Susan E., Nan- 
nie O., Daniel A., Martha V., Amelia A. W., Mary E.. Georgia A., 
Augusta T. and Philip M. Mr. B. is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
and also belongs to the Episcopal Church. 

' WILLIAM COLE. 

section 24. Few, indeed, are the old pioneers of Missouri who have been 
spared by death to tell of the hardships, pleasures and experiences of a 
life three-quarters of a century ago, and the many wonderful changes 
wrought in Missouri during that time. Among the class, however, who 
are still living may be mentioned William Cole. He was born in Sulli- 
van County, Tennessee, December 18, 1800, being the son of Isaac and 
Mary (Anderson) Cole, also natives of that count}'. The former died 
while William was quite young. His family consisted of three children, 
this subject being the only son and the second child. In 1S07, they 
removed to Wilson County, Tennessee, and after a residence there of 
two years went to Bedford County, which was their home for two years. 
Going thence to Franklin County, Tennessee, they resided there till 
18 18, then came to Cooper County, Missouri, settling near Clark's Sta- 
tion, and it was on this place that the mother died in 1823. William 
Cole lived on the home place till about 1845, when he moved on the edge 
of Moniteau County, Missouri, there making a farm, which he occupied 
till 1866. Coming to Henry County, he settled where he now resides, 
having entered the same years previous. At that time he entered a large 
body of land, but has since given his children farms and otherwise dis- 
posed of it, now retaining a fine tract of 200 acres. Mr. Cole was mar- 
ried May 9, 1822, to Miss Rhoda Smiley, a native of Tennessee, born 
August 16, 1807. When ten years of age she had removed with her 
parents to Cooper County, Missouri. They have had eleven children: 
James A., Thomas S. deceased; Isaac T., Peter W., deceased; Hester A., 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 785 

Stephen D., deceased; William A., Gustave H., Hugh G., Samuel B. and 
Lycurgus L. Mr. C. is a member of the Baptist Church. 

SOLOMON DAVIS, 

farmer, section 29, a native of Richland County, Ohio, was born April 
27, 1825. His father, David Davis was born in Pennsylvania, and came 
to Ohio when quite a young man. His mother, formerly Sarah Zim- 
merman, was also originally from Pennsylvania. They reared ten child- 
ren of whom Solomon was the fifth. In about 1836, the family removed 
to Indiana, remaining in that state till the fall of 1837, when they came 
to Henry County, Missouri, the parents dying shortly after their arrival 
here. When fourteen years of age, young Davis being left an orphan, he 
worked as a farm laborer till 1847. Then he enlisted in the Mexican 
War as teamster, and made the trip across the plains. After the war 
closed he returned to Henry County, Missouri, and in 1850, emigrated 
to California, when for fourteen months he was occupied in mining. After 
this time he retraced his steps to this county, and entered the land 
where he now lives. In 1857 he settled upon it and now has a fine farm 
of 360 acres. Mr. Davis was married December 3, 1854, to Miss Mary Lee, 
a daughter of James Lee, an old pioneer of Henry County. They have 
eight children: Richard H., Neoma, James I., John W., Mary J., Hender- 
son, Orlena, and Sarah L. They are members of the Bethlehem Baptist 
Church. 

WILLIAM M. DOYLE, 

section 4, one of the enterprising and energetic men of the county, was 
born in White County, Middle Tennessee, April 12, 1836. His father, 
James H., was from South Carolina, and died November 6, 188 1. His 
mother is still living. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Fryer. Of ten 
children William was the fourth. One brother, Joseph A., is the former 
well known county clerk. The eldest, John W., is in Texas. Simon J. 
is in California. George W., Henry A. and Mary T. are still living in 
Tennessee. Young Doyle acquired a good education at the Union Hill 
Academy in Tennessee, and in 1S56, when twenty years of age, he came 
to Missouri in company with the Avery brothers. He engaged in teach- 
ing school in Henry County for some time, then returned to Tennessee, 
and in 1859 once more came to Missouri. He crossed the plains to Cali- 
fornia in company with W. A. Hastain and Mr. Avery with a drove of 
109 head of cattle. He made about $700 in this enterprise and remained 
in California until the close of the war. While there he built toll bridges 
on Uba River. During the two last years he was in the silver mines of 
Nevada. In 1866 he returned to Clinton and gave his attention to the 
mercantile business with J. M. Avery for three years, and in that time 

50 



786 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Started a branch store at Birmingham, where they laid out the town. In 
1870 he removed to his farm, which he began to improve and to deal in 
stock, and he has since been handling stock quite extensively. He has 
taken some interest in breeding short horns and has a herd of twenty 
thoroughbreds. Within the past year Mr. Doyle purchased a brand of 
cattle in Texas, one herd of 900 cattle and 130 horses. He has a fine 
farm of 960 acres lying three miles east of Clinton, all of which is in a 
good state of improvement; no acres are set to apples. In the spring 
of 1875 he was chosen cashier of the Clinton National Bank. He filled 
that position for one summer, and in November following, together with ^ 
W. H. Cock, engaged in the general commission business in St. Louis, 
remaining there but four months. In 1876 he lived in Bates County. In 
1877 he again moved to his farm and has since resided there. May 9, 
1867, Mr. Doyle was united by marriage to Miss Mary Walker, daughter 
of that old pioneer. Pleasant Walker. She was born in Shawnee Town- 
ship May I, 1849. They have five children living: Pleasant H., Bessie | 
Adeline, Sadie Belle, George and Joseph. Harvey, the eldest, died when ' 
one year old. Mary died at the age of five, January 26, 1882, and James 
and William, twins, aged eighteen months, died about the same time as 
Mary, making three children buried within the year. Mrs. Doyle is con- , 
nected with the Missionary Baptist Church. He is a member of the I. j 
O. O. F. fraternity, having joined that order while in California. j 

FRANCIS M. GROFF, | 

farmer, section 32, was born in Franklin County, Missouri, November | 
22, 1831. His father, Henry Groff, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, 
was born February 14, 1799, and when an infant was brought by the ■ 
family to St. Louis County, Missouri, moving thence to Franklin County, j 
in 1824. He married Roda Franklin, who was born in North Carolina, I 
and who was there reared. She went to St. Louis County when a young 
lady and was there married. They had five children, Francis being the 
youngest. In the spring of 1850, they came to Henry County, Missouri, j 
settling near Brownington, where they resided till the death of the j 
father, in February, 1854. His mother's death occurred in 1832. In 1855 j 
F. M. Groff moved on the place where he now resides. He has 330 acres 
of well improved land, a portion of which is valuable coal land, A ' 
mine is now open upon it and in operation. It is a two and one-half j 
foot vein. Mr. Groff was united in marriage in August, 1854, to Miss 
Elvira B. Groff. They had one child, Caroline C. Mrs. Groff's death 
occurred in April, 1878. He was again married April 27, 1879, to Mrs- 
Climensia Burnsides, whose maiden name was Cox. They have one I 
child, Delila E. From 1863 to 1865 Mr. G. was justice of the peace of 
Bethlehem Township. In 1872 he was elected a judge of the county , 
court, and served one term. \ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 787 

WOODSON A. HASTAIN, 

farmer and stockman is a native of Henry County, Missouri, having 
been born five miles north of Calhoun on the 8th of October, 1835. His 
parents came from Tennessee the year previous to his birth. He is the 
fourth of five children, one sister, Jane, lives in St. Clair County, and one, 
Mary Ann Dice, near Warsaw, Benton County, one brother, John P. 
lives in Henry County. His mother, whose maiden name was Anna 
Green died while Woodson was in his youth and his father, Daniel M. C. 
Hastain, married Miss Martha Wall and they reared a family of nine 
children. Of these Thomas J. lives on the old homestead, and Susan E, 
Dilley resides at Calhoun. His father died soon after the war at War- 
saw, where he had lived a few years. In 1858, W. A. went to California, 
in company with others, taking a herd of cattle. While on the Pacific 
coast he was engaged in milling. He was married March 28, 1865, in 
Saline County, to Miss Sarah Walker, one of the first settlers of this 
county. She was born on Honey Creek, June 27, 1847. Mr. Hastain> 
lived in Johnson County until 1870, and then came back to his early 
home, buying a tract of eighty acres. His farm now contains 160 acres, 
beautifully situated and under cultivation and the improvements among 
the best in the county. He has been dealing extensively in stock, and 
is one of the principal shippers in his section of the county. His family 
of six children living are : William T., Anna A., Bertha May, Amy L., 
Stephen A. and George Woodson. Two: Pleasant W., and Johnnie L., 
died in infancy. Mr. Hastain is a sterling Democrat and is thoroughly 
imbued with the spirit of education and advancement. 

RICHARD HUDSON, 

farmer, section 24, is a native of Boone County, Missouri, and was born 
April 10, 183 1, being the son of Richard Hudson, of North Carolina,, 
who came to Boone County, Missouri, about 1824. His mother, whose 
maidan name was Elizabeth Harris, was a Kentuckian by birth. She 
was reared in that state and was there married. The family consisted 
of thirteen children, of whom Richard was the sixth. He was brought 
up in the county of his birth and there followed farming till 1853. Emi- 
grating to California, for two years he was engaged in mining. Then, 
he returned to Missouri and settled in Moniteau County, where, (and 
also on the edge of Cooper County) he was occupied in saw milling till. 
1858. In the spring of 1866 he came to Henry County, and in the spring 
of 1876 settled where he now resides. He has a well improved farm of 
120 acres. In 1879 he resumed saw milling on Cedar Creek, Leesville 
Township, conducting that business till January, 1883. Mr, Hudson was 
married January 21, 1858, to Miss Margaret E. Simmons, of Cooper 



788 IlIS'lORV Oi' IIENRV COUNTY. 

County, Missouri. They have ten children living: Billie, Thomas R., 
Laura A., Boone, Kelley, Robert and Charlie, twins, Frank, Benton and 
Ethel G. Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1862 he 
enlisted in Company G, Second Missouri Regiment, Confederate State 
Militia, and served till 1864. 

ELI M. KNOLES, 

farmer and stock grower, came to Henry County, Missouri, in the fall of 
1863, from Menard County, Illinois, where he had resided since 1849. 
He secured a tract of 280 acres, and is now living on a farm of 240 acres 
on section 2. Mr. Knoles was born in Gibson County, Indiana, January 
29, 1814. His parents, Jesse and Elizabeth (Read) Knoles, were natives 
of Georgia. They died in Illinois. The family contained nine children, 
of whom Eli was third. Of these four are now living. He assisted his 
parents in improving new farms, living as all settlers of new countries 
must live, and in 1834, when but twenty years old he married Miss 
Louisa West, who was also born in Gibson County, Indiana, March 10, 
181 5- They have reared six boys of whom the eldest, Hampson, died 
in the army; Marion, Jesse, Nathan, Henderson and Eli, all are living 
near their parents. Marion married Miss Mary Hutchison, Jesse mar- 
ried Miss Martha Eaton, Nathan married Miss Martha Turner, Hender- 
son's wife is Miss Jane Crawford, and the youngest, Eli, married Miss 
Sarah Van Winkle. Henderson's wife died in 1879, leaving three child- 
ren: Ida May, Abbie and Rinna Wright. 

JOHN W. LILE, 

farmer, section 18, was born in Livingston County, Missouri, January 24, 
1838. His father, Allen Lile, a native of Tennessee, came to Missouri 
when a boy, and subsequently married Mary Cox, who was also born in 
Tennessee. They had ten children, John being the second child. He 
was reared to manhood and educated in his native county and has 
always followed the occupation of farming. In 1874 he came to Henrj' 
County and the year following settled where he now resides, having a 
farm of 160 acres. He has an excellent tract of land and is a most suc- 
cessful agriculturist. Mr. Lile was married in September, 1861, to Miss 
L. G. Parker of Missouri. They have nine children: Mary L., George, 
William A., Andy B., Alvia K., John M., Lillie D., Jennie and Laura E. 
Mr. L. is a member of the Baptist Church. 

CHARLES M. LILE, 

section 7. The subject of this sketch owes his nativity to Livingston 
County, Missouri, where he was born March 10, 1S41. He was there 



I 



BIOCzRAPHICAL. 789 

brought up in the occupation of farming, and continued that avocation 
till 1863, when he emigrated to Montana Territor}/. He was engaged 
in mining and farming, and continued to reside there till the fall of 1866, 
when he returned to Livingston County, Missouri. After following farm- 
ing till 1872, he came to Henry County, and in 1877 bought and moved 
upon his present place. His landed estate consists of 160 acres, well 
improved. Mr. Lile was married December iq, 1868, to Miss Emily J. 
Gibins, a native of Missouri. They have seven children: Mary L., 
George A., Christina, William H., Charles E., Katie D. and James J. 

PEYTON B. PARKS, 

is a prominent farmer on section 13. He was born in Cooper County, 
Missouri, November 21, 1841, and was the son of James Y. Parks, who 
was born in 18 14, coming to Missouri at an early day. He married 
Nancy Adkins, a native of Missouri. They reared six children, Peyton 
being the fourth child. The senior Parks died in March, 1867, and his 
widow's death occurred in October, 1870. Young Parks was reared in 
his native county in the occupation of farming. He came to Henry 
County when just starting in life, and is now a progressive and success- 
ful farmer. He has a well improved farm of 150 acres on section 13. 
Mr. Parks was married October 28, 1866, to Miss Susan T. Randall, a 
native of Missouri. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is also 
connected with the Masonic fraternity. 

ISAAC J. QUICK, 

farmer and justice of the peace, section i, is a native of Sullivan County, 
New York, and was born July 9, 1835, his father being Philip and his 
mother Mary (Tyree) Quick, also ©f Nevv York. They reared four child- 
ren, of whom Isaac was the third child. In 1836 the family removed to 
Peoria County, Illinois, where they resided till Isaac was seven years of 
age, at which time they went to Hancock County, Illinois, residing there 
till September, 1855. Then he emigrated to Missouri, settling in Henry 
County, and in 1857 located where he now resides. He has 172 acres of 
land well improved, and is one of our most successful farmers. Mr. Quick 
was married November 20, 1856, to Miss Sarah A. Peeler, a daughter of 
Major Peeler, an old pioneer of this county. They have six children 
living: Margaret A., Mary J., Allie V., Laura O., Susan I. and Rosa S. 
In the fall of 1873 Mr. Q. was elected justice of the peace of Bethlehem 
Township, the duties of which position he is now discharging to the 

satisfaction of all. 

GEORGE RAYMOND, 

farmer, section 13. The subject of this sketch originally from New York, 
was born March 27, 1832. His father, Jacob W. Raymond, was a native 



790 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

of Massachusetts, and was born in i8o2. He was reared in Vermont, 
and was there married to Miss Mary Powers, who was born in that state. 
They moved to New York in 183 1, and in the fall of 1842, came to Ben- 
ton County, Missouri. The father died in Hickory County, Missouri, in 
1864. George was brought up and educated in Benton County, and 
spent his youthful days in farming. He remained a resident of that 
county till February, 1868, when he came to Henry County, settling on 
a part of the farm he now owns. Upon arriving here he had compara- 
tively nothing, but by his energy, perseverance and close attention to 
business, he has risen to prominent financial standing. He now has a 
well improved farm of 170 acres, and is known as one of the most suc- 
cessful farmers in his township. Mr. Raymond was married July 26, 
1854. to Miss Lydia Fuqua, a Kentuckian by birth. They have four 
children: Paschal W., Mary M., John W. and Horace R. Mr. R. is a mem- 
ber of the board of school directors of his district. 

ALFRED REID, 

farmer, section 7, is one of the earliest settlers of this county. John M. 
Reid, his father, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, and emigrated 
to Howard County, Missouri, in 1809. His wife, Margaret, was also of 
Madison County, and accompanied her father, Joseph Woolfskinn, to 
Howard County, Missouri, in 18 10. They had two children. Alfred was 
born in Howard County December 25, 1821, and when quite young the 
family removed to Cooper County where they resided until about 1830. 
Thence going to Saline County they lived there till October, 1832, when 
they came to Henry County, settling near where Mr. R. now resides. 
Here he was reared among the trials and hardships of pioneer life, and 
has always followed agricultural pursuits. He has where he lives over 
123 acres of well improved land. Mr. Reid was united in marriage 
December 21, 1848, to Miss Nancy Lee, a native of Howard County, 
Missouri. They have five children: James A. John W., Sarah M., Mary 
E. and Marcy A. P'rom 1847 to 1850 Mr. R. was road overseer of Henry 
County. 

JOHN C. RIVERS, 

farmer, section 22, is one of the citizens of this county who is deserving 
of more than a passing notice. He was born in Green (now Taylor) 
County, Kentucky, January 14, 1833, His father, James Rivers, was a 
native of Kentucky and spent his entire life in that state. His mother, 
formerly Mary L Short, was born in Green County, Kentucky, March 
13, 1802, and is still living there. Their family consisted of fourteen 
children, John being the second child. He was reared in the occupation 
of farming, receiving his education from the schools of Green County, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 79I 

and at the age of seventeen he began school teaching, which profession 
he followed for three years. The first money he received from teaching 
was spent for his first pair of boots. In the fall of 1856 he came to Henry 
County, Missouri, arriving here October 14, when he settled on his pres- 
ent farm. In the spring of 1874 he built the residence which he now 
occupies. He has a fine farm of 240 acres in one body, and also owns 
517 acres in the county. Mr. Rivers was united in marriage December 
23, 1855, to Miss Ruth E. Wade, a Kentuckian by birth. They had three 
children: John W., Mary E. and William G. Mrs. R.'s death occurred 
March 31, 1875. He was again married April 16, 1876, to Mrs. Lorenia 
Hurt, whose maiden name was Hood. By this marriage there is one 
child, Campbell T. Mrs. R. has two children by her former husband, 
Saphronia and James M. In 1874 Mr. Rivers was elected public admin- 
istrator and served two years, and two years later he was re-elected to 
the same office, but he did not qualify, as his predecessor's time was for 
four instead of two. Previous to 1874 he held for some years the office 
of justice of the peace. In 1876 he was elected township trustee, serv- 
ing till the township organization was changed, in' 1877. In 188 1 he 
was elected justice of the peace of Bethlehem Township, which ofifice he 
now holds. 

HON. WILLIAM L. SHANKLAND. 

The present representative of Henry County in the lower house of 
the general assembly was born in Preble County, Ohio, on the 22d of 
December, 1S26, and was an only child. His father, Robert M. Shank- 
land, was a native of Kentucky, and his mother, whose maiden name 
was Elizabeth Gobble, was born in Virginia. William's early days were 
spent in Washington County, West Virginia, where he had access to 
good school facilities, of which he was not slow to avail himself After 
attending the academy at Abington for some time he came to this state 
in 1849, in company with his parents. They located in Moniteau 
County, and there his father died in 1868; his mother died in 1857, at 
the same place. Young Shankland entered the state university (at that 
time presided over by Dr. Shannon) soon after coming to the state, and 
in 185 1 he graduated from that institution, and among his classmates 
were two who are his coworkers in the present assembly. Senator James 
H. Walker, of Cooper, and Harry W. Cockrell, of Howard. After leav- 
ing school he served as surveyor for one year of Moniteau County, and 
sold goods for some time, and then taught school at Warsaw for over 
one year. He began the study of medicine under his father about 1853. 
In 1854-5 he attended the medical department of the Louisville Univer- 
sity. The same year he began to practice in Camden County, where he 
remained until the outbreak of the war, when he located at California, 
continuing his practice, and in 1864-5 he completed his medical course 



792 HISTORY OF HENRY COJNTY. 

at the Jefferson College, Philadelphia, where he graduated in March, 
1865. In 1866 he came to Henry County and secured a tract of land 
where he now lives and has since been engaged in the practice of his 
profession as well as the duties of the farm. His patronage extends 
for many miles in every direction and he has had remarkable success in 
his practice and stands in the front rank of his profession. Dr. Shank- 
land was married in Camden County, December 5, 1855, to Miss Jane 
Wilson. Her death occurred March 15, 1867, and she left three children: 
Elizabeth, who died at thirteen; William M., now a student at the uni- 
versity, and Josephine. In October, 1868, he was married to Miss 
Minerva Shankland, born October 30, 1833, in Nicholas County, Ken- 
tucky. The doctor and his wife are members of the Christian Church, 
to which he has belonged since quite a young man. He was chosen at 
the election to represent the county in the legislature over David A. 
Brooks the opposition candidate. 

REUBEN SLAVENS, 

farmer, section 28, came originally from Ohio, having been born in Pike 
County, September 27, 1825. His father, John Slavens, was born in West 
Virginia, and was there reared. His mother, formerly Mary Ruckman, 
was of Ohio, and was there married. They had eight children, of whom 
Reuben was the second. In 1835, the family removed to Vermillion 
County, Illinois, residing there about one year, and for the following 
eight months they lived in other parts of Illinois. In 1837, coming to 
Henry County, Missouri, they settled on section ii, Bethlehem Town- 
ship, and there his father died in 1863. His mother's death occurred in 
Ohio in 1827. In 1862, Mr. S. returned to Ohio and resided there till the 
spring of 1863, when his father's last sickness called him home. He 
soon resumed farming on his present place, which he settled in 1857. 
He has a fine farm of 280 acres, and is known throughout the county as a 
successful man. Mr. S. was married September 28, 1849, to Miss Nancy 
Stephenson, a native of Ohio. They have two children: John and Martha 
M. They are members of the Bethlehem Baptist Church. 

GEORGE W. SLAVENS, 

farmer, section 33, owes his nativity to Scioto County, Ohio, where he 
was born November 23, 1829. While he was a small boy the family 
removed to Indiana, where they remained about eighteen months, going 
thence to Vermillion County, Illinois. In 1837 they came to Henry 
County, Missouri, locating on section 11, Bethlehem Township, and being 
among the early settlers here. George spent his boyhood days in fol- 
lowing the plow, and attending the old log schools, which were then few 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 793 

and far between. He remained with the family till the summer of 1854, 
subsequently settling on his present farm of 260 acres, all of which is 
well improved and fenced. Mr. Slavens was united in marriage August 
4, 1853, to Miss Nancy J- Parks, of Henry County, Missouri. They had 
six children, four of whom are living: Mary C, John R., Susan E. and 
Jessie. Mrs. S.'s death occurred in December, 1867. He was again mar- 
ried, August 31, 1873, to Mrs. Agnes J. Nichols, whose maiden name was 
Parks. They had four children: Eldna G., Effie B,, Nannie and Charles S. 

M. TREADWAY, 

farmer, section 5, was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky, September 
19, 1828, and was the son of Daniel F. Treadway, who was born August, 
1 801, in that county, and there lived all his life. He married Miss 
Esther Organ, a native of the same county. Her death occurred in 1840. 
His father died May 2, 1881. Our subject was reared in the occupation 
of farming, and continued that calling till 1850, in which year he went 
to Bloomington, Illinois, and after a short residence there, to Sangamon 
County. He was engaged in farming till 1867, and soon came to Clin- 
ton, Missouri, residing in that city till the spring of 1869. He then set- 
tled on his present place and has since been identified with the farming 
industry 01 this county. He has a well improved farm of 245 acres, and 
deals quite largely in stock. Mr. Treadway was married July 27, 1852, 
to Miss Matilda Foster, of Illinois. She died April 24, 1876, leaving five 
children: Daniel F., Merriman F., Elizabeth F., Mary F. and Jennie. 
He was again married January ii, 1877, to Miss Susan Hopper, a native 
of Tennessee. They have two children, Gracie and Cora. Mr. T. is a 
member of the Masonic order, and also belongs to the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. 

ABSALOM VICKERS, 

farmer, section 15, was born in Muhlenburg (now McLean County), Ken- 
tucky, September 21, 1817. His father, John Vickers, was born in Edge- 
combe County, NorthCarolina, in 1796, and came to Kentucky when twelve 
years of age. His wife, formerly Mary Lands, was a Virginian by birth. 
The former died May 13, 1874, and the latter about 1848. Absalom was 
reared and educated in his native county and has spent his life in the 
occupation of farming. In October, 1850, he emigrated to Hancock 
County, Illinois, where he remained till the fall of 1854, then coming to 
Henry County, Missouri, and settling where he now resides, having a 
farm of fifty-six acres. Mr. V. has been a successful and progressive man 
through life, and were all men like him in our county there would be 
little need of courts, etc. He has been prominently identified with the 
Bethlehem Baptist Church almost since its organization, and is one of 



794 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

its most liberal contributors and staunch supporters. He donated an 
acre of ground where their new church stands, and when it became 
.needed donated two more acres on which to have a cemetery. He was 
married October 5, 1837, to Miss Elizabeth Welch, a native of Kentucky. 
They have five children living: Laura, Adaline, Florence, Antoinette 
and John. From r868 to 1870 Mr. V. held the office of township treas- 
urer and clerk of Bethlehem Township. 



DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP. 

LEWIS W. ASHBY, 

farmer and breeder of fine stock, section 14, is a native of Henry County, 
Missouri, and was born February 9, 1857. His father, C. P. Ashby came 
to Missouri from Kentucky in 1853, ^"d was married in this county to 
Mrs. Susan Swift, widow of Shelby Swift; her maiden name was Susan 
Pinnell, and she was born in Virginia. Mr. Ashby resided in Henry 
County until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the Con- 
federate army, serving until his health failed. Then he went south and 
has since lived in Arkansas. Lewis W. was reared and educated by his 
uncle, W. T. Beaty, and his youth was spent on the farm and in attend- 
ing common schools. He was married April 3, 1882, to Miss Minnie 
Palmer, also a native of this county, and a daughter of J. M. and Julia 
(Goff) Palmer, both of Henry County. Mr. Ashby and his wife are mem- 
bers of the M. E. Church, South, and he also belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity. He is devoting his attention to the breeding of thorough- 
bred Berkshire hogs, and has some of as pure blood as can be found in 
the state, and all are recorded in the Berkshire record. His stock has 
been on exhibition at numerous state fairs and always ranked amongthe 
best. 

WILLIAM T. BEATY, 

a pioneer citizen of Henry County, was born in Cumberland County, 
Kentucky, October 27, 1804. His father, Alexander Beaty, was a native 
■of Virginia, and his mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Travis, 
came originally from Maryland. The former served in the revolutionary 
war. He removed to Kentucky at an early day and was one of the first 
.-settlers of Cumberland County. William T. was reared on a farm, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 79 5 

while young learned the Gunsmith's trade. In 1830 he came to Missouri 
and located first in Saline County, and worked at his trade five years, 
removing to Henry County in 1835- He was one of the first settlers 
here, and soon entered land and improved the farm where he now resides. 
Mr. Beaty was married in this count}' February 25, 1836, to Miss Sallie 
Pinnell, a native of Virginia and a daughter of F. A. Pinnell. They 
reared a family of three children, all of whom are married and reside in 
Henry County. Mrs. Beaty died May 23, 1S76. 

RICHARD BOWEN, 

mine inspector of Henry County, owes his nativity to England, where 
he was born May 17, 1839. ^^'s parents, James and Elizabeth Bowen, 
ncc Tulip, were both natives of England. The former was a soldier in 
the English army, and was a Waterloo pensioner, and served also in the 
war of 1812. Richard Bowen grew to manhood in his native country, 
and at the age of eight years he commenced working in the mines. He 
immigrated to the United States in 1833, and located first in Allegheny 
County, Pennsylvania, and worked in the mines about one year, remov- 
ing thence to Clarksburgh, West Virginia. Here he followed this occu- 
pation three years, then went to Ritchie County, and had charge of a 
coal mine four years. In 1871, he located in Alleghany County, Mary- 
land, and six years later, or in 1877, came to Missouri and settled in 
Henry Couty, taking charge of a mine for Bancroft & Co. He then had 
charge of the mines of the Osage Mining Company, in Henry County, 
until June, 1882. Mr. Bowen was appointed county inspector of coal 
mines for Henry County in July, 1882. He was married in England in 
February, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Thompson, of that country, and a 
daughter of Ralph Thompson. They have four children: John, Eliza- 
beth, William S. and Robert T. Mr. Bowen has a farm of eighty acres, 
and he is devoting a portion of his time to farming. 

DAVID L. BURCH, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 20, was born in Putnam County, West 
Virginia, October 29, 1833. and was the son of Ziba Burch, a native of 
Connecticut. His mother's maiden nam.e was Martha Wallace, and was 
a Virginian by birth. David L. was the oldest of a family of two sons 
and two daughters. He grew to maturity in his native county, his 
youth being spent at school and in learning the brick masons' trade. 
When in his twentieth year he came to Missouri and located in Henry 
County, in 1854. He entered laud and worked a portion of his time in 
improving his farm, and has 160 acres in cultivation. He also owns 160 
acres in another tract, and sixty acres in timber. Mr. B. was married in 



796 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

December, 1856, to Miss Frances Finks, of Virginia, and a daughter of 
Mark Finks, of this county- They have two children, Thornton D. and 
George M. Mrs. Burch is a member of the M. E. Church, South. 

JOHN A. BUSHNELL, 

nephew. of Horace Bushnell, of Hartford, Connecticut, and descendant 
of David Bushnell, distinguished in the revolutionary war for the inven- 
tion of a submarine vessel designed to destroy the British fleet, was 
born in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, April 6, 1821, 
where he was reared and educated. Mr. Bushnell commenced merchan- 
dising in his native town when quite a young man, and his business was 
attended with marked success. But failing health caused him to under- 
take a trip to the West Indies, by which he believed he would be bene- 
fitted, and there he also thought he would again engage in merchandis- 
ing. Before embarking, however, he changed his purpose and came at 
once to Missouri, where he spent the remainder of his life. He first 
came to Boonville, then to Warsaw, and remaining only a short time at 
each of those places, he finally settled at Calhoun. Here he resumed 
merchandising and, attended with even greater success in business than 
in Virginia, he soon accumulated what was considered at that time a 
comfortable fortune. On the breaking out of the war, in 1861, he became 
identified with the South, and in the vicissitudes of property as well as 
life incident to civil strife. Returning to Calhoun at the close of the 
war, he was married two years afterward, August 15, 1867, to Miss 
Eugenia Bronaugh, and removed to St. Louis, where he again engaged 
in business and where he died in 1874. He left two sons, Horace and 
John A., and their mother, Mrs. Bushnell, still survives him. John A. 
Bushnell was a man of upright character and pure motives. He had 
that characteristic, that undefinable something, about him that made all 
who came in contact with him like the man. 

JUDGE C. C. BRONAUGH, 

one of the early settlers of Henry County, was born in Stafford County, 
Virginia, July 11, 1805. and emigrated to Missouri in 1840, settling in 
the county, where he died July 9, 1876. He was a son of Captain Wil- 
liam Bronaugh, also of Virginia, and was the first of a family of ten child- 
ren: C. C, T. J., L. L., Addison, William, Mary, Jennie, Maria, and Cath- 
erine, and ot them but four survive: T. J., L. L., Jennie and Catherine. 
Captain Bronaugh was also born in Stafford County, Virginia, and was 
married to Miss Mary C. Payton of the same county. Captain Bro- 
naugh served in the war of 1812, and his father, was a soldier of the 
Revolution. In 1850, though far advanced in years he had the courage 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 797 

to face the trials and hardships of life in a new country, and removed to 
Missouri, where he settled in Cooper County, and lived until his death. 
Years afterwards there also his wife died. Had Captain Bronaugh been 
a man of less modesty than he was, the many eminent and excellent 
qualities which he possessed would doubtless have given him a higher 
place in the history of his times than not a few of wider fame but less 
merit enjoy. Descended from early colonial stock, from the splendid 
race of men who forced their way into the forests of an unknown conti- 
nent and laid deep and broad the foundations of great states, he repre- 
sented in his character all the sturdy virtues and inflexible courage that 
distinguished the founders of our civilization above the pioneers of any 
age. Devoted to law and order, and exact in the discharge of every duty, 
asking only the right to carve out his own fortune, by his own exertions, 
and brave enough to enforce it. True as a friend and kind and generous 
as a neighbor, he was a man that could be known but to be respected 
and admired. Coming of an excellent family and enjoying the advan- 
tages of a substantial education, he acquired an extensive knowledge of 
men of letters, and of the thought of the world by a wide range of read- 
ing. But it was in his family that he shone to the greatest advantage. 
A man of the strongest domestic effections, he was- singularly fortun- 
ate in the choice of a partner for life. Mary C. Bronaugh was a woman 
of rare beauty of mind and person, and her whole object in life seems to 
have been to make home happy. With such a wife it was perhaps not 
difficult to lead the gentle, tender life the fireside of Captain Bronaugh 
revealed. But such was the equanimity of his nature, such the great 
generosity of his heart and the strength of his affections that under 
any circumstances he could not but have been loved as a husband and 
honored as a father, and his daily walks and talks in life were in keeping 
with the purity of his character and the culture of his mind. 

If, with these qualities as a man, he had been ambitious of promo- 
tion in public life, to what postion might he not have attained. Related 
to the Lees, for whom one of his sons was named, and to the Paytons 
and many other eminent families of Virginia, his advancement would 
have been both certain and rapid. But he chose rather to remain to 
himself in the happier walks of private life, and this inclination, with 
the firm caste of his character, could not be overcome by the solicita- 
tion of friends. To him family was more than all the world and he 
devoted his whole life to his family. Except when called to the defense 
of his country and the common fireside of all, he was never known to 
accept an official trust of any kind. Modest, perhaps to a fault, he was 
the soul of honor and worth. Such was the man of whom Judge C. C. 
Bronaugh; of Henry County, was a son. To have known Captain Bron- 
augh and to judge of the son by the father would be to make a true esti- 
mate of the character of the latter, the subject of this sketch. If, per- 



798 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

haps, Judge Bronaugh was not so self-depreciating as his father, he was 
nevertheless a man of extreme modesty and was not less worthy of uni- 
versal respect and esteem. The great force of character and close 
habits of thought of the father descended undiminished to the son and 
combined in his nature the profound piety that beautified his mother's 
life. In 1833 in Warrentown, Virginia, he married Miss Ann E. Waters, 
who still survives him. She is a daughter of William Waters, of that 
state, and a lady worthy in every respect to have been the wife of such 
a man. Of this union ten children were born: Eugenia (widow of the 
late John A. Bushnell), F. P., W. C, Thomas C, William W., Carrie M.. 
S. H., Frank W., Mollie C. and one that died in infancy. Mrs. Bushnell, 
with her two children, now resides with her mother and brothers at the 
old homestead. F. P. Bronaugh is a prominent stock dealer near Boon- 
ville, Missouri, and was a captain in the Confederate service under Gen- 
eral Price. He married in 1866 Miss Helen Meyers, a lady of superior 
culture and refinement, and has a family of five children. 

W. C, S. H. and F. W. are also largely engaged in stock dealing, 
ranking among the largest dealers in southwest Missouri. Frank W. 
and Carrie M. were educated at the state normal school, and graduated 
from that institution. Thomas C. Bronaugh died at his home in this 
county December 6, 1878, regretted by all who knew him. W. W. died 
in 1859, aged eleven years. Judge Bronaugh like his father had a quiet 
unobtrusive life and had no ambition to make himself prominent in pub- 
lic affairs. Being prevailed upon to accept the of^ce of county judge 
he was continuously elected to that position each term for a period oi 
ten years, when he refused to allow his name to be further used. The 
duties of his office, it is needless to say were discharged with singular 
fidelity and ability, and he retired from the position universally trusted 
and respected. Being a man of integrity, industry and of more than 
ordinary ability, as was to have been expected he accumulated a hand- 
some competency for himself and family and although greatly damaged 
in his estate by the war he rapidly recuperated from its effects and when 
he died was considered one of the substantial prooerty holders of a 
county of many wealthy men. He was an earnest and faithful member 
of the church, uniting many years ago with the Southern M. E. denom- 
ination, and his life was consistent with his professions. 

"His life was gentle ; ami the elements 
So mixed in him that naiure mi^ht stand up 
And say to all the world, 'this was a man.' " 

CAPTAIN A. D. CAMERON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 6, is a native of Madison County, New 
York, and was born October 5, 1833. His father, Robert Cameron, was 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 799 

also born in that county, while his mother, whose maiden name was 
Sarah Allen, came originally from VVilkesbarre County, Pennsylvania. 
The family early removed to Onondaga County, where A. D. Cameron< 
grew up. His youth was spent on a farm, and his primary education 
was obtained at the public schools. He attended the Morrisonville and 
Peterborough Academies for a number of terms, and finished his studies 
at the Cazenovia Seminary in Madison County. After completing his 
education he came west, and in the fall of 1854 located in Illinois, where 
he was engaged in teaching for one year. Removing to Iowa he resumed 
teaching for two years in VanBuren County. In the spring of 1857 he 
came to Missouri and purchased land in Henry County, after which he 
went to Howard County, where he taught until the breaking out of the 
war. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Seventh Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry, and served till discharged, July 27, 1865. He entered the ser- 
vice as a private, but was promoted and filled several different positions, 
until promoted to captain of Company H, in July, 1864, in which posi- 
tion he served until the close of the war. He participated in a large 
number of important engagements, among which are the battles of Bel- 
mont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shilo, Siege of Corinth, the battle of 
luka and a number of others. He was in the battle of Atlanta, and was 
in Sherman's march to the sea. After the close of the war Captain 
Cameron embarked in the mercantile business at Titusville, Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1870 he returned to Missouri and settled in Henry County, 
where he has since been occupied in farming and stock raising. He has 
270 acres of land, with a comfortable house. He is also engaged in 
breeding thoroughbred hogs, and has some fine blooded stock. Mr. 
Cameron was married in Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio, October 5> 
1869, to Miss Mar}' W. Hines, a native of Trumbull County. They have 
three children, Cecil D., Mary Edith and Arthur W. 

E. K. CHALMERS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 23, was born in Cooper County, Missouri,. 
January i, 1843, being the son of James B. Chalmers, a native of Mary- 
land, who grew to manhood there and married a Miss Evans, of the 
same state. The family removed to Missouri in an early day, and were 
among the pioneer settlers of Cooper County. In i860, they came to 
Henry County, where J. B. Chalmers died in 1873. E. K. was reared in 
this county as a farmer's boy, and enjoyed fair educational advantages. 
In 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army, and serving about six 
months returned home. He subsequently served in the enrolled militia 
till the close of the war. Mr. Chalmers was married March 7, 1865, to 
Miss Emma J. East, of this county, and a daughter of George A. and 
Mary T. East. She died October 20, 1877, leaving three children: Mag- 
gie B., Frederick H. and John Ernest, 



800 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

R. S. CRAMER, 

a prominent business man of Lewis and the present postmaster of the 
place, is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and was born at Fredericks- 
burg September 24, 1854. His father, H. A. Cramer, originally from 
Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio with his parents and settled in Wayne 
County, where he was married to Miss Margaret Riddle. In 1854 the 
family located at Fort Dodge, Iowa, and were among the pioneer set- 
tlers of Webster County. R. S. Cramer grew to manhood in that count}', 
receiving his primary education at the public school, supplemented with 
three years' attendance at the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa. 
After completing his studies he entered a store and clerked at Fort 
Dodge for about three years. He was married at that place December 
19, 1875, to Miss J. A. Fleming, who was born in Pennsylvania and is a 
daughter of Thomas Fleming. About one year after his marriage Mr. 
Cramer removed to the Indian Territory, where he had charge of a store 
at McAlister for the Osage Coal Mining Company, remaining there two 
years. In the fall of 1877 he came to Lewis, Henry County, Missouri, 
purchased the stock and business of Thomas Terry, and has since con- 
tinued in business at this point. He carries a complete and well assorted 
stock of general merchandise and is doing a good business. He had 
the misfortune to be burned out in September, 1882, but has since erected 
a good building, 24x60 feet. He was appointed postmaster at Lewis in 
September, 1877. He and his wife have four children: Rolla T., Floyd 
A., Jennie and Bessie. Mr. C. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

ANDREW DATWIELER, 

section 31, is a thrifty farmer and stock man of this township, and was 
born in Switzerland February, 13, 1837. His parents, John and Elizabeth 
Datwieler, were both natives of that country, and in 1843 the family 
emigrated to the United States, locating in Franklin County, Missouri. 
John Datwieler bought land in .that county and improved a farm upon 
which he still resides. Andrew Datwieler grew to maturity in Franklin 
County, spending his youth upon the farm. He had but limited oppor- 
tunities for attending the public schools and his education was obtained 
mostly by self-application. He enlisted in the Union Army in the 
spring of 1861, first in the three months' service, and at the expiration 
of his term re-enlisted in the Seventeenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry 
under Colonel Gale, and served till discharged in the spring of 1S65. 
He participated in the fights of Springfield and Carthage Missouri, and 
other engagements of less importance, he, at the close of the war, return- 
ing to Franklin County. In the fall of 186S he came to Henr}' County 
.and bought the farm he now occupies, containing 214 acres. Mr. Dat- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 8or 

weiler was married in this county February 12, 1870, to Miss Eva Janett, 
a native of Switzerland and a daughter of Christian Janett. They have 
five children: John C, Otto H., Lizzie Ida, Edward A. and Maggie. Mr. 
D. and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. 

MAJOR THOMAS DAY. 

Among the prominent men of Deer Creek Township is the subject 
of this sketch. He was born in Belmont County, Ohio, June 2, 1837, 
being the son of William Day, a native of Loudoun County, Virginia, 
who accompanied his parents to Ohio and located in Guernsey County, 
where he grew to manhood and married Miss Julia Perry, of Ohio, and a 
niece of Commodore Perry, Thomas passed his youth mostly in school. 
His primary education was received at the common schools, and after- 
ward he spent two years at the Franklin College. After completing his 
studies he engaged in farming in Washington County, where he had 
previously moved. He was married there December 9, 1857, to Miss 
Maria T. Powell, a daughter of Elihu Powell, of Washington County. In 
the summer of 1862, Mr. Day enlisted as a private in Company G, 
Ninety-second Ohio Volunteers, and after passing the various grades of 
promotion, he was mustered out as major in the fall of 1864. He par- 
ticipated in a number of important engagements, among which was the 
fight at Ganley Bridge, West Virginia, and a series of engagements up 
and down the river during that season. In 1863, he went to Nashville, 
and was in the battles of Murfreesboro and Lookout Mountain. Just 
before the battle of Atlanta he resigned and went to the Army of the 
Potomac as adjutant of the 148th Ohio. After his discharge he returned 
to his home in Ohio. In April, 1866, he came to Missouri, locating at 
Windsor, Henry County, and was engaged in milling for one year. In 
1867, he settled on a farm, and has since been engaged in farming, and 
teaching during the winter months. In connection with his farming 
operations he is raising thoroughbred Jersey cattle for the market. He 
has a herd of six, with Morton at the head. Mr. Day has been buying 
grain at Lewis since November i, 1882, for Foote Brothers, of Clinton. 
He has held the position of secretary of the fair association of Henry 
County three years. Mr. and Mrs. D. have one son, Elmer. 

BAYARD HOUSTON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 19, owes his nativity to Delaware, where 
he was born September 7, 1834. His father, Jacob Houston, vvas a 
native of the same state, while his mother, whose maiden name was 
Sarah A. Taylor, came originally from Maryland. Jacob Houston died 
in 1838. Bayard spent his youth on a farm in Delaware and received a 

51 



802 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

common school education. In 1856 he removed to Missouri and located 
in Henry County, purchasing the farm where he now resides, containing 
240 acres. Mr. Houston was married in Henry County, July i, 1858, to 
Miss Catherine Jane Adamson, a daughter of William and Frances 
Adamson. She was born in Bates County, Missouri, b'ut was reared in 
Henry County. They have nine children: Alice (wife of James Shan- 
gler), William, Frances (wife of L. Shangler), Thomas, Berry, John, 
Eliza, Bayard T. and Hattie. They have also lost two children, who 
died in infancy. Mr. Houston is a thrifty, enterprising man, and one of 
the substantial citizens of the county. 

WILLIAM B. JUSTICE, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 29, is a native of Carroll County, Ten- 
nessee, and was born December 24, 1834. His father, James Justice, 
who was born in North Carolina, removed to Tennessee when a youth, 
and there grew to maturity and was married to Sarah McCIure, also 
of Tennessee. William B., after the death of his father, which occurred 
in 1836, was reared by an uncle. His youth was passed on a farm and 
he attended the Lavinia High School and Bethel College, where he received 
a good education in the English branches. After completing studies, he 
clerked in a store for about three years at Hickman, Kentucky. In Janu- 
ary, 1856, he removed to St. Clair County, Illinois, and was engaged in 
farming for about eleven years, and in the fall of 1867 he came to Missouri, 
and settled on the farm where he now resides, containing 160 acres. Mr. 
Justice was married in St. Clair County, Illinois, August 27, 1856, to 
Mi:s Leandre E. Bagby, a daughter of Isom Bagby. She died in about 
six months. Mr. J. was again married October 21, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth 
PuUiam, a daughter of John and Mary A. PuUiam. They have two child- 
ren: James T. and Alice M., (wife of W. B. McHenry). Mr. and Mrs. 
McHenry, have one child, Fannie May, born October, 1881. 

HOWELL LEWIS. 

At six o'clock on the morning of April ii, 1883, Howell Lewis, one 
of the oldest settlers and one of the early pioneers of this county, closed 
his mortal life at the old family residence, near Lewis Station, this 
county. Deceased was born at Richmond, Virginia, July 10, 1808. He 
traced his genealogy distinctly from the Washington family. Betty 
Washington, sister of General Washington, was married to Colonel 
Fielding Lewis. They raised a large family. On December 12, 1770, a 
child was born to them and called Howell. He was reared to manhood 
and became a great favorite with his uncle. General Washington, and 
inherited from him 1,300 acres of land on the Kanawha River, in West 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 805 

Virginia. On September 26, 1795. he was married to Ellen Hackley 
Pollard. To them were born eleven children, the subject of this sketch 
being the seventh. He was four years old when his father removed with 
his family, and twelve male and six female slaves and their children, 
under the care of " Old Jack," a trusty leader among them, and took 
possession of the large body of lands willed him by his uncle, General 
Washington. In 183 1 Howell Lewis and Emily G. Burch were married 
in Mason County, Virginia. He left his native home, and with his wife 
and young family turned his face towards the Great West, and located 
in this county in November, 1836, at his old homestead near Lewis, 
where he made his home during his entire residence in this state and 
wheie he yielded up his spirit to his Maker. His old homestead is located 
on the top of the rise, just north of the town of Lewis Station. For 
many years in the early history of the county it was the main stopping 
place on the road, and many a weary traveler enjoyed the open-hearted, 
unstinted old Virginia hospitality of its owner. Like all old men, he 
was fond of talking of the early days. With a bright native intellect 
and a well-stored mind, he would interest his hearers for hours in detail- 
ing reminiscences of the past. In 1849 M^- L., with others, were struck 
with the gold fever. After reaching New Mexico he concluded to return 
and let his fortune remain with his adopted state, Missouri. May 13, 
1866, his wife died. He led an active, rugged life, and was blessed with 
good health until near its close. He was preceded to the grave but a few 
days by his second wife, Mrs. Mary A. Garrett, a widow lady to whom, 
he was married in 1872. 

JOHN W. MIDDLECOFF, 

a prominent farmer and stock raiser, on section 28, was born in St. Clair 
County, Illinois, December 18, 1822, and was the son of Hon. John Mid- 
dlecofT, a native of Hagerstown, Maryland. His mother came originally 
from Augusta County, Virginia. The former removed to Illinois in 1818,.. 
and was one of the pioneer settlers of St. Clair County. He represented 
his county in the legislature one term, and was adjutant general of the 
militia, but served a long time as captain previous to being elected adju- 
tant. He held this latter position until his death in 1835. John W. 
grew to manhood in his native county on a farm and attending school; 
three months during the winter. In 1866 he removed to Missouri and 
located in Henry County, where he bought and improved the farm 
where now lives. This embraces 400 acres in his homestead. He also> 
owns 185 acres of land in another tract, lying in four pieces. He is now 
devoting some attention to the breeding and raising of thoroughbredi 
Jersey cattle. Mr. Middlecoff was married in his native county Novem- 
ber 18,1846, to Miss Amy Anderson, of the same county. She died in 



g04 ilISTORV OF HENRY COUNTY. 

February, 1852. One son by this marriage is living, John T, Two are 
deceased, James A., died in December, 1870, at the age of twenty- 
three years. He served two years in the Union army, until discharged 
at the close of the war. Mr. Middlecoff was married a second time in 
St. Clair County, Illinois, January 5, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Land, a 
daughter of Captain Aaron Land, one of the prominent men ot that 
county. They have ten children: B. C, A. L., Clara May, (wife of Col- 
onel Inloes) Lawrence, Mellie, John B., Elmer, Walter W., Ella and 
Archie A. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the M. E. Church. 

B. F. MUNDAY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 23. The subject of this sketch is a 
native of Hendricks County, Indiana, and was born April 27, 1844, 
being the son of Harvey Munday, a Kentuckian by birth, who was born 
in 1810, and who was reared in that state and married Caroline Coghill, 
of Kentucky. The family removed to Indiana and were among the first 
settlers of Putnam, where Harvey Munday improved a farm and where 
he now resides. They have a family of eight sons and one daughter, 
Frank being the fifth son and sixth child. He spent his youth on the 
farm and in learning the carpenter trade. In 1861 he came to Missouri 
and settled in Henry County. Mr. Munday was married January 12, 
1869, to Miss Mary G. East, of this county, a daughter of George A. and 
Mary T. East. Their family consists of five children: George H., Lizzie 
(died June 9, 1873, aged two years), Stewart L., Mary E., Benjamin F., 
Jr., and James C. He is a member of the Baptist Church. 

JAMES H. PADFIELD, 

a successful farmer and stock raiser on section 5, owes his nativity to St. 
Clair County, Illinois, where he was born November 14, 1842. John 
Padfield, his father, was a native of Kentucky, but removed to St. Clair 
County, Illinois, in an early day, where he married Nancy Ann Robin- 
son. James H. lost both his parents when a child, his father dying when 
the son was but four years old and his mother when he was seven years 
of age. His youth was spent on a farm in the summer and in attending 
the district school during the winter months, and he was married in the 
county of his birth, August 28, 1862, to Miss Amanda H. Fike, of the 
same county, and a daughter of Ashby and Mary Fike. They have two 
children: Bertha A. (wife of John Biggs), and Carrington W. Mr. Pad- 
field came to Missouri in February, 1866, and located in Henry County, 
where he bought the farm where he now resides, consisting of no acres. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 805 

WILLIAM A. SETTLES, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 28, was born in Pike County, Missouri, 
October 27, 1849, and was the son of J. H. Settles, a native of Kentucky, 
who removed to Missouri with his parents, they being among the pio- 
neer settlers of Pike County. J. H. Settles married Louisa Fielder, and 
about the year 1858 came from Pike to Henry County, where he bought 
a farm, on which he lived until his death, in May, 1863. William A. 
grew to manhood in this county on the farm, and received a common 
school education. He was married March 19, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth 
Hammond, of St. Clair County, Illinois, and a daughter of Jonah and 
Ruth Hammond. Having lost her parents when a child she came to 
Missouri with her grandmother, Nancy Hammond, under whose care 
and supervision she was reared and educated. She died January 12, 
1882. She was a lady possessed of many noble qualities of mind and 
heart that endeared her not only to her husband and family, but to many 
friends. There is one child by this marriage, Ollie Settles, who was 
born July 25, 1878. Mr. Settles now has 370 acres of land. 

JAMES H. SETTLES, 

section 29, an energetic and enterprising farmer of this township, is a 
native of Pike County, Missouri, and was born January 13, 1853. His 
parents were J. H. and Louisa (Fielder) Settles. James H. spent his 
youth on a farm in this county, attending the common schools, where 
he was educated. He was married April 5, 1877, to Miss Rachel Ham- 
mond, originally from St. Clair County, Illinois, and a daughter of Jonah 
and Ruth Hammond. Her parents had died when she was a child, her 
mother departing this life January 14, i860, and her father February 8, 
of the same year. She was then brought up and educated by her grand- 
mother, Nancy Hammond, who removed with her family to Henry 
County, Missouri, in 1868. Nancy Hammond is a Kentuckian by birth, 
and was born in 1803. Her father, Joseph Cook, removed to St. Clair 
County, Illinois, from Kentucky, in 1825. Nancy was married there in 
1826, to Isaac Hammond. There were two sons by this marriage, who 
grew to maturity, but are now deceased, Carroll and Jonah. Mr. and 
Mrs. Settles have one child, Robert J., who was born March 15, 1882. 
After his marriage Mr. Settles located on the farm where he now resides, 
lie owns 240 acres of land. 

CAPTAIN W. H. SHELDON, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 31, owes his nativity to Steuben County, 
New York, where he was born February 23, 1833, being the son of Allen 



8o6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

Sheldon, a native of Massachusetts, and Chloe (Picket; Sheldon, origi- 
nally from Connecticut. The former served as drum major in the war 
of 1812, while his father, Ephesus Sheldon, was a colonel in the war of 
the Revolution and hi.s father wa5 a general in the same service. Allen 
Sheldon removed from New York to Illinois in 1840 and located in 
McHenry County, where he purchased land and improved a farm and 
lived until his death in February, 1870. W. H. grew to maturity 
in McHenry County and received his education at the public schools, 
supplemented with about two years' attendance at a select school. He 
enlisted September 10, 1861, in Company I, Eighth Illinois Cavalry as a 
private, but when his company was organized he was elected first lieu- 
tenant. After serving one year he resigned on account of ill health. 
Upon recovering he re-enlisted and clerked in the quartermaster's 
department until disabled by being thrown from a horse, when he was 
taken to the hospital, remaining there for four months and then was dis- 
charged. After this he returned to Illinois and was engaged in the real 
estate business and farming in McHenry County for about six years. In 
1869 he located at Brownington, Henry County, Missouri, and was inter- 
ested in the mercantile business for about three years, removing to his 
farm, containing 153 acres, in Deer Creek Township, in December, 1878. 
Mr. Sheldon was married in Wisconsin, January 7, 1855, to Miss Nora 
Foley, a daughter of John Foley. She was born in Montgomery Count}', 
New York. They have three children: James H. (a merchant and post- 
master at Brownington), Charles W. and Allen. They have lost four 
children. 

CAPTAIN DARIUS SULLIVAN. 

section 7, a native of Dutchess County, New York, was born January 
13, 1831. John Sullivan, his father, and also his mother, whose maiden 
name was Mary Washburn, were born in the same state. Darius passed 
his youthful days on a farm and in attending the common schools, where 
he received his primary education, supplemented with two years attend- 
ance at the Rochester High School. Removing from New York to 
Pennsylvania the family located in Erie County, and afterward in Ken- 
dall County, Illinois. In the fall of 1861 Mr. S. enlisted as a private in 
Company K, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and served till October, 1864. He 
was promoted to second lieutenant January 3, 1862, and in July, 1863, 
was promoted to captain, serving in that capacity until his final dis- 
charge. He participated in the fights of Williamsburg and Gettysburg, 
and fought over the same ground at Brandy Station seven times. Imme- 
diately after the battle of Gettysburg he received a gunshot wound in 
the head which fractured his skull. After recovering, however, he par- 
ticipated in a number of other engagements. After his discharge he 
was appointed horse inspector for the government at Syracuse, New 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 80/ 

York, and served in that capacity until the close of the war. In the 
winter of 1865 Mr. Sullivan came to Clinton, Henry County, Missouri, 
and was appointed deputy sheriff, serving as such one year. He then 
embarked in the hardware business, which he continued for about three 
years. He was appointed postmaster at Clinton May 23, 1873, and made 
an efficient officer for about five years. After retiring from this office 
Mr. Sullivan spent one summer traveling with his family in Colorado, 
and since his return has been engaged in farming and stock raising. His 
farm includes 240 acres, with good improvements. He is giving his 
attention to the breeding and raising of thoroughbred short horn cattle, 
and has a herd of eleven, with the Eighth Duke of Walnut Hill, at the 
head and Lady Eleanor second; his stock is all recorded. Mr. Sullivan 
was married in Will County, Illinois, December 12, 1867, to Miss Han- 
nah J. Corbin, a daughter of Elihu Corbin, one of the prominent men of 
that county. Mrs. S. is a native of Ohio, but was reared and educated 
in Will County. They have three children: Arthur C, Alice B. and 
Emma H. Mrs. S. is a member of the M. E. Church. 

ABRAM WILEY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section lO, came originally from Cocke County, 
East Tennessee, where he was born in 1824. His father, A. Wiley, was 
a native of Shenandoah County, Virginia, and his mother, formerly Mar- 
garet Whitson, of Tennessee. The former was a soldier of the war of 
1812. He removed from Tennessee to Missouri in the fall of 1830 and 
located in Lafayette County, where he lived about three years, then com- 
ing to Henry County. He settled in the northern part of the county, 
where he lived until his death, December 19, 1861. Abram grew to man- 
hood here upon the farm, and after reaching his majority he learned and 
worked at the carpenter's trade for about fourteen years. He was mar- 
ried January 21, 1858, to Miss Angeline Woolfalk, a Kentuckian by birth 
and a daughter of Charles T. Woolfalk. They have four children: Nan- 
nie (wife of Alonzo McElwrath), Maggie A., Robert G. and Charles 
Lewis. Mrs. McElwrath has one child. Mora. After his marriage Mr. 
Wiley located on land he had previously purchased and which he now 
occupies. He owns 170 acres. A large portion of the place is under- 
laid with coal. There is a coal shaft, where about 12,000 bushels of 
coal per month are being taken out. Mrs. Wiley is a member of the 
Missionary Baptist; Church, and the two daughters of the M. E. Church, 
South. 



8o8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 



SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP. 



P. W. CECIL 

was born September 14, 1827, in Montgomery County, Virginia, and was 
the son of Philip Cecil, who was born December 8, 1776, and Polly 
(Wygal) Cecil, born December 8, 1789. They were married May 22, 
1826, and by this union had eleven children, five of whom are still living. 
They immigrated to Saline County, Missouri, in December, 183 1, when 
Mr. Cecil purchased a large tract of land on the forks of Salt Creek and 
Black Water, and lived there two years and then removed to Rives (now 
Henry) County, settling in Springfield Township in 1834. In 1836, he 
pre-empted 160 acres in addition to his former purchase. He died July 
23, of the same year. In 1837, the subject of this sketch bought of the 
government 240 acres, and had the management of affairs for seven 
years, until the marriage of his mother, when he came into possession 
of 160 acres of the homestead, including the buildings. He married Miss 
Mary Ann Duncan, of Henry County, January ii, 1844. They had six 
children, four of whom were daughters. He has four children living. In 
1858, he sold his farm and removed to Leesville, where he was engaged 
in merchandising for two years, but he again took possession of the farm 
in the fall of i860. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1846, and 
served two years, and was afterward appointed to fill vacancy in 1862, 
During the years of 1863-4, he was in Otterville, Cooper County, Mis- 
souri. Returning in the spring of 1865, he resumed farming. He was 
elected township trustee in 1872, and served one term. In 1874, he was 
elected county judge for the term of two years, and was again tendered 
the office, but declined to accept. During a residence of nearly half a 
century in the county, Judge Cecil has been one of its honored men, giv- 
ing his services often for it, and his influence is always on the side of 
right. Politically he is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Cecil have been 
members of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church for a period of thirty years. 

THOMAS G. COCK, 

farmer and stock raiser was born April 14, 1824, in, Campbell County, 
Virginia. His father, Chastain Cock, was born there, June 22, 1793, and 
by trade a tanner. He subsequently abandoned his trade and engaged 
in farming. His mother, formerly Mary Bronson, was born June 22, 
1797, in Campbell County. They were married June 22, 1815, and to 
them were born eight children, six sons and two daughters, only one of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 809 

whom is living. Thomas Cock received but a limited education in 
youth, and in November, 1833, he emigrated with his parents to Christian 
County, Kentucky, where he remained four years, then removed to 
White Township, Benton County, Missouri. For ten years he farmed 
in that county, and on September 22, 1847, he married Miss Martha 
Bishop, of Kentucky, born February 3, 1828. By this union there were 
six daughters and two sons, all of whom are living. In December 1847, 
he removed from Benton County to Osage, Henry County, where he 
commenced farming for himself Two years later he sold his claim and 
began working for his brother in Springfield, with whom he continued 
one year. He then bought a claim and has added to his original pur- 
chase, until he now owns 560 acres. Mrs. Cock died February 6, 1865. 
November 21, 1865, he married Mrs. Henrietta L. Huff, of Johnson 
County, Missouri, widow of Dr. William Huff, and daughter of Maj. 
John W. WiUiams, of Henry County. They have had three sons, two 
of whom are living. In 1874, Mr. C. was elected township trustee, serv- 
ing for two years. Himself, wife and six of his daughters are connected 
with the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. The father of Mrs. Cock, Maj. 
John W. Williams, was born October 10, 1797, near Gallatin, Sumner 
County, Tennessee, and before his recollection, accompanied his parents 
to what is now Simpson, then Warren County, Kentucky, His father, 
John Williams, enlisted in the continental army at the commencement 
of the revolutionary war, and continued in service until its close. He 
commanded a volunteer company in the northwestern army in the war 
of 1812, and served in the senate of Kentucky ten years. His son, John W. 
Williams, after he had grown to manhood, filled various offices in his 
county, and was sheriff for several years, and had the honor of serving 
his county in the Kentucky legislature in the years 1833-4. Iri the year 
1836, he moved with his family to Missouri, and settled in Henry County, 
near where he died. He filled the ofifi.e of brigade inspector or drill 
officer for seven years. He was a member of the Missouri legislsture in 
the years 1854-5. and was school commissioner for several years. He 
had been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty-seven years. When 
the civil war commenced he opposed secession, and being between sixty 
and seventy years of age, resolved to remain at home, and did so through- 
out the troubles. He died at his home, January 23, 1876. Mr. Williams, 
during his long career as a citizen of Henry County, held various offices 
of trust at the hands of the people of his county, and also filled his 
official station with honor to himself and his constituents. 

NICHOLAS C. DECKER, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born March 22, 1835, in Brooklyn, New 
York. He received his early education in that city. When sixteen 



'SlO HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

years of age he entered the Wilton Boarding School, at Wilton, Con- 
necticut, for one year. His father, Stephen L. Decker, was born in New 
Lotts, Kings County, New York, in i8oi, and still resides in his native 
state, and although nearly eighty-two years of age, is actively engaged 
in superintending his farm. He married, November 15, 1828, Miss Han- 
nah Van Ausdale, of Kings County, born March 24, 1808; she died 
March 4, 1848. They had eight children, five sons and three daughters, 
■six of whom are living. The subject of this sketch emigrated to Rock- 
ford, Illinois, in September of 1854, and soon became occupied in the 
manufacture of reapers, where he remained for eight years. He mar- 
ried Miss Sophia C. Schultz, of Orange County, New York, and a 
daughter of John D. and Catharine T. Schultz. By this union there 
were six children, four sons and two daughters, four of whom survive. 
After his marriage Mr. D. went to St. Louis and located eight miles north 
of the city, where he was employed as overseer on a large plantation for 
two years. Going to St. Louis city he engaged his services to a ship- 
ping firm, and remained there for eighteen months, when he took charge 
of another plantation for ten years. He then purchased the stock and 
implements and conducted the plantation as lessee for four years. 
While here Mrs. Decker died, on April 10, 1878. In March, of 188 1. he 
removed to Henry County, and bought a farm of 190 acres, on section 
II, Springfield Township. His farm is well improved and fenced, upon 
which is a new two-story house. October 26, 188 1, he married Mrs. 
Ruth M. Stevens, of Wabash, Indiana, who had one son by her former 
marriage. They were married at Hayden's Grove Church, this being the 
first ceremony performed in that church. In September, of 1882, he 
applied for a patent on an improvement of a cultivator, for the cultiva- 
tion of corn, broom corn, cotton and sugar cane. The patent was 
issued December 26, 1882. Mr. D. excels the county in raising broom 
■corn, and he attributes his success to his new invention, claiming for its 
principal merit that it does the work of eight men with hoes, and it is 
susceptible of being attached to any cultivator, or a double or single 
shovel plow. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., while Mrs. Decker is 
identified with the Christian Church at Hayden Grove. 

HAMILTON PERRY FEWELL 

was born July 17, 1843, in Henry County, Missouri, and was the son of 
John H. Fewell, originally of Christian County, Kentucky, born Janu- 
ary 6, 1816, and who was a farmer by occupation. His mother, formerly 
Sarah Cannon, was born in 1809, in Alabama. They were married in 
Kentucky, in November, 1835, and emigrated to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, in 1838. By this union there were eight children, five of whom 
are living, Hamilton P. being the fourth child. He has always resided 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 8 II 

in Henry County with the exception of an absence of four years in 
Texas. He commenced life for himself at the age of sixteen, and has 
since that time relied upon his own exertions. At the opening ot the 
war he enlisted in the state service under Captain Bird D. Parks, and 
served for six months, and then in the regular army. Company G., Fifth 
Missouri Infantry Regiment, Captain McCowen commanding. He 
served in that company until the surrender of Vicksburg, July 3, 1863. 
He was among the prisoners taken at that battle, but on the way to 
parole camp made his escape, and crossing the river to McKinney, 
Texas, there joined General Genno's escort and went in pursuit of desert- 
ers, to Lockhart, in Southern Texas, where he was taken sick. Subse- 
quently recovering, he rejoined his company, but was with it only two 
days, as his commander, General Genno, was wounded at the battle of 
Poison Springs, and he, together with others, received permission to join 
General Shelby. Failing to reach the brigade, they joined Colonel 
Lawler, on the Arkansas River, with whom he remained two weeks. 
He joined Shelb}-'s raid in Missouri, and accompanied it to Boonville, 
in its attempt to join Price, but falling behind that company, he, together 
with five of his comrades, were separated from the army, and for twenty- 
nine days subsisted upon what they could obtain with their guns, Avhile 
passing through the Indian Territory. They finally reached Texas and 
remained until the spring pf 1865, when they joined Tuck Hill's inde- 
pendent company, and coming through to Missouri, surrendered at Lex-* 
ington to the Federal troops. He was paroled the same day, and went 
to Illinois, where he stopped for two months, thence to Red River Sta- 
tion, Mississippi, but after a short time went into Texas. A few months 
later he returned to Missouri and commenced trading in cattle, in which 
business he continued for three years. He subsequently settled in Henry 
County, and leasing a farm, has remained upon it for eleven years. 

JAMES HENRY FEWELL, 

was born April 20, 1837, near Dukedom, Graves County, Kentuck}^ and 
when two years old came with his parents to Henry County, with whom 
he remained until the age of eighteen. He attended the school known 
as the Longdon and Shanklin academy for a term of six months, at 
the age of seventeen and when eighteen years old he commenced the 
study of medicine at Calhoun, Henry County, his preceptor being Dr. 
Robert Hogan, of that place. In the same year he attended Pope's 
Medical College, of St. Louis, where he took a course of medical lec- 
tures for six months. He opened his first office for the practice of medi- 
cine at Windsor, .Henry County, Missouri, then removed to Little Osage, 
Vernon Count}-, and made it his home for one year. Changing his 
locality to Taborville, St. Clair Count}-, he settled permanently and con- 



8l2 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

tinued his practice for several years, or up to the opening of the late 
war, when he engaged as surgeon in General Price's division at Little 
Little Rock, Arkansas. He served during the war in that capacity, and 
at its close went to San Antonio, Texas, where he engaged in the cot- 
ton trade, but after a short time, he returned to his father's home in 
Henry County. He was later interested in general stock raising and 
shipping, and followed this business four year, when he abandoned it 
and resumed farming, as his primary business, though raising and deal- 
ing in stock to some extent, while quietly pursuing his chosen calling. 
His death was a sudden and tragic one. On his return home from a 
neighbor's house, he fell from his saddle dead, from the effects, as was 
supposed, of poison, secretly administered by another. Mr. Fewell and 
family, together with some of their neighbors, soon after the burial, sus- 
pecting that foul play had been connected with the death of the deceased, 
began to investigate the circumstances connected with it, and found 
that a note of $200 had been given in the past, and there was evi- 
dence that said note had been changed unlawfully to read $1,200. Sub- 
sequent developments strengthened the suspicions against the suspected 
one, John Wickham, but the matter not being duly investigated from 
want of evidence, the suspected criminal was never arraigned in time to 
fasten suspicion upon him. However, in a few months, he suddenly and 
very suspiciously disappeared, and has never been heard of in the locality 
of Henry County. The lawful note of $200 has never been presented- 

WILLIAM C. GEORGE, 

farmer, was born September 25, 1806, in Caroline County, Virginia. His 
father, John George, who was born in 1770 or 1771, in Pennsylvania, 
emigrated with his parents when fifteen years of age, to Madison County, 
Virginia. His father died when he was twenty years old. He then 
engaged as an overseer, and continued in that business fifteen years. 
He married Miss Mary J. Long, of Orange County, Virginia, in 1803. 
They had ten children, four of whom are living. Mr. G. removed to 
Lincoln County, Kentucky, in 1816, and lived there until 1835, when he 
came to Rives County, Missouri. Mrs. George died about the year 1840, 
and after this her husband made his home among his children until his 
death in 1853. William C. George was married November 21, 1839, to 
Miss Eliza Collins, of Henry County, Missouri. To them were born four 
children, now living. Mrs. George died August 20, 1847. November 
20, 1849, hs married Miss Adelia Hopkins, also of Henry County. To 
them were born two sons, one of whom is living. Mr. George's farm 
consisted of eighty acres. He added to this from time to time, until 
he became the owner of 620 acres. A large portion of this he has 
divided with his children. Although a man seventy-six years of age he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 813 

is still of active habits, and slow to yield to the infirmities of age. He 
and his wife, with two of his daughters and one son, are connected with 
the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. His oldest son, John L., enlisted during 
the second year of the civil war, as private, and served in that capacity 
until the close of the war, participating in many battles with his com- 
pany, C, Seventh Missouri Cavalry. Politically he is a Republican. 

WILLIAM G. GEORGE 

was born August 30, 1857, in Springfield Township, Henry County, Mis- 
souri. At the age of twenty years he entered the Clinton Academy, 
where he remained for six months. Then he was under the instruction 
of Prof. W. H. Stahl for two years, graduating in his twenty-second year 
with honor. After leaving the academy he resumed his duties as 
instructor and has steadily been occupied in his profession since that 
time. His father, Alberton C. George, a farmer and stock raiser by call- 
ing, was born July 10, 18 14, in Caroline County, Virginia, and emigrated 
from Kentucky to Henry County, Missouri, about 1855. He married 
Miss Elizabeth Goff, of Henry County, October 31, 1839. ^Y this union 
there were five daughters and three sons, living. William George was 
married February 27, 1882, to Mrs. Sallie J., widow t)f Dr. W. F. Gird- 
ner, of Daviess County, Missouri. Mrs. G. has one daughter by her 
former marriage (Fanny Girdner), four years of age. Mr. George is a 
member of the A. F. & A. M. He is also identified with the Mt. Olivet 
Baptist Church. His political views are Democratic. 

REV. WILLIAM A. GRAY 

was born October 16, 18 15, in Christian County, Kentucky. His father, 
Joseph Gray, was born in 1777 in Dinwiddle County, Virginia, and was 
a farmer by occupation. He emigrated near the year 1800 to Kentucky 
and settled in Christian County, where he remained until 1839. Wil- 
liam's mother, formerly Matilda Scrieggs, was born in Buckingham 
County, Virginia, about 1782. They were married in 1800 in Christian 
County, Kentucky, and had five children. William A. Gray was the 
youngest of this family. He spent his early life in his native state, 
receiving a limited education, and in the fall of 1836 left home and went 
on a prospecting tour to the present Henry County, where he remained 
nearly two years. Returning to his native state, he passed one year 
there, making the final preparations for a future and permanent home in 
Missouri. He was married November 18, 1838, to Miss Mary Lofftus, of 
Christian County, Kentucky. By this union there were thirteen children, 
eleven sons and two daughters. In the year of 1839 he entered a tract 
of 160 acres of land, his parents also becoming residents of the county 
about the same time. Mr. Gray commenced school teaching in 1836, 



8 14 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

previous to his coming here, and followed the calling for about fifteen 
years. His first school in Missouri was taught in Tebo Township. In 
June of 1843 he became identified with the Baptist Church of Clear 
Creek, Benton County, and from a sense of duty soon turned his atten- 
tion to the ministry, and, being encouraged by the church, proceeded to 
the work of preparation and began the study of theology, though under 
the most adverse circumstances, as he was compelled to go through the 
process of self-education in the then new country of his adoption. He 
was licensed in November, 1843, and was ordained in January, 1844, by 
Revs. J. T. Ricketts and W. P. Caldwell, and he commenced his life work 
immediately. His first text was: " Fear not, little flock, for it is your 
Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The citizens of Henry, 
Benton, Pettis, Johnson, St. Clair, Bates and Vernon Counties have long 
known Pastor Gray, many of whom have sat under and listened with 
pleasure and satisfaction to his preaching. Mrs. Gray died August i, 
i860, leaving twelve children. Mr. Gray was married again November 
19, i860, to Mary A. Bibb, of Benton County. There were five children 
born to them. Though having devoted much of his time to the minis- 
try, with but little pecuniary compensation, he has been greatly pros- 
perous. 

His house was demolished April 7, 1842, by a cyclone, leaving no 
article of furniture nor vestige of household goods. A little child was 
snatched from its cradle only in time to save it from certain death, as 
the cradle was instantly filled with the debris of the falling house. Mr. 
Gray, in his attempt to reach the residence, was struck with a piece of 
flying timber, and fell crushed and bleeding, and his narrow escape is 
shown by the scar upon his head to this day. The neighbors restored 
his house, and he looks back with grateful remembrance to the kindness 
shown him and his family. He preached unmolested during the period 
of the war, and though men sought to intimidate, he fearlessly pro- 
claimed the gospel to those who chose to listen. He has perhaps 
preached over 5,000 sermons, besides performing extra duties in the 
community, which have been frequent. His second wife died June 10, 
1875. On November 20, 1877, he married Martha M. Fewell, of Benton 
County, but originally from North Carolina. He has, without doubt, 
baptised more than a thousand candidates, and could give us no idea of 
the number of marriage rites performed during his long ministry. He 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

Dr. J. W. Gray, son of Rev. Wm. A. Gray, was born February 20, 
1840, in Springfield Township, Henry County, Missouri. During the 
years of 1856, '57 and '58, he attended the college at Calhoun, Henry 
County, conducted by the Tebo Baptist Association. On leaving the 
school, he commenced the study of medicine at Calhoun, Dr. Robert 
Hogan of that place being his preceptor. He continued his studies 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 8l$ 

during the years of- 1859 ^'"^d '60. and was interrupted in 1861 by the 
opening of the war. He suspended study for several months, giving his 
attention to the management of the tarm at home. In. November, i86i^ 
he resumed his studies with Dr. Alfred Head, of Benton County, andi 
passed nearly two years under that preceptor. He attended medical! 
lectures at St. Louis, Missouri. In the spring of 1864, he commenced 
the practice of his profession at Windsor, in Henry County. He was 
married in September, 1864, to Miss Clara Elizabeth Head, of Millers- 
burg, Callaway County, and a daughter of Dr. Alfred Head. They have 
six children. Dr. Gray continued his practice at Windsor for twelve 
years, when he removed to Springfield Township, this county, buying 
235 acres of the old homstead, located on section 15. Besides attending 
to a large practice, he has charge of his farm, and is also engaged in 
general stock raising. He is a member of the Masonic order, and 
politically he is a Democrat. 

JOHN GOFF 

was born January 13, 1817, in Williamson County, Tennessee, being the 
son of William Goff, who was born June 18, 1783, in Washington County,. 
Virginia. He emigrated with his parents, when a small boy, to Wil- 
liamson County, Tennessee, where the family remained until 1830. His 
mother, whose maiden name was Edith Walker, was born August 14^ 
1787, in Culpeper County, Virginia. They were married February 7^ 
1805, and to them were born thirteen children, of whom three are living. 
They moved from Williamson County, Tennessee, in 1830, to Saline 
County, Missouri, and bought a tract of 120 acres, residing upon it for 
three years and a half, when, selling the farm, they came to what is 
now Henry County, on April 10, 1834. They purchased 200 acres of 
land in Tebo (now Springfield) Township, where they lived until they 
departed this life. William Goff died September 26, 1842, and his wife 
died October ii, 1843. He was one of the first judges of the county, 
three having been appointed at the same time. He served for six years 
in that capacity, or nearly up to the time of his demise, resigning on 
account of ill health just prior to his death. He held one of the first 
post offices in the county, there being two established at the same date. 
The other postmaster was Thomas B. Wallace or his brother, near where 
Clinton now stands. The subject of this sketch received his education 
before emigrating with his parents to Missouri. He commenced his 
struggle with life at the age of seventeen, and then had the care of his 
father's family, eight in number. He married Miss Mary J. Goff, of 
Henry County, February 17, 1874. By this union they have but one 
child, a daughter, six years old. In 1838 Mr. Goff attended the sale of 
government lands in Henry County, and made purchase of 160 acres, 
being at the time a resident of Tebo Township, where he stayed until 



8l6 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. 

1857. Then he moved to his land, and commenced building and improv- 
ing his farm, and erecting buildings. He subsequently bought lOO acres 
besides having entered 120 acres. In 1859 he purchased 153 acres for 
which he received no title until 1865. He possessed at one period more 
than 500 acres, but has now but 262 acres. His political views are Dem- 
ocratic. As is mentioned in another part of this work, the early courts 
were held at the GofT residence. 

RUEL W. JOHNSON. 

farmer and stock raiser, was born August 20, 1835, in Wood County, 
Virginia, his parents being Phineas Johnson, a farmer and blacksmith 
by trade, born May 6, 1809, in Pennsylvania, and Abigal (Ross) Johnson, 
born July 25, 1813, and originally from Ohio. They were married Decem- 
ber 12, 1833, and had eleven children, eight of whom are living. They 
were residents of Clark County, Missouri, at one time for ten years, 
removing thence to Henry County. Missouri. The education of R. W., 
was received in Wood County, Virginia, previous to the age of fourteen 
years. He left home in i860, and went to Clark County, Missouri, 
remaining until the following year, when he enlisted under Captain 
Watts, commander of what was called the Fox Rangers, a regiment of 
cavalry, which was soon organized into a regiment under Colonel Green, 
operating during the summer in Northern Missouri. Moving south in 
the fall, he joined General Price before Lexington, and served with him 
during the war, finally surrendering at Shreveport, Louisiana. He then 
returned to Clark County, Missouri, and from there went to McDonald 
County, Illinois, but a few months later locating in Bolivar County, Mis- 
sissippi. After a comparatively short time he returned to Missouri, and 
in less than a year found himself once more in the south, at Jackson, 
Mississippi. He returned to his father, in Henry County, in August, 
1867, and with the senior Johnson joined in farming for nearly seven 
years. December 15, 1873, he married Mrs. Martha Wears, of Henry 
County, Missouri. By this union there was but one son. Mrs. J. died 
May 20, 1875. In 1877, January 20, he married Mrs. Eliza Chalmers, also 
of this county. They have a farm of forty acres, located on section 29. 
He was elected a justice of the peace in 1882, but declined to qualify. 
Politically he is a Democrat. 

ISAAC M. JOHNSON 

was born March 12, 1838, in Madison County, Ohio, and was the son of 
William and Felietia (Hall) Johnson, of the same county. The former 
was born in 1812. They were married September 27, 1832, and but 
crecently celebrated their golden wedding in their native place. To 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 817 

them were born nine sons and one daughter, of whom six sons survive. 
Isaac M. commenced life for himself at the age of nineteen years. He 
had been quite an extensive traveler, having visited nearly every state 
in the Union, Canada, the British possessions and the territories. In 
1864 he married Miss Inezetta Fasha, of Peoria, Illinois, and they have 
been blessed with five sons and two daughters. All are living save two 
sons. In 1870 Mr. Johnson commenced farming in Henry County, Mis- 
souri, purchasing his first farm of 190 acres, on which he remained two 
years. Then renting it, he removed with his family to Clinton, and was 
engaged in shipping live stock to the St. Louis market for four years. 
Then he made an exchange of property in Clinton for 494 acres of land 
in this township, and since then he has added thereto from time to time 
until he now owns a large and most valuable farm of 713 acres. In 1882 
he sold his farm in Bethlehem Township. Mr. J. is one of the large cat- 
tle men of the county, and in this industry has met with far more than 
ordinary success. He was formerly quite an adapt in rail splitting, hav- 
ing split 565 rails for fencing purposes in five hours. Politically he is 
independent. 

ALEXANDER T. MADDEN 

wa^ born November 29, 1829, in Champaign County, Ohio. His father, 
Benjamin Madden, a shoemaker and farmer by occupation, was born in 
Virginia, and married Miss Charity Turner, who was born in Loudoun 
County, Virginia, in 1806. They had four children: Ann Eliza, Alexan- 
der T., John and Sarah. Two only survive. Benjamin Madden died 
some years since. The subject of this sketch married Miss Mary Jacobs, 
of Allen County, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Anna Jacobs, and by this 
union there have been seven children, and three sons and one daughter 
are living. Mr. M. came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1865. After 
farming here five years he went to Jasper County and bought land, and 
remained there for ten years. In the fall of 1882 he returned to this 
county where he has since been engaged in farming. Politically he is 
Democratic. Mrs. M. is connected with the United Brethren Church. 

JOSEPH MAYGINNES 

was born October 10, 1830, in Donegal, Westmoreland County, Penn- 
sylvania, where also his father, A. Mayginnes, was born January 31, 1799. 
He was a farmer by occupation. His mother, whose maiden name was 
Jane Garvin, came originally from Berks County, Pennsylvania. They 
were married in 18 18, and to them were born eleven children. The 
senior Mayginnes died November 4, 1864, in Shelby County, Ohio. The 
subject of this sketch received his education in Shelby County in the 

common schools, and at the age of nineteen he left for Madison County» 

53 



8l8 HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. \ 

Ohio, in February, 1850, where he was engaged in working as a farm j 
laborer. In October of the same year he started for Henry County, j 
Missouri, remaining for six months, or more, and making his home with 
an older brother for the time. After looking about for a suitable loca- 
tion, he finally decided to return to Ohio. He was occupied in railroad- j 
ing for four years. He was married September 3, 1853, to Miss Sarah ] 
E. Fisher, of Covington, Miami County, Ohio. By this union there '. 
were ten daughters, all of whom are living. In September, 1856, Mr. M. j 
settled in Darke County, Ohio, and resumed the occupation of farming 
eight years, when selling out he removed to Johnson County, Kansas. ! 
At the expiration of five came to Henry County, Missouri, locating in 
Springfield Township. He owns 213 acres on section 11. He is enthus- 
iastic in regard to school matters, and takes great interest in the ■ 
advancement of education. Mr. Mayginnes and his wife, with five of , 
his daughters, are members of the Christian Church, at Hayden's Grove. I 
His political views are Democratic. I 

( 

DAVID MICHAEL PHELPS, ! 

i 

farmer, section 3, was born January 31, 1842, in St. Clair County, Illi- i 

nois. His father, Michael Phelps, who was born in Knoxville, Tennes- I 

see, in 1797, was married in September, 1820 or 182 1, to Miss Ruth Luns- | 

ford, of St. Clair County, Illinois. They had thirteen children. Mrs. i 

Phelps died June 2, 1862, and Mr. P. was again married February 8, 1867, I 

to Miss Margaret Alexander, also of St. Clair County, Illinois. By the ' 

second union there was one son. David M. Phelps, the second son in , 

his father's family, received but a common English education in youth, \ 

commencing life for himself at the age of nineteen as a farm laborer. 

He was married March 17, 1864, to Miss Louisa Moore, of Belleville, St. , 

Clair County. Illinois. They have had four children, three of whom are ' 

living. In November, 1868, Mr. and Mrs. P. emigrated to Johnson ■ 

County, Missouri, where he purchased a farm of 120 acres, remaining i 

there for three years. He then came to Henry County and purchased 

the farm on which he now lives. Politically, he is a Democrat. 

HENRY LAWRENCE SETTLE, | 

I 

was born December 20, 1834, in Howard County, Missouri, and was the i 

son of William Henry Settle, born December 26, 181 1, in Frankford, Vir- 1 

ginia. He immigrated with his parents to Howard County, Missouri, at | 

the age of eleven years. His mother, formerly Margaret. Crews, was j 

born August 28, 181";, in Scott County, Kentucky. She removed with ' 

her father's family to Howard County, Missouri, in 1826. They were < 

married in August, 1833, in that county, and by this union there were ] 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 819 

- six children, four sons and one daughter, now living, the latter now a 
resident of Boone County. The sons all live in Howard County, except 
Henry L., who has for twenty-six years been a citizen of Henry County. 
His mother died December 7, 1878. He received his education in How- 
ard County before leaving his father's home, and in April, 1857, ^^ came 
to Henry County, and bought a tract of 400 acres, where he still resides. 
He was married May 4, 1858, to Miss Miranda Bradley, of this county. 
They have ten children. In the culture of broom corn he stands among 
the first in this neighborhood. He has been for two terms township 
assessor, and for many years director of schools in his district. He, his 
wife,' and two daughters are connected with the Christian Church at 
Hayden's Grove, Benton County. His political views are Democratic. 

JOEL STREIBY, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born February 7, 1840, in Kosciusko County, 
Indiana. His father, Wm. Streiby, was born in 1810, in Tuscarawas 
County, Ohio, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth 
Conrad. She was born in 1812. They were married in December, 183c* 
and by this union there were twelve children, ten of whom are living. 
They emigrated from Ohio to Indiana in 1833. The subject of this 
sketch received his education in his native county, and in April, 1861, 
enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Indiana Infantry Volunteers, as a pri- 
vate, Captain Williams, of Warsaw, Indiana, commanding. He remained 
with this regiment for four months, when it was transferred to the 
United States service, and he served for the remainder of that year,, 
when the regiment was regularly discharged at Washington. He 
re-enlisted in the fall of 1862, in Company I, Fiftieth Indiana Infantry,, 
and Avas appointed corporal, the regiment joining the Cumberland Divis- 
ion under General Thomas, serving in that capacity for several months.. 
He was appointed sergeant, holding the position during the remainder 
of the war. In July, 1865, his army corps was ordered to Texas, and 
remained there for four months, when they were regular discharged 
near San Antonio, thence returning to Indiana. Mr. Streiby was mar- 
ried December 21, 1865, to Miss Melvina Norris, of Kosciusko County, 
Indiana. They had four children, three of whom survive. In the fall 
of 1865, Mr. S. bought a farm in Cass County, Michigan, and in March,. 
1866, removed to that state, where he stopped for three years, then 
retraced his steps to his native state, taking charge of his father's farm 
and affairs. He remained there for two years, when with his family he 
came to Henry County, Missouri, and purchased lOO acres of land. Since 
that time he has continued to be engaged in farming and general stock 
raising. He is one of the reliable men of this vicinity. In 1878 he was 
elected township trustee. His political preferences are Republican. 



820 



HISTORY OK HENRY COUNTY. 



JOSEPH WILLIAMS 

was born September 6, 1833, in Green County, Kentucky, as was also his 
parents, William A. and Anna (Pettus) Williams. The former was born in 
1788 and the latter in 1792. They were married in 1809, and to them were 
born fourteen children, of whom eight are living. They emigrated in an 
early day to Tennessee near Nar.hville, and in 1835 removed to Johnson 
County, Missouri. Mr. Williams died in 1848, and his wife in 1854. 
Joseph Williams commenced life for himself at the age of sixteen as 
a farm laborer, which occupation he has since followed. June 5, 1855, 
he married Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, widow of Thomas Williams, of 
Johnson County. By this union there was one daughter. Mrs. Wil- 
liams died March 13, 1856. February 8, 1859, he married Miss Sarah E. 
Perkins, of Jefferson, Johnson County. They had thirteen children, nine 
of whom are now living. In March of the same year Mr. Williams 
moved to Bates County, Missouri. In two years he enlisted in the con- 
federate army and served until the close of the war, when he was dis- 
charged at Shreveport, Louisiana. He returned to his family in Mis- 
souri and farmed in Johnson County until 1872, when he came to Henry 
County. In 1875 he removed to Shelbj-ville, Shelby County. After one 
year he returned to Henry County and settled near Calhoun, and lived 
there five years, but owing to sickness in his family removed to Spring- 
field Township, where he bought ninety-five acres of land on section 30. 
Here he has since been engaged in farming, Mr. Williams is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic order. Himself, wife and one daughter are identi- 
fied with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Bronaugh Chapel). Polit- 
ically he is a Democrat. 




History of St. Clair County. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE VALLEY OF THE OSAGE— THE DAWN OF CIVILIZA- 
TION. 

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI— THE VANGUARD OF PROGRESSS— FROM 1830 TO 1840— HOUSE AND 
HOME COMFORTS— THE DAYS GIVEN TO CELEBRATION— FARMING TOOLS— THE 
BULL PLOWS— MILLS AND TRADING POINTS- HUNTING AND TRAPPING-THE 
HONEY BEE AND THE BEE TREE— INDIAN SIGN OF THE COMING OF THE PALE- 
FACES. 

THE DAWN OF CIVILIZAIION. 

In the heart of the grand old forest, 

A thousand miles to the west, 
Where a stream gushed out from the hillside, 

They halted at last for rest. 
And the silence of ages listened 

To the ax strike loud and dear, 
Divining a kingly presence 

In the tread of the pioneer. 

He formed of the prostrate branches 

A house that was strong and good ; 
The roof was of reeds from the streamlet, 

The chimney he built of wood; 
And there, by the winter fireside. 

While the flames up ihe chimney roared, 
He spoke of the good time coming, 

When plenty should crown his board. 

When the forest should fade like a vision 

And over the hillside and plain 
The orchard would spring in its beauty 

And the fields of golden grain. 
And tonight he sits by the fireside 

In a mansion quaint and old. 
With his children's children around him. 

Having reaped a thousanaiold. 



822 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

What a splendid country is this Southwestern Missouri! Unsur- 
passed in the glory of its landscape and the equability of its climate, in 
the abundance and purity of its waters and the wealth of its soil, native 
grasses and coal fields, it offers to the capitalist, fanner and manufac- 
turer one of the grandest fields of enterprise between New York har- 
bor and the Golden Gate. In the heart of this beautiful region and in 
the beautiful valley of the Osage lies St. Clair County. Here was the 
famous hunting ground of the Osages and other tribes of Indians; here 
they drank of its healing waters; here they built their wigwams, and, 
until the palefaces came, were monarchs of all. But civilization had 
dawned, the East had become perfect day, and the star of the empire 
had taken up its march and westward wended its way. Nature had 
been lavish of her gifts. The woodlands and the prairies were filled 
with game, and the Indians were loth to part with the magnificent coun- 
try, the heritage of centuries, but the unfettered white man came and 
the red man was despoiled of his hunting ground. He left it, but not 
always in peace, and the hatchet and scalping knife have left many a 
crimson stain to attest the love of the Indian for the home of his fathers. 

There were but few of the children of the forest left in this section, 
and they were friendly when the first white man trod the soil of St. Clair 
County. The log cabin of the pioneer took the place of the Indian 
wigwams, and the beautiful valley of the Osage soon resounded to the 
music of the woodman's ax, the crack of his unerring rifle, and the 
grand old hills and magnificent prairies began to echo with the voice 
of civilization, and its fruitful soil returning to the pioneer a bounteous 
return for his labor. 

THE VANGUARD OF PROGRESS. 

The advance guard of the army of progress, the heroic and self- 
sacrificing band ot pioneers now took possession of the country. They 
— whose place is ever to the front of progress — began blazing the way 
which was to guide the grand army of occupation, an army imbued 
with that spirit of faith which builds and populates a country and makes 
it great and prosperous. There is such an expression as " those good 
old times," referring to the early history of our county, but the people 
of to-day have little knowledge, and less realization of the trials, troubles 
and privations of the early pioneer. The men and women of to-day 
may well leel thankful that they need not go through the bitter trials 
and dangers of the past to find the comfort of a home, and that they 
and their children have escaped the rude and scantily furnished cabin, 
and the privations and vexations of the lives of those early settlers. 
The few of these old pioneers who have been left to us should receive 
all the care that loving hearts can give. Years of devotion is but a small 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 823 

recompense for the heroic sacrifice they have made in engrafting civili- 
zation and progress upon the soil of St. Clair County. 

FROM 1830 TO 1840. 

During the decade which embraces the first ten years of its history, 
the settlement of St. Clair County was in the earliest stages of pioneer 
life. 

In those days the people took no care to preserve history. They 
were too busily engaged in making it. Historically speaking they were 
the most important years of the county, for it was then that the founda- 
tion and corner stone of all the county's history and prospects were laid. 
Yet, this history is not remarkable for stirring events. It was, how- 
ever, a time of self-reliance and brave, persevering toil ; of privations 
cheerfully endured through faith in a good time coming. The experience 
of one settler was just about the same as that of others. They were 
almost invariably poor, they faced the same hardships and stood gen- 
erally on an equal footing. 

All the experience of the early pioneers of this county goes far to 
confirm the theory that, after all, happiness is pretty evenly balanced in 
this world. They had their privations and hardships, but they had also 
their own peculiar joys. If they were poor, they were free from the bur- 
den of pride and vanity; free also from the anxiety and care that always 
attends the possession of wealth. Other people's eyes cost them noth- 
ing. If they had few neighbors, they were on the best of terms with 
those they had. Envy, jealousy and strife had not crept in. A common 
interest and a common sympathy bound them together with the strong- 
est ties. They were a little world to themselves, and the good feeling 
that prevailed was all the stronger because they were so far removed 
from the great world of the east. 

Among these pioneers there was realized such a community of inter- 
est that there existed a community of feeling. There were no castes, 
except an aristocracy of benevolence, and no nobility, except a nobility 
of generosity. They were bound together with such a strong bond of 
sympathy, inspired by the consciousness of common hardship that they 
were practically communists. 

Neighbors did not even wait for an invitation or request to help one 
another. Was a settler's cabin burned or blown down ? No sooner was 
the fact known throughout the neighborhood than the settlers assembled 
to assist the unfortunate one to rebuild his home. They came with as 
little hesitation, and with as much alacrity as though they were all mem- 
bers of the same family and bound together by ties of blood. One 
man's interest was every other man's interest. Now this general state 
of feeling among the pioneers was by no means peculiar to these coun- 



824 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

ties, although it was strongly illustrated here. It prevailed generally 
throughout the west during the time of the early settlement. The very 
nature of things taught the settlers the necessity of dwelling together in 
this spirit. It was their only protection. They had come far away from 
the well established reign of law, and entered a new country, where the 
civil authority was still feeble and totally unable to afford protection and 
redress grievances. Here the settlers lived some little time before there 
was an officer of the law in the county. Each man's protection was in 
the good will and friendship of those about him, and the thing any man 
might well dread was the ill will of the community. It was more ter- 
rible than the law. It was no uncommon thing in the early times for 
hardened men, who had no fears of jails or penitentiaries, to stand in 
great fear of the indignation of a pioneer community. 

HOUSE AND HOME COMFORTS. 

The first buildings in the county were not just like the log cabins 
that immediately succeeded them. The latter required some help and a 
good deal of labor to build. The very first buildings constructed were a 
cross between "hoop cabins" and Indian bark huts. As soon as enough 
men could be got together for a " cabin raising," then log cabins were 
in style. Many a pioneer can remember the happiest time of his life as 
that when he lived in one of these homely but comfortable old cabins. 

A window with sash and glass was a rarity, and was an evidence of 
wealth and aristocracy which but few could support. They were often 
made with greased paper put over the window, which admitted a little 
light, but more often there was nothing whatever over it, or the cracks 
between the logs, without either chinking or daubing, were the depend- 
ence for light and air. The doors were fastened with old-fashioned 
wooden latches, and for a friend, or neighbor, or traveler, the string 
always hung out, for the pioneers of the West were hospitable, and enter- 
tained visitors to the best of their ability. It is noticeable with what 
affection the pioneers speak of their old log cabins. It may be doubted 
whether palaces ever sheltered happier hearts than those homely cabins. 

They were made of logs, notched together at the corners, ribbed 
with poles and covered with boards split from a tree. A puncheon floor 
laid down, a hole cut in the end and a stick chimney run up. A clap- 
board door is made, a window is opened by cutting out a hole in the 
side or end two feet square, and finished with glass or transparency. 
The house is then "chinked" and "daubed" with mud. The cabin is 
now ready. The household and kitchen furniture is adjusted, and life 
on the frontier is begun in earnest. 

The one legged bedstead, now a piece of furniture of the past, was 
made by cutting a stick the proper length, boring holes at one end one 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 825 

and a half inches in diameter, at right angles, and the same sized holes 
corresponding with those in the logs of the cabin the length and breadth 
desired for the bed, in which are inserted poles. 

Upon these poles clapboards are laid, or linn bark is interwoven 
consecutively from pole to pole. Upon this primitive structure the bed 
is laid. The convenience of a cook stove was not thought of, but instead 
the cooking was done by the faithful housewife in pots, kettles and skil- 
lets, on and about the big fireplace, and very frequently over and around, 
too, the distended pedal extremities of the legal sovereign of the house- 
hold, while the latter was indulging in the luxuries of the cob pipe, and 
discussing the probable results of a contemplated deer hunt on the 
Osage and its tributary, the Sac River. 

These log cabins were really not so bad after all. 

The people of to-day, familiarized with cooking stoves and ranges, 
would be ill at home were they compelled to prepare a meal with no 
other conveniences than those provided in a pioneer cabin. Rude fire- 
places were built in chimneys composed of mud and sticks, or at best, 
undressed stone. These fire-places served for heating and cooking pur- 
poses; also for ventilation. Around the cheerful blaze of this fire 
the meal was prepared, and these meals were not so bad either. As 
elsewhere remarked, they were not such as would tempt the epicure, 
but such as afforded the most healthful nourishment for a race of people 
who were driven to exposure and hardships which were their lot. We 
hear of few dyspeptics in those days. Another advantage of these 
cooking arrangements was that the stovepipe never fell down, and the 
pioneer was spared being subjected to the most trying of ordeals, and 
one probably more productive of profanity than any other. 

Before the country became supplied with mills, and even in some 
instances afterward, hominy-blocks were used. These exist now only in 
the memory of the oldest settlers, but as relics of the " long ago," a 
description of them will not be uninteresting: 

A tree of suitable size, say from eighteen inches to two feet in 
diameter, was selected in the forest and felled to the ground. If a cross- 
cut saw happened to be convenient, the tree was " butted " — that is, the 
kerf end was sawed off so that it would stand steady when ready for 
use. If there was no cross-cut saw in the neighborhood, strong arms 
and sharp axes were ready to do the work. Then the proper length, 
from four to five feet, was measured off and sawed or cut square. When 
this was done the block was raised on end and the work of cutting out 
a hollow in one of the ends was commenced. This was generally done 
with a common chopping axe. Sometimes a smaller one was used. 
When the cavity was judged to be large enough, a fire was built in it and 
carefully watched till the ragged edges were burned away. When com- 
pleted the hominy block somewhat resembled a druggist's mortar. Then 



S26 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

a pestle, or something to crush thej^corn was necessary. This was 
usually made from a suitably sized piece of timber, with an iron wedge 
attached, the large end down. This completed the machinery, and the 
block was ready for use. Sometimes one hominy block accommodated 
an entire neighborhood, and was the means of staying the hunger of 
many mouths. 

In giving the bill of fare above we should have added 7;/^^/, for of 
this they had plenty. Deer would be seen daily trooping over the 
prairie in droves of from twelve to twenty, and sometimes as many as 
fifty would be seen grazing together. Elk were also found, and wild 
turkeys and prairie chickens without number. Bears were not unknown. 
Music of the natural order was not wanting, and every night the pioneers 
were lulled to rest by the screeching of panthers and the howling of 
wolves. When the dogs ventured too far out froip the cabins at night, 
they would be driven back by the wolves chasing them up to the very 
cabin doors. Trapping wolves became a very profitable business after 
the state began to pay a bounty for wolf scalps. 

All the streams of water also abounded in fish, and a good supply of 
these could be procured at the expense of a little time and labor. Those 
who years ago improved the fishing advantages of the country never tire 
telling of the dainty meals which the streams afforded. No danger then 
of being ordered off a man's premises or arrested for trespass. One of 
the peculiar circumstances that surrounded the early life of the pioneers 
was a strange loneliness. The solitude seemed almost to oppress them. 
Months would pass during which they would scarcely see a human face 
outside of their own families. 

On occasions of special interest, such as election, holiday celebra- 
tions, or camp-meetings, it was nothing unusual for a few settlers who 
lived in the immediate neighborhood of the meeting to entertain scores 
of those who had come from a distance. 

Rough and rude though the surroundings may have been, the pio- 
neers were none the less sincere, hospitable and kind in their relations. 
It is true as a rule, and of universal application, that there is a greater 
degree of real humanity among the pioneers of any country than there 
is when the country becomes old and rich. If there is an absence of 
refinement, that absence is more than compensated in the presence of 
generous hearts and truthful lives. They are bold, industrious and 
enterprising. Generally speaking, they are earnest thinkers, and possess- 
ed of a diversified fund of useful, practical information. They hate cowards 
and shams of every kind, and above all things, falsehoods and deception, 
and cultivate an integrity which seldom permits them to prostitute 
themselves to a narrow policy of imposture. A few of them yet remain, 
and although some of their descendants are among the wealthy and 
most substantial people of the county, they have not forgotten their old 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 827 

time hospitality and free and easy ways. In contrasting the present 
social affairs with pioneer times, one has well said : 

"Then, if a house was to be raised, every man ' turned out,' and 
often the woman too, and while the men piled up the logs that fashioned 
the primitive dwelling-place, the women prepared the dinner. Some- 
times it was cooked by big log fires near the site where the cabin was 
building; in other cases it was prepared at the nearest cabin, and at the 
proper hour was carried to where the men were at work. If one man in 
the neighborhood killed a beef, a pig or a deer, every other family in the 
neighborhood was sure to receive a piece." 

Of the old settlers, some are still living in the county, in the enjoy- 
ment of the fortunes they founded in early times, " having reaped an 
hundred-fold." Others have passed away, and many of them will not 
long survive. Several of them have gone to the Far West, and are still 
playing the part of pioneers. But wherever they may be, whatever fate 
may betide them, it is but truth to say that they were excellent men, as 
a class, and have left a deep and enduring impression upon the county 
and the state. " They builded better than they knew." They were, of 
course, men of activity and energy, or they would never have decided to 
face the trials of pioneer life. They were almost invariably poor, but 
the lessons taught them in the early days were of such a character that 
few of them remained so. They made their mistakes in business pur- 
suits like other men. Scarcely one of them but allowed golden oppor- 
tunities for pecuniary profit, at least to pass by unheeded. What are 
now some of the choicest farms in Henry and St. Clair Counties, were 
not taken up by the pioneers, who preferred land of very much less 
value. They have seen many of their prophecies fulfilled, and others 
come to naught. Whether they have attained the success they desired, 
their own hearts can tell. 

At that time it certainly would have been much more difficult for 
those old settlers to understand how it could be possible that thirty-five 
years hence, the citizens of the present age of the county's progress 
would be complaining of hard times and destitution, and that they them- 
selves perhaps, would be among that number, than it is now for us to 
appreciate how they could feel so cheerful and contented with their 
meagre means and humble lot of hardships and deprivations during 
those early pioneer days. 

The secret was, doubtless, that they lived within their means, how- 
ever limited, not coveting more of luxury and comfort than their income 
would afford, and the natural result wa,s prosperity and contentment, 
with always room for one more stranger at the fireside, and a cordial 
welcome to a place at their table for even the most hungry guest. 

It is sometimes remarked that there were no places for public enter- 
tainment till later years. The fact is, there were many such places, in 



828 ■ HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

fact, every cabin was a place of entertainment, and these hotels were 
sometimes crowded to their utmost capacity. On such occasions, when 
bedtime came, the first family would take the back part of the cabin, and 
so continue filling up by families, until the limit was reached. The young- 
men slept in the wagon outside. In the morning, those nearest the door 
arose first and went outside to dress. Meals were served on the end of 
a wagon, and consisted of corn bread, buttermilk and fat pork, and occa- 
sionally coffee, to take away the morning chill. On Sundays, for a 
change, they had bread made of wheat " tramped out " oh the ground by 
horses, cleaned with a sheet and pounded by hand. This was the best^ 
the most fastidious they could obtain, and this only one day in seven. 
It was necessary that they should raise enough sod corn to take them 
through the coming winter, and also get as much breaking done as pos- 
sible. They brought with them enough corn to give the horses an occa- 
sional feed in order to keep them able for hard work, but in the main 
they had to live on prairie grass. The cattle got nothing else than grass. 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. 

An interesting comparison might be drawn between the conveni- 
ences which now make the life of a farmer a comparatively easy one, and 
the almost total lack of such conveniences in early days. 

The only plows they had at first were what they styled "bull plows."' 
The mould-boards were generally of wood, but in some cases they were 
half wood and half iron. The man who had one of the latter descrip- 
tion was looked upon as something of an aristocrat. But these old "bull 
plows" did good service, and they must be awarded the honor of first 
stirring the soil of St. Clair County, as well as that of all the first-class 
counties of this state. 

The amount of money which some farmers annually invest in agri- 
cultural implements would have kept the pioneer farmer in farming 
utensils during a whole lifetime. The pioneer farmer invested little 
money in such things, because they had little money to spare, and then 
again because the expensive machinery now used would not have been 
at all adapted to the requirements of pioneer farming. The "bull plow" 
was probably better adapted to the fields abounding in stumps and roots 
than would the modern sulky plow have been, and the old-fashioned 
wheat cradle did better execution than would a modern harvester under 
like circumstances. The prairies were seldom settled till after the pio- 
neer period, and that portion of the country which was the hardest to 
put under cultivation, and the most difficult to cultivate after it was 
improved, first was cultivated. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 829 

MILLS AND TRADING POINTS. 

Notwithstanding the fact that some of the early settlers were ener- 
getic millwrights, who employed all their energy and what means they 
possessed in erecting mills at a few of the many favorite mill sites which 
abound in the county; yet going to mill in those days, when there were 
no roads, no bridges, no ferry boats, and scarcely any conveniences for 
traveling, was no small task where so many rivers and treacherous streams 
were to be crossed, and such a trip was often attended with great dan- 
ger to the traveler when these streams were swollen beyond their banks. 
But even under these circumstances some of the more adventurous and 
ingenious ones, in case of emergency, found the ways and means by 
which to cross the swollen streams and succeed in making the trip. At 
other times again all attempts failed them, and they were compelled to 
remain at home until the waters subsided and depend on the generosity 
of their fortunate neighbors. 

Some stories are related with regard to the danger, perils and hard- 
ships of forced travels to mills and for provisions, which remind one of 
forced marches in military campaigns, and when we hear of the heroic 
and daring conduct of the hardy pioneers in procuring bread for their 
loved ones, we think that here were heroes more valiant than any of the 
renowned soldiers of ancient or modern times. 

Not a railroad had yet entered the state, and there was scarcely a 
thought in the minds of the people here of such a thing ever reaching 
the wild West; and, if thought of, people had no conception of what a 
revolution a railroad and telegraph line through the county, would cause 
in its progress. Then there was less than 5,000 miles of railroad in the 
United States, and not a mile of track laid on this side of the Missis- 
sippi River, while now there are over 100,000 miles of railroad extend- 
ing their trunks and branches in every direction over our land. 

Supplies in those days were obtained at Harmony Mission and at 
Boonville. Mail was carried by river, wagon and on horseback. 

HUNTING AND TRAPPING. 

The sports and means of recreation were not so numerous and varied 
among the early settlers, as at present, but they were more enjoyable 
and invigorating than now. 

Hunters now-a-days would be only too glad to be able to find and 
enjoy their favorable opportunity for hunting and fishing, and even 
travel many miles, counting it rare pleasure to spend a few weeks on the 
water courses and wild prairies, in hunt and chase and fishing frolics, 
where not half so good hunting and fishing sport are furnished as was in 
this vicinity twenty-five and forty years ago. There were a good many 



830 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

excellent hunters here at an early day, who enjoyed the sport as well as 
any can at the present time. 

Wild animals of almost every species known in the wilds of the 
West were found in great abundance. The prairies, and woods, and 
streams, and various bodies of water, were all thickly inhabited before 
the white man came and for some time afterward. Although the Indians 
slew many of them, yet the natural law prevailed here as well as else- 
where — " wild man and wild beast thrive together." 

Serpents were to be found in such large numbers, and of such 
immense size that some stories told by the early settlers would be 
incredible were it not for the large array of concurrent testimony, which 
is to be had from the most authentic sources. Deer, turkeys, ducks, 
geese, squirrels and various other kinds of choice game were plentiful 
and to be had at the expense of killing only. The fur animals were 
abundant; such as the otter, beaver, mink, muskrat, raccoon, panther, 
fox, wolf, wild-cat and bear. 

An old resident of the county told us, that in 1840, while he was 
traveling a distance of six miles, he saw as many as seventy-three deer 
in herds of from six to ten. He being an excellent rifle shot, could step 
out at any time and return with a fine buck for dinner. He had killed 
ten deer in two days. 

HUNTING BEE TREES. 

Another source of profitable recreation among the old settlers was 
that of hunting bees. • The forests along the water courses were especi- 
ally prolific of bee trees. They were found in great numbers on the 
different forks of Grand River, and in fact on all the important streams 
in the two counties. Many of the early settlers, during the late sum- 
mer, would go into camp for days at a time, for the purpose of hunting 
and securing the honey of the wild bees, which was not only extremely 
rich and found in great abundance, but always commanded a good price 
in the home market. 

The Indians have ever regarded the honey-bee as the forerunner of 
the white man, while it is a conceded fact that the quail always follows 
the footprints of civilization. 



CHAPTER 11. 

PIONEERS AND PROGRESS. 

THE PIONEERS-THE FIRST SETTLER-JACOB COONCE-HIS NEIGHBORS-LARGE ANIMALS- 
—THE APPLEGATES-THE FIRST SENATOR, JOSEPH MONTGOMERY— TABER AND 
HER SETTLERS— THE LAND OF THE FOREST KING-MONEGAW SPRINGS— EARLY 
POLITICAL HISTORY— FROM 1S35 TO 1S41— WEAUBLEAU AND MONEGAW— ROADS— 
'INDIAN RAID— ALL OTHER POINTS— VARIOUS THINGS— ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

THE PIONEERS. 

Having given something of the troubles and trials, pleasures and 
vexations of the old pioneers, let us see who it was that led the van of 
progress, that blazed the way for civilization and Christianity, that these 
might cover a wider and more extended field, and who with nerve and 
brawn gave life to the wilderness, and marked the commencement of the 
era of material progress. 

JACOB COONCE. 

A name very familiar to the people of St. Clair County, is that of 
Jacob Coonce, a hunter of note, who when the sharp crack of his rifle 
was heard knew that death had found another victim, hunted through 
the hills and valleys of the Osage "^and the Sac as early as 1827. He was 
the type of the western hunter and trapper, and a sturdy pioneer, who 
reveled in the wild freedom of his western home. He was not all hunter- 
He had an eye for the beautiful country through which he traveled, as 
well as for the sight upon his never failing rifle, and as early as the year 
above spoken of he had marked the spot, or near it, where he had made 
up his mind would become his future home. 

In the year 183 1 Jacob Coonce erected the first cabin in the county 
of St. Clair. This cabin stood on the northwest quarter of section ii^ 
nearly a mile and a half west of the Sac River, in what is now Roscoe 
Township, in congressional township IJ, of range 26. It was here the 
pioneer leader first drove his stake, and it was on that land that the 
first corn was raised in St. Clair County. But this was not the spot 
which he had chosen for his home, when on his hunting expeditions, but 
he stopped a twelve months, and at last found it near Brush Creek, in 
what is now Washington Township, where he removed in the spring of 
1832, and made it his future home. He still made hunting his principal 



832 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

work, and in that early day the flint lock was about the only one in use, 
but the cap lock began to appear and Coonce concluded to have the 
lock on "Betsey" changed to a percussion lock, and in 1834 on a trip to 
St. Louis, which he took on horseback, he stopped at Robert H. Sproull's, 
then a resident of Henry County, living some six miles from Calhoun in 
Springfield Township, and a gunsmith by trade, to know if he could 
change the lock for him, and he would call for it on his return from St. 
Louis. SprouU agreed to do the job, and "Betsey" was left in his care. 
At that time Coonce wore moccasins, buckskin breeches, a coonskin 
cap, and had a large blanket, in those days called Indian blankets, 
thrown over his shoulders. He was rough looking, but the man was 
there. On his return he called for his rifle, and on receiving it patted it 
affectionately and said, "Old Bet, you and I have never been parted so long, 
and we won't be again." Then loading his rifle and trying on a cap, 
caught sight of a squirrel on the top of a tree, drew his gun to his shoul- 
der, the cap proved good and the squirrel family claimed a dead relative. 
Coonce smiled, turned to SprouU and said, "She is all right," and rode 
away. This was in the spring of 1834. Elijah Wamsley, Peter Francis 
and Dick DeShazo, Sanders Nance and others, were his neighbors. 

OTHER SETTLERS. 

Mr. Coonce did not run St. Clair County for any great length of 
time all alone. There were other palefaces who were anxious to pre- 
empt a few acres of this glorious domain, from which the Indians had 
departed. The fall and winter of 1833 witnessed the arrival of Ebenezer 
Gash and Wm. M. Gash, the latter with a large family, who settled on 
Coon Creek, now Doyal Township. Then came the Culbertsons in 1835, 
— Isaac, Joseph and Ira, — and still later came James and Robert Gardner, 
the latter the father of Dr. J. Wade Gardner, now and for years past a 
prominent citizen of Osceola and St. Clair County. Robert Gardner 
settled in what is now Collins Township, and James in Doyal, in the 
year 1838. Burdett Salm also settled on Coon Creek, near the Gashes. 
Joseph Gash was another brother. Thomas Piper, Daniel Brandt and 
Nicholas McMinn, with others, were known as living down in the Coon 
Creek settlement. 

SAC RIVER SETTLEMENT. 

On Sac River, in the forks, were Dan, Joe and Calvin Waldo, who 
came to this county among the first settlers, and lived in what is now 
Doyal Township, although Daniel Waldo purchased on the west side of 
Sac River, in Roscoe Township. That bend was known as Dan Waldo 
Bend, while Calvin bought the bend on the east side, or in Osceola 
Township, and was called the Cal. Waldo Bend. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 833 

It was in this bend that the first store was established in St. Clair 
County outside of Osceola, and was the second store in the county, Cal- 
vin Waldo being the proprietor. 

On the forks of Sac River were Hill, Bob and John Burch and 
Nathaniel Bell. A. H. Wilkerson and Wash and Henry Whitlow, canrie 
about the same time. Old man Ward settled the place where Dr. Cox 
and Avery B. Howard afterward built the mill that is known as the 
Howard or Ritchie Mill. 

On the Weaubleau lived the widow Clarkson and William Clarkson, 
George McFarland, Simeon Boston, Henry Earl, James Gardner and 
Elija Rice, brother of the late Judge Rice; Jonas Musgrove, after whom 
the Musgrove Ford took its name; Joseph Coslow, who was the first set- 
tler on the farm now owned by Dr. Whaley, and Eliza Bucket, who set- 
tled just across the river from Coslow. Many of the old settlers will 
remember him as the first pill maker in the county. 

James Gardner, above spoken of, was the first justice of the peace 
of Weaubleau Township, St. Clair County, and was elected December 
10, 1835. 

Andy Jones, of unsavory reputation, lived in this section. He was 
a great lover of horseflesh and was not over particular who it belonged 
to, and seldom went through the form of a purchase in securing it. He 
soon after emigrated. As his character became known the air seemed 
to grow oppressive, and in those days they cured a man of his propen- 
sities for other people's property by an invitation to emigrate or by a 
tightening of the jugular vein. Both remedies were a sure cure; the lat- 
ter, however, was the most permanent. 

Dr. Kelso and brothers were the first settlers of the Hoffman Bend 
section. The Kelso family consisted of old Andrew Kelso, John, Ben- 
jamin and Andrew, Jr, and an old man named Cassidy, who was a 
brother-in-law of Kelso, Sr. 

This family was considered pretty shrewd, and was inclined to make 
the most of their opportunities. This caused some feeling among their 
neighbors. They were charged with trying to secure the pre-emption 
claims of some of their neighbors, and they were invited to leave that 
portion of the country. It is said that Jesse Applegate was one of the 
settlers who waited upon them and gave them to understand that they 
had better seek a more congenial clime, or in case they did not grape 
vines were plentiful and the thickets dense. Soon after this the Kelsos 
emigrated up the river. 

When the Kelsos left, David Hoffman, who came from Virginia, set- 
tled near Roscoe, in 1836. He bought the Kelso place and started what 
is known to this day as Hoffman's Ferry, in 1839. At a session of the 
Rives, now Henry, County Court, on the 5th day of December, 1839, 

David Hoffman presented his petition to start a ferry across the Osage 

53 



834 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. \ 

River. It was granted him, with the privilege of making the following 
charges for ferryage: Four horse wagon, $i; man and horse, 25c; sin- ' 
gle horse, I2.^c; footman, I2^c; three horse wagon, 75c; two horse 
wagon, 50c; one horse dearbon, S7^c; cattle sheep and hogs, 3c each. i 

THE FIRST SENATOR. , I 

Then right across the river, or rather on the west side, lived Joseph 
Montgomery, who settled in what is now Springfield Township, Henry 
County, in the year 1834. 

He was one ot the first county judges of that county, its first sur- 
veyor, and afterwards, in 1838, the first senator from this senatorial dis- j 
trict. He was a Virginian by birth, and was a member of the legisla- ' 
turc of that commonwealth before his removal west. He settled on | 
section 6, township 37, range 26, and was prominent in the affairs of this | 
county in its early days. I 

John Perry, John Armingtrout, Robert Burch, John Burch and 
Nathaniel Bell were all settlers in 1835 and 1836, in what is now Roscoe 
Township. Jesse Applegate, Charles Applegate and Lindsey Apple- * 
gate were among these early settlers about 1834. Jesse Applegate was 1 
a surveyor of note, and surveyed a good part of this country for the 
United States Government, finishing in 1838. At the time of the loca- 
tion of the county seat, the Applegate interest was out voted, and they 
became disgusted. They never entirely got over it, and in 1844, all three ', 
of the Applegates and Daniel Waldo removed to Oregon. A son of 
Jesse Applegate, Jesse A. Applegate, was the guide of the army that 
captured Captain Jack and his band of Modocs, in the lava beds. 

Theoderic Snuffer settled about one and a half miles north of Huff- 
man's Ferry, being neighbor to the Applegates and Montgomery. In I 
fact, all were neighbors in those days who lived within ten miles of each 
other. 

Near the ferry settled an old man by the name of Palmer, and in 
the low lands north of Huffman's Bend, in 1838, lived the widow Russel ' 
and several sons, David Cayens and David Moore. South of the river, ; 
and on what is now known as the Todd place, south of Roscoe, lived 
John Smith. He had fame as well as the John Smith of Pocahontas 
fame. The latter, however, our John Smith, was famous for making an . 
article called "Peach Brandy," and when there was a little honey mixed 
with it, it was looked upon in those days as a nectar for the gods. John 
Smith had numerous callers. In that vicinity was also found Joseph 1 
Glenn, Staley Copenhaver and John and Sabe Cringer. John Cringer j 
was the father-in-law of the eminent Dr. James Smith, who was shot 1 
and killed in 1850 by Marcellus Harris. In Appleton Township, near 
the head of Big INIonegaw, were John Hogan, whose children yet reside 1 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 835 

in that section; Jesse Ridgvvay and the Colthaid family, who were neigh- 
bors of Mr. Hogan; Frank Sproull, John Dittee, Andrew Younce, John 
Rickey; and in Monegaw, John Hodgson, James Carroll and Joseph 
Hernden, were all early settlers. The latter was postmaster in 1839 of 
Monegaw post office, which he kept at his house for nine years. 

TABER. 

South of these, in what is now Taber Township, and on the east 
side, there lived Major Robertson, James Masterson, Colonel Beal and 
Jack Smar. Tom Kelso owned the ferry and sold to Huffman. David 
Kelso settled in section 6, Taber Township, and sold to John Smar, the 
first sheriff of St. Clair County, and then moved to section 32, township 
38, range 28, where Colonel Charles Beal and family bought him out 
again in 1839; Kelso then went still further west. Beal and his sons 
subsequently went to Oregon. Robert Shortis, Martin McFerran, William 
P. Burck, Cyrus V. Robinson, Roberts, William Jordon and George Beals 
were all residents of this township (Taber) in 1837 and 1838. 

THE LAND OF THE GUIACUTAS. 

South of the Osage, in what is now Speedwell Township, there came 
in 1838 James M. Breckinridge, James Anderson, Allen Phillips, Wil- 
liam, Joseph, Randolph and John Whitley and Mack H. Goode. Others 
settled in this neighborhood soon after. It was the inhabitants of this 
township that first discovered the " Terror " of the Osage. 

The third store and second blacksmith shop in St. Clair County 
outside of Osceola were located on the north side of the river, just above 
the mouth of Coon Creek, on section 13 in what is now Roscoe Town- 
ship. The store was run by Patrick Shields and the blacksmith shop by 
John Bedell. All kinds of produce and stock was low then. Pork sold 
at $1.25, cows and calves from $6 to $8, and three and four-year-old 
steers from $8 to $10. The merchants hauled their goods from Boon- 
ville. 

MONEGAW SPRINGS. 

The first improvement at the now famous Monegaw Springs, in the 
southeastern part of Chalk Level Township, was made by Lindsey and 
Charles Applegate. This was about 1834, or the winter of 1834-5. They 
put up a small water mill and built a log cabin. James Anderson came 
in 1833, and, taking a fancy to the place, bought out the Applegate 
claim and settled at the springs that year. Near him Charles Reavis 
settled a mile or two away on the river, and in the forks of the Mone- 
gaw lived a man named Gum, and the farm is still known by that name. 
Perhaps it would be as well to digress right here. 



836 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

t 

EARLY POLITICAL HISTORY. 

As most of our readers are aware, if not, they will learn it now, St. 
Clair County was attached to Rives, now Henry County, for all civil and 
military purposes on February ii, 1835. The official life of the count}^ 
■dates from that time as a part of Rives, and was administered by the 
Rives County Court. The action of that court gives in a measure the 
early history of the county and the names of the early settlers, and if 
not the date they came, the date they were in the county at that day. 
To show these arrivals and to give the action of the court at different 
times is the cause of this digression. In many cases dates are important, 
and on comparison we find a marked contrast with the report of our old 
citizens with each other, and some of the dates found of record in the 
year 1835. First is given some of the actions of the Rives County 
Court, and then a list of names of those that settled here in 1835 or in 
the spring of 1836. 

ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP. 

At the first session of the Rives County Court, the whole of St. 
Clair County was made a township of Rives under the name of St. Clair 
Township. This was on May 5, 1835. It was necessary to have an 
election, and one was ordered to be held at the house of Daniel Waldo, 
on the 24th day of October, 1835. Charles Applegate, Samuel Kelso 
and Charles Bowman were appointed judges. These persons were all 
in the county in 1834 and previous. Among the records were also 
found in 1835, names of Joseph Halbert, John J. Wyatt, and A. Jones. 
The election was held at the above date for a justice of the peace. 

WEAUBLEAU AND MONEGAW. 

On the 4th day of November, 1835, the Rives County Court made a 
change, giving what was St. Clair County two townships, naming them 
Weaubleau and Monegaw Townships, and their boundaries were des- 
cribed as follows: 

All that part of the county east of range line 25, and including the 
waters of Sac River, and running to the north boundary of the county, 
which township shall be known by the name of Wablaw [so spelled] 
Township. The other, including all that part of the county of St. Clair 
lying west of said division line aforesaid, shall be known as Monegaw 
Township. 

At this term of court, November 4, 1835, there was an election 
ordered to take place in each township on the loth day of December, 
1835. The election in Weaubleau Township was to be held at the house 
of Ebenezer Gash, and the judges of the election were Ebenezer Gash, 
Simon Poston and Joel Starkey. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 837 

In Monegaw Township the election was to be held at the house of 
Lindsey Applegate, and Eli Roberts, Samuel Kelso and Alexander Zeb- 
ley were appointed the judges. In the spring election of 1836, the same 
men were appointed judges, and the same houses made the voting pre- 
cincts. The order was of the same date as the first. Two justices of the 
the peace were elected at that December election of 1835, and James 
Gardner was elected for Weaubleau, and Jesse Applegate for Monegaw 
Township. 

Alexander McClelland was elected constable of Monegaw Town- 
ship at the August election, 1836, and the election was held at the house 
of John J. Wyatt. That in Weaubleau was still held at Ebenezer Gash's. 

PUBLIC ROADS. 

The first public road laid out in St. Clair County, was the road from 
and through Clinton, in Henry County. The Rives County Court made 
the order of record, that the road should start at the Johnson County 
line, at or near the high point of Post Oak, since called the high point 
of Tebo, and then to a point designed as the county seat of Rives 
County; thence south through the county of St. Clair, crossing the 
Osage River at Crow & Crutchfield's store, to the county line of Polk 
County, in the direction of Bolivar. 

Stephen Noel was appointed overseer for the part of the road laid 
out in St. Clair County. This, as was above remarked, was the first road, 
but at the same term or session of the Rives County Court, a day or two 
later, the following order was made of record: 

That a road be viewed from Crow & Crutchfield's store on the 
Osage River, to the Benton County line, in the direction of the seat of 
justice of said county. 

Both of these orders were made at the May term of the court, 1836, 
so that at that date Crow & Crutchfield's store was known. It is given 
that they started in the winter of 1835-6, or early in the latter year, and 
of course was the first store in St. Clair County. The second store was 
that of Calvin Waldo, in Waldo's Bend, on section 6, Osceola Township, 
which was in full blast in June, 1836, and then came the store of Patrick 
Shields, on the north side of the river on section 8, Roscoe Township, 
before mentioned, at the Hoffman Ferry. 

A SLIGHT SCARE. 

A report came to Osceola, or Crow & Crutchfield's, that a hunting 
party of Indians in the western part of the county were giving trouble, 
and that they were moving west. While not very badly scared, the cit- 
zens were somewhat alarmed, and the vision of a scalping knife per- 



838 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

forming a circle around their heads with an Indian attachment at the 
handle, or to be made a target for a stone hatchet, was not really pleas- 
ant, and so Osceola turned out en masse. 

There were seven or eight people here at that time and they started 
for Calvin Waldo's to hold a council of war. Phillip Crow, Dr. P. M. 
Cox, W. H. Scobey and a few others started for the Bend. In the mean- 
time scouts had been sent out and were to report at the Bend. They 
arrived safe and it was soon ascertained that their scalps were safe. The 
Indians had got a trifle too much " fire water," and as there was quite a 
large hunting party of them, the settlers got scared at their wild antics 
and decamped, spreading the news that the Indians were on the war 
path. Scouting parties soon got at the truth. As the Indians sobered 
up they became docile and did not attempt to hurt anyone but them- 
selves. The Osceola Company, led by Phil. Crow as captain, and Dr. 
Cox, as surgeon, returned in triumph, and were welcomed by the entire 
population that was left at home. This was the first battle {^) which 
took place in the county after its settlement by the pale faces. 

A ROAD PETITION. 

The roads first above referred to were only the entering wedge and 
in 1838 Weaubleau Township had six road districts. On August 2, 
1836, a petition was presented to the county court of Rives County for a 
road from Crow & Crutchfield's, on the Osage River, to the Benton 
County line. 

This petition is here given because it was signed by a large number 
of the settlers who came in 1833, 1834 or 1835, all of whom were in the 
county at the above date. Here are the names signed to that petition: 
Joseph Culbertson, James B. Sears, Willis Bush, Benjamin Miller, John 
M. Reed, Phillip Crow, Richard P. Crutchfield, Stephen Noel, Henry 
Hoover, Henry Earl, G. W. Rogers, Jonas Parton, Henry Ewell, Benja- 
min Robinson, Joel Starkey, Thomas F. Windsor, John Clarkson, Sr., 
John Clarkson, Jr., Elijah Bucket, Thomas F. Wright, William Vanlan- 
dingham, William Gash, Daniel Brandt, Josiah Culbertson, Jonas Mus- 
grove and Samuel Givens. 

All these lived east of range line 25, or in Weaubleau Township, 
principally in what are now Osceola, Polk and Doyal Townships, with 
some from the south side of Butler Township. 

AT OTHER POINTS. 

Osceola was among the early settlements, and followed those on 
Brush and Coon Creeks. Crow and Crutchfield came first in 1835; then 
Dr. S. P. Cox and his brothers, Richard, William and Joseph, Ashly 
Peebley, Jonas Alexander and Henry Hoover came in 1836, and Zach- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 839 

. ariah Lilly in the spring of 1837; Major Hains the same year. H. W. 
Crow, Charles P. Bullock, Stephen Noel and W. C. Thompson all were 
here in 1837, and before, or in the township. Old man Hoover and 
daughter, Ann Hoover, settled in the Horse Shoe Bend; Charles Bow- 
man, Benjamin Miller and others down the river. In the Tally Bend 
lived James Tally, John Tally and Thomas F. Wright. This side of them 
settled John C. Greenwell, in 1838; also S. C. Bruce. 

In Chalk Level were the Andersons, who came as early as 1835; 
Obanion Anderson, John Robert and James, the latter owner of Mone- 
gaw Springs in 1836, and Jacob Johnson: these were the earliest settlers 
of that township. Judge Hester and R. S. Nance settled in 1837 in 
what is now Doyal Township; and north, between them and Osceola, 
and scattered along the prairie, were Littleton Lunsford, Sam Wyatt, 
Joel Rodman, James Boatman, John W. Ritchie and Rodney Walker. 

The election in Weaubleau Township, in August, 1837, resulted in 
William F. Carter being elected justice of the peace, and Jesse Apple- 
gate was still a justice in Monegaw Township. 

In 1837, Christopher Greenup, David, James, William and John 
Burch all settled in what is now Butler Township. John G. Williams 
and William Crowley and the Bunch family were viewers of a road to 
or in the direction of Clinton in May, 1838. In this latter year quite a 
number of immigrants settled in the county. There were Moses and 
Wesley D. Pinkston, John E. Treahern, Thomas Piper, Richard Cren- 
shaw, H. W. and J. W. Moore, A. H. Wilkinson, John Thornton, John 
F. McClain, Absalom McClenshaw, John W. Teague, Parson James Cole, 
(now living in Taney County), James H. Middleton and Frederic Melton; 
also Roderick D. McCullough and Lewis R. Ashworth, the latter being 
elected a justice of the peace in 1840. 

Hugh Barnett, Sr., came in 1839-, so did John Barnett, H. Y. Small, 
John R. White and many others, which about completes the list of early 
settlers. 

THE MISSING. 

There are doubtless others whose names will be missing, but these 
may be found in the township histories, or among the list of the names 
of old settlers. It is not our intention to leave out any, yet a few names 
are likely, from causes unforseen, to be omitted. The pioneers of St. 
Clair County are worthy of this record, and those here given, have left 
names unsullied. It was left for those who came later to leave a few 
dark stains upon the history of St. Clair County, but those stains were 
not imprinted by those who came previous to the year i860. 

THE DECADE. 

The decade between 1830 and 1840, of which the record has been 
here given, was one of hardship to the pioneer, but he struggled bravely 



840 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

and he conquered. The wilderness gave way to progress and prosperity 
marked the pathway and lightened the toil of the old settlers. His 
cabin at last gave way to a home of comfort, and the privations of the 
past, though remembered, did not mar the present or the glorious hope 
of the future. 

VARIOUS THINGS. 

The first application for a distribution of slave property in St. Clair 
County was made to the Rives County Court by the administrator of 
Gabriel P. Nash, May, 1838. The first application for that of guardian 
of minor heirs, was by William Gash, and they were his own children, 
eight in number. This also was at the May term 1838. Mr. Gash had 
lost his wife a short time before. The children were named Selina, 
Alfred, Martha, John, Mary, William, James and Elizabeth. 

The first ferry franchise granted in St. Clair County was to Phillip 
Crow, November 10, 1836. He was authorized to establish a ferry across 
the Osage at Osceola, and he was allowed to make the following charges: 
" For man and horse, I2^c; single man, 6c; head of cattle, sheep and 
hogs, 3c; one horse with carriage or wagon, 37c; two horses, do., 50c;; 
four horses, do., $i; and that the said Crow pay $2 tax thereof for 
twelve months." 

SALE OF SCHOOL LANDS. 

The first sale of school lands in St. Clair County was made by the 
order of the Rives County Court, August, 1838. The i6th section of 
township 38, of range 25, was sold. Phillip Crow borrowed of that 
money $488.55, at 10 per cent, .interest. He gave personal and mort- 
gage security. The next school land sold was the i6th section of town- 
ship 38, of range 24, and was ordered sold at the February term, 1841. 
This was the last act of the Rives County Court in the affairs of St. 
Clair County. 

ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

The first wrought iron plow ever used in the western part of St. 
Clair County was brought from Virginia, and used by Theodric Snuffer 
and Joe Montgomery. One of those old broken plows is yet to be seen 
on the old homestead of Snuffer, though it would require six yoke of 
good cattle to draw it through brush land to the depth of six inches. 

The stoutest and most active man among the early settlers was 
Joseph Baker. It was stated that he could, by a run of thirty paces, 
leap over a pole eight feet from the ground, and could heave a pound 
stone 100 yards. Baker was born and raised in the mountains of Vir- 
ginia, and was a brother-in-law of Theodric Snuffer. 

One of the old settlers, who came in 1838, in speaking of those early 
times, said: " We needed very little money in those days, as our win- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 84I 

ters were short and our stock was fat the year round, while taxes never 
bothered the minds of the early settlers. Our school system was run by 
subscription, and when we didn't like a teacher wc dismissed him and 
got some one else. The women folks used to make all the wearing- 
apparel for the families— woolen in winter and flax linen in summer — 
while the men generally wore woolen shirts, buckskin trowsers and 
moccasins on their feet. Wild bear were in abundance, and when we 
wanted sweetmeats we had only to chop down a ' bee tree' and take the 
honey." 

REMOVALS. 

Quite a number of the early settlers of St. Clair County moved to 
other states and climes. Mention has been made of the emigration of 
the Waldos, Applegates and Beals to Oregon; Bullock lives in McDon- 
ald County; a few left for God-forsaken Kansas, and others like Dave 
Moore, Cayens and Palmer, went to the Lone Star State; a few went 
back to their eastern home, while others followed the setting sun. 

From " Montgomery's" article in the Osceola Sun we take the fol- 
lowing: 

" Among those who left in 1842 for the Lone Star State was Martin 
McFerran, a veteran of 18 12, and a man of energy with an inclination 
to see a good deal of this country. He remained in Texas some sixteen 
years and returned in 1858 and spent the remainder of his days among 
his old friends. He died in i860, at the residence of Theodric Snuffer^ 
in the seventieth year of his age. McFerran was one of those gallant 
sons of the Old Dominion who struck with a revenging hand at John 
Bull's hirelings in the war of 1812. Peace to the ashes of those gallant 
sons of feedom who sleep in the soil they helped to redeem from the 
ruthless hands of their oppressors ! Sons of America, disturb not their 
slumbers. Let them rest, calmly rest on the shores of our own beautiful 
river, in the land they loved so well, and beneath the starry banner^ 
emblem of the free and brave, which they so heroically defended. 

MONTGOMERY." 



CHAPTER III. ; 

AN OLD SETTLEMENT— WILD BEAST OF THE MOUNTALNS. , 

■i 

A PIONEER COLONY -OLD SETTLER'S STORY-A ROCKY MOUNTAIN LION ANU GRIZZLY 
BEAR COMBINED ON THE RAMPAGE— THE HUXT— WHERE M1S5 MAT \VAS— FA' ING 
DANGER-ROCK HOUSE CAVE-THE MONSTER COMING— HE CAME— THE SAD AND 
MOURNFUL MARCH HOME-PIONEERS FROM 1832 TO 1840— PIONEERS NOW LIVING 1 
—PETITION— PIONEER WOMEN— CONCLUSION. I 

I 
A PIONEER COLONY, ' 

1 
From the Appleton Journal of June 2, 1882, is taken the following ! 

interesting narrative of the arrival and settlement of four families in the ! 

year 1838, who have left their mark upon the material prosperity of St. ] 

Clair County. And yet, when taken all together, it is but a repetition of 

what all the early pioneers experienced in their wild western homes, ^ 

leaving names to be recorded high upon the scroll of fame, and a herit- , 

age to their children and their children's children that they will cherish 

while life lasts: ^ 

I 

It is a duty that we owe to the memory of those enterprising and ] 
hardy people, who had the courage to leave the older settlements with ' 
all their comforts and conveniences, and push boldly out into the deso- ' 
late western wilds to open the way for the thousands that should follow ' 
them, that a record should be kept of their doings and the credit due _j 
them be duly accorded for their achievements. But few of them now 
remain to tell the story. Among the number are Mr. and Mrs. Andrew ! 
Yonce, of Taber Township, in this county. Mrs. Yonce, a sprightly, 
intelligent old lady, while visiting her son in this city, was called upon 
in behalf of the Journal, and furnished the following items: j 

Andrew Yonce was born in Virginia April 3, 18 10. Esther Crut- 
haid (now Mrs. Yonce) was born in England November 25, 18 14. With 
her father's family she came to Virginia in 1829; married Mr. Yonce i 
November 10, 1836. [ 

In accordance with the well known motto, " Westward the tide of 
emigration takes its way," a party was made up in 1838, consisting of j 
four families, to commence a settlement in the wilds of Western Mis- ' 
souri. 

Mr. and Mrs. Yonce, with their first baby; Widow Cruthaid (Mrs. 
Yonce's mother), with six unmarried children; John Hodgson and wife .i 
(the latter a daughter of Mrs. Cruthaid), with their three children, and 
James Rickey, wife and two children, made up the party. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 843 

They came with horses and wagons. Their wagon beds were of the 
high and capacious schooner style of those days, and as such were used 
by the Mormons who were then drifting about in the west. People 
whose houses they passed would call out, " There go some more Mor- 
mons." On their way through Missouri they met the soldiers returning 
from driving the Mormons from their settlements in Clay, Carroll and 
Pettis Counties. 

Our emigrants reached Monegaw Creek in what was then Rives 
County, now St. Clair County a little before Christmas, and were so 
well pleased with the country that they decided to settle there. 

Mr. Yonce first located in section 4, township 38, range 27, where 
M E. Washburn now lives, and the remainder of the party in the same 
vicinity. 

There were no other settlers on the creek. There was one store at 
Clinton, and a post office had just been established at Osceola. It cost 
twenty-five cents to pay postage in those days on a letter from Virginia, 
and Mrs. Yonce has now in her possession letters with that amount of 
postage charged thereon. No such thing as an envelepe was known in 
those days. The letters were sealed up with wafers of wax. They built 
log cabins with stick chimneys, generally of only one room; had no 
glass for windows; lived with mother earth for a floor the first year. As 
no sawed lumber could be obtained, they were obliged to make puncheon 
floors. 

Indians were plenty for many years, but they did not molest the 
settlers. 

Wild game of course was abundant. Deer in great droves, wolves, 
wild turkeys, and so forth, furnished ample sport for the huntsman, and 
the greater part of the game was excellent food. The settlers' horses, 
cattle, hogs and sheep would live the year round, and keep fat without 
feed, on the prairies and river bottoms. 

What grain the people needed was easily raised, there not being 
much market for it, there was nothing to stimulate the raising of large 
crops. 

They were independent of the woolen and cotton factories, as they 
spun and wove cotton, wool and flax for their own clothing. 

The woods were enlivened with the hum of the honey bee and 
and their stores of delicious sweets furnished a desirable addition to the 
settlers' bill of fare. Honey dew was then so abundant that sometimes the 
prairie chickens would become so encumbered with it they could not fly. 

The settlers went to Harmony Mission, near where Papinville, 
Bates County, now is, to trade. It was twenty miles away, and Mrs. 
Yonce used to go on horseback and return in a day, carrying along eggs 
in a basket to sell at five cents a dozen, and riding through grass long 
enough to tie over the horse's back. 

The Methodists were the first religious denomination to organize 
in the settlement. This was done at Mr. Yonce's house, about 1842. 
The first preacher was a Mr. McDaniel, of Benton County. 

In 1844, the great flood year, they could not cross the Osage to go 
to Ball's Mill, and were obliged to grate corn for their bread for two 
months. Mrs. Yonce remarked that she had raised twelve children, nine 
■of them now living, and with a spark of pardonable pride, added: "I 
■did not have a hired girl, either." 



844 HISTORY OF ST. CLyUR COUNTY. j 

The following are the living children of Mr. Yonce: Fanny (now| 
Mrs. A. C. Ditty) lives three miles west of Johnson City; J. T. Yonce, ir>; 
the grocery business in Appleton City; T. J. and W. H. Yonce live ort, 
'Monegaw Creek; J. A. Yonce lives in Saline County, Missouri; Maria 
and Addie E. Yonce, each married a Landon, and both live in Taberi 
Township. \ 

John Hodgson, a member of the pioneer party, died in 1874, and his; 
wife survived him but a few years. There are six of their children liv- 
ing: William lives in Osceola; Sallie (now Mrs. Beard) lives in Texas; 
Elizabeth (now Mrs. Dr. Shelton) lives in Appleton City; Joseph, Har- 
vey and Henry all live on or near Monegaw Creek. 

James Rickey, another of the pioneer party, died in 1862. Mrs. I 
Rickey lives with her only living child, Mrs. Sloss, in Appleton Cit}^ ' 

Of the six unmarried children brought here by Widow Cruthaid^I 
John died in 1852; Jacob now lives with Andrew Yonce; Thomas lives- 
on Monegaw Creek; Joseph died in 1858, and Adam died in 1859; Mar-j 
garet married a Mr. Sloss, an uncle of our former townsman. She is now! 
a widow, and lives in Texas. ' 

AN OLD settler's STORY— THE FIRST STEAMBOAT ON THE OSAGE j 

RIVER. j 

i 
There is nothing in the early history of St. Clair County, that exer- 
cises a more potent spell, or calls forth such unbounded pleasure^ even to-l 
this day, as an incident which transpired on the passage of the first' 
steamboat up the Osage River, which took place in the spring of 1844. 
There were no railroads at that day through this country, neither were 
there telegraph lines or telephones, there was nothing to herald thei 
arrival of the monster but its own unearthly shriek, which was enough tcj 
blanch the cheek of the bravest if he knew not what it was. It soundedj 
like the wail of a lost soul. The boat went up as high as Harmony^i 
Mission, in Bates County. The little steamer was named the "Floraj 
Jones," but there was nothing feminine in the roar of her furnaces or in.| 
the wild maniac howl of her steam whistle. Just what happened downl 
the river is hard to tell, but that the old settlers of St. Clair County were^ 
about half scared to death, is a veritable fact, which has been brought! 
down to us in history, no doubt embellished somewhat in its course, but 
in this narrative the facts are given, leaving nothing to imagination or 
sensation and naught set down in malice. i 

Well, when that steamer reached St. Clair County, there is no usei 
denying that very many of the old settlers living within sound of its 
infernal whistle were scared, not only out of their boots, but out of theiri 
homes and firesides, fields and farm. It seemed as if Inferno had broke 
loose, and the shriek was the last wail of the dying and damned. Mat- 
thew Arbuckle was plowing in his field about a mile or a little more 
from the river, when that unearthly shriek struck his ear. His hain 
stood on end, his face blanched and his horse was about as bad off. Hel 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 845 

unhitched it, and managing to get on its back, nothwithstanding both 
being stricken with terror, het was about starting lor his cabin to bar 
himself from the savage beast, when another shriek struck him. That- 
was enough, horse and man lit out, and in one hour were in Papinville, 
fifteen miles distant, the horse white with foam and Arbuckle white with 
terror. Every hair on his head was like a porcupine quill, and he had 
no strength to even tell of the terrible animal from which he had made 
such a fortunate escape. But while all were, like Arbuckle, awfully 
scared, there were some who were ready to face any danger in defense 
of their homes and firesides, and no wild animal was going to run them 
out of their country, not as long as they held faith in their trusty rifle 
and had the nerve to pull the trigger. Among this number was Uncle 
John Whitley, who had seen service at New Orleans, and Uncle James 
Breckinridge. The neighbors gathered at Whitley's, who lived not far 
from the river, and a hunt was determined upon to kill the terrible ani- 
mal, which seemed from its voice to belong to a previous age, had 
wandered from its fastness in the great Rocky Mountains and was now 
trying to find its way back and keeping near the river to hide from 
view. The next morning after the boat had passed up, the country was 
aroused. They began to congregate at Uncle John Whitley's. Men, 
guns and dogs were ready. The settlers were determined to kill the 
animal, although every time it howled their cheeks blanched and they 
looked at each other in blank amazement. What, they thought, must be 
the size of the animal that could give out such an unearthly roar .'' 

Right here was an incident which showed strong parental love in 
Uncle John Whitley. The men had gathered together, nerved for the 
fight, the hounds were called in, and just before they were ready to start 
Mat, the daughter of Uncle John, had gone down to the river, 300 or 400 
yards distant, for water. While they were talking the whistle of Flora 
was heard, and the old man leaped up about six feet and exclaimed: 
" Ride, men, " he yelled, *' ride. Mat went down to the river for water, 
and I expect she is dead before this," and springing upon his horse 
dashed for the river, followed by his neighbors, determined to bring in 
Mat's remains, if dead, or defend her to the death jf alive. It is hardly 
necessary to say that " Mat " was not dead, but was making fast time 
for the house, with her hair streaming in the wind, and her handsome 
face pale with fright. She had heard the beast. The troop of horse- 
men gallantly escorted her home, and Uncle John sternly commanded 
her to keep inside that cabin door. 

The hunters and hardy backwoodsmen of the Whitley Prairie sec- 
tion lying along the river, having congregated together in sufficient 
numbers, as they thought, to slay almost any beast if their pack of 
hounds would only bring the monster to bay, and were ready for the Iray. 
After seeing that their guns were well primed, and flints newly picked, 



846 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

now adjusted their scalping knives and tomahawks, started with high 
hopes beaming in their bosoms, confident that their hounds would soon 
bring the noisy monster to bay. The heavy timber skirting the river 
was soon gained, and the monster was heard yelling a mile or two up 
the river. The hounds were eagerly encouraged to take the track of the 
animal and went off at a rapid rate to bring the king of beasts to bay, 
but all to no purpose. As they refused to take the track a second time 
a council was held, and many were the surmises advanced as to the 
species of the animal, and how he had wandered so far from his native 
habitation in the mountains, for none of the party doubted the fact he 
was an inhabitant of the Rocky range. In the meantime the owners of 
the Flora Jones seemed so proud of their new whistle that they sounded 
its shrill notes every hundred yards or two, but it was doubtless as much 
to surprise the inhabitants as anything else. 

BAND OF HEROES. 

• 

The gallant band of heroes who started out to interview ihis " king 
of beasts," which had created terror along the river, were: Captain 
John Whitley, Sr. ; first lieutenant, James Breckinridge; Benjamin Mor- 
ris, William Bacon, Hamilton Morris, Benjamin Burch, William Roark, 
Frank Roark, Benjamin Snyder and Snowden Morris. The four last 
were to have their knives ready that in case the volley from the rifles of 
the remainder of the band did not bring the beast down, and it came to 
close quarters, the above men were to go in with their knives. They 
accepted their dangerous parts without a moment's hesitation. The 
refusal of the dogs to hunt the animal seemed to nonplus the hunters. 

What to do was the question, and the situation showed it to be a 
monstrous one, for the animal was certainly at large and on the 
rampage. A council was held and the verdict was finally that they did 
not know what it was, but it was the most ferocious and noisy beast 
they had ever heard and one of which history had given them no 
account. The band scoured the Osage thickets all day, but still the 
dogs refused to take the scent. Breckinridge declared that they were 
no use whatever, and in a few days he would go to St. Louis and get a 
pack of Newfoundland dogs, and then if the thing was beast or devil 
and lived in or out of the water, the Newfoundlands would bring it to 
bay. In the meantime, the " Flora " had proceeded up the river to 
Papinville, and had got out of reach of the hunters, and its whistle could 
not be heard. They hunted all day and when night arrived they had 
yet got no traces of the terrible animal. Dark and threatening clouds 
began gathering in the west, and as night set in, it looked no good to 
the hunters if they had to face the storm which was approaching and 
which from appearances, was determined to make a night of it. Soon 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 84/ 

after, the storm broke loose, the rain came down in torrents, and Uncle 
John proposed to take refuge from the storm, and make 

ROCK HOUSE, 

a well known cave, as their lodging for the night. Just as they were 
about to start, the sudden baying of the hounds started all. Bringing 
their guns to their shoulders, they awaited the onset, as they supposed^ 
of the terrible beast, with staring eyeoall, but nerve strung and deter- 
mination written on their faces, to do or to die, as the issue might deter- 
mine. But instead of the beast, out jumped a fine buck, which was 
instantly riddled with bullets. Gathering up their venison, they started 
for the cave, and were soon comfortably fixed therein. A fire was kindled, 
and a plentiful supply of the delicious venison was soon roasted under 
the supervision of the commissary. The cave is a short distance below 
the mouth of Clear Creek, upon the south side of the river. The cave 
fronts to the northeast and is just at the brow or foot of the bluff. Uncle 
John Whitley and family wintered in this cave one winter, forty-four 
years ago. The size of the "front room" is twenty feet to the rock ceil- 
ing, thirty feet in width by forty or fifty feet in length, and a dry, white 
sand, mixed with pebbles and shells, covers the floor. After their supper, 
a guard was placed at the mouth of the cave, to prevent the monster,, 
should he be lying around, from entering the cave until the rest of the 
band had been aroused. As the gray of the morning began to appear, 
and the eastern sky take on its crimson blush, came also the shrill shriek 
of the monster, and then ending in a roar which seemed to make the 
forest tremble, and the cave re-echoed its sound to the excited minds of 
the hunters. A council of war was held, and while some thought a 
short cut for home was about as safe a plan as could be suggested,. 
Uncle John Whiteley and Uncle Jimmy Breckinridge were for stand- 
ing their ground, in fact, going out to meet their dread foe, and fight to 
the death. This was decided on. The monster was still roaring, and. 
was coming nearer and nearer, until they could actually hear him puff- 
ing and blowing, while making his way along the river bank, apparently- 
close to the water. 

THE TIME FOR ACTION. 

The moment of decisive action had come. The monster had given 
one unearthly shriek and roar, and was coming right down the river 
bank, and they must meet him. They at once took up their march for 
the river, and it must be said with blanched cheeks, but their nerves had 
been strung, and they had sworn together to take that beast dead or 
alive, or it would take them. They got close to the river bank, and each 
man selected his tree and made ready as they heard the monster coming; 



848 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



around the bend not more than a hundred yards from where they had 
taken up their position. All at once the Flora shot into view, and upon 
her deck were a g-ay throng of passengers, apparently watching the sun- 
rise and making the time pass merrily. To say that Uncle John and, 
Jimmy Breckinridge and their band of heroes were astonished at the] 
sight, would but illy express their surprise, and when it had passed and! 
another shrill shriek of its whistle had sounded, as if to mock them, as] 
it passed out of sight and around the bend, at their unheard of mistake,; 
the picture of that band of old pioneers standing there, their rifles 
still at their shoulders and their faces looking as if petrified, was a scenCi 
for a painter, and Barnum could have made a fortune. The man whoj 
could have photographed that group as they stood, looks and all, wouldj 
have made a fortune. It was a scene worthy of the painter's brush. Butj 
let us drop the curtain over the harrowing scene. Their senses came tol 
them at last, and not a word was said or a funeral note at the grave! 
where their foe had perished, but being entirely too full for utterance,j 
each one of these gallant men, quietly and unostentatiously and with* 
sadness of mein, sought the privacy of their cabins, and thus ended thei 
hunt after the monster of the mountains of the Osage Valley. Therd 
was nothing tragic in this remarkable hunt, but to this day it is a themes 
of wonderment, and even Uncle Jimmy Breckenridge, shudders when i1'' 
is mentioned to him, and feels as if he would like to choke his questioneil 
until he couldn't speak. \ 

•1 
THE PIONEERS FROM 1 832 TO 184O. 



Anderson, Obanion. 
Anderson, Robert. 
Anderson, John. 
Anderson, James. 
Applegate, Jesse. 
Applegate, Lindsey. 
Applegate, Charles. 
Addington, James. 
Ashworth, Lewis R. 
Allen, William. 
Arbuckle, Matthew. 
Armingtrout, John. 
Ayris, Albion. 
Ainsworth, William. 
Abston, Alborn D. 
Arterberry, Henry. 
Able, John. 
Anderson, Samuel. 



Anderson, Ambrose. 
Burch, Benjamin. 
Burch, John. 
Burch, Robert N. 
Breckinridge, James. 
Barnett, Sr., Hugh. 
Barnett, John. 
Bunch, James, 
Bunch, William. 
Bunch, David. 
Bunch, John. 
Beale, Charles. 
Beale. George. 
Beale, Jordan. 
Beale, William. 
Beale, Robert. 
Beale, Samuel. 
Beale, James. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



849 



Bacon, William. 
Brandt, Daniel. 
Buncke, William P. 
Bowmar, Charles. 
Bayham, Joseph E. G. 
Bell, Nathaniel. 
Bush, Willis. 
Bruce, Simeon C. 
Bullock, Charles P. 
Baker, Joseph. 
Bedell, John. 
Browning, C. G. 
Bolinger, Joseph. 
Bullard, Alfred W. 
Burger, Abraham. 
Burger, James L. 
Blake, Larkin H. 
Bolds, Widow. 
Bolds, Raphael. 
Burton, Charles. 
Burton, David. 
Beale, Tavenor. 
Bacon, William. 
Coonce, Jacob. 
Cox, Dr. P. M. 
Cox, George M. 
Cox, William M. 
Cox, Richard B. 
Cox, Joseph W. 
Culbertson, John A. 
Culbertson, William. 
Culbertson, Josiah. 
Culbertson, Ira. 
Culbertson, Isaac. 
Culbertson, Joseph. 
Cruthaid, Widow. 
Cruthaid, Thomas. 
Cruthaid, Jacob. 
Cruthaid, Adam. 
Cruthaid, Joseph. 
Clarkson, John, Sr. 
Clarkson, John, Jr. 
Clarkson, William. 
Cole, Rev. James. 



Crenshaw, Richard. 

Coslow, Joseph. 

Calhoun, Andrew. 

Calhoun, James. 

Crutchfield, Richard P. 

Crow, Phillip. 

Crow, Henry W. 

Carter, William F. 

Copenhaver, Staley. 

Crowley, William. 

Carroll, James. 

Carroll, Widow. 

Cocke, R. P. 

Capity, Daniel. 

Clardy, Daniel. 

Cringer, John. 

Cringer, Sabe. 

Collins, David. 

Corbin, James F. 

Dooley, Henry E. 

Davis, Aaron. 

Ditter, John. 

Ditter, Frank. 

Ditter, James. 

Deshazo, Richard. 

DeLozier, Edward. 

DeLozier, Purren. 

Dudley, James. 

Fades, James A. 

Eason, Joseph. 

Ewell, Henry. 

Earl, Henry. 

Estlenger, Thomas. 

Francis, Peter. 

Francis, James. 

Gash, Ebenezer. 

Gash, William (eight children). 

Gash, Joseph D. 

Gum, . 

Gray, John G. 

Garnett, James V. 

Gardner, James. 

Gardner, William. 

Gardner, Robert. 
54 



850 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



Gardner, James. 
Goode, Mack H. 
Ganter, Nicholas. 
Gordon, John. 
Given, Samuel. 
Greenup, Christopher. 
Goots, John. 
Greenwell, John C. 
Gates, Joshua. 
Graham, John. 
Gray, James D. 
• Gray, Robert. 
Hahn, Columbus. 
Howard, John. 
Howard, Avery. 
Howard, Seth M. 
Hoover, James. 
Hoover, Alexander. 
Hoover, Henry. 
Hoover, Matthew. 
Hodgson, John. 
Hodgson, Harvey. 
Hodgson, Henry. 
Haise, Harlan. 
Hoy, Isaac. 
Haley, Gabriel. 
Hester, Thomas. 
Hester, Anthony N. 
Hodgson, Joseph. 
Hogan, John. 
Holbert, Joseph. 
Holbert, Robert. 
Huffman, David. 
Huffman, Lemuel. 
Herndon, Joseph. 
Hedges, Samuel C. 
Harris, Samuel W. 
Hill, Wright. 
Hodgins, Stephens. 
Johnson, John J. 
Johnson, Jacob. 
Jones, Lowry. 
Jones, Nathan. 
Jones, Andrew^^^ 



Jones, Wm. 
Keyton, Jones. 
King, Wm. 
Kelso, Sr., Andrew 
Kelso, Jr., Andrew. 
Kelso, Samuel. 
Kelso, David. 
Kelso, Benjamin. 
Kelso, John. 
Lilly, Zachariah. 
Lunsford, Littleton. 
Lawler, Wm. B. 
Locke, R. P. 
Long, John. 
McClain, John T. 
McClain, Francis. 
McClellan, Alexander. 
McClenehan, Absalom. 
McCullough, Robert. 
McCullough, Roderic D. 
McCullough, William H. 
McDaniel, William. 
McFarland, George W. 
McFerran, Martin. 
Musgrove, Jonas. 
Miller, Benjamin. 
Montgomery, Joseph. 
Moore, Alexander D. 
Moore, J. W. 
Moore, H. W. 
Molder, Daniel. 
Morris, James. 
Melton, Frederic. 
Molder, Daniel. 
Montgomery, John M. 
Montgomery, Jacob. 
Marlow, William C. 
Masterson, James. 
Moore, Benjamin H. 
Middleton, James H. 
McMiner, Nicholas. 
McMurry, John G. 
Martin, Samuel H. 
Noel, Stephen. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



851 



Newell, Abraham C. 
Nash, Gabriel P. 
Norris, James. 
Nance, Reuben S. 
Norton, John. 
Nance, Edmund. 
Phillips, Allen. 
Poston, Simeon. 
Parton, Jonas. 
Puckett, Elijah. 
Pinkston, Wesley D. 
Pinkston, Moses. 
Peebley, Ashford. 
Piper, Thomas. 
Perry, John. 
Pond, George W. 
Pearse, Thomas. 
Perrin, Daniel. 
Redman, Joel. 
Renfro, James. 
Ridgway, Jesse. 
Rickey, James. 
Rice, Elijah. 
Ripetoc, Ephraim. 
Reed, John M. 
Roark, William. 
Roberts, Eli. 
Roberts, Harris. 
Ritchie, A. C. 
Roark, Frank. 
Robertson, Benjamin. 
Roark, Samuel. 
Rogers, G W. 
Rogers, Isaac. 
Ruby, Henry. 
Ruby, Philip, 
Robinson, Cyrus V. 
Robinson, Reuben. 
Reavis, Charles. 
Reavis, Warren P. 
Russell, Widow. 
Stow, Richard. 
Suggs, Charles. 
Smarr, John. 



Shortis, Robert. 
Sproull, Robert H. 
Sproull, Frank. 
Snuffer, Theodoric. 
Snuffer, Owen. 
Small, William H. 
Sutliff, Julius. 
Short, Hiram. 
Short, George. 
Shields, Patrick. 
Smith, Obediah. 
Smith, John. 
Smith, Richard. 
Sears, James B. 
Scobey, William H. 
Sutherland, Uriah L. 
Starkey, Joel 
Snodgrass, Andrew S. 
Sheldon, Albert 
Sams, Burdett 
Simrall, James 
Sims, John D. 
Sims, Paris 
Thomas, Ervin 
Trahern, John L. 
Thompson, Filmore 
Thompson, W. C. 
Tally, James 
Teague, John W. 
Thornton, John T. 
Tyree, Abner C. 
Trotter, George 
Taylor, Irason 
Tally, John 
Teale, Isaac 
Thompson, Hezekiah 
Weddle, Moses D. 
Winston, James B. 
Wilson, James 
White, John R. , 
Williams, John G. 
Waldo, Daniel 
Waldo, Calvin 
Waldo, John 



852 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COJNTY. 



Waldo, Joseph 
Whitley, John 
Whitley, William 
Whitley, Randolph 
Whitley, Joseph 
Windsor, Thomas F. 
Wilkinson, A. H. 
Wyatt, John J. 
Wamsley, Eliza 
Wris^ht, Thomas F. 



Wright, William 
Ware, George 
Whitlow, Washington 
Whitlow, Henry 
Weinmer, Peter 
Williams, Robert 
Younce, Andrew 
Yoast, Francis 
Zebley, Alexander 
Zucks, Christopher 



A list of pioneers now residing in St. Clair County, Missouri, who 
resided in the county in 1843 — a period of forty years: 



Bunce, S. C. 
Bedell, John 

Breckenridge, James M. . 
Barnett, John 
Bridges, J. V. 
Burchett, William H. 
Cox, Dr. P. M. 
Cocke, R. P. 
Carpenhaver, Thomas 
Culbertson, John A. 
Coulthird, Thomas 
Coulthird, Jacob 
Denson, John 
Dudley, William 
Ditty, James 
Cover, Levi 
Gardner, James D. 
Greenwell, J. C. 
Hunt, Burgess 
Howard, John G. 
Hester, Anthony 
Harper, Lemon 



Hahn, Columbus 
Harper, Green 
Hoover, James M. 
Lilley, Zachariah 
Looney, J. C. 
Phillips, Alvin 
Ridgeway, Jesse 
Reese, G. 
Renfro, J. 
Ruark, B. F. 
Sproul, R. H. 
Shryer. S. 
Sheldon, A. 
Scoby, W. H. 
Small, T. 
Sims, J. 
Thomas, E. 
White, J. R. 
Wright, J. M. 
Wolf, J: I. C. 
Yoast, F. 
Yonce. A. 



PETITION FOR ORGANIZATION. 

The people of St. Clair County began to feel the want of an inde- 
pendent organization. The pioneers from 1832 to 1841 had reached a 
list of some 200 voters, as our old settlers' record will show. That would 
give St. Clair County, January i, i84i,a population of something over 
1,000. Clinton was thirty miles away, and it was a troublesome busi- 
ness to be running there for all the wants of the county. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 853 

So in the fall of 1840 a petition for the organization of St. Clair 
County into an independent municipality was drawn up, and the follow- 
ing names were signed to it: Dr. P. M. Cox, James Renfro, Z. Lilley, 
W. H. Scobey, G. B. Culbertson, John Howard, J. C. Greenwell, Colum- 
bus Halin, H. N. Hester, R. P. Cocke, H. Y. Small, Albert Sheldon, John 
Barnett, John R. White, J. A. Culbertson, S. C. Bruce, Hiram Short, J. 
Ridgway, Thomas Cruthaid, George Short, R. H. Sproul, Ervin Thomas^ 
James Hoover and William B. Lawler. 

The petition was presented to the assembly, and an act was passed 
and approved February 15, 1841, making St. Clair an independent county^ 
with all the rights and privileges thereunto belonging. The men who 
came to the county after its organization may be mentioned in future 
pages, and especially those who have served the county in an official 
capacity, these latter appearing in the official history, which immediately 
follows that of the " Old Settlers." 

PIONEER WOMEN. 

In the history of the pioneers of Henry County, in this work, will 
be found a short tribute to the memory of the noble and heroic pioneer 
women of the county. It need not be duplicated here, as it is intended 
to apply to all who left home and friends in early days and followed 
fathers, brothers and husbands to the wild but growing. West, ever ready 
and willing to accept the burden put upon them, and lighten by their 
love and sacrifices the loved ones around them. They suffered their 
share of the privations of the times, and no names upon the scroll of 
fame stand higher than the noble and heroic band of pioneer women, 
who made civilization a reality, and smoothed the rugged path of the 
pioneer with willing hands and loving hearts. 

There will also be found following the list of names of Henry 
County's pioneers a poem which tells in verse much of the life of the old 
pioneers, and it is worthy of perusal. There will be much found in the 
pages, from first to last, that will give pleasure, information and food for 
thought. In closing this part of our work we can do no better than to 
give the closing words of " Montgomery," a correspondent of the Osce- 
ola Sun, from whom has been gathered many important facts. 

CONCLUSION. 

"The men who drove back the Indians, killed off the wild beasts, 
and redeemed this country from barbarism to a state of civilization; 
who opened the highway to travel; who cleared the forest, letting in 
the light of day and of civilization, and who redeemed the virgin soil 
with the ploughshare until it laughed with a harvest, are rapidly passing 



854 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

away. They hear the summons to lay aside the burden of life and enter 
into that peaceful state of rest prepared for the Lord's laborers in the 
unseen beyond. 

Think of it.' When John Smar was elected sheriff some forty-two 
years ago, there was not much over i,ooo people in the county. Since 
that time the tide of population has spread from shore to shore. Why, 
in thirty years more we will be almost as densely populated as Europe. 
Not all of the old pioneers were cut down in the bloom of their man- 
hood days, or when their presence was most needed to clear the path- 
way for the march of Empire, but they lived on; many have reached a 
ripe old age and are still with us, their memory clear and eyes undimmed. 
But the old pioneer can never die." 




CHAPTER IV. 

THE BIRTH OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY— CULLINGS FROM THE 

COURT RECORDS. 

INDEPENDENCE— ACT OF ORGANIZATION, FEBRUARY 15, 1841— THE BOUNDARY OF 1845— 
COUNTY SEAT FIGHT-TWO SIDES TO A STORY— DEEDS OF THE LANDS DONATED 
FOR THE LOCATION OF A COUNTY SEAT— CIRCUIT COURT— SURVEY— ROADS AND 
BRIDGES-ASSESSED VALUATION, 1845 TO 1854-A YEARLY ESTIMATE-TAXATION 
AND CASH ON HAND. 

FROM DEPENDENCE TO INDEPENDENCE. 

The year 1840 closed the dependence of St. Clair County as a part of 
Rives, and she in 1841, put on the robes of an independent municipality, 
a sister among the counties which composed our glorious commonwealth, 
and was named in honor of General Arthur St. Clair, of revolutionary 
fame. The county had become populous, and the people had began to 
feel the want of something more desirable, and at the same time more 
convenient than being attached to the local government of an adjoining 
county. The legislature promptly acted upon the petition presented, 
and in February, 1841, St. Clair bloomed forth an independent munici- 
pality. The act of organization is as follows: 

All that territory within the following described limits, viz: Begin- 
ning at the southeast corner of township 37, in range 24; thence north 
on range line dividing ranges 23 and 24; thence west on the township 
line dividing townships 39 and 40; thence south on range line dividing 
ranges 28 and 29, to the township line dividing townships 34 and 35; 
thence east on same township line to the range line dividing ranges 24 
and 25; thence north on said range line to the township line dividing 
townships 36 and 37; thence east to the place of beginning, is hereby 
declared a separate and distinct county, to be called and known by the 
name of the county of St. Clair. 

Joseph Montgomery, Calvin Waldo and Thomas F. Wright, of St. 
Clair County, are hereby appointed commissioners to superintend and 
conduct an election by the people of said county for the purpose of 
deciding on the most suitable point for the permanent seat of justice. 

The circuit and county courts for said county shall be holden at the 
dwelling house of William Gash until the permanent seat of justice for 
said county is established or the county court shall otherwise direct. 

Approved February 15, 1841. 



856 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

The act which made St. Clair a part of and under the jurisdiction of 
Rives County, which might as well be given here, was passed by the 
general assembly February 11, 1835. Below is a copy of the act: 

Be it enacted by the Gener-al Assembly of the State of Missoiiri : 

All that portion of territory lying south of Rives County, west of 
Benton, now known by the name of St. Clair County, shall be attached 
to the County of Rives for all civil and military purposes, until other- 
wise provided by law. 

Just six years and four days after, " the otherwise provided by law" 
took place, as the above "organization act" shows. The original bound- 
ary did not seem to be satisfactory, which was given in the organization 
act, and on March 28, 1845, at the general session of the legislature, the 
line was changed so as to represent the present boundary of the county; 
which act of the general assembly was promptly passed, and was 
approved at the above date. This new boundary of the county was 
defined in words following: 

BOUNDARY OF ST. CLAIR. 

St. Clair, beginning at the northwest corner of township 39 and 
range 28; thence south with the range line to the southwest corner of 
section 7, township 36 and range 28; thence east to the southeast cor- 
ner of section 8, township 36 in range 26; thence south to the line divid- 
ing townships 35 and 36; thence east along said township line to the 
middle of range 24; thence north to the township line dividing town- 
ships 36 and 37; thence east to the range line dividing ranges 23 and 24; 
thence north to the township line dividing townships 39 and 40; thence 
west to the place of beginning. 

Approved March 28, 1845. 

At the time of the organization St. Clair County was composed of 
two townships under the names of Monegaw and Weaubleau, but when 
she appeared as a county the new county court divided it into six muni- 
cipal townships, viz: Monegaw, Speedwell, Washington, Polk, Osceola 
and Jackson. The first was in the northwest and was bounded on the 
north by Henry County, east by range line between ranges 26 and 27, 
south by the Osage River and west by Bates County. Speedwell was 
all south of the Osage and west of the Sac River. Washington was the 
present township of that name, Collins and half of Doyal. Polk cov- 
ered Dallas and Polk as now formed, being congressional townships 38 
and 37. Jackson in the northeast east of the river, and Osceola from 
congressional 39, 38 and 37 of range 25. The court did nothing more 
of importance at that session. 

This court, the first ever held in the county, was held at the house 
of William Gash, in what is now Doyal Township, on section 28, and 
was held in May of that year. Two sessions of the court was held at 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 857 

the house of William Gash, and two sessions at Wyatt's Grove, on sec- 
tion 16, of what is now Roscoe Township, and where the Applegate and 
Bell party proposed to establish the county seat. The location was- 
about a mile east of the present village of Roscoe. 

COUNTY SEAT FIGHT, 

Of course after the county was organized and commissioners 
appointed to locate the county seat, it did not take long to com- 
mence the hght. There are of course two sides to a story and they are 
here given, both from old settlers. 

The Osceola Pioneer says this: "Jesse Applegate was a leading 
spirit of the opposition. Early in the contest he made the discovery 
that a majority of the people were against him and as the law at that 
time only required a residence in the county of thirty days to become a 
voter, he went to other points and imported a vast army of voters. The 
day of election dawned after a heated campaign, and resulted in the 
choice of Osceola by a majority of seventeen." 

Applegate was was so disgusted, says the paper which published the 
above, with the result of the election, that he packed his traps and 
took his departure for Oregon, where, at one time, he became enor- 
mously rich. At the date of the election he was the richest man in the 
county, if not in Southwest Missouri. The capital was located here 
then, and here it will remain until time makes way for eternity. 

There is no doubt about the truth of the closing paragraph. Now 
comes the Applegate side: The election to decide the question of the 
location of the county seat was made by the order of the county court 
at its May term to take place in August, 1841. The judges were Joseph 
Montgomery, William Gash and Hugh Barnett, Sr. 

The election came off and- resulted in a majority of seven for 
Osceola, not seventeen. The Applegate party wanted it to be located 
on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 9, just north 
of Wyatt's farm, which was on school section 16. and the above 40 
acre lot was within, at that time, about one half mile only, they claimed, 
from the geographical center of the county. Wyatt's Grove, so called,, 
is the present Ruckman place. As above stated, they failed by seven 
votes, and why they failed was, that the Crows, the Coxes, McClains 
and others, went to Sedalia and a few other places and imported 
between thirty and forty hands to make brick for the new court house, 
as they claimed, but as the Applegate party said, were principally tO' 
vote. " Vote early and often," and then they got beat only seven votes. 
This is the other side of the story. This did not yet quite end the 
struggle. There was a good deal of bitter feeling engendered, and 
Applegate hated to give it up. The commission appointed had sub- 



^858 HISTORY OI'^ ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

mitted the question to a vote and they were preparing to turn over to 
the county court the result of that vote, by making their report and 
producing sundry deeds, papers and cash, as the contribution of Crow 
& Co., promised on the location of the county seat being permanently 
located at Osceola. Then came the legal question, to be determined by 
the circuit court, which was appealed to. The Wyatt Grove party, 
through the person of Nathaniel Bell, brought in a legal document, vol- 
uminous in character, if not forcible in its wording. The circuit court 
was in session the same August, 1841, Judge Foster P. Wright on the 
bench, and the following document submitted to the court : 

"Upon the motion of Nathaniel Bell, the relator in an information 
in the nature of a qito wni-ranto, against Joseph Montgomer}', Calvin 
Waldo, and Thomas F. Wright, commissioners for the location of the 
county seat for St. Clair County, for leave to file the same, which motion 
was overruled." 

That seemed to end the struggle so far as "legal proceedings were 
concerned, for at the same time the commissioners above named, came 
into court and made report of their actions as commissioners for the 
location of the county seat. The report was presented to the court and 
the following order made of record: 

"Now at this day comes Joseph Montgomery, Calvin Waldo and 
Thomas F. Wright, commissioners appointed for the purpose of locating 
the county seat of St. Clair County, and made a report of their proceed- 
ings in locating said county seat, accompanied by the title deeds 
for the lands on which they located said county seat, together with 
the abstract and evidence of title, and the court having fully examined 
the title, deem the same good and sufficient, conveying to the said 
county of St. Clair, a title to the lands in fee simple, without any reserva- 
ation or condition, and the same is approved by the court. And it is 
ordered that the clerk of this court certify to the tribunal transacting 
■county business for said St. Clair County, a copy of this decision and 
approval." 

This closed legal proceedings as well as all others, and there was as 
much rejoicing among the Crowites and the Coxes, as there was chagrin 
and disgust with the other party. The way being all clear the commis- 
sioners made their report of the vote, handed over a subscription paper 
and some money, etc., and then produced in court and turned them over 
to the county, four deeds of record, donating certain lots in Osceola and 
land, the consideration being that Osceola was to be the permanent 
seat of justice of St. Clair County. This deed reads: 

DEEDS TO THE COUNTY SEAT OF ST. CLAIR. 

Phillip Croxv and zvife to St. Clair County. 

" This indenture made and entered into this 20th day of May, in 
the year of our lord 1841, between Phillip Crow and Maria F., his wife, 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 859 

of the county of St. Clair and state of Missouri of one part, and the 
county of St. Clair, aforesaid, of the other part, witnesseth. That for 
and in consideration that ihQ permanent seat of justice for the county of 
St. Clair shall be located at the town of Osceola, in said county, we, the 
parties of the first part, have this day granted, bargained and sold, and 
by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the county of 
St. Clair, aforesaid, certain lots and parcels of land, lying and being in 
the county aforesaid, and described as follows, to wit: and known upon 
the town plat of Osceola as lots Nos. 3, 9, 6 and 12, in block No. 3; lot 
No. 5, in block No. 13; lot No. 2, in block No. 14; lot No. 10, in block 
No. 15; lots Nos. 3, 4 and 5, in block No. 16; lots Nos. 2, 7 and 8, in 
block No. 19; lots Nos. 2, 3 and 8, in block No. 20; lots Nos. 7 and 8, in 
block No. 21; lots Nos. 4 and 5, in block No. 22; lots Nos. 7, 8, ii and 
12, in block No. 23; lots Nos. 4, 5,6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12, in block No. 
24; lots Nos. 10 and ii, in block No. 29; lots Nos. ii and 12, in block 
No. 30; lots Nos. 5, 6, 9 and 10, in block No. 31; lots Nos. i, 2. 3, 4, 5 
and 6, in block No. 32; lots Nos. 5 and 6, in block No. 33; lot No. 2, in 
block No. 34; lots Nos. 9 and 10, in block No. 35; lots Nos. i and 10, in 
block No. 39; lots Nos. i and 2, in block No. 41; lots Nos. 3 and 4. in 
block No. 42; lots Nos. 7 and 8, in block No. 43, and also that part of 
the northwest fractional quarter of section 20, in township 38, of range 
25, west, beginning at the termination of Locust Street, where it 
intersects Fifth Street; thence continuing the course of Locust Street 
until it intersects the quarter section line; thence west with said line 
until it intersects the township line; also, that part of said fractional 
quarter section beginning at the termination of Fourth Street, where it 
intersects Cedar Street; thence continuing the course of Fourth Street 
until it intersects the quarter section line; thence east with said line 
until it intersects the town line, containing about three (3) acres, be the 
same more or less; also, twenty acres of land adjoining the said town of 
Osceola, known as the east half of the northwest quarter of the southwest 
quarter of section 20, in township 38, of range 25, west. To have and to 
hold the above described lots and parcels of land, together with all and 
singular the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the 
said county of St. Clair and her assigns forever, free from the claim or 
claims of them the parties of the first part, their or either of their heirs, 
executors and administrators; and the party of the first part for them- 
selves, their heirs, executors and administrators, do covenant and 
agree to and with the said county of St. Clair forever to warrant and 
defend the title to the same, free from all incumbrances, and from the 
claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever, unto the 
only proper use and behoof the said county of St. Clair. 

In testimony whereof, we, the parties of the first part have hereunto 
subscribed our names and affixed our seals the day and date above 
written 

P. CROW, [SEAL.] 

MARIA F. CROW. [seal.] 
State of Missouri, ] 
■County of St. Clair, f ' 

Be it remembered that on the 20th day of May, 1841, before me, the 
clerk of the circuit court within and for the county aforesaid, came P. 
Crow and Maria F. Crow, his wife, both personally known to me to be 



86o HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

the persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument of 
writing, as having executed the same, and severally acknowledged 
the same to be their act and deed for the purposes therein men- 
tioned. The said Maria F. Crow being by me first made acquainted 
with the contents thereof, and examined separate and apart from her 
husband, whether she executed the said deed and relinquishes her dower 
to the lands and tenements therein mentioned voluntarily and without 
compulsion of her said husband, acknowledged and declared that she 
executed the said deed and relinquishes herd ower in the said lands and 
tenements therein mentioned voluntarily and without undue influence of 
her said husband. 

In testimony whereof, I, Charles P. Bullock, clerk of our said court, 
have hereunto subscribed by name and affixed my private seal, there 
being no seal of office yet provided, this 20th day of May, 1841. 

[SEAL.] CHARLES P. BULLOCK, Clerk. 

Filed this 20th day of May, i84i,and recorded nth December, 1841. 

Attest: Charles P. Buli.ock, Clerk. 

H. W. Croiu and wife to St. Clair Comity. 

This indenture, made and entered into this 2 1st day of May, in the 
year of our Lord 1841, between Henry \V. Crow and Virginia I., his wife, 
of the one part, and the county of St. Clair, in the state of Missouri, of 
the other part, witnesseth: That for and in consideration that the per- 
manent seat of justice of said county of St. Clair shall be made at the 
town of Osceola, in said county, we, the parties of the first part have 
this day granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant, 
bargain and sell, and convey to the county aforesaid a certain tract or j 
parcel of land, and described as follows, to wit: j 

Twenty acres of land off of the north end of the east half of the j 
southwest quarter of section 20, in township No. 38, of range No. 25. ] 
west, saving and excepting so much in the north part of said described 
east half of said quarter section as will be embraced in one block of the 
size of the blocks in the plat of the town of Osceola, to wit: 252 feet 
square, lying immediately southeast of the present limits of the town of ] 
Osceola, and directly southwest and adjoining the street known as Mul- 
berry Street, when it shall be extended so far; and southeast and ; 
bounded by Fifth Street, as already known in the town plat of said town j 
of Osceola. 1 

To have and to hold the aforesaid described. tract or parcel of land, ] 
together with all and singular the privileges and appurtenances there- i 
unto belonging, unto the said county of St. Clair, free from the claim or j 
claims of them, the parties of the first part, their or either of their heirs^ j 
executors and administrators. And the parties of the first part do cov- j 
enant and agree to and with the said county aforesaid, that they, their 
heirs, executors and administrators will forever warrant and (^efend the \ 
same from the claim of every person or persons whatsoever, unto the I 
only proper use and behoof of the said county of St. Clair. 

In testimony whereof, we, the party of the first part, have hereunto^ 
subscribed our names and affixed our seals, this day and date first above i 
written. 

H. W. CROW. [seal.] 

VIRGINIA I. CROW, [seal.] j 



history of st. clair county. 86 1 

State of Missouri, ) ■ 

County of St. Clair, \ ' ' 

Be it remembered that on this day, before me, the clerk of the cir- 
cuit court within and for the county aforesaid, came Henry W. Crow 
and Virginia I Crow, his wife, both personally known to me to be the 
persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument of 
writing, as having executed the same, and severally acknowledge the 
same to be their act and deed for the purposes therein mentioned. She, 
the said Virginia I. Crow, being by me first made acquainted with the 
contents thereof, and examined separate and apart from her said hus- 
band, whether she executed the said deed and relinquishes her dower to 
the lands and tenements therein mentioned voluntarily, and without 
compulsion of her said husband, acknowledged and declared she exe- 
cuted the said deed and relinquishes her dower in the said lands and 
tenements therein mentioned voluntarily and without undue influence 
of her said husband. 

In testimony whereof, I, Charles P. Bullock, Clerk of the Circuit 
Court for the county of St. Clair, have hereunto subscribed my name 
and affixed my private seal, there being no seal of office yet provided, 
this 20th day of May, 1841. 

CHARLES P. BULLOCK, Clerk. 

Filed on the 20th day of May and recorded the nth of Decem- 
ber, 184.1. 

Attest: CHARLES P. BULLOCK, Clerk. 

Joseph W. Cox to St. Clair Comity. 

This indenture, made and entered into this 20th day of May, in the 
year of our Lord, 1841, between Joseph W. Cox, of the county of St. 
Clair and state of Missouri, of the one part, and the county of St. Clair, 
in the state aforesaid, of the other part, witnesseth, that for and in con- 
sideration that the permanent seat of justice for the county aforesaid 
shall be located at the town of Osceola in said county, he, the party of 
the first part, has this day granted, bargained and sold, and by these 
presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the county aforesaid 
certain tracts or parcels of land lying and being in "said county, and 
described as follows, to wit: 

Three town lots known upon the plat of the town of Osceola as lots 
Nos. I, 2 and 3, in block No. 24; also ten acres of land off of the south- 
west corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 
No. 20, in township 38 of range 25, and commencing on the southwest 
corner of said quarter quarter and running from thence on the east line 
of said quarter quarter one-eighth of one mile; thence west one-eighth 
of one mile; thence north one-eighth of one mile to the north line of 
said quarter quarter; thence east to the beginning for boundary. To 
have and to hold the aforesaid tracts or parcels of land, together with 
all and singular, the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, 
unto the said county of St. Clair free from the claim of him, the said 
Joseph W. Cox, his heirs, executors and administrators. And the said 
Joseph W. Cox for himself, his heirs, executors and administrators doth 
covenant and agree to, and with the said county forever to warrant and 
defend the title to the same tree from all incumbrance, and from the 



862 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

claim or claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever unto the 
only proper use and behoof of the said county of St. Clair. 

In testimony whereof, I, the party of the first part, have hereunto 
subscribed my name and affixed my seal the day and date first above 
written. 

JOSEPH W. COX. [SEAL.] 

State of Missouri, |_ 
County of St. Clair, j " ' 

Be it remembered that on the 20th day of May, 1841, before me, the 
clerk of the circuit court for the county of St. Clair, came Joseph W. 
Cox, who is personally known to me to be the person whose name is 
subscribed to the foregoing instrument of writing or deed of conveyance, 
and acknowledged the same to be his act and deed for the purposes 
therein mentioned. 

In testimony whereof, I, Charles P. Bullock, clerk of our circuit 
court, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my private seal, 
there being no seal of office yet provided, this 20th day of May, 1841. 

[SEAL.] CHARLES P. BULLOCK, Clerk. 

Filed on the 20th day of May and recorded on the nth day of 
December, 1841. 

Attest: CHARLES P. BULLOCK. Clerk. 

P. M. Cox and Wife to St. Clair County. 

This indenture, made and entered into this 20th day of May, in the 
year of our Lord, 1841, between Pleasant M. Cox and Elizabeth M., his 
wife, of the county of St. Clair and state of Missouri, of the one part, 
and the county of St. Clair, in the state aforesaid, of the other part, 
witnesseth, that for and in consideration that t^XQ permanent seat of jus- 
tice shall be located at the town of Osceola, in said county, we, the 
party of the first part, have this day granted, bargained and sold, and 
by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the county of 
St. Clair aforesaid certain lots or parcels of land described as follows, to 
wit: 

Lots Nos. 3, 5, and 11, in block 28 ; lots Nos. i, 2, 3, and 5, in block 
29; lots I, 8, 10 and ii, in block No. 44; lots 3, 4 and 6, in block No. 45, 
known upon the town plat of the town of Osceola, aforesaid. To have 
and to hold the aforesaid described lots or parcels of land together with 
all and singular, the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging 
to the said county of St. Clair, and her assigns, free from the claim or 
claims of them the party of the first part, their or either of their heirs, 
executors and administrators forever. And the party of the first part 
for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators do covenant 
and agree to and with the said county of St. Clair forever to defend the 
title to the same, free from all incumbrance, and from the claim or 
claims of all and every person or persons whatsoever unto the only 
proper use and behoof of the county of St. Clair aforesaid. In testimony 
whereof, we the party of the first part have hereunto subscribed our 
names and affixed our seals, this day and date first above written. 

PLEASANT M. COX, [seal]. 
ELIZABETH M. COX, [seal]. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 865. 

State of Missouri, t 
County of St. Clair. \ 

Be it remembered that on this twentieth day of May, 1841, before 
me the clerk of the circuit court, within and for the county aforesaid^ 
came Pleasant M. Cox and Elizabeth M. Cox:, his wife, both personally 
known to me to be the persons whose names are subscribed to the fore- 
going instrument of writing as having executed the same and severally 
acknowledged the same to be their act and deed for the purposes therein^ 
mentioned. She, the said Elizabeth M. Cox, being by me first made 
acquainted with the contents thereof, and examined separate and apart 
from her husband, whether she executed the said deed, and relinquishes- 
her dower to the lands and tenements therein mentioned voluntarily 
and without compulsion of her said husband, acknowledged and declared 
that she executed the said deed and relinquishes her dower in the said 
lands and tenements therein mentioned voluntarily and without undue 
influence of her said husband. 

In testimony whereof, I, Charles P. Bullock, clerk of our said court,, 
have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my private seal, there 
being no seal of office yet provided, this 20th day of May, 1841. 

[SEAL] CHARLES P. BULLOCK, Clerk. 

Filed this 20th day of May. Recorded the nth day of December^ 
1841. 

CHARLES P. BULLOCK, Clerk. 

The subscription paper which accompanied these papers was placed 
in the hands of Simon Poston for collection. Twelve years after this 
subscription paper was turned over to the county court by the above 
named county seat commisioner, and ordered filed by the court August 
10, 1853. This paper would be of value, if found, but a close search 
among old papers, as was recovered from Lane, failed to produce the 
desired document. The new county commissioner, William A. McClain, 
into whose hands all these papers fell, made a statement that there was 
still something due on that subscription paper, and if it could now be 
found, the names of those contributing towards the successful location 
of the county seat at this point, would be at this time of especial interest. 

The county court held four sessions previous to their removal to- 
Osceola. This was effected in the fall of 1841, and the November term 
of the county court was held at the new county seat. The circuit court 
which had held two previous sessions came also to Osceola. 

circuit court. 

The first circuit court held in St. Clair County, was at the house of 
William Gash, now Doyal Township, on Monday, March 29, 1841. The 
judge was Foster P. Wright; the sheriff, John Smarr, and the circuit 
clerk, Charles P. Bullock. Sheriff Smarr introduced his grand jury as- 
follows: Joseph H. Cox, foreman; Burdett Sams, Thomas Piper, Williami 



864 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Culbertson, Isaac Culbertson, Joel Redman, William C. Marlow, Richard 
Stow, William Wright, Robert Anderson, David Collins, Randolph 
Whitley, John Reed, Obediah Smith, John Gordon, John Long and Rob- 
ert Williams. 

They brought in two indictments for grand larceny and both against 
the same persons named Charles Beale and William Beale, and their 
cases were continued until the next term of the circuit court, and a nolle 
prosequi was entered. In civil cases there was one of appeal, Samuel 
Rowark, vs. Thomas Hester, one suit on note in favor of the Bold's Es- 
tate vs. James Norris, and Mr. Charles Burton was up for a recognizance 
to keep the peace. The two terms of the circuit court and two terms 
of the county court were held at the house of William Gash, which was on 
section 28, Doyal Township. The two sessions of the circuit court, held 
at the house of William Gash, were those of March and August, but the 
third term of the circuit court held commencing on the 29th day of 
November, 1841, was held at the town of Osceola, above remarked, at 
the house of Pleasant M. Cox and Lawrence Lewis. 

The following year Mr. Nathaniel Bell was elected to the legislature 
as a panacea for the unfortunate attempt he made to " eat Crow." He 
however, came back satisfied with the honor conferred, and made 
the assertion that he found out he was a " damfool." He was succeded 
by Hugh Barnett, one of the first county judges. In fact, all of the 
■members served but one term only, excepting Alexander McClain, who 
held three terms — from 1850 to 1856. Since that, time, as before, one 
term has been the rule. There was little of interest transpired during 
the early years of the county's history. There was nothing to break 
the monotony or regular routine of business affairs. The real exciting 
business of the county court did not begin until 1861 or 1862, and con- 
tinued then without a break until the railroad war began to take the 
shape of a regular siege. 

SURVEY. 

St. Clair County was claimed as the home of two men who were 
prominent for many years in the early history of this county. These 
men were engineers and surveyors by profession. They were Jesse 
Applegate and Joseph Montgomery. The former had charge of the 
government survey of this county and west of the state line. Joseph 
Montgomery surveyed Cedar and Dade Counties, and was the first 
appointed surveyor of Henry County, as well as its first senator, and 
also St. Clair's. Applegate made a name in the wilds of Oregon after 
he left St. Clair County, in sadness at the loss of his cherished anticipa- 
tions in securing the county seat near his home. Montgomery had a 
name ere he left the grand old state which is known as the mother of 
states and statesmen. He was both in the house and senate of that 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 865 

state ere he left it for Missouri, fettling in Henry County, and was 
there, as here in St. Clair, its first county judge. In Applegate's survey- 
ing corps, Alvin Phillips is the only one living in the county. In Mr. 
Montgomery's corps in Dade and Cedar, were R. H. Sproull, of St. 
Clair; also, Harrison Ham, Joseph Baker and Mathias Houx, and James 
Gladden, James Goffand Lawrence George, of Henry County. 

ROADS. 

In the early days one of the most important items of business of the 
county was the laying out of roads. The first start in that line was made 
by the Rives County Court, which ordered some ten or a dozen roads cut 
out, nearly all either centering or radiating from " Crow & Crutchfield's" 
store on the Osage River. The first road overseer in the county was 
Stephen Noel. In 1837 there were six road districts formed in Weaubleau 
Township, which comprised the east half of the county. They numbered 
from one to six, and the following were appointed overseers, as follows, 
commencing with No. i: William M. Cox, Joseph Culbertson, Ebenezer 
Gash, John Clarkson, P. Crow and Henry T. Hoover. These were all 
appointed in December, 1837. 

On the west side there were but few, for with the exception of the 
Harmony Mission road, no one cared much for roads in that section; 
and with the exception of Roscoe Township, there were very few set- 
tlers in the west part of the county until 1840. Quite a number came 
in in 1838 and 1839, but the open prairies were good enough for roads- 
On the organization of the county, however, roads were laid out in what 
is now Taber, then in Roscoe others were laid out; and while Huffman's 
Ferry was not started till 1839, ^he ford and road had been in use a 
couple of years. From 1845 to 1850 the road business of the county 
was pretty evenly distributed. Monegaw Township, then taking in the 
present Appleton and Chalk Level, from its vast prairie range, was the 
last to get the benefit of roads. If a farmer fenced up the old route, the 
track would be made around it; and so even to this day there will be 
found "reaches" that traverse diagonally many miles of prairies, with 
here and there shorter cuts which lessen the distance to town. 

BRIDGES. 

The bridge question assumed but small importance in the county. 

No attempt was made to bridge the Osage, and numerous ferries were 

licensed, and near enough together to make them convenient. The Sac 

River was where the bridge movement got a grip on the county court. 

The Sac River Bridge near Waldo's, on the road to Roscoe, was a point 

which seemed to want a bridge, and to want it bad; and from first to 

55 



866 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

last some $25,000 has been spent at that place, and to-day there is no 
bride^e. In March, 1852, $2,500 was appropriated for a bridge across 
Sac River, at or near Daniel Waldo's. The money rested two years, 
and some interest was added to it, as, although the bridge was not built, 
the appropriation was not withdrawn. 

In 1854 a move was made for a bridge, the first of which was to have 
the first order rescinded of $2,500 and a new order made appropriating 
$3,500 to build the bridge. This was in November and the next spring* 
or May 15, 1855, three years after the first appropriation was made, a 
contract was entered into with James K. Farr, of Johnson County, to 
put up the said bridge in a substantial manner. It was not until 1857 
that the bridge was completed, and by that time it had got up to $6,000 
and the county court compromised on that figure with a guarantee that 
it should be kept in repair for four years by the contractor. With the 
exception of the Slough bridge near Osceola, this was the extent of the 
bridge building up to 1858. In fact there was little done besides repairs, 
and a few small bridges built, until 1868, when that same crossing of the 
Sac came in for another appropriation of $6,000 for a bridge and got it. 

ASvSESSED VALUATION. 

The wealth of the county was another item of interest. The 
assessed valuation of the county in 1845, the first record made, giving 
the aggregate was, on 

Real estate $ 97,320 

Personal property 137,410 

Town lots II ,900 



$246,634 
Pells. 326. 

This sum was nearly doubled in 1850, being, on 

Real estate $ 1 27,240 

Personal property (all) 286,660 

Town lots 16.512 



$430,412 
Polls, 482. 

The assessed valuation in 1853 was, on 

Real estate $1 50,803 

Personal property 397,808 

Town lots 21,413 



$570,024 
Polls, 571. 

That of 1854 was, total, $643,156, and polls, 607. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. S6j 

At the May term of the county court, May 13, 1854, a statement 
was made and placed upon record of the receipts and expenditures of 
the county for the preceding fiscal year, ending May i, 1854. 

Receipts — total $2,998 36 

Expenditures — total " 1,642 88 

Balance on hand $f.355 48' 

The previous year there was an excess of $863.06, which was added 
in the above total of receipts, which showed a net gain of receipts over 
expenditures of $492.42 for the last year. To this report was added 
these words: "There is no debt owing by the county of St. Clair." 
What a joyous sound would these words have if they could be truthfully- 
uttered now.^ Another item of that report is of interest, and that was 
the salary account of the county officers. The total paid was $696.97. 
The treasurer received $112 per annum, getting a warrant once in six 
months for $56. That salary was paid some ten years to John F, Weide- 
meyer. It was this salary which made him wealthy, or rather should be 
said, laid the foundation of his now handsome property. 

A YEARLY ESTIMATE. 

This seems to be a flourishing state of affairs, but the estimate for 
the fiscal year ending May i, 1855, taking it from the present standpoint 
of affairs, is a curiosity in its way. Certainly the people of St. Clair, no 
matter what may be the situation to-day, brought on by folly and fraud, 
were not, during the two decades from 1840 to i860, burdened with tax- 
ation. The clerk presented to the county court the following estimate 
of expenditures for the fiscal year ending May i, 1855: 

Building jail $ 800 00 

Bridge on slough 75 00 

Costs in criminal cases lOO 00 

Ordinary expenses 1,000 00 

Repairs in court house and square 100 00 

$2,075 00 
Cash on hand 1-355 48 

Necessary to be raised $ 719 52 

There was a population in the county at that time of not less than 
S.ooo souls, a poll of about 800, with an assessed valuation of $700,000, 
and they had the enormous sum of $719.52 to raise, of which $875 was 
for permanent improvements. Had it not been for that, they would 
have gotten through with what cash was already on hand, and had over 
$150 left. It is enough to make the old pioneer groan to see the growth 
of debt and expenses, as compared with the primitive ways of old. They 
can see that the country has progressed, but has it prospered, is the ques- 
tion that forces itself upon them. 



CHAPTER V. 



A COMBINATION OF SOLID FACTS MAKES CONTINUOUS j 

HISTORY. ' 

1 
I 

ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS- STATISTICAL AND OTHERWISE— SWAMP LAND REMARKS- 
BRAIN WAGES-MONTGOMERY'S GREAT EFFORT— OSCEOLA, JIM LANE-TOWNSHIP— , 
THE BOUNDARIES OF 1867— NAMES— ONCE MORE DIVIDED-AS IT WAS TO 1872. I 

ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS. '. 

i 
Changes in the settlement of the townships caused a change in many 

of their voting precincts, and for the annual election of 1854, the entire 
election precincts, or polling places, were made of record. Commencing 
at Monegaw Township, Coperas Springs, south of the present site of > 
Johnson City, was made the place. Speedwell came next, and William 1 
Whitley's house was designated as the voting place, but not long after 
removed to Pleasant Hill School House, south and west of the Whitley 
Bend. 

Washington Township voted at the school house near William A. 
Jackson's. Polk followed at the residence of Andrew Baker, Jackson at 
D. L. Hamilton's old place, and Osceola at the court house. The only 
peculiarity about that election was that both in Polk and Washington \ 
Townships there was a tie on constable. The county court was the 
arbiter, and in the Polk Township case decided, as between Robert Hes- ( 
ter and Walker Jones, in favor of Hester, but in the Washington Town- 
ship case, as between George Rennison and Francis Yoast, the court 
found the thing so mixed and they were, as they expressed it, so " con- 
flusticated " that they were unable to decide the case satisfactory and 
dismissed it. Whether another election was called or whether the con- | 
testants pulled straws for the coveted prize is not found of record. , 

MELANGE. | 

The contract for building a jail, of which an estimate of $800 was 
made, was let to Lewis Fourmer for $685, which knocked off another 
hundred and odd dollars of taxation, leaving about $600 to raise to pay , 
all expenses. As "Montgomery" said, in his old settler's history, "taxa- | 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 869 

tion did not trouble the old pioneer, and the tax gatherer was neither as 
important a personage as now or as uowelcomely received as in this day 
and generation," and "Montgomery" was right. By the by, " Mont- 
gomery," the able correspondent of the Sun, is no other than that hon- 
ored, respectable and high-toned citizen of Chalk Level Township, Mr. 
Owen Snuffer. 

It was decided also to fix up the court house yard in good style, 
and a contract was made with Mr. William H. Vaughan to set out in the 
court house yard seventy-five locust trees for the munificent sum of $to, 
and the sheriff was ordered to have the fence, gate and steps all put in 
order and be kept so during his term of office. What few locust trees 
now standing should be protected and trimmed. They cost money in the 
early days. 

Outside of the routine of daily life the county of St. Clair for the 
next few years had little passing that belongs to history outside of the 
one important fact that she grew and prospered. Osceola, the county 
seat, became a town of note and its population reached, at one time, 
between 1,300 and 1,500 souls. It became the southwestern depot for 
supplies, and was a wholesale market for a large portion of southwest 
Missouri. The county, of course, felt the inspiration. North of the 
Osage and west of that river, the land will vie with any in the state of 
Missouri, or any other state, in its productive capacity. South and east, 
while there is much good land, it is broken, hilly and stony, but what it 
lacks in the richness of soil is fully compensated by its infinite deposits 
of mineral wealth. But all this will be found in the chapter of the 
resources of St. Clair County, found further on in this work. 

STATISTICAL AND OTHERWISE. 

The assessment of St. Clair County, for 1855 was — 

Slaves $197,870 

Personal property , .• i85>777 

Money and notes 133,540 

Real estate 212,027 

Town lots 23,588 

Total $752,822 

The assessment of 1856 was $983,316. This increase was principally 
on the real estate, being something like $140,000, while the other 
$90,000 was divided between the other three articles of taxation. 

The receipts of 1856 amounted to $2,412 32 

Including cash on hand and expenditures to 1,881 5^ 

$530 74 



870 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

being the cash balance in the treasury. The assessments of i860, the 
latter just previous and the last before the war, will show what the peo- 
ple in St. Clair County lost in slave property alone, without taking into 
consideration the destruction of their homes and their personal property, 
outside of money and notes. Forty per cent, of their property was lost 
to them forever, and four years of labor added. 

The assessment of 1859 varied little Irom that of i860, being some 
$9,000 less in the aggregate, the real estate being $45,000 lower, and 
that difference made up in money and notes, the other items varying to 
make the above deficit or less aggregate amount. 

i860. 

574 shares $ 285, 1 50 

Money and notes 311 ,078 

Other personal property 336,007 

Real estate 1,140,456 

Town lots 61,005 

$2,133,706 
Assessment 1855 752,802 

Increase in five years $1,380,904 

or nearly 300 per cent., while the total taxation \\^as about $3,500. This 
was remarkable, but it showed that it was really solid gain. The land 
was rated higher, but the demand from a rapidly increasing population 
warranted it. In fact, the county nearly doubled in population between 
1850 and i860, its precise gain during that decade being ninety-two 
per cent. 

SWAMP LAND REMARKS. 



From 1854 to January, 1858, the principal business of the court was 
to dispose of the swamp land, and in this respect the highest praise can 
be given in the matter of selling, for among nearly a score of counties 
with which the writer has become acquainted, not one equaled in any 
respect the prices given in this county. 

Much of the money was lost by poverty brought on by the war, but 
much afterwards was saved, but not as agent of the county, Mr. Clarke 
thought, would equal the loss, in consequence of the land itself, in many 
cases, falling into the hands of the county again by failures. The amount 
of swamp land received by the county, and when and what it was sold 
for, and much other information relative to swamp lands, will be found 
in a chapter further along, under that head. It will be found interesting 
and instructive. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 8/1 

THEIR SALARIES ARE RAISED. 

From the early days, before the fifties, the sum of two dollars a day 
was a big price, and the county court of St. Clair County, at its first ses- 
sion felt somewhat at a loss as to what compensation they should receive 
for their arduous duties as justices of the county court. William Gash, 
having a family of eight children and furnishing the rent of the court 
house free, thought one dollar per day was not out of the way. Mr. 
Hugh Barnett, Sr., not having at that time b^en a member of the legis- 
lature, coincided with Brother Gash, and thought one dollar was not too 
much, but Judge Montgomery had been there — he had been there sev- 
eral times, and knew brains were at a premium. In the legislature of 
his native state he had placed no less than three dollars in his pocket in 
watching during his first session how his fellow members done it, and 
while judge of the Henry County Court, and member of the Missouri 
State Senate, he knew what he was talking about, and he made, as he 
afterwards declared, the greatest effort of his life, or words to that effect, 
and Gash's old cabin rang with his eloquence, as he expatiated upon the 
value of their services as public servants who were, by their acts, to lay 
the foundation of a county, which in the future was to rank in wealth, 
enterprise and brain power with the most advanced in the state. 

He took his seat and a silence, deep and awful, fell upon those 
judges. Gash was overpowered, Montgomery had dropped exhausted 
from his masterly effort, and Barnett, with dim, but rising ambition, was 
studying the problem of compensation. Then a whisper broke the 
silence, and Judge Barnett moved in a voice scarcely audible, that $2 
a day be allowed the county court. Mr. Gash, in a feeble voice, seconded 
the motion, and Judge Montgomery, presiding, promptly announced it 
carried, without the formality of a vote, and $2 per day was the salary 
of the justices until January, 1857, when it was raised to $3 per day. 
This is the story as told to us after forty-two years had gone fleeting by. 

In 1859, $548 was paid for a new tin roof for the court house, and 
$93 more for lumber to put the tin on. Then the court appropriated 
$125 to dig a well and cistern upon condition that the citizens contrib- 
uted the same amount. 

In January, i860, Osceola was given three voting precincts, Mone- 
gaw and Speedwell two, and the other townships remained with one 
each. Osceola took two sides of the court house and the old Snyder 
Mill, so called, on Muddy Creek, then owned by James Addington; Mon- 
egaw at Boot's Mill and at the town of Manoa; Speedwell, Pleasant 
Springs School House and at Brown's Mill, on Clear Creek, and the 
others at their usual places of voting. The same session the court 
granted $15 to help make a new survey of the town of Osceola. There 
was a new addition and it all was to be properly defined. 



8/2 HISTORY OF ST. CT.AIR COUNTY. 

The period of the war was one fraught with troubles and vexations 
and its records, so far as county proceedings were concerned, were 
totally destroyed by fire, being, as the citizens believe, the work of an 
incendiary, instigated by interested parties. No evidence was forth- 
coming to show who were the principal person, or persons, or who were 
the instigators, but the belief exists, and always will, that those records 
were destroyed for a purpose in the early winter of 1864. The first 
record after July. 1861, commences January r, 1865. The blank in this 
is but partially filled, yet outside of the peculiar local character of these 
times, there is nothing much that history will find worthy of record. 
The heat of passion and the prejudices of the times, the troubles and 
trials of a county with but little law and order, is not a theme of 
pleasure to dwell upon. 

V 

DESTRUCTION OF OSCEOLA. 

This was the principal tragedy of the war, so far as St. Clair County 
was concerned, but it was enough. Jim Lane left a fearful record of his 
hands, but it was most terribly avenged. The livid glow of the torch 
and the rapid appropriation of the wealth of Osceola by the band of 
Jayhawkers under Lane, was a sight never to be forgotten. The people 
left their homes before the merciless horde, fearing lest they had no 
scruples to murder if their work of destroying the town was interferred 
with. They did their work thoroughly and well. The destruction of 
the town will be found graphically described in the history of the town- 
ship and city of Osceola. The doom of Lawrence, Kansas, took shape 
when Osceola fell, and was fearfully carried out. 

HOME MATTERS. 

Of course home matters were in a desperate strait. Taxes could 
not be collected, merchants were robbed, and when they went to col- 
lect debts due they found their customers and debtors in the same boat. 
The swamp lands and school lands had been sold and the money 
loaned, but pay day came amid the clash of arms and the destruc- 
tion of all values. Men who were rich became beggars, and neither 
private debts nor public debts could be collected from the debtors. 
Notes and ftiortgages remained impaired, and a fearful array of sjits 
were brought forth at the close of the internecine strife. In 1863 
the delinquent tax list amounted to $4,748.77. This list increased in 
both the following years and proved the cause of infinite trouble 
before the people were able to pay it. 

There was previous to the war a large amount of money loaned 
out of the swamp and sixteenth section school lands fund, and in 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 875. 

the summer of 1865 the county court ordered suit brought at once, 
to collect or put in shape, the amount then found to be due, which 
was $22,599.82. The military bonds which had been issued in 1865 
and 1865, were being presented for payment on taxes, etc., and that 
made money scarce in the treasury. The county court in session in 
July, 1865, decided to redeem the bonds of 1863 at par, and those of 
1865 at eighty-five cents on the dollar. At the September term of 
the court, that honorable body voted themselves five dollars per day 
for services instead of three. 

The Bowles house inside the fort was used as a court house that 
year. 

About this time, John Wheeler, county assessor, presented his 
account for services rendered as assessor, and the following order is 
found of record: 

"Now at this day comes John Wheeler with his account against the 
State of Missouri, to wit: For listing 2,000 names at twenty cents per 
name, $150; which said account is found to be correct." 

Figuratively speaking, the above is a shining example of official 
mathematical proficiency. 

SOME ITEMS. 

Wolf scalps from 1865 to 1867 brought $3 each. 

Speedwell Township wanted to take in a part of Taber by making 
the congressional line between sections 37 and 38 the northern line of 
that township, but the proposition was refused and the Osage now was 
continued the line as before. 

The proposition advanced to appropriate $15,000 for a new court 
house gained favor and in June, 1866, that amount was appropriated by 
the county court. Following this came a remonstrance covering 187 
names, but it fell upon barren soil. 

William O. Mead was appointed to superintend the construction. 
His first business was, however, to prepare plans for a court house 
and jail, and then advertise the same, which he attended to, and the con- 
tract was let to James L. Hicks. This contractor assigned his contract 
to John H. Brown, which Brown carried out, after having "one word " in 
his contract changed. This change was {rovci fine stone work to rubble 
or shuck, known as common stone work. The order was made to change 
the "word" aforesaid, on June 4, 1867, folio 211, book C. The con- 
tractor felt relieved and finished his contract according to the new stipu- 
lations. 

The Shields Brothers agreed to attend to the law business of the 
county for one year, from May, 1867, to May, 1868, for nothing; which 
offer the county court promptly accepted. 



874 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Jackson Township was attached to Polk Township in June, 1866, 
which virtually extinguished that iron-hearted township, and it rebelled 
at the decree. The rebellion succeeded, and in January, 1867, Jackson 
again stepped forth a full-fledged township, whose rights there were 
none to dispute. 

The court house was completed and the first session of the county 
court held therein December 2, 1867, and the contractor received 
$14,840.43 for the work. 

The Sac River Bridge was let to contract May 7, 1868, at $5,100, 
and was completed September i, 1868. 

May 6, i858, Elias Disney, sheriff and collector, was asked to give 
an additional bond in five days of $84,000; he failed to do it, and was 
removed. 

Thomas B. Sutherland was appointed, and in the interval of his 
giving bond, J. Warde Gardner, coroner, was acting sheriff and col- 
lector. 

The county began to recover from the effects of the war after peace 
had spread her wings over the land, but that recovery was slow. Still 
the county was comparatively free from debt, and economy in county 
affairs had again assumed sway. 

The destruction of the county records had alarmed the people, for 
the reason that they believed they would not have been destroyed 
unless to cover up theft or extravagance, which would not bear the light 
of day. The canvass at the previous election had been exciting, the 
Conservatives had won the fight, and those who had ruled and controlled 
for nearly four years were compelled to give up their places and make 
room for the new order of things brought on by peace. A desire was 
expressed that war's extravagance should not continue, while a struggle 
was going on to build up the waste places and barren plains, the result 
of the strife. The election decided for law, order, economy and honest}', 
and the new state of affairs, under new officers, were to assume their 
places in history from January i, 1865. It was done, and also a new set 
of books had to be opened, for the record of four years was destroyed, 
and not a vestige of the doings of those years was left to tell the tale 
of either honesty or fraud. It was time a change was made. If the 
records of four years were worth burning, that of six or eight years 
would not want for a match to find themselves in ashes. Still, whatever 
wrong that fire covered up is past, and the future is nof likely to unravel 
it. So it will not be necessary to dwell upon it, but simply to record an 
act dark in its nature and susceptible of but one construction, and that 
was the concealment of fraud. 

The county court in 1867 concluded to publish the boundaries of 
the several townships, and make them of record, which was done. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 8/5 

TOWNSHIPS. 

Ii: the loss of the county records by the raid of Jim Lane, a serious 
drawback was given to a complete history of the early actions of the 
county court, which required time and patience to overcome. The rec- 
ords missing were from its inception .to May, 1853, a period of twelve 
years. This missing part has been gathered, however, from, the old set- 
tlers of the county who are still living, and therefore there will be in this 
work almost a complete record of at least the important actions of the 
county court, and of events during that period. 

In July, 1867, the boundaries of the six municipal townships were 
slightly changed from the form they were made at the first session of the 
county court, in 1841. These changes, were, however, but slight, in fact 
although made, the people of the county knew little about them, except 
those living in the vicinity of the new and old lines of division. The 
great object was to have the record. The first and only attempt to 
change the old boundary lines was a petition from Speedwell Township, 
in May, 1866, to make congressional township line between townships 
37 and 38, the north boundary of that township, from the Vernon County 
line to where said township line struck the river at the Montgomery 
bend, and then following the Osage to the mouth of the Sac, but the 
county court declined to make the change, and the Osage River was 
continued as its northern boundary. 

BOUNDARY OF 1 867. 

As mentioned above, there was a slight change made in 1867, which 
affected more particularly the eastern and northeastern sections of the 
county. This change gave the following tovvnship boundaries: 

OSCEOLA. 

Commencing at the Henry County line, at the center of town- 
ship 39, of range 26; thence south to the center of township line 37, 
range 26; thence east -to the west boundary line of township 37, of 
range 24; thence on a direct line north to the Henry County line. 

• MONEGAW. 

Bounded on the north by Henry County line; east, commencing 
at the Henry County line on the center line of township 39, of range 
26; thence south to the Osage River; thence west, the Osage River 
being its south line, and west by Vernon and Bates Counties. [Should 
be west by Osage River and Bates County.] 



876 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. ;* 

SPEEDWELL. 

The Osage River to be its northern boundary; the Sac River its east- 
ern boundary; south by Cedar County, and west by Vernon County. i 

WASHINGTON. i 

Bounded south by Polk County; thence commencing at the south- ; 

east corner of section 33, township 36, of range 24, and running north 

with the Hickory County line to the northeast corner of section 4^ ^ 

township 36, of range 24; thence west to the southeast corner of town- ' 

ship 37, range 2$; thence north to the northeast corner of section 24, \ 

township 37, of range 25; thence west on said line to Sac River; thence ! 

with Sac River to the northwest corner of section 16, township 36, of ' 

range 26; thence south to the Polk County line. j 

« 

POLK. I 

1 

Embracing township 37, of range 24, and the south half of township ; 

38, of range 24. .1 

JACKSON. i 

! 

All of township 39, of range 24, and the north half of township 38,. I 

of range 24. 1 

SOME MORE DIVISIONS. ] 

The growth of the county began to suggest smaller municipal 1 

division and more of them. Voting precincts were too far apart to be ' 
at all convenient to the bulk of the voting population, and justices of the 

peace too scarce for business. This resulted in several petitions for 1 

new townships in the next one and two years. . I 

Butler was the first township to be organized out of the original 
number, six, which had been the number since the county came into 1 
existence. All of the townships were too large, and so the work of ; 
division, when once commenced, did not stop until nearly all the ori- 
ginal six had become reduced in their dimensions. Butler, as above j 
stated, was the first new township and Osceola the first to be despoiled. 

The following are the metes and bounds of * 

BUTLER TOWNSHIP. j 

It is ordered, adjudged and decreed that a new township be formed • 
out of the territory of Osceola Township, and bounded as follows, to 

wit: I 

On the north by the Henry County line; on the west by the eastern ; 

boundary line of Monegaw Township; on the east by the boundary line 1 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. ^"JJ 

of Jackson Township; south by the line dividing the tier of townships 
Nos. 38 and 39, it being- the east half of township 39, range 26, and the 
whole of township No. 39 of range 25. 

And it is further ordered that said new township be known and 
called Butler Township. 

This was in May, 1868. 

CHALK LEVEL. 

It was but a short time afterwards that another petition came in, and 
the organization of this township was consummated November 4, 1869, 
by the following order of the county court: 

Now, at this day, comes J. C. Trousdale, Rawley Llewellen and other 
citizens of Monegaw Township and ask that the court grant them a new 
township, their petition having been filed at the August term of this 
court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that it is to the 
interest of the people of said Monegaw Township that such a change 
should take place, it is therefore ordered by the court that a new muni- 
cipal township be established out of the territory of Monegaw Town- 
ship, to wit: 

Beginning at the northeast corner of section No. 3, township 39, of 
range 26, running west to the northwest corner of section 3, of township 
39, of range 27; thence due south on said line to the Osage River, until 
it gets parallel with the beginning. And it is further ordered by the 
court that the name of said township as established be "Chalk Level 
Township, and that the clerk certify a true copy of the above to the 
secretary of state as required by law." 

This ended the matter for one year. At the end of that time it 
became Speedwell's turn to suffer a division, and from that we have 

ROSCOE TOWNSHIP. 

The petition was as follows: 

Whereas, it is shown that a petition was filed at the regular Novem- 
ber term, 1869, for a division of Speedwell Township, and no objections 
having been filed against the granting of said petition, and sufficient time 
having lapsed since the date of filing, and it appearing that it will be to 
the interest of the citizens of said township, it is therefore ordered by the 
court that said petition be granted, and to be divided as set forth in the 
petition, to wit: Commencing at the southeast corner of Speedwell 
Township ; thence north along its eastern boundary to the northeast 
corner of said township; thence westerly along its northern boundary to 
a point where the section line between sections 3, 4, 33, and 34, in town- 
ship 37, of range 27, intersects said northern boundary; thence south to 
the southern boundary of said township; thence east to the place of 
beginning, and that said new township be called and known as "Roscoe 
Township," February 11, 1870. 

This for a short time ended the new township business, but in 1880, 
Appleton City stepped to the front and asked that Monegaw might 



878 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



again be despoiled, just a little for her benefit, say two-thirds of a con- 
gressional township. This was so modest, where modesty was hardly 
to be expected, that the county court could not refuse, and the result 
was the following petition, which was received and favorably acted upon: 

APPLETON TOWNSHIP. , 

Now at this day comes the said petitioners by their petition, and 
pray the court that a new municipal township be formed of the west ' 
two-thirds of congressional township 39, of range 28, to be known and ^ 
designated as Appleton Township, with a voting precinct at Appleton ' 
City, and that J. F. SIoss be appointed and commissioned a justice of the 
peace of said township. Ordered, that the petitioners' prayer be granted 
and a new township formed, as petitioned for, and J. F. Sloss be appointed 
and to become a justice of the peace, as prayed for. 

TAKER TOWNSHIP 

followed in August of the same year, and this was the boundary given 
her: • 

Now come certain citizens of township 38, of range 28, and ask the j 
court to grant a division of Monegaw Township, and establish a town- 
ship to be called " Taber Township," bounded as follows, viz: On the 
north by the township line between townships 38 and 39 from the Bates 
County line east to the line of "Chalk Level" Township; thence south < 
with said line to the Osage River; thence up said river to the Bates 
County line; thence with said line to the place of beginning. It is 1 
ordered by the court that said new township be, and the same is, hereby ; 
erected and created under the name of "Taber" Township, and the i 
remainder of Monegaw Township, from which the said township of I 
" Taber" is hereby erected, to constitute the present township of Mone- ' 
gaw. 

August I, 1870. 




CHAPTER VI. 



A CHAPTER WHICH REFERS TO THE POCKET, AND EX- 
HIBITS SOME FIGURES. 

TAXATION— 1S61-1S71— VOTING POPULATION— HICKORY COUNTY'S FAILURE-POOR FARM- 
MONEY MATTERS— CHANGES-NEW COUNTY WARRANTS-ABOUT A NEW TOWNSHIP 
— LAND VALUATION IN 187-— COUNTY REVENUE— AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL 
ASSOCIATION— STEALING OF 1 HE BACK TAX BOOK— COUNTY SEAT REMOVAL- 
DELINQUENT LIST. 

TAXATION 1861-1871. 

The contrast between the tax books of 1861 and 1871, and the 
assessed valuation of the county, is a remarkable showing and rather 
appalling in its nature. The assessed valuation of St. Clair County in 
1 861 was a total of $2,133,706. The taxation amounted to but about 
$3,500. Even this amount was not levied, as there was a considerable 
sum of money in the county treasury. This tax was so small that the 
people did not feel it. 

The assessed valuation in 1871 was a total of $2,943,196, an advance 
of about 39 per cent. 

Now look at the increase in taxes, from the tax books for 1871: 

County tax $55,041 35 

School tax 24,869 19 

State interest tax 7,327 99 

State tax 7,377 99 

Total $94,626 52 

Here is the enormous total that the people had to pay in the shape 
of taxes in the year 1871. Had that tax been the same in proportion as 
that raised in 1861, the total tax would not have reached $6,000, yet the 
tax books show $94,626.52, or an increase of taxation alone of over 
$88,000. The whole property of the county was scarcely worth double 
this in 1845. 

VOTING POPULATION. 

While the census of 1870 only gave St. Clair County a population 
of 6,742, the registration of voters the same year shows that it must 
have exceeded 8,000. The registration by townships was as follows: 



880 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COU^ITY. | 

Polk 87 

Monegaw 231 

Jackson 56 j 

Washington 146 j 

Osceola 258 

Speedwell 97 

Chalk Level 157 

Butler 122 ! 

Roscoe 194 

Total registration 1.348 

1 

The total registration in 1868 was 969, which shows an increase of 
379, or over 40 per cent. 

This was a very handsome gain over 1868, and this was kept up the j 
entire decade from 1870 to 1880, few counties making more rapid pro- 
gress. 

HICKORY COUNTY WANTED IT. ! 

The people of St. Clair County got considerably excited in Decem- 
ber, 1872, by an attempt on the part of Hickory County to despoil her 
of two and a half congressional townships of land. The legislature was 
asked to take off from St. Clair one half of the township of Collins and 
all of Dallas and Polk, as now found, making range line 25, to township 
line 38, the boundary between Hickory and St. Clair, and then kindly 
consenting to allow St. Clair to retain Jackson Township, by making 
range line 24 the dividing line. This proposition, which the St. Clairites 
thought was equal to an iceberg in coolness, with something of the nature 
of a cast iron dog for cheek, was promptly, and as it proved, successfully 
resisted, and St. Clair held her own, and still holds it. It is evident that 
the boundary of St. Clair County, and the permanency of the county seat 
at Osceola, are settled questions among the people. The future is not 
likely to develop anything to alter this fiat of her citizens. 

ITEMS. 

The vote for the new township organization law. May 31, 1872, 
resulted in its acceptance by the people by a majority of 1,088, being 
1,176 votes cast in its favor, to 85 against it. 

The change from supervisors to judges again, was in 1873. 

A large eagle was killed February 12, 1873, which measured from 
tip to tip— of the wings — eight feet two inches. Old settlers say it is 
the largest eagle ever killed in the county. It was killed in Roscoe 
Township by Alfred Burch, 

G. B. Parks, elected county judge in 1873, declined to serve, and 
Judge Thomas Henley was appointed by the governor in his place. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 88 1 

. /. 

POOR FARM. 

The poor farm was purchased in 1871, Judge Henly acting for the 
county. The farm embraced a tract of 236 82-100 acres, on which was 
nineteen acres of wheat standing, for which the judge paid $2,900. He 
also paid $230 for a pair of good mules. The Florsheim farm of 120 
acres was offered at $2,000, but declined, and the former purchased. 
This, it seems, did not suit some persons, and the county court went into 
an examination of the purchase, which it was reported had put money 
improperly into the pocket of Judge Henly. The investigation showed 
so plainly that the purchase was not only a fair one, but a good one, and 
that no stain rested upon the honor, integrity or manhood of Judge 
Henly, or upon Thomas B. Sutherland, that the county court dropped 
the whole matter with disgust. 

In October, 1872, an inventory was taken of property at the poor 
farm, which was reported as follows: 

Poor farm $2,900 00 

Implements on poor farm 634 97 

Other expenditures ^.307 20 

Total cost $4,842 17 

The commissioners reported" the poor well taken care of, but sug- 
gested that the fences needed better attention and more care taken of 
farm implements. 

The farm was purchased February 14, 1871, and its first manager was 
William P. Welch, who took charge and gave bond in the sum of $800 
for the faithful discharge of his duties. 

MONEY MATTERS. 

The statement for the fiscal year ending May i, 1872, showed a very 
favorable exhibit: 

The county assessment and receipts were $13,070 45 

County expenditures 10,928 42 

Leaving this very handsome surplus $ 2,142 05 

The same year the railroad fund collected amounted to $23,414 18 

Paid out in interest 18,052 75 



Railroad funds on hand $ 5,361 43 

There was a still further payment of $3,950, but collections had 
also been made which nearly equaled it, and left a final balance of rail- 
road funds on hand at the above date of $5,302.59. This money, and 
some more of the same fund, was loaned out, and some trouble was 
raised over this action of the count}' court. 



56 



882 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

ANOTHER CHANGE. 

The new township organization law failed to give satisfaction in 
one particular and that was the county court being composed of four- 
teen supervisors, was too cumbrous and too expensive, and it was 
changed by act of legislation, to five judges; one to be voted for at 
large, to be the presiding justice of the county, and the others by dis- 
tricts; the four judges to hold respectively four, three, two and one 
years, to be decided by lot among themselves after their election. The 
board of supervisors therefore met together, divided the county into 
four districts and officiated at their own funeral in a dignified and sol- 
emn manner. Sadness somehow pervaded their meeting, for it was 
clearly to be seen that if five were chosen, nine would be left, if not 
more, for there might other candidates come forth and join the fray. 
The court, however, went manfully to work, and while sealing their own 
doom, divided the county into four judicial districts, as follows: 

District No. i. — Appleton, Taber, Monegaw and Chalk Level Town- 
ships. 

District No. 2. — Speedwell, Roscoe and Washington Townships. 

District No. 3. — Jackson, Polk, Dallas and Collins Townships. 

District No. 4. — Butler, Osceola and Doyal Townships. 

This division seemed satisfactory and an election was called which 
resulted in the selection for presiding judge, Asahel Heath. Those who 
were elected drew lots which resulted as follows: John P. Love, four 
years; T. J. Younger, three years; Thomas Henly, two years; John 
Breeden, one year. 

NEW COUNTY WARRANTS. 

There was, without doubt, a financial crisis pending. Money was a 
scarce commodity in St. Clair County. It was thought that relief would 
come by issuing county warrants in the form of bank bills, and the court 
decided to do so, and made an order to issue $25,000 in the denomina- 
tion of one dollar. These new warrants were printed in St. Louis, at a 
total cost to the county of $295. The matter can be better understood 
by the following article from the Osceola Democrat, December 6, 1873: 

The much talked of and anxiously looked for new county warrants 
have at length arrived and are being signed and distributed to those 
holding the old county warrants. We notice a great eagerness on the 
part of our citizens to get hold of them, and evident signs of relief are 
clearly to be seen. As to their great convenience as a circulating 
medium, no man will deny, and already we observe that our merchants 
are taking them as freely as the greenback paper. They are the prop- 
erty of the taxpayers of the county — their own paper — and they will 
circulate at par. Some little opposition existed to them at first, but that 
was soon put down by the unanimous sanction of the people, who needed 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 883 

relief, and were demanding of the county court that they use the means 
within their power to grant that relief. That the prompt action in this 
matter by the court will be duly appreciated, no taxpayer will deny. By 
this method the county will save thousands of dollars, and the people 
be greatly relieved The example of other cities, towns and counties 
proves the practicability of the measure. Every assurance is given that 
the St. Clair County warrants will pass as freely in St. Louis as those of 
other counties and cities. 

The issue of these warrants gave financial relief, and the county 
warrants, which had been at a fearful discount, arose to par, being 
exchanged for the new issue dollar for dollar, and these latter notes used 
as currency. The county subsequently redeemed them, and those lost or 
destroyed by accident more than covered the original cost of issuing 
them. 

NOT GRANTED. 

A petition was put in circulation for the organization of a new town- 
ship out of Butler, Chalk Level and Monegaw, but which the county 
court refused to grant. 

ITEMS OF INTEREST. 

The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad was assessed in 1874 at 
$67,400, being six and three-quarter miles within the county. This was 
at the rate of about $10,000 per mile. 

On an examination of the school and railroad fund it was found that 
$50,000 was outstanding, as loaned August i, 1874. This somewhat sur- 
prised the county court, and they ordered that all holders of the loan 
should give additional security when demanded, and that a thorough 
examination was also made in that particular. 

The office of "recorder of deeds" was made in 1874, the county 
showing a population of over 10,000. The circuit clerk and recorder 
had been, up to that date, one office. In granting this office under the 
law, the county court decided that no furniture was to be purchased, and 
the office should be in the same room with the circuit clerk. The rec- 
ords of the county court is again missing from September 11, 1874, to 
March, 1875. 

The census of 1876 gave St. Clair Count}^ a population of 11,242, 
and cost the state $407.26. 

About all the lawyers of Osceola were given a chance to make a fee 
out of the "back tax" business. The fee generally being 10 per cent, 
on actual collections. 

In 1877, August, Lawrence Lewis filed his bond for $130,000 as col- 
lector of the county, the office of collector and treasurer being one. 

The county records, or a portion of them, were stolen on the night 
of December 14, 1877. Five hundred dollars was offered for the thief or 
return of the records, but the reward was shortly after withdrawn. 



S84 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

In March, 1876, stock and implements to the poor farm were sold to 
the amount of $482.25. 

The back tax up to and including the year 1876, amounted to $78,- 
043.13, and was reduced by collections to $62,529.06. 

This last sum was made up mostly by back taxes as follows: school 
tax, $15,275.67; railroad, $20,268.28; state, $9,966.70; county, $12,- 
■849.78. This is what caused a stringency in the county finances. 

LAND AS ASSESSED BY TOWNSHIPS, 1875. 

Jackson, per acre $261 

Butler, per acre 5 20 

Chalk Level, per acre 4 05 

Monegaw, per acre 5 08 

Appleton, per acre 5 37^ 

Taber, per acre 4 42 

Osceola, per acre 2 45 

Polk, per acre 2 25 

Dallas, per acre 3 45 

Doyal, per acre 3 75 

Roscoe, per acre 3 16 

Speedwell, per acre . 4 42 

Washington, per acre ■. 3 05 

Collins, per acre . 2 40 

The county revenue, its receipts, and the expenditures for 1875, 
is given, as it was about an average year. The fiscal year ending April 
I. St, 1876. 

RECEIPTS. 

Total receipts from all sources $ 11 ,497 48 

EXPENDITURES. 

Total expenditure $8,058 12 

Receipts in excess of expenditures 3,439 36 

1877. 

Total revenue received during official year ending April 1st. .$10,026 61 
Expenditures 8,892 81 

$1,133 80 
POOR FARM. 

Expenditures $i,333 33 

Receipts 1,192 63 

Mr. John W. Dooley's defalcation amounted to about $4,000 in round 
numbers, and the securities had to pay it. He left for Kansas, and up 
to this time has not returned. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 885 

The amount that Elias Disney defaulted for was far more serious, 
being still in the neighborhood of $11,000. Mr. Disney has paid off a 
number of his bondsmen, but the county loses very little by either of 
them. The $22,000 missing railroad fund is the most serious loss, and 
of the county judges under whose administration it was spirited away 
two at least have left the county, with no prospects of returning. 

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSOCIATION. 

The first incorporation of this kind was made July 23, 1874. It was 
called the St. Clair County Agricultural and Mechanical Association, 
and the incorporation was granted to G. W. Gabbert, R. White, James 
M. H. Ledbetta, W. S. Lock, Charles Green, et al. There was nothing 
of consequence done, and in fact proved a failure. The question of a 
fair was not, however, entirely lost sight of In the year 1876 it man- 
aged to take a new start, not altogether as a county organization, but as 
a joint effort on the part of the three counties of Henry, Bares and St. 
Clair. Appleton City, in the northwest corner of St. Clair County, was 
in a splendid central position to represent the three counties, being but 
one mile from the Bates County line and one and a half mile from that 
of Henry. The association made an excellent start in the spring of 
1876, with stock taken to the amount of $2,000, and the first fair was 
held in September, 1876. St. Clair County took the most stock, and 
Appleton City was declared to be the location. Below will be found 
the names of the officers elected: President, A. McDougal; vice-presi- 
dent, A. B. Page; secretary, H. W. Grantley; treasurer, A. F. Wyckoff. 
Directors — A. B. Page, J. B. Newberry, B. D. Robinson, Bartlet Sherley 
and Samuel Shrout, of Bates County; Edward Mason, A. McDougal, W. 
P. Johnson, George Clark, W. M. Lewellen, F. Hoffstrom and A. M. Fer- 
guson, of St. Clair County, and George W. Holland, of Henry County. 

The association is still in prosperous existence, with fairs held annu- 
ally and very liberal premiums given. 

TAX BOOK TAKEN. 

The next most serious complication was the stealing of the tax 
book. A party came into town Tuesday, May 20, 1879, about midnight, 
looked up Treasurer VVonacott and had him open the collector's office, 
where they hunted up the back tax book containing the delinquent 
state, county, school, township and railroad taxes for 1877, which they 
carried off. The object they intended to accomplish was to avoid pay- 
ment of railroad tax. This was a high handed act and not in any case 
justifiable. The official action of the county authorities was the follow- 
ing : 



886 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

To Jerome B. Jennincrs, county attorney of the County of St. Clair, in 

the State of Missouri: 

You are hereby notified that a body of armed men called at the 
house of my deputy, in the town of Osceola, county of St. Clair, and 
state of Missouri, on the 20th day of May, A. D. 1879, about the hour of 
midnight; demanding that he accompany them to the court house. 
Finding him sick and unable to comply with their demands, they went 
to the house of Mr. K. B. Wonacott, overpowering him and forcing him 
to accompany them to my office, from whence they took and carried 
away the Back Tax Book for the year 1877. 

This notice is given you that you may take such steps for the recov- 
ery of the same, and arrest of the perpetrators of the act, as you may 
deem proper. 

Witness my hand as collector of the county and state aforesaid, this 
2 1st day of May, A. D. 1879. 

WILLIAM M. LEWELLEN. 
Collector of St. Clair County, Missouri. 
By Thomas D. Hicks, Deputy Collector. 

In pursuance of the above notice, I found, through the aid of George 
C. McNeil, constable of Osceola Township, the charred remains of one 
book, consisting of a part of the back, in the Osage Hills, south of Osce- 
ola and returned the same to the collector. 

J. B. JENNINGS, 
Prosecuting Attorney. 

It amounted to nothing, the parties to the crime being unknown. 

REMOVAL OF THE COUNTY SEAT. 

Appleton City was quite anxious a few years since to secure the 
county seat. She had, however, been so affected with the " big head " 
that instead of trying to making friends with the people of St. Clair 
County, made every possible effort to get herself disliked. Her papers 
were a terrible misfortune to her, as they, or most of them, had little but 
abuse for Osceola, while they claimed to be located in the very center of 
the "promised land." This was in a measure true. Appleton City can 
boast of a country surrounding her unsurpassed for its richness of soil 
and prolific production, but she was and is located in St. Clair County, 
and it would have been better to have joined hands with the people in 
all sections of the county than to claim so much independence of the 
one and her adoration for Bates and Henry. Under this state of affairs, 
although the southeastern townships seemed to have tried to " bite off 
their noses to spite their faces," the vote showed that the Appleton 
Cityites lacked 604 votes of the amount needed — a two-thirds majorit}- — 
the vote in November, 1880, being: 

For removal i-SS^ 

Against removal 980 

376 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 88/ 

This small majority was rather disheartening-, and it will probably 
never be tried again. Osceola will always be the county seat. 

ADVANCING. 

The past few years have been prosperous ones for St. Clair County, 
and when her troubles are settled in regard to her railroad bonded debt, 
she is likely to prosper more rapidly. That she is improving financially, 
can be seen by the gradual lessening of the delinquent list from year to 
year for the past half decade. The figures tell their own story, and the 
improvement is marked. The delinquents for the past five years are in 
the following amounts: 1882, $4,210.74; 1881, $5,190.69; 1880, $5,811.78; 
1879, $6,966.38; 1878, $7,004.14. This is certainly a gratifying reduction, 
and if St. Clair County's financial affairs are handled with sound judg- 
ment, her future is extremely bright and promising. 

DRUNK — INCAPACITATED. 

The following story is a pretty good one on one of the early courts, 
including clerk and sheriff, and it is given as told to us by one of the 
early county judges, who claims that it happened previous to his occu- 
pying a seat as one of the justices of the county court. Charles P. Bul- 
lock was clerk of the court, and occasionally, while getting too much of 
the "ardent," could pretty well realize his situation, and had, when "half 
seas over," a sort of solemn way with him, that at times was extremely 
amusing. While Joseph Montgomery was the presiding justice, he was 
afflicted with a great desire to sleep, which in his later years seemed to 
grow on him. While presiding at court if business would stop, he would 
go right off to sleep. 

At the sitting of the court mentioned, Bullock had about as much 
as he could carry, and while the court room was full business came to a 
stop, Judge Montgomery went to sleep, and soon Bullock arose and said 
in a solemn manner, " I move that this court adjourn, for the reason that 
the clerk is incapacitated fordoing business." The two judges voted his 
proposition down. He again arose, and steadying himself by the table 
said. "I move that this court adjourn for the reason that the sheriff and 
clerk are both incapacitated for doing business." The judges looked 
solemn, but again voted down his proposition. This seemed to stagger 
Bullock for a moment, then he again arose, courteously bowed to the 
judges, and straightening himself up, said, " I move this court adjourn 
for the reason that the presiding justice is asleep, and that the court, 
sheriff and clerk are drunk." This was a self-evident fact, and more than 
the crowd could stand, and they received it with a shout that made the 
old court house ring. The court adjourned. 



CHAPTER VII. 



ST. CLAIR COUNTY— ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES AND RE- 
SOURCES. 

BOUNDARY AND WEALTH-AREA AND WATER SUPPLY— PHYSICAL FEATURES— THE INDI- 
ANS' ELYSIUM-SAC RIVER— FARM AND STOCK— A RETROSPECT— MINERAL WEALTH 
-SILVER-SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE SILVER EXCITEMENT— PURE GALENA- 
IRON AND COAL FIE. DS, LMM ENS K— GOLD, SILVER, COPPER AND NICKEL. 

BOUNDARY AND WEALTH. 

The county is bounded on the north by Henry, on the south by 
Cedar, on the west by Bates and Vernon, and on the east by Hickory 
and Benton Counties. The country east and west of the Osage and 
Sac Rivers is more or less rough, abrupt, hilly and broken, and covered 
with a magnificent growth of heavy walnut, burr oak and ash, on the 
hill sides, and in the bottoms, on the streams and along the ravines. On 
the hills and uplands are to be found the different kinds of oak, hickory, 
elm, cedar, pawpaw, sugar maple and cherry in abundance. 

There are several tracts of excellent prairie land in the south and 
east part of the county, and this section has not been credited with what 
is really her just dues. While the rough and broken country is not of 
much value for agricultural purposes, it is an invaluable one for stock 
raising, for there are no better grass lands to be found. And then again, 
these hills and bluffs are not, perhaps, in reality less valuable than the 
beautiful, smiling prairies with its fruitful soil and generous and even 
prolific harvest. Those rough hills are full of minerals, lead, silver, coal, 
iron and copper, and are to be found in immense quantities and fully 
thirty kinds of mineral paint can be dug out of these hills. Osceola is 
underlaid with cement rock of a superior quality. All this is independ- 
ent of its wealth of timber. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Its physical- features are, in the north and west, of as beautiful roll- 
ing and undulating prairies as man's eye has ever rested upon, and for 
deepness and richness of soil is unsurpassed. Upon the Monegaw and 
Osage a wealth of timber is found, and in water, timber, soil and pro- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 889 

duction it is one of the favored spots of earth, and bears an advanced 
position as a part of that beautiful, fruitful and far famed country known 
as Southwest Missouri. 

AREA AND WATER SaPPLY. 

St. Clair County has an area of about 695 square miles, and in acres 
of 444,837 79-100. Just the exact number of acres can only be had by 
going over the fractional sections in detail, but it wont fall an acre short 
of the above, but will probably exceed it a tew acres. The county is 
thirty miles wide, by twenty-one and five-eighths miles north and south, 
less three square miles in the southeast corner. There is then to be 
added fifty-two sections in congressional township 36, and nearly two 
sections of land in the bend of the'Osage in the northwest corner of the 
county. 

WATER. 

The Osage River enters the county about the center of the western 
border. Its course, generally, is east until near the center of the county; 
thence the stream runs northeast for some eight miles, when its course 
changes to due north to within a mile of the northern edge of the county. 
Here it runs east, south and north, and again repeats its serpentine twist- 
ings, after which it leaves the county at the northeast corner. The Osage 
is navigable for small boats throughout the entire length embraced in 
St. Clair. During its wanderings in the limits of the county it attains a 
length of sixty miles or more, thus watering a large area of country and 
affording an unlimited water power for manufactories, mills, etc., etc. 

Sac River^ next to the Osage in size and importance, enters the 
county midway on the southern border, and its general course is east of 
southeast, forming a junction with the Osage near the center and three 
miles above Osceola. It waters the country for a distance of twenty- 
five miles and affords excellent water power for machinery. 

In the eastern portion of the county are Hogle's Creek, Bear Creek, 
Weaubleau' Creek and Bush Creek, all of which empty into the Osage 
River. 

In the southern part are Coon Creek, Brush Creek and Turkey Creek, 
which find an outlet in Sac River. 

In the western part are Sims' Creek, Coon Creek and Little and Big 
Clear Creek, which (except the Little Clear) empty into the Osage, and 
are between the Osage and Sac Rivers. 

The above creeks are south of the Osage and most of them head 
tjeyond the limits of the county. 

North of the Osage are Little and Big Monegaw, Salt Creek, Galli- 
nipper and Muddy. 



890 HISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

In addition to the large rivers and creeks enumerated above, the 
entire county is traversed by small creeks and rivulets arising from the 
numerous springs which burst forth indiscriminately here and there, fur- 
nishing not only an abundance of water for stock, but a pure, cold and 
sparkling beverage for man. Whenever necessary, water can be obtain- 
able at a depth of from twelve to thirty feet and in a quantity adequate 
for all farm uses. 

In addition to this wealth of waters, St. Clair County is famous for 
sulphur springs, whose medical waters are not surpassed in the United 
States. The best known, and which is famous for the medical proper- 
ties of its waters, are the Monegaws. These are not surpasseded by the 
famous Eureka Springs, of northwest Arkansas. Had St. Clair County 
the facilities to reach these springs which she ought to have had, they 
would have been, ere now, as extensively patronized, as they are k:.ovvn 
to be famous for their medical properties. But no railroads, no tele- 
graph, no bridges, with no road in fact, the people of St. Clair County 
robbed though they have been, have not made the most of their oppor- 
tunities. A wealth of soil, of timber, of minerals and of medical 
springs, yet all is yet in its infancy, although a half century has passed 
since its settlement. 

The Osage River, as above remarked, is navigable for small steam- 
ers as far up as Osceola and Roscoe, about six months in the year, and 
it should be made a navigable stream the year round. Railroads have 
been petted and fostered, and a kingdom in area and wealth given them, 
but nature's highway by the hands of the Almighty, for man's use and 
man's benefit, is contemptuously thrown aside; yet, if fostered, would 
add untold wealth to the people, by curbing the monster railroad mon- 
opoly within the bounds of reasonable charges, instead of extortionate 
rates. It will be a sorrowful day for the people of St. Clair when they 
allow the Osage River to become other than a public freight highway. 

THE INDIAN'S ELYSIUM. ' 

Among the beautiful streams which abound throughout the state of 
Missouri, few can be found that surpasses the Sac River. Its clear and 
rapid waters, bold bluffs, wooded hills and shady ravines, it was for cen- 
turies the favorite home of the Osages, and the famous Monegaws, their 
chief, when the pale faces took possession of the country, made a des- 
perate effort to retain possession of this beautiful river, and the lands 
upon its banks. Here, near the confluence of the Osage and Sac Rivers, 
was his summer home, and the caves found along the banks of the Osage 
made a shelter for him and his band of warriors in their vain attempt to 
prevent the pale faces from taking possession of his beautiful 
country. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 89 1 

FARM AND STOCK. 

Now it is not to be wondered at that with all the resources thus 
found, to combine almost within the limits of the county the resources 
of a state, that the outlook for the future of St. Clair County is one of 
undoubted prosperity. The shackles of a bonded debt, and the curse of 
a land monopoly, are to be removed, however, before the full sunlight of 
prosperity can become perfect day. When that time comes, then will 
St. Clair County take her proper place as one of the richest and most 
populous counties in the state. Remove these terrible drawbacks to 
prosperity and immigrants will find a home here, and progress will 
become a watchword among her people. Her rich prairies will team 
with growing crops, and her hills and valleys with lowing herds, for the 
Almighty has blessed this land with all the attributes of a stock raising 
country. 

Perhaps the following from the Osceola Sun will express these facts 
more fully than the writer of these pages. It says: 

There is not a single element of the perfect stock country wanting 
in the climate, grasses, water supply, atmosphere, soil and position of 
St. Clair County. Here is the equable, medium and genial climate of 
Central Ohio and Middle Pennsylvania, tempered to high, healthful tone 
by the life-giving breeze from the wide-spreading plains of Kansas, — a 
climate whose every influence tends to health and longevity in men, 
animals and vegetation. The water supply, natural shelter of the 
densely wooded valleys and ravines, the marvelous growth of wild and 
domestic grasses, the immense corn cribs filled to repletion, the mild 
open winters, in which grazing rarely fails for more than sixty or eighty 
days, and the unaccountably cheap lands, make a superb stock country 
of this. For cattle, sheep and svvine husbandry, it has no superior in 
America. Even the stony, flint ridges are covered with a magnificent 
growth of wild grass. These hills being unfit for cultivation, will always 
give ample stock range. Then there is no part of St. Clair in which 
stock water is not abundant and the supply never-failing. Half the hogs 
fattened in the county never ate an ear of corn, their sole feed having 
been the " mast " which grows profusely upon the uncultivated portions 
of the county — hickory nuts, hazle nuts, acorns, etc. 

Sheep raising constitutes an important factor in farming. This county 
offers this industry many and vast advantages, the principal cost being 
in securing a herd for a start and providing a shelter. 

FARMING LANDS. 

While much has been said of its stock raising facilities, its farming 
lands are not behind. North of the Osage River and in the western 
portion of the county, is to be found the richest farming lands 
in Southwest Missouri, There is not much attention given to tame 
grasses, the prairie grasses furnishing sufficient hay and pasture for all 



892 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

purposes, besides leaving a large surplus of hay which is shipped to 
other places. Timothy, blue grass and clover do well, and millet and 
Hungarian yield an immense crop. The prettiest undulating prairie 
land to be found in this country is in the northern and western portion 
of this county. You may take it in any direction within twelve or 
fifteen miles of Appleton City, and a richer soil and a country that lays 
better for farming is not to be found. The country is nearly level, just 
rolling enough for good natural drainage, and except where the pretty 
farm house, the neat trimmed hedge of Osage orange, the large herds of 
cattle and sheep, or the newly plowed cornfield breaks the monotony of 
the view, the whole county looks like one broad carpet of richest emer- 
ald. Such a country is hard to imagine. One must see it to appreciate 
its natural beauty and the fertility of its soil. Wheat, corn, barley, flax, 
tobacco, etc., yield well, and fruit raised in this county cannot be 
excelled, and the crop is most always a sure one. The yield of wheat 
will average from twenty to twenty-five bushels per acre, and of corn 
thirty-five to sixty-five bushels. With thorough cultivation farmers fre- 
quently excel these figures, and many of the bottom farm.s will pro- 
duce sixty and seventy bushels of corn per acre. Oats, rye, flax, barley, 
broom corn, sorghum, buckwheat and hemp yield well. 

Now in this connection, and for the truth of the preceding pages, 
some account should be given of what St. Clair County has done in a 
productive capacity. Taking her population the comparison can be 
made, and when so made it will be found that her wealth of soil has not 
been exaggerated, and that there are but few counties in the state that 
can show a better record, if there are any. 

A RETROSPECT. 

Before the resources are gone into in detail, let us refer to the fact 
that while growing faster than almost any county in the state previous 
to the war of 1861, the ten years succeeding that was one of almost death. 
Every muscle and fiber of her body has been vvrenched and paral}'zed 
through the period of strife, which not only devastated her fields, but 
drove her people from their homes. The following short sketch is given, 
from Campbell's history: 

" St. Clair County grew steadily until the war, when it was invaded 
by detached bodies of soldiers. Citizens were dragged from their homes 
at night and murdered, their houses burned and their families left desti- 
tute and terror stricken. On September 2, 1861, Osceola, then a consid- 
erable town, having a large trade with Arkansas and the Indian Terri- 
tory, was entered by General Jim Lane's command of about 1,500 men, 
and its court house and all other buildings except ten houses, were plun- 
dered and burned. A long line of wagons bore away the booty." 



^ 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 893 

This destruction of her leading town by the Jayhavvkers, and the 
overrunning of her territory, leaving desolation in their path, destroying 
the fruits of years and driving away her people, was a serious blow to 
her progress for many long years. In 1870 St. Clair County had a less 
population than in i860. Thus not only had that decade been the des- 
truction of her wealth, but she had even ceased to grow. Before the 
war, no doubt, her growth and prosperity was due, to a large extent, 
from the Osage River. Here were transportation facilities enjoyed by 
few counties, but the advent of railroads and the destructive influences 
of the war gave her a set back which has not even yet been recovered 
fully, notwithstanding the gigantic struggle she has made the past 
twelve years. 

As before remarked, remove the shackles of a monumental fraud 
and of her land monopoly, and St. Clair County will arise, and with the 
strength of a giant, assert her right to rank in all the elements of pros- 
perity, and in the culture and refinement of her people, with the best in 
the land. Her granite rock, her iron beds, her immense coal measure, 
her wealth of timber and the determined energy of her people, will 
prove her future station in the sisterhood of counties. The immigrant 
can find no better or cheaper home than in St. Clair County, and soon 
the iron horse and the electric wires will place her in contact with the 
outside world. Then those so fortunate as to have a home here will 
thank God and prosper. 

Before the statistics of her farm and stock are entered here, and the 
wealth of landed estate and personal property, something can be said of 
her mineral resources. That St. Clair County is immensely rich in coal 
and iron, is well known. That there is also lead in paying quantity is 
also well known, as well as her mineral paint and cement. Silver, cop- 
per and nickel have also been found, and it is believed by many that 
silver will yet be discovered in inexhaustible quantity. That indications 
are such is certain. 

MINERAL WEALTH. 

Whether coal can be called a mineral may be doubted, but it is, 
nevertheless, found under this head in this work. St. Clair County is, at 
least one-third of its territory, underlaid with a fine article of bituminous 
coal, with veins from twelve inches to six and seven feet in thickness. 
The veins so far discovered are generally from three to four feet in thick- 
ness and lie, comparatively speaking, close to the surface, being found 
from six to seventy-five feet in depth. These veins not only are found 
in hills, but upon the prairies. A three-foot vein of coal is found on sec- 
tion_i5, township 38, range 26. Another mine, with a vein fully as thick, 
within a mile and a half of Osceola, while the western part of Taber, in 
Monegaw and Chalk Level their entire southern portions, covering one- 



894 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

third of their area, are all underlaid with coal, the veins running from 
three to six feet in thickness. When better transportation facilities are 
provided that section of St. Clair County will be a perfect mining camp. 

The basil rock in the north and western portion is limestone, under- 
neath which is found rich deposits of coal, which will richly pay for min- 
ing. Coal mines have been profitably wo/ked in different parts of the 
county, particularly in townships 37 and 39, range 27, and townships 36 
and 38, range 26. The coal is of superior quality, ranging from two and 
a half to five feet in thickness, and is said to be equal to the best char- 
coal for working iron or steel. There is not much inducement to develop 
the rich coal deposits for home use, owing to the large amount of timber 
in the county. 

Mineral can be found in abundance all along the Osage cliffs. Some 
may ask why these mines are not opened. It is simply because the peo- 
ple have not the capital to develop them. The wealth is here, that is 
certain, and the coal mines of St. Clair County will some day prove of 
great wealth, and in supply simply inexhaustible. 

SILVER. 

The finding of silver in several places in the county has in times 
gone by created much excitement. There is not the least doubt that 
silver in good paying quantity will yet be mined in this count}'. A short 
time since, silver was discovered about one mile from the Horse Shoe 
Bend, on and near the Osage River, and within a few miles of Osceola. 
W. S. Gordon & Sons, Dill & Son, Hotchkiss, Patterson & Keith, men 
of experience, prospected for silver with strong hopes of yet finding it 
in paying quantities. One of the gentlemen was an old experienced 
miner, who had been in California, Colorado and Montana, and knows 
what "paying rock" is, and has faith in the development of the silver 
ore in these hills. 

Another excitement was created by finding silver on Bush Creek. 
Silver was found there a few years ago on the farm of Mr. W. Lamey, 
but has since died out, owing to the fact that while ore was found that 
would assay from ten dollars to eighty dollars per ton, it required capi- 
tal to work it. The search was not continued, and whether it exists in 
paying quantity has not since been ascertained. Specimens of ore from 
different sections of the county have been assayed and both silver and 
gold found. 

The greatest excitement with regard to finding silver was in 1872, 
when it was discovered in Hickory as well as in St. Clair County; and 
the following from the St. Louis Rural World will be of interest now> 
and much more so when capital shall have developed the wealth that is 
surely hid among the hills and ravines of this and adjoining counties. 



■ HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 895 

The article put a damper on those who believed in the metal being found 
in quantities; but since the article was written, there has been unmis- 
takable evidence that silver in St. Clair County is a solid reality. The 
Rural World said: 



THE SILVER EXCITEMENT IN ST. CLAIR AND HICKORY COUNTIES. 

On Bear Creek, in township 38, range 24, St. Clair County, for four 
months there has been great excitement over ore that has been found, 
supposed CO be silver. This mmeral occurs in a hard, carboniferous lime- 
stone, in a disseminated state, and in considerable quantities. After its 
discovery by Renfro & Milear the contagion spread, and James Anterby, 
Mr. Harding, A. J. Gibson, W. V. Rrdges, Jasper Bridges, Elisha 
Bridges, John Smith, John Keaton and John Morris have prospected, 
mined, blasted, dug, sweat, hoped, imagined, and no doubt prayed, for 
the great flow of treasure they were certain was soon to pour into their 
coffers. But days hurried into weeks, and months took on their record 
of time; men might be seen in groups, in silent, watchful moods, whis- 
pering of probable fortunes to be lost, or torn from them by some wiley 
miner, mineral company or lawyer sharper, who might be then spying 
out their hidden home of wealth. Haggard, eager, expectant and wan 
faces peer out from many places, as if weary of waiting, but yet san- 
guine of the coming of the silver treasure. News of silver was received 
ot such virgin purity that it was malleable enough to hammer out into 
sheets; every man in the vicinity was carrying a "pocket full of rocks," 
some of which reached our city through the hands of Hon. J. H. Bohn. 
By solicitation of Mr. J. S. Maffinger, of Hickory County, we visited 
this locality, and found the state of excitement above described. An 
examination made presents sulphuret of iron, pyrites of iron, antimony 
and carbonate of lime, with traces of nickle. 

There is connected with this excitement a legend of immense min- 
eral wealth found by the Spaniards long ago, and that a Spaniard a few 
weeks ago visited this locality and offered $500 to any one who would 
show a certain rock with some characters or designs upon it; the Span- 
iard went away, and to make the story a good one, the stone must be 
found. Accordingly, a stone said to contain a "turkey foot" and signs 
cut into it was at last discovered. Many have gazed in wonder and 
admiration at the characters, cut by some intelligent Castillian to hand 
down to other races of old Castile, the abiding place of untold wealth. 
The spot became almost sacred; worshippers came a long pilgrimage to 
the "turkey foot" Mecca, and gazed, wondered, admired and retreated 
backward, gazing as they went. 

Being shown to the secluded valley, where this stone with the mys- 
terious markings had been carried and hidden, we found simply a large 
flat stone whose surface bore the fissures and furrowings by the action 
of water upon the softer portions of the exposed surface. The imagina- 
tion had to be wonderfully drawn upon to present the faintest approach 
to the figure of a "turkey's foot." The power of a strong glass gave no 
trace of the work of a tool of any kind. The vicinity is no doubt rich in 
several valuable minerals, but there is no trace of silver to be found in 
any of the ores yet mined." 



896 HISTORY OF ST. CLA.1R COUNTY. 

This closes the record of silver, but the fact that it does exist and 
in large quantity is fully believed, for evidence is not wanting of the 
"find," and the purity of the metal. 

PURE GALENA. 

That lead of a fine quantity and inexhaustible in quantity, lies under 
the surface of a considerable portion of St. Clair County is a fact too 
easily of proof to be gainsaid. The tollowing trom the Osceola Demo- 
crat was published in 1873. 

FINDING OF PURE GALENA LEAD ORE. 

Within the past twelve months frequent discoveries of lead have 
been made in this county, but by most persons it was thought not to 
exist in what is usually termed " paying quantities." On Tuesday last 
we were shown by Hon. Waldo P. Johnson one of the finest specimens 
of lead ore we have ever seen, consisting of a small lump weighing six 
pounds two ounces, which at first sight appears to be a lump of pure 
lead, as if having been run into a lump and then pressed flat, but an 
examination of it proves to be incorrect, as by striking on it with some 
hard substance, it crumbles. It is fully ninety per cent, lead, which 
will at once be observed to be a very superior ore. It was found on Sac 
River, about 10 miles south of Osceola. 

No man well versed in the mineral resources of this county, doubts 
that if the means were at hand to develop them, the quantity and qual- 
ity of the minerals of the county would be immense and superior. Enter- 
prise and capital is all that is wanting. 

Since the above was written, lead has been found perhaps in fifty 
■different places, all showing ore of great purity. Scattered over the 
extent of country which these indications sho.v, there is an immense 
amount of this article to be found by a thorough prospecting of the 
country. In fact, it is hard to tell just what minerals underlie the sur- 
face of St. Clair County. Gold, silver, iron, copper, nickel, have been 
found, by accident in most cases. Coal and iron is apparent enough; 
the others will have to be more thoroughly developed to judge what 
their value may be, with the exception of lead, which is surely here, and 
in quantity simply infinite. 

In 1880, the Osceola Sun published the following in regard to a 
lead found in Monegaw, a distance of nearly twenty miles from that 
found on the Sac River. The Sun, after speaking of coal says : 

" LEAD 

has also been discovered in these rough regions, and unless the surface 
indications are false, and different from that of the lead region about 
Short Creek, Joplin, Granby, etc., there is abundance of it in this country. 



HI3T0RV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 89/ 

We have in our office specimens of the silver, iron and lead taken out of 
these hills by mere surface prospecting, and are satisfied from the speci- 
mens and indications that it will pay to go deeper. We saw some speci- 
mens of silver ore from the Hugh Johnson mines, in Monegaw Town- 
ship, which are said to contain silver in paying quantities, but as our 
time was too limited to visit the mines, we cannot judge of the quantity 
of the ore, except from hearsay, which places an almost fabulous value, 
not only on the silver, but also on the lead deposits found on the John- 
son farm and in the immediate vicinity." 

Take the range of hills which line the banks of the Osage and Sac 
Rirers, and you will find every kind of mineral and coal upon the surface, 
not in large quantities to be sure, but such surface indications as show 
plainly that under the sod and down among the rocks and deep in the 
bowels of these hills untold wealth lies yet hidden from sight. But the 
day is not far distant when the undeveloped resources of these bluffs will 
be brought to the light of day, and the eye feast upon untold wealth. 

IRON. 

It has long been demonstrated that there is an unlimited supply of 
iron ore, containing a paying per cent, of pure iron, in the hills of the 
Osage in this county. Jackson Township is rich in this metal, and it 
covers nearly one-third of the township. Splendid specimens have been 
picked up in Doyal, Dallas, Polk, Osceola, and in many other places, 
that it requires no further proof of the fact that it is here in large quan- 
tities, and that it belongs to that valuable ore known as brown hematite, 
while both specular and red hematite have been found as well. St. Clair 
County is rich in iron ore. 

COPPER AND NICKEL. 

Of copper and nickel, specimens have been found showing these 
minerals are here, but the indications have not been so great as to give 
any very great confidence that it exists here in large quantities. There 
is a strong belief that copper will be developed largely at some future 
day, and that a nickel mine will yet be unearthed of great value, but 
even if in these two minerals there should be found "but a limited supply, 
there will be found enough of the others mentioned to give St. Clair 
County a front rank among the mineral counties of the state, while in 
agricultural resources and stock raising, she will be fully abreast of her 
sister counties. 



CHAPTER Vlll. 

AGRICULTURAL AND STOCK STATISTICS. 

AGRICULTURE AND STOCK-GRAZING LANDS— ITS YIELD— FRUITS— PROGRESS IN ALL 
THINGS— COMPARISON MADE-CENSUS OF 1876-POPULATION— STOCK— PRODUCTS— 
THE YIELD OF 1880— STOCK RE'lURNS OF 1880-82— ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSED VAL- 
UATION. 

AGRICULTURAL AND STOCK. 

The portions of St. Clair County which are of agricultural worth 
and for stock raising purposes has proved, without exception, to be rich 
and productive. The north and west is perhaps the richest part of the 
county. The soil is deeper and stronger than is found in the eastern 
part, but still in every part of the county will be found land rich and 
soil strong, capable of a steady drain for years without exhaustion. The 
climate, soil, production and splendid water supply makes it unsur- 
passed, if not unequaled, as a stock raising country. Stock can graze 
nearly the year round, and but partial feeding is indulged in three 
months of the year. These facts, if more generally known, would be of 
great advantage to the county. Immigration might be turned to her 
fertile prairies, and her cheap lands for grazing purposes would invite 
the seeker after homes to settle here; but hiding your light under a 
bushel, people of St. Clair County, will not populate your waste places 
or bring to your uncultivated field the brawn which, with the help of 
Providence, makes waving fields of grain and herds on every hill. St. 
Clair has an inviting field for the immigrant; let this fact be known and 
its prosperity will be increased manyfold. 

Just what the early times produced in the way of cereals no record 
was ever kept. The assessed valuation of the county from year to year 
was a good criterion of her advancement; yet it had to be divided 
between the increase of personal property and the advance put upon 
real estate or from a greater amount of improved land placed upon the 
tax books from year to year. Since the war the economy rule has not 
been quite so much indulged in this particular, and there have been sev- 
eral publications of the growth of cereals, the increase of stock, etc. 

St. Clair County is adapted to the growth of corn, potatoes, wheat 
rye, oats, barley and the grasses. Tobacco, hemp, flax, broom corn and 
sorghum can be grown to great perfection and give splendid yield, but 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 899 

up to this time they have not been cultivated to an extent beyond the 
need of home consumption. A few years ago the luxuriant prairie 
grasses formed the principal food, and the prairies the grazing ground 
for all kinds of stock. Of late years, however, the ranges have beert 
largely curtailed by new comers, and the rich prairies have been fenced 
in. Timothy and blue grass grow finely, and in many places the latter 
seem to come up spontaneously, crowding out the prairie grass by its- 
rapid growth, and especially in the uncultivated fields laid waste by the 
war. Of late years stock raising has been a prominent feature with the 
farmers of the county, and many of them are devoting their time to the 
improvement of their herds and in importation and breeding of fine 
stock. Its the stockmen's own country. 

FRUIT. 

In fruit there is no better county, but it has not been given that 
attention which its value, as well as its health giving qualities,, 
deserve. There are, however, some fine orchards, and one which can be 
mentioned is that of Robert White, of Chalk Level Township. Apples 
are a sure crop. Peaches, pears, and in fact all small fruits, are as though 
indigenous to the soil, and can be raised with great ease and with little 
care. Berries grow wild, and the gardens yield prolific wherever they- 
are cultivated. All these are but little grown, and it would be a paying; 
business, from the fruitfulness of the soil, to raise fruits and berries, if a 
way was secured to get them to market. These things will only be cul- 
tivated for home use until the advent of railroads. 

PROGRESS OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

In the growth and progress of St. Clair County, as written by" 
decade, her true prosperity is known, is seen and felt, that progress and 
that prosperity had advanced in a wonderful degree during the decade 
between 1870 and 1880. The previous ten years between i860 and 187O' 
had told fearfully against her, and neither the value of real estate or 
personal property or the population was as much in the latter year as iiu 
i860. But the process of recuperation had been going on for five years 
yet it had not been able to meet the drain of the preceding five years^ 
so that it fell far short of the values of ten years before. 

In 1879 a crime was committed in the stealing and destruction of 
the back tax books of 1877, which dastardly act excited a St. Louis 
paper to comment vigorously, not only upon the act, but also reflected 
severely upon the people of the county and its resources. The paper 
was lamentably ignorant for one which claims to be among the foremost 
in the state in knowledge and enterprise. 



900 (ITSTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. i 

It was ably replied to, and received such an excoriation that it left 
it in a very damaging condition mentally. However, the paper man- 
aged to recover sufficiently to slightly deprecate its unfortunate casti- 
gation, and call for proof. The answer admirably set forth the growth 
and progress of the county from 1870 to 1878, from carefully compiled 
statistics that could not be questioned, and from 1870 to this date, 1883, 
the progress and development of St. Clair County has had few equals 
among the sisterhood of counties in the state. 

STATE CENSUS. * 

The most complete exhibit of the county's productive capacity is 
that given for the year 1876, being compiled under state auspices, and 
covered the whole ground, both in population and progress. Compare 
this table with the census of 1886, when taken, and the real progress of 
St. Clair for the decade can be clearly seen. 

The following are the census returns of 1876: 

White males 5.619 

White females 5-374 

Total whites 10,993 

Colored males I19 

Colored females 120 

Total colored 248 

Total population 11 ,242 

Horses 5J048 

Mules 1,268 

Jacks 23. 

Jennets 8 

Cattle 17.925 

Sheep II ,094 

Hogs 17,^34 

Bushels wheat 27,253 

Bushels corn 1,346,915 ' 

Bushels oats 75.471 

Bushels flax 43.^97 

Bushels rye 616 

Pounds tobacco 42-544 

Pounds wool 23,047 

Tons hay 24,577 

Gallons wine 70 

Gallons molasses 54-703 

Money, notes, bonds and other credits $1 13-^45 

All other personal property 130,489 

Total valuation by the assessor 665.836 

Valuation of real estate 1,422,327 

This statement is full and complete, showing population and 
products. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



901 



The yield of grain in St. Clair County in 1880 showed, in some res- 
pects, a wonderful increase. The yield of cereals was: Corn, 50,502 acres — 
1,614,817 bushels; wheat, 13,207 acres — 121,961 bushels; Oats, 5,305 acres 
— 77,132 bushels; Rye, 94 acres — 957 bushels; buckwheat, 17 acres — 
210 bushels. This, in comparison with 1876, was an increase of the fol- 
lowing: on corn, about 17 per cent.; on wheat, 450 per cent.; on oats, 
about 2 per cent.; on rye, about 50 per cent. 

If you will refer to the table of 1876 for stock, you will again see a 
wonderful increase of from fifty to one hundred and fifty per cent., 
while a still more rapid advance has been made the past two years. 

Cattle has gained in number thirty-three per cent. Horses, 18 per 
cent.; sheep, 40 per cent.; while hogs have been sold closer and fallen 
off about thirty per cent. From the tables here given, there will be no 
trouble to see the growth of the county, acres of land in cultivation, of 
cereals and stock, and thus this work will become invaluable as a book 
of reference. 

The following are the assessed valuations for the years named: 

1880. 

Acres 418,871 72-100, value, $1,294,410 

Town lots 2,392 " 140,025 



Horses 6,502, value, $ 164,838 



$1,434,435 



Mules 1,343, 

Asses and jennets 40, 

Neat cattle 25,121, 

Sheep 1 5,766, 

Hogs 30,786, 

All other live stock 

Money, notes, etc 

All other personal property 



39.597 

975 

261,764 

16,170 

38,625 

430 

224.794 

207,196 



954,389 



Total, real and personal $2,388,824 



1SS2. 



Acres 419,025, value, $1,859,575 

Town lots 2,661, " 184 230 



Horses 7,796, value, $270,350 



$2,043,805 



Mules 1,230, 

Asses and jennets 42, 

Neat Cattle 33-732, 

Sheep 20,358, 

Hogs 22,790, 

Money, notes, etc 

All other personal property 



63,880 
1,645 

438,325 

27,240 

40,130 

226,225 

250,760 



1,318,555 



Total, real and personal property $3>362,36o 



902 



HISTORY OF ST. CT.AIR COUNTY 



The assessment is forty cents state tax and thirty cents county tax, 
for general purposes, and ten cents road tax, making a total of eighty 
cents on the $100. This is a very light tax. The county, April i, 1883, 
has no floating and no debt of any kind, except the bonded railroad 
indebtedness still unsettled. An attempt will be made the present year 
to compromise the same. The people are likely to vote for a comprom- 
ise at from forty to fifty cents on the dollar, 5-20 year bonds, drawing 
six per cent interest, the latter, annually. Such a proposition should 
carry, not for the justice of the thing but for the welfare of the county. 
The debt would exceed then over $200,000, but it should be settled. 




CHAPTER IX. 

RAILROADS VS. NO RAILROADS. 

THE CLINTON & MEMPHIS BRANCH- SUBSCRIPTION, $25o,ooo-THE ORDER IN FULL— SAT- 
ISFIED AND BONDS DELIVERED— RETURNING REASON— AN ACCOUNT RENDERED 
BY NO VOUCHERS PRODUCED— TAXATION AND RAILROAD FUND— INVESTIGATION 
—THE REPORT— STEALING IN BULK— STEALING IN DETAIL-THE LADUE SWINDLE 
ON CONTRACTS— NO LEW BUT PLENTY OF SUITS— Sgoooo AND THE ATTORNEYS IN 
THE CASES. 

RAILROAD HISTORY. 

The railroad history may be said to date from January i, 1870. 
During that month a petition was circulated, and at the February term, 
1870, that petition, numbering some 400 names, was presented to the 
county court. It was, in substance, a request that the court subscribe 
$250,000 to the stock of the Clinton & Memphis branch of the Tebo & 
Neosho Railroad Company. The court laid the petition over for action 
until the first Tuesday in April, 1870. The court was composed of Wil- 
liam A. Mitchell, William Collins and Thomas F. Robinson as judges. 
There were remonstrances against, as well as for petition for subscription 
to stock, and it resulted, on a count, to be 435 petitions for a railroad to 
be built through the center of the county, 261 names remonstrating 
against a subscription to any railroad for any amount, and 768 names 
petitioning. the county court to subscribe $250,000, conditioned, that the 
road run through the county and a depot located within a one-half mile 
ot the court house. Upon this statement of the wishes of the tax payers 
the county court made the following order, of record April 5, 1870: 

It is considered, and ordered by the court, that the county of St. 
Clair, Missouri, take and subscribe to the capital stock of the Memphis 
& Kansas City Railroad Company the sum of $250,000. 

Upon condition that said road run through the said county on the 
most practical and feasible central route. Said stock to be paid for in 
bonds of St. Clair County, payable at such times, and with such rate of 
interest, as the county may designate, when the final order is made for 
the issue of said bonds. Of which said bonds $50,000 shall be issued 
and delivered to said company when five miles of said road shall be 
graded, running toward the Osage River from the county line, and 
$100,000 when said road is graded to the bank of the Osage River and 
a bridge constructed over the same; and the remaining $100,000 when 
the said road shall be graded entirely through the county; and that none 



904 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

of said bonds shall be issued until the said road shall be permanently 
located. 

And that William A. Mitchell be and he is here appointed agent to 
take and subscribe the said stock, and that said agent shall make a 
report to this court at each regular term thereof of all things transacted 
by him with said railroad company for the approval or rejection of this 
court. 

Had the correct name of the road been given in the above order 
and its provisions strictly carried out the people of St. Clair County 
would not have to-day to mourn over $200,000 stolen and an accumulat- 
ing interest of more than that amount, with a St. Louis lawyer trying to 
bulldoze the people into paying for the fraud. By the following order, 
which was made of record June 21, 1870, the people can see the differ- 
ence in the two orders, and while the first bears upon its face safe con- 
ditions to the people because of work actually to be performed before 
payment was made, the other allows them to take the pay zvhen a con- 
tract was let. Here is the record: 

That the county of St. Clair subscribe for and take 2,500 shares of 
the capital stock of the Clinton & Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neo- 
sho Railroad, each share being of the denomination of $100 and amount- 
ing in the aggregate to the sum of $250,000, under and by virtue of the 
authority in the charter of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company con- 
tained, and under the act of the general assembly of the state of Mis- 
souri entitled "An act to aid the building of branch railroads in the 
state of Missouri," approved March 28, 1868, and in accordance with the 
orders of the board of directors of said Tebo & Neosho Railroad Com- 
pany establishing the branch railroad and authorizing subscription to 
the capital stock thereof, adopted on the 6th day of June, 1870, the said 
capital stock to be paid for by the issue and delivery to the committee 
appointed to construct said branch road, of the coupon bonds of the 
county of St. Clair of the denomination of $1,000, each bearing date the 
1st day of July, 1870, with interest at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, 
payable twelve years after the date thereof; the said bonds to be signed 
by the presiding justice of this court, and attested by the clerk of the 
court under the seal thereof, and the coupons to be signed by the said 
cler<; the said subscription being made, however, upon the following 
express terms and conditions, that is to say: 

First — That the said road shall be located through the county of 
St. Clair, from its northern limits southwardly upon the most practicable 
route in the direction of Memphis, in the State of Tennessee. 

Second — That the proceeds of said bonds shall be applied to and 
expended in the construction of said branch railroad within the limits 
of the county of St Clair. 

Third — That none of the bonds of the county shall be issued and 
delivered as aforesaid until the work of graduation and masonry is 
let to contract within the limits of said county, to responsible persons, 
nor until the work of graduation and masonry upon said branch road is 
similarly let to contract within the limits of Henry County, and the 
court shall be satisfied that the graduation and masonry from Clinton to 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 905 

the northern line of St. Clair County is so let to contract; and when the 
court shall be satisfied that graduation and masonry shall be let to the 
northern line of St. Clair, one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars 
of said bonds shall be delivered; and when the graduation and masonry 
shall be so let to contract to the southern bank of the Osage River, 
seventy-five thousand dollars additional bonds shall be delivered; and 
when the graduation and masonry shall be let to contract to the south- 
ern line of said county, the remaining fifty thousand shall be delivered. 

Fourth — That all the coupons for interest which shall have matured 
or would have matured had the bonds been issued and delivered orior 
to said letting or lettings to contract, shall, upon the delivery of said 
bonds as aforesaid, be cut off and retained by the county treasurer and 
destroyed in the presence of the court. 

Ordered further, that William A. Mitchell be and he is hereby 
appointed the agent of the county to subscribe the said stock to aid in 
the construction of the Clinton and Memphis Branch of the Tebo and 
Neosho Railroad, in accordance with the terms of the foregoing order, 
and that he cause to be prepared and signed the said coupon bonds of 
the said county of St. Clair, and that he deliver the same only in accord- 
ance with the foregoing order. 

And it is further ordered by the court that all orders heretofore 
made by this court in reference to taking stock in the Kansas City and 
Memphis Railroad by said county, be and the same are hereby rescinded. 

On November 7th, at a 

SPECIAL TERM, 

the county court ordered the delivery of the bonds, being satisfied that 
the contracts had been let. The order is as follows: 

Whereas, The Clinton & Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neosho 
railroad company has exhibited to this court satisfactory evidence that 
the gradaution and masonry on said road from the city of Clinton to the 
south line of Henry County, and from the south line of Henry County 
to the south line of St. Clair County, has been let to contract to respon- 
sible persons; 

Now, therefore, in pursuance of an order of this court, made on the 
21st day of June, 1870, be it ordered and adjudged, that the iull amount 
of bonds subscribed to the capital stock of said branch railroad, 
including the five bonds heretofore delivered in pursuance of said last 
mentioned order, for and in the name of St. Clair County, State of Mis- 
souri, to wit: Two hundred and fifty (250) bonds of the denomination of 
one thousand dollars each, be at once signed, sealed and delivered to 
said branch railroad company, or to its financial agents, appointed to 
receive and negotiate the same. 

Then went $250,000 into the hands of the La Dues, whose reputa- 
tion was, even at that day, of a fragrant odor, and into those of DeWitt 
C. Stone, and a voice seemed to float in the air, saying: " Good-bye,, 
bonds." 



906 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Stone is dead, but before he died he exclaimed to a friend, " I wish 
to God I had never had anything to do with that railroad, and I would j 
give all I am worth if I never had." The cry of anguish came too late, ! 
but why did he not try to make restitution ? The LaDues fled thecoun- ! 
try. They were the chief of the gang, backed and aided by thieves in | 
Kansas City and elsewhere. Poor Cline was killed, others left the coun- | 
try for their country's good, and a few only are left, who, while under 1 
the ban of suspicion, have securely covered their tracks so far as to be 
able to defy legal investigation. But men of honor, honesty and man- 
hood would not accept thrice the amount of their wealth, and carry such '* 
a reputation before the world and to their graves. They carry with them ! 
the curses of an outraged people. 1 

The order subscribing $250,000 was made as above June 21,1870, | 
and November 7, 1870, that amount was placed in the hands of Dewitt 
C. Stone, of Clinton, and the LaDues. Investigation shows that 237 
bonds of the 250 were disposed of. No account of the other thirteen j 
bonds had been received. The July coupons of 1870, were cut off, 
excepting five coupons of $50 each, of which no account has been made. 
They may have been left on to cover expenses. 

After Mr. Mitchell ceased to be agent, William M. Cox was appointed i 
August 10, 1871, and he was authorized to go into the selling scheme, or 1 
consolidation scheme, if such came up. It came up, of course. The I 
object was to consolidate, sell, transfer and muddle, so that the whole- 1 
sale thieving could not be traced. The managers were plausible and ' 
accomplished in the art of lying, and St. Clair County was not alone ; 
fooled, but every county on the line. 

i 
RETURNING REASON. ' 

The county court was still blind to the fact that there had been a ' 
wholesale robbery of the people's money, and when C. H. Sweeney and I 
others asked that the railroad tax be set aside and the levy withdrawn, I 
it was promptly sat down on. This levy was $1.20, on the $100 valu- ■ 
ation. 

The next move was the swapping off of the original stock for that of 
a mythical company called the Kansas City, Memphis & Mobile Rail- 
road Company, and that piece of legerdemain was neatly performed 
November 11, 1871. That was a big nail driven in the coffin which held 
the fraud and prevented its resurrection. 

The court, still blind, if nothing worse, at the special December -I 
term, 1871, present Judges Thomas F. Robinson and William Collins, 
refused an investigation and ordered the treasurer to pa}' the interest 
coupons of January i, 1872. j 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 907 

In the meantime Jackson County became aroused. Kansas City 
was the headquarters of the thieves and conspirators and the county 
court of that county was compelled to make an order refusing any more 
bonds until a full report was made and vouchers shown. Then came 
the time that the thieves claim to have used fifty odd thousand dollars 
of the St. Clair County bonds in Jackson County. It was stealing with 
the left hand to cover up the thieving of the right. 

There were months of good stealing left yet, and they were not 
quite ready to step down and out. That report will be found in full in 
the Henry County railroad history, and need not be introduced here, 
but it should be read, and it will be noticed, voiicJiers were demanded. 
The gang got a trifle scared, and a batch of reports made out, no two 
alike. St. Clair County got the following document, claiming $131,000 
paid out, and not a voucher to show for it, and only the word, honor and 
honesty (.'') of A. D. LaDue, supplemented, doubtless, by the words of 
such other honest men (?) as the Mastins, P. A. LaDue, et al. The 
statement reads: 

To the Honorable County Conrt of St. Clair County, Missouri : 

In obedience to your request, I have the nonor to report that our 
company has expended in the construction of the Kansas City, Mem- 
phis & Mobile Railroad, in the county of St. Clair, the sums hereinafter 
stated: 

Construction, &c $77-055 52 

Ties, timber, &c 15 ,964 67 

Engineering and outfit, &c 8,245 52 

Contingent expenses, &c., including pay of secretary, attor- 
ney's fees, salaries of officers, traveling expenses, books 
and stationery, expenses of financial agents, expenses of 
the general office and superintendent's office, including 
all the incidental expenses on the South Division, pro 

rated between the counties of Henry and St. Clair 11,687 70 

Rolling stock 11,804 50 

Interest, discount, &c 1-975 42 

Commissions paid brokers on sale of 157 St. Clair bonds. . . . 3,925 OO 
Right of way, &c 530 00 

Total expended $131,188 33 

The company has realized from the sale of 157 St. Clair 

bonds 129,319 03 

Expenditures exceed receipts $ 1,869 30 

The financial agents of the company have sold the balance of the 
St. Clair bonds, 93 in number, to A. H. Nicolay, of New York, at 82^ 
cents and accrued interest, the proceeds of which have not yet been 
paid over to the company on account, as I am informed, of the neglect 
of your honorable court in having the interest promptl}' met. 



908 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Hoping you will do all in your power to uphold the credit of your 
county and therefore assist the company in their endeavors to put the 
road in operation from Clinton to Osceola at as early a day as practic- 
able, the present season, I remain. 

Yours truly, A. D. LaDUE, 

General Superintendent. 

This was early in 1872. In the meantime Treasurer Dooley had 
been ordered to pay interest on the January coupon, and March 28, 1872 
made the following statement of the railroad fund: 

RECEIPTS. 

Amount received $22,604 47 

EXPENDITURES. 

Interest on coupons paid $ 16,775 00 

Commission to collector 1,072 69 

Expenses to Clinton, telegraphing, etc 25 00 

Express charges 75 

Treasurer's commission 89 61 

Commission to banks 49 87 

Amount on hand 4.591 55 

Total $22,604 47 $22,604 47 

Here went $22,000, and the prompt paying of the interest enabled the 
gang to dispose of the remainder of the bonds, and of course they were 
sold. However, the people began in dead earnest to stop further rob- 
bery, and the county court of St. Clair, like that of Jackson, was com- 
pelled to submit to the wishes and commands of the people. The com- 
mand was for the investigation, and that no railroad tax levy should be 
made. On May 6, 1872, this order was made, " That no more taxes be 
paid or levied to pay interest on railroad bonds until the road was com- 
pleted to the Osage River, or satisfactory evidence given that it would 
be so built within a reasonable time." 

At the same term, on May 9, 1872, the following preamble was made 
of record: 

Whereas, At the present May term of the county court it is made 
the duty of said court to levy taxes to pay the county indebtedness, and 

Whereas, For various causes and reasons unto the court appear- 
ing, and after mature consideration it is ordered and decreed by said 
county court, that for the present no tax be levied for the year 1872 on 
the personal and real property in said county of St. Clair for the pur- 
pose of paying the interest on the bonds issued by said county of Clin- 
ton and Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, which bonds 
were subscribed by said court on the 21st day of June, 1870. 

The court also appointed Messrs. F. C. Nesbit, Simeon Bruce and 
Charles H. Sweeney a committee on the part of the county to examine 
into and report upon the financial condition of the company. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 909 

Soon after their appointment the gentlemen comprising the above 
committee started on their tour ot investigation, Kansas City being 
their objective point. 

REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE. 

The committee returned, and they made the following report of 
their work: 

To the Honorable County Court of St. Clair County, Missouri. 

The undersigned committee appointed at the May term of this court 
to make out and present to said court a statement showing the present 
condition of the $250,000 of bonds heretofore issued to the Clinton & 
Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad Company, beg leave 
to state that a few days previous to our appointment a change had been 
made in the officers and directors of said company, and that the office of 
said company had been removed from Clinton to Kansas City, and on 
account of said recent change in the officers of the company your com- 
mittee were not able to make at that time as full a report as they might 
otherwise have done. Reference is here made to the exhibits marked 
A and B, and hereto attached, all of which is respectfully submitted. 

Exhibit A shows the number of St. Clair County bonds sold, when 
sold, by whom sold and how much sold for, and in substance is as fol- 
lows: 

From February 3, 1871, until October 5, 1871, Northrup & Co. sold: 

I II bonds of $1,000 each for $ 68,048 16 

Third National Bank of St. Louis sold 46 bonds of $1,000 

each for 34,450 00 

J. B. Colt took 13 bonds of $1,000 each at 1 1,354 09 

A. H. Nickoly 24 $1,000 bonds at 20,344 07 

Making a total of 194 bonds of $1,000 each which netted .$160,966 69 

EXHIBIT B. 

Attorney's fees in preparation of first mortgage bonds 600 OO 

Printing bonds, stationery, traveling expenses 650 00 

Commission on sale of bonds 3.162 50 

Right of way, attorney's fees, telegraphing, etc., from, the 

organization of the company to the present time 6,754 20 

Frank McCabe, second class masonry 7,439 24 

J. B. Colt, clearing, grubbing, excavation and third class 

masonry 16,230 60 

H. .Hale, clearing, grubbing, excavation, rip rap and third 

class masonry 49, 176 6^ 

Engineering expenses 7-493 7^ 

Tie and lumber account 17.165 67 

Interest, discount and stamps. . . 1,691 25 

Officers' salary . 2,212 72 

Depot ground at Clinton 2,500 00 

Office rent 1280a 



9IO HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Two locomotives 7,000 00 

Flat cars i .700 00 

Passenger cars 3.250 00 

Freight on same 1 56 00 

Expenses since consolidation 3.750 00 

Total expenses. .$i3r,o6o 57 

Aggregate amount for which 194 bonds sold 160,966 69 

Aggregate of expenses per exhibit B 131,060 57 

$ 29,906 [2 

One-half value two passenger cars on hand 3,250 00 

Bonds unsold 56,000 00 

Assets on hand $ 89,156 12 

Your committee beg leave to further report that the two locomo- 
tives and twelve flat cars mentioned in Exhibit "A," have been sold by 
the railroad company; that half the purchase money for said locomotives 
and cars was paid out of the funds realized from the sale of St. Clair 
County bonds, and this county would be entitled to a credit by way of 
an increase of assets, for one half the amount for which said locomotives 
and cars sold, but which amount your committee are unable to report. 
Said locomotives and cars originally cost $17,400. And your committee 
further find that the railroad company have paid for and taken up inter- 
est coupons out from the bonds of St. Clair County; that said coupons 
are now in the hands of the company, and were paid for out of the 
money raised or realized by the sale of St. Clair County bonds, which 
interest coupons amount in the agregate to $7,850. Also that said com- 
pany have purchased and now have implements, consisting of plows, 
scrapers, picks, spades, etc., to the amount of $900, one-half of which 
were paid for by St. Clair County. 

C. H. SWEENEY, ) 

S. C. BRUCE, V Committee. 

F. C. NESBIT, ) 

STEALING IN BULK. 

Stealing in bulk is probably the best term to designate the bond 
steal from Jackson County to St. Clair County, inclusive, but that lacked 
over $50,000 of the funds they managed to secure out of Henry and St. 
Clair Counties. 

What bends were taken without any account being rendered, were, 
as above remarked, taken in bulk; but these adepts in appropriating 
other people's property, were willing, like a two-edged sword, to cut 
both ways, or while stealing in bulk, did not for a moment hesitate to 
steal in detail, and this they accomplished by fraudulent contracts. 

STEALING IN DETAIL. 

To give the history of A. D. LaDue's rascality in this connection, 
would take up pages, but the total stealing can be given to a cent, 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 91 I 

SO that the people can tell where at least fifty-five thousand and odd 
dollars went to. 

In the railroad article in the Henry County part of this work, will 
be found the "engineer's confession" of a part of the steal; but since 
that portion was written, the entire figures have been put in possession 
of the writer or historian of this work. These statements and exhib- 
its are voluminous in detail, giving yards of earth, of rock, in fact all 
the details of a railroad contract for making a road bed. The con- 
tracts were made at certain prices, and paid for understandingly, at 
much less figures; A (ew figures are given, that the people can under- 
stand the way it was done. 

For instance: The contract reads, for earth work, 22 cents per 
yard; loose rock, 60 cents per yard; solid rock, $1.25, and so on 
through every item. Now, by collusion, that work was paid for as 
follows: Earth, 27 cents; loose rock, $1.00; solid rock, $1.75. The dif- 
ference in these prices was put into the hands of LaDue and his 
co-thieves, who were working upon the Pennsylvania plan of " addition, 
division and silence." With this understanding, the figures show the 
following clear steal: 

J. B. Colt's contract in both Henry and St. Clair Counties 

sections i to 15, inclusive $ 23,980 37 

J. B. Colt's contract, sections 16 to 20, inclusive 4,560 97 

H. Hale's contract, sections 20 to 25, inclusive 13.377 37 

William Weaver's contract (sub), sections 16 to 20 inclusive, 2,645 59 
F. McCabe's contract, sections 2 to 1 1 and sections 22 to 24, 

inclusive 10,640 13 

$55,204 43 

This was the amount of the steal on the contracts let, as regard the 
prices paid for the work. Whether there was still a further fraud com- 
mitted by charging for an excessive amount of work done, is not of 
record. That is, there may have been 500 yards of solid rock exca- 
vated while the account may have been made out at 600 yards. There 
may have been collusion on the part of the contractors with engi- 
neer, as well as with the manager. The footings show: 

Total work done in Henry County $114,439 92 

Total work done in St. Clair County 68,736 47 

$183,176 39 
Stealings 55,204 43 

$127,971 96 

This last amount is all the people of Henry and St. Clair Counties 
ever got for $450,000 in bonds, and that work was lost to them by the 
road going into bankruptcy. Here was $128,000 in round numbers act- 



912 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

ually expended, and honestly for work done, though so far as it done 
any good, or was of any benefit to the people, the thieves might as well 
have taken the whole of it. It shows, however, that they were willing 
to give the people about twenty-five cents on the dollar of the bonds, 
while they stole nearly three-fourths. All this was accomplished within 
two years after getting possession of the bonds, for in November, 1872, 
the work ceased. All subsequent acts relate to the bonds and their 
payment. 

SUITS COMMENCED. 

Of course there was but one result to be expected when the county 
court withheld the railroad tax levy, and that was suits commenced by 
the bondholders to get their interest on the bonds. There was some 
talk about $90,000 in bonds yet unsold, but that did not prove true, as 
Nickolay's suit called for 233 of the 250 bonds issued. If there were 
that many unsold it probably represented the total in the hands of the 
company and which they promptly got rid of It would have been a 
good piece of legal work to have put this man Nickolay on the witness 
stand to show of whom he got those bonds, for it seems he was making 
the fight for nearly all, and he held a large portion in trust for some one. 
There were quite a number of suits for small amounts started, but the 
Nickolay suit was the most important and he gained his case, but he has 
not as yet received all of his money. Ten years of litigation has passed 
and those stolen bonds are not yet paid — a gratifying fact. 

THAT $90,000 IN BONDS. 

In the matter of the $90,000 of railroad bonds remaining unsold, 
the county court of St. Clair orders that the county attorney be instructed 
to correspond with all persons and parties whom he may see proper, 
and find out where said bonds are and whether the same are sold 
or unsold. 

This order was made January 22, 1873. 

There was on hand July i, 1872, of railroad tax fund $ 5.834 55 

And collected to January i, 1873 4.195 04 

$10,029 59 
Of this there was loaned to twenty-nine persons 6,648 75 

. $ 3o8o 84 

Paid collections and commissions 237 65 

Railroad funds on hand $ 3,i43 19 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY 
ATTORNEYS IN THE CASE. 



913 



The county court met February 18, 1873, to take into consideration 
the suit of A. H. Nickolay against St. Clair County, for the interest on 
233 bonds. The court decided to resist its payment, and Nesbit & Fur- 
guson, attorneys, were employed by the county to defend the suit, upon 
a retainer's fee of $250, and if the suit was won in favor of the county 
they were to have $2,500 more. The order shows that Nicholay had a 
portion of that $90,000 in bonds reported missing, of which a search 
had been ordered less than one month before. The court appointed 
John W. Plumbley, Scott Nesbit and William Barnett as a committee to 
look after the railroad business, and secure the services of further attor- 
neys if necessary. This was February 19, 1873. 

The committee employed on March 5, 1873, Phillip & Vest, of 
Sedalia, to assist the first named attorneys in defending St. Clair County 
in the Nickolay suit. They were paid a retainer's fee of $250, and a 
contingent fee of $2,000 if the suit was decided in favor of the county. 

The next attorney retained, April 9, 1873, was Thomas C. Reynold, 
upon his own proposition, to win the suit against A. H. Nicholay in the 
United States District Court he was to be paid $5,000, if he failed he 
was to receive no fee. There were other attorneys retained, but the 
contracts were about the same as above. 






58 



CHAPTER X. 

EVIDENCES OF FRAUD AND THE LEGAL FIGHT. 



THE CHARGE AND THE EVIDENCE -JOHNSON AND MEAD EXO.VERATED-WHO IS RES- 
PONSIBLE-SOME LETTERS— A FEW RESOLUTIONS-THE PEOPLE EXPRESS THEIR 
VIEWS— THE liONDHOLDERS PROPOSE AND VHE PEOPLE DISPOSE— MANDAMUS VS. 
REASON— THE VOTE ON THE 20 CENT COMPROMISE-SOME BONDS PURCHASED— 
THE LAST CALL. 

Matters worked this way for about twelve months, when the county 
court decided on an investigation. 

SOME EVIDENCE. 

There had been, on the part of some people, an evident desire to 
fasten a portion of the fraud locally. The investigation resulted in prov- 
ing that the placing of the bonds were in the hands of D. C. Stone, 
of Clinton, president of the construction company. There was 
no fraud proven against the directors of the company from St. Clair 
County, Messrs. Johnson and Mead, but a lamentable want of prudence, 
caution and business ability. There is another thing connected with 
this bond business which is the fact that you can trace the bonds to 
when and where they were sold, but you cannot find out where the 
money went to. Men not worth a dollar, hardly, a few years ago, are 
wealthy now, but how.'' They can account for it only after the manner 
of a certain congressman who, from a very small beginning when he 
entered congress, became the possessor of over half a million dollars in 
a few years on a salary of five thousand. He said, on being asked how 
he so rapidly accumulated such amount of wealth: " My wife dis- 
charged our cook and has been doing the work herself." 

The county court concluded as above to start an investigation, and 
it is given below as taken from the record: 

TESTIMONY TAKEN BEFORE THE COUNTY COURT. 

The following is the testimon)/ taken before the county court at 
their recent meeting, in regard to the issuing of St. Clair County Bonds 
to the Kansas City and Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Rail- 
road and other matters connected therewith: 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 915 

William O. Mead, of lawful age, being sworn to tell the whole truth 
of his knowledge touching certain bonds, issued by St. Clair County, to 
what is known as the Kansas City & Memphis Railroad Company, says 
in answer to questions, as follows: 

Question — Do you know when the County Court issued bonds to the 
Clinton and Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Railroad.-* 

Answer — I knew nothing of it at the time, learned of it afterwards. 

Q. — Do you know anything of the origin of the railroad subscription, 
by whom it originated and whether there was any fraudulent means used 
to secure it.-* 

A. I only know that petitions were put in circulation to the county 
court to make such subscription, and some against it; others with certain 
conditions. The question of taking a vote, according to my recollection, 
was discussed, and it was thought best by some to act upon petitions, 
as under the law at that time, a large proportion of the heaviest tax- 
payers of the county could not vote. I know of no fraudulent means 
being used. In fact, of my own knowledge, I knew very little of what 
was going on about it, I thought our County Attorney, J. C. Ferguson, 
Esq., would look well to our interests. 

O. — Do you know when, where and under what circumstances said 
bonds were issued and delivered, to whom delivered, and by whom 
signed ? 

A. — I do not know when nor where said bonds were issued and 
delivered; never have yet seen one one of them, nor do I know under 
what circumstances they were issued; knew nothing of it, but was 
informed that such was the case some time afterwards; don't recollect 
how long, nor do I know to whom they were delivered. 

Q. — Do you know whether all of said bonds were sold, and to whom, 
and at what price .'' 

A. — I know nothing more than the reports which have been made to 
the county court by A. D. LaDue, superintendent, and C. H. Sweeney, 
F. C. Nesbit and S. C. Bruce, committee of the county court, which 
showed, in substance, the reports made by the financial agents of the 
company up to that time. The balance, I understand, was paid out for 
work done in Jackson County, with the understanding with Jackson 
County that she would refund them with her bonds, which were to be 
delivered when the debts then owing were paid off. I only speak of my 
understanding. My recollection now is, that the report of the financial 
agents show that they were sold at from eighty to eighty-seven cents on 
the dollar. My impression is that the sales were all made before my con- 
nection with the road. I do not know to whom said bonds were sold. 

Q. —Do you know whether the agents who sold said bonds guaran- 
teed the payment of the interest thereon ? 

A. — I do not know anything on that point; never heard of it until a 
few daj's ago, here in Osceola. 

O. In the discharge of your duty as secretary of said railroad, did 
you keep an account of the finances of said company? 

A. I did not; it was only my duty to record the proceedings of 
the board of directors. WILLIAM O. MEAD. 

Thomas F. Robinson, being duly sworn, testified as follows: 
I was a member of the county court when the bonds were issued* 
I think A. D. LaDue and D. C. Stone were here to receive the bonds. I 



gi6 IlIS'lORY O]' ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

saw the bonds after they were lithoi^raphed. I do not know of any one 
receiving more than their legal fees for signing the bonds. No one con- 
sulted me concerning the bonds issued, in any manner whatever. I 
heard it stated that Mr. P. A. LaDue received a commission for getting 
up the bonds. Mr. T. J. Monroe was clerk of the county court at the 
time the bonds were signed; don't know when nor where they were 
signed. There were five bonds signed in the first place. Mr, D. P. 
Shield was the man appointed to get the bonds lithographed. My 
impression is that the five bonds were issued to defray incidental 
expenses. The only time I ever saw the bonds was in the arms of D. 
P. Shield, who was the agent appointed by the court to get the bonds. 
I do not know of any proposition to bribe; no one ever approached me. 
The court were all in favor of turning over the bonds finally. My impres- 
sions were that Judge Mitchell and R. S. Graham were the first com- 
missioners from the county. I opposed the order of turninp" over the 
bonds. THOMAS F. ROBINSON. 

Robert S. Graham, of lawful age, being produced and duly sworn, 
says: 

When the bonds were issued I think I was secretary of the board of 
construction of said railroad company. Saw T. J. Monroe when he was 
signing the bonds. Never saw them afterwards. My opinion is that 
Judge Mitchel turned the bonds over to D. C. Stone and VV. P. Johnson. 
They gave their receipt to him for them, and when the certificate of 
stock was delivered to the county b}^ the railroad company, that receipt 
was turned over to D. C. Stone. Do not know who received the bonds. 
Do not know whether the bonds were ever sold. Only know that D. C. 
Stone and W. P. Johnson were appointed the financial agents of the 
company to go to New York to sell the bonds. Mr. Stone did not go, 
but Mr. Harvy Salmon and W. P. Johnson went to New York to sell the 
bonds. I do not know whether they sold them or not. Mr. Stone told 
me that part of the bonds were sold. Judges Mitchell and Johnson and 
myself were the directors at that time from this county. I was appointed 
director by the Tebo & Nesho Railroad Company. Do not know whether 
the company owned any of the bonds or not when I left the company. 
Mr. Stone told me the bonds were selling from eighty-three cents 
upward. Do not know of any bribery in connection with the matter. 
Do not know of any individuals receiving any pecuniary benefits in con- 
nection with the railroad company other than salaries. So far as I know, 
the business has been fairly and honestly conducted. William A. Mitch- 
ell was not a member of the company when the bonds were resigned. 
Do not know how many bonds have been sold. The impression that a 
commission was paid upon the railroad subscription to an agent is incor- 
rect — at least was not allowed while I was in the board. When an agent 
was employed I opposed any payment of commission on the subscrip- 
tion of St. Clair Countv, and succeeded in having it excepted from such 
contract. ' R. S. GRAHAM. 

Thomas J. Monroe being duly sworn, upon his oath deposes and 
says : 

I was clerk of the county court in 1870; was clerk of tjie county 
court when the bonds were signed. William A. Mitchell signed the 
bonds as presiding judge of the county, and I countersigned them as 



tllSTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 917 

county clerk; the court was composed of Judges Mitchell, Collins and 
Robinson. When I signed the bonds I delivered them to William A. 
Mitchell. They were signed in the county clerk's office, and in the back 
room of my drug store. The seal was put on them in the office of the 
county clerk. I do not know who Judge Mitchell delivered them to. I 
do not know of my own knowledge who took the bonds out of the 
county, but my own opinion is that P. A. LaDue took them out of the 
county. I was under the impression that one of the LaDues was here 
when the bonds were signed. There was no inducement offered me to 
sign the bonds. The bonds were signed in vacation. Do not know of 
any bribe being offered for the signing of the bonds. Judge Collins 
seemed disinclined to vote for the bonds, but finally voted for them. 
Judges Mitchell and Robinson favored the issuing the bonds from the 
beginning. I think Judge Mitchell and R. S. Graham were the directors 
in the railroad company from this county when the bonds were deliv- 
ered. I opposed the signing of the bonds, but finally did so under an 
order of the court. 

T. J. MONROE. 

F. C. Nesbit states as follows: 

On the trial we made proof that Harvey Salmon told Nickolay about 
the errors complained of by the county, but the judges held that the 
testimony was invalid, and that it made no difference. The attorneys, 
Philip & Vest, recommended an appeal, and entered into an agreement 
with the bondholders that the Henry County case should be appealed, 
and ours should be decided on the same points. 

The investigation caused considerable excitement, and there were 
several railroad meetings held in different parts of the county, and all 
denounced it as the " railroad swindle," and opposed all tax levies for 
railroad purposes. This was in the summer and fall of 1874. 

St. Clair County was not alone, but the people in every county on 
the line were aroused to this, the most gigantic fraud of modern times, 
considering the amount invested, and the question was asked and great 
anxiety expressed over the reply, "Who is responsible. -^ " 

The people were keenly alive to get all possible information and 
whether the road would ever be built. Even at this day could a railroad 
be constructed from this point to Kansas City the people of St. Clair 
County would be about willing to pay the original amount of their sub- 
scription, but they are determined not to pay the demand of the bond- 
holder if it costs years of litigation. Such a road would in itself add 
greatly to the taxable wealth of the county and aid materially in devel- 
oping its resources; but to have given the money and having nothing at 
all for it is what makes the burden so grievous. Over a million dollars 
in bonds have been subscribed to this enterprise by the counties of Jack- 
son, Cass, Henry and St. Clair, and have been sold for between $800,000 
and $900,000; and all this money has been squandered by somebody, if 
not actually stolen. 



9l8 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. i 

A road from Kansas City to Osceola and to Springfield, Missouri, 
was what the people wanted, and would have considered the money well j 
spent, even though the stock was not worth a dollar, and the whole 
amount was a bonus to those who built it, as it would have been. It j 
would not only give a competing line of transportation, but would have j 
opened a direct route to the southern market. July 14, 1875, Mr. T. M. 
Johnson was appointed financial agent to purchase and compromise the 
outstanding railroad bonds. He made a few purchases, all upon a basis 
of about 66| per cent, but purchased some $1,200 in bonds and coupons . 
and paid $863.75, ^"d then some seven bonds more at 55 per cent. 

In all eleven bonds were purchased, and two others were bought of 
local owners, one being received from the proprietor of the Democrat to \ 
cover a loan of $832.61. The number of the one above was not given^ j 
but the eleven purchased by Mr. Johnson were numbered 3, yS, 79, 82, 1 
188, 215, 218, 233, 234, 235 and 237, and that bought of D. P. Shield was 
numbered 241, and $751.58 paid for it. In 1876, they also tried to get a 
majority vote to compromise at fifty cents on the dollar, in 5-20 six per ' 
cent, bonds, but it would not work. The same year a tax levy of $1.75 on 
the one hundred dollars valuation was made to pay the Nickolay judgment, 
the case having been decided against the county. Two other judgments j 
were secured against the county, and three-quarters ot one per cent, and j 
one-quarter of one per cent, was levied in 1877, to pay them. J. D. Fish ' 
and F. Heidelkoper were the holders of the judgments. In the mean- ' 
time Mr. Johnson's appointment of 1875, had been withdrawn and noth- j 
ing done, but he was again appointed May 14, 1877, and revoked again | 
in October of the same year. The people rebelled so strongly against j 
the purchase of the bonds at any price, that the county court ordered it j 
stopped. j 

^ REFUSED TO RATIFY. 

The term of the county court held September 12, 1877, the follow- ! 
ing letter addressed to T. M. Johnson, is of record of that date. It is in ] 
words following. j 

Osceola, September 12, 1877. | 
Mr. T. M. Johnson: | 

Dear Sir — In answer to yours of the 8th of August, we say to you j 
that it is the desire and the express wish of the court that you enter into j 
no contract whatever at the present time, for either bonds, coupons or 1 
judgments. We desire a full court when we act on this matter, also an ] 
expression from the bona fide tax paying citizens of the whole county. 
Judge Heath is sick at present and not able to attend We will write 
you again in November. Respectfully, 

THOMAS HENLEY, P. J. 
WILLIAM RICE, A. J. i 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 919 

At a special, or called term, of the county court, held October 2, 
1877, it revoked the appointment of Mr. Johnson as county agent. The 
cause of this seemed to be that the county clerk presented to the court 
a letter from Mr. Johnson, dated St. Louis County, Missouri, September 
12, 1877, the same date as their letter ordering no further purchases, of 
which, the county clerk stated, was received by him on September 27, 
1877, thirteen days after its date. This letter was as follows: 

St. Louis County, -Missouri, September 12, 1877. 
To the judges of the county court of St. Clair County, Missouri: 

Gentlemen — Under your order, and in conformity with your 
instructions, I succeeded on Monday last in entering into a written con- 
tract with a Mr. Foote, of New York, for the purchase of fifteen bonds, with 
coupons due July i, 1875, and all due since attached at 66| cents on the 
dollar, principal and accrued interest, and also for the purchase of parts 
of judgments against St. Clair County in favor of A. H. Nickolay and 
J. D. Fisk against St. Clair County, amounting to the sum of $8,491.26, 
all to be paid for in bonds of St. Clair County, to run twenty years with 
6 per cent, interest, payable semi-annually at the State Savings Bank, 
St. Louis, Missouri. This is better than I expected to be able to do 
when I last wrote you. I also made another contract with Mr. Foote 
for such additional bonds, coupons and judgments as he might procure 
from time to time, at the same price and payable in the same manner. 
All of which I trust may be satisfactory. The bonds and coupons above 
mentioned have been delivered to me under the contract, and I hold 
them for the county. It will be necessary for the court to take proper 
steps to have the new bonds prepared. Respectfully yours, 

[Signed] THOMAS. M. JOHNSON. 

The court did not approve of Mr. Johnson's actions as a financier, 
and made the following order in reference to this letter and contents: 

"And which being duly heard and duly considered by the court, 
and the terms and conditions of compromise therein made being duly 
understood, and the court being fully advised in the premises, doth 
refuse to accept the compromise made by said Johnson, and doth fully 
and entirely reject his action therein." 

Mr. Egger was appointed on December 15, 1877, and $1,858.10 
placed in his hand by warrant, but that was also withdrawn, and the 
purchase of bonds ended. 

In November, the people held a sort of indignation meeting, and 
passed the following 

resolutions. 

Resolved, That the county court be requested to order a special 
election to be held for the election of one man from each township, to 
comprise an executive committee who shall be empowered to confer 
with the county court in the railroad matter, and that action shall 
be final. 



920 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Resolved, That said committee shall be allowed one vote for each 
township. 

Resolved, That we request the different townships to make out poll 
books and hold and report the election, free of charge, to the county 
court; said election to be held on Saturday, November 17, 1877. 

Resolved, That we request that the county court stay the pro- 
ceedings by law to collect the delinquent railroad tax for all previous 
years. 

Resolved, That we request that the county court make a record 
of repudiation of all bonds not aecounted for. 

Resolved, That the county court be requested to resign from this 
date. 

After this expression of opinion the meeting adjourned. The peo- 
ple were evidently getting their blood up, and it was a well known fact 
that the people of St. Clair, when aroused, were found equal to the emer- 
gency. The heavy assessment to pay these judgments was being 
opposed by them in a determined manner, and from November, 1877, to 
February 6, 1878, the opposition grew stronger. 

Another meeting was held at the county seat, which gave the fol- 
lowing emphatic 

EXPRESSION FROM THE PEOPLE. 

On February 6, 1878, a railway meeting was held at Osceola, in oppo- 
sition to the payment of the railroad tax by all lawful means. All was 
for this proposition except Judge Wycoff, who iavored a compromise 
and requested the meeting not to tie the hands of the county court. 
The meeting was quiet and orderly. The following preamble and reso- 
lutions were passed : 

Whereas, A former county court issued bonds to the amount of 
$250,000 to the Clinton & Memphis Branch of the Tebo & Neosho Rail- 
road Company, and 

Whereas, The people have never by any means requested the 
court to issue bonds upon any such terms as governed the issue of said 
bonds. And 

Whereas, These bonds, interests and costs, now amount to more 
than $400,000. And 

Whereas, With times hard and money scarce, even if we had the 
inclination, we could not pay so great a debt without reducing many of 
us and our familes to a state of poverty too grievous to be born. And 

Whereas, We never have, and so far as we can see, never will 
receive one cent of profit from said bonds. And 

Whereas, We believe said bonds were fraudulently issued, and 
therefore null and void. And 

Whereas, We do not believe either justice or honor requires us to 
pay said bonds or any of part of them; therefore be it 

Resolved, That not because we think we owe anything, but because 
we desire peace and quietude, and because we wish to be law abiding 
citizens, we are willing to compromise our back railroad tax with the 
county court upon the basis of one cent on the dollar; and be it 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 92 1 

Resolved, further, than the compromise as set forth in resolution 
first, we will not go, and our property shall not be sold for the purpose of 
paying- said bonds, or any part of them; and be it 

Resolved, We are in favor of the strict collection of all other taxes, 
state, county, school, etc. K. B. WONACOTT, Chairman. 

Matters again rested until July, when the bondholder, though a Mr, 
Henderson, a lawyer with some local reputation in the city of St. Louis, 
sent the following proposition: 

St. Louis, Mo, July ii, 1879. 
To Messrs. John C. Ferguson and J. W. Robinson: 

Gentlemen: In order to compromise and settle the indebtedness 
of St. Clair County, Missouri, I propose, so far as I am interested per- 
sonally or as an attorney, to accept and receive in full of my claims as 
follows, to wit: 

Thirty-five per centum of the principal and interest of the judg- 
ments against said county. The payment on said judgments to be in 
cash to the extent of at least $20,000, to be equally and ratably divided 
and paid on the judgments in favor of James D. Fish, dated April 28, 
1875, for $16,434.44, and of A. H. Nicholay for $30,150, dated April 22, 
1874, and of Frederick Hindchopper for $3,187.31, dated April 19, 1876, 
If any balance remain unpaid on said judgments after using the said 
twenty thousand dollars, I will accept in payment of said balance twenty 
y-ear bonds of the county, being six per cent per annum, payable semi- 
annually. The bonds to be dated July i, 1879. 

Second, for all bonds and coupons held or in any manner controlled 
by me, I will accept in full payment thereof, new bonds of the county, 
to bear six per cent, interest, payable semi-annually, and to run twenty 
years, to be dated July i, 1879, The new bonds to be equal in amount 
to 33^ per cent, of the principal and interest of the old bonds and cou- 
pon.s thus surrendered. 

If the county prefer making the new bonds bear ten per cent, semi- 
annual interest, instead of six per cent., I will then take new bonds, such 
as I have described, bearing ten per cent., equal in amount to twenty- 
three per cent, of the balance due on the judgments, bonds and coupons 
so surrendered. 

This proposition is open for acceptance until the loth day of Sep- 
tember, 1879. J- B. HENDERSON. 

August 4, 1879, the following was sent Mr. Henderson. The reso- 
lutions were drawn up, submitted, and were unanimously adopted and 
read: 

Whereas, It is exceedingly desirable that the present depreciation 
in value of real estate and the attendant depression of the business 
enterprise and activity of the citizens of St. Clair County, Missouri, 
should be relieved by a judicious settlement of our railroad bond indebt- 
edness; and. 

Whereas, Certain propositions have been submitted the county 
court by Hon. John B. Henderson to compromise said indebtedness on 
a basis of 23 and 33^ per cent of the bond debt, and the cash payment 
of the judgments on a basis of 35 per cent thereof; and. 



922 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Whereas, It is now believed (and we think can readily be estab- 
lished by competent proof) that said entire indebtedness could have 
been settled by renewal bonds, runninjy twenty years, at six per cent 
interest, redeemable at the pleasure of the county; therefore, be it 
resolved: 

First — That we are unalterably opposed to any settlement of the 
judgments at any basis, unless the whole debt is settled and adjusted. 

Second — That we respectfully decline the propositions submitted by 
Mr. Henderson for the reason that said entire debt can be adjusted and 
settled at much lower figures and thousands of dollars saved the people 
of this county. 

Third — That any settlement of this railroad debt or any part thereof 
by our county court itself, without first submitting the matter to a vote 
by the people, would be regarded by the people as a criminal violation 
of the duty the court owes the people and of the trust reposed in them. 

Respectfully submitted, 

J. WADE GARDNER, 
A. C. MARQUIS, 
JOHN P. LOVE, 
J. D. GLENN, 

Committee. 

The next move was in the shape of a mandamus in the Stewart suit, 
and the county court made the following entry in the records of their 
proceedings: 

MANDAMUS VS. REASONS. 

David C. Stewart having received a judgment against the count}', 
and failing to collect the same, a mandamus was served on the county 
court, April 17, 1880, the court made the following order of record, for 
several reasons: 

" In the matter of David D. Stewart, plaintiff, vs. St. Clarr County, 
and the justices of the county court thereof, an alternate writ of man- 
damus having been served upon the justices of the county court ot St. 
Clair County, Missouri, in the above entitled cause, on the 15th day of 
April, t88o, commanding them to draw a warrant on the treasurer for 
the amount of the judgment rendered in the above entitled cause, that 
is, for the sum of $9,420.98 with six per cent, interest and costs, amount- 
ing to $240.35. Said judgment representing unpaid coupons on railroad 
bonds, alleged to have been issued by said county. It is ordered by 
the court that no warrant be drawn to pay said judgment, for the rea- 
son, among other good and sufficient reasons, that there is no money 
in the treasury of said county that can be used for that purpose, and no 
tax is ordered to be levied to pay said judgment, for the reasons, with 
the good and sufficient reasons, that under the law of the state the coun- 
ty court is not authorized to levy any tax for any purpose at this term 
of court." 

Those resolutions and the preamble seemed to settle things for a 
few months. Then a fresh start was taken by fifty influential tax payers, 
asking an order for a vote of the people on a proposition to fund at 20 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 923 

cents on the dollar. The order was made, a vote taken October 31^ 
1879, and carried by a large majority of the votes, though but a light 
vote, only about one-third being polled. 

THE VOTE ON COMPROMISE. 

Townships. For. Against. 

Osceola 61 33 

Washington 28 2 

Polk 21 2 

Taber 49 — 

Butler 21 23 

Chalk Level 35 5 

Dallas 20 9 

Monegaw 47 2 

Doyal 41 15 

Speedwell 63 8 

Collins 18 9 

Appleton 34 31 

Roscoe 33 9 

Jackson 4 3 

Total 475 151 

Making a majority of 324. 

PURCHASES. 

Mr. A. C. Marquis having been appointed financial agent, paid on 
the Nickolay & Fish judgments $9,933.07, and purchased five bonds, Nos. 
104, 126. 133, 139 and 189, and seventy-one coupons, past due, (the entry 
on record was seventy-two,) for the sum of $2,920. This was in Octo- 
ber, 1880. November 9, 188 1, there was a further payment of $4,495.10 
on these judgments, and he charged for his services a total of $153.54, 
which was in addition to the payments on the judgments. Twelve other 
past due coupons were purchased for $200, or 33^ per cent, of their face, 
and this ended, up to the present time, all purchases of bonds or 
coupons. The people stopped it. 

Thus matters have remained up to the present time, no action of 
moment having been taken on the twenty cent compromise. There is 
an evident determination on the part of the bondholders to force things, 
the same lawyer, Henderson, coming to Osceola to instruct the people 
as to the fiat of the bondholders. It is pretty well believed that the 
bondholders would be willing to take 33^ cents on the dollar, and it is 
also believed that this man Henderson is fighting the counties on his 
own risk, taking all over the above sum as his pay. He is already, if 
reports are true, a rich man from the money he has made in this com- 
promise business^and it looks as if he had set his figures to pocket 
$50,000 out of the people of St. Clair. A settlement at 33I to 40 cents 



924 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

on the dollar would be better than further litigation; but when the bond- 
holders ask more, they should be compelled to fight for it, and their 
agent or agents entitled to anything from a cold ducking in the healing 
waters of the Osage River, to a coat of tar and feathers. 

At the March term, 1883, the county court caused the following to 
be entered of record: 

To the people of Si. Clair County: 

Ordered, that in the matter of the railroad indebtedness: 

Whereas, Judgments for a large amount have already been ren- 
dered against the county on the railroad bonded indebtedness, and man- 
damus proceedings are being continually served on the county court, 
commanding them to levy taxes sufficient to pay said judgments; and 

Whereas, The entire bonded debt of the county, issued for railroad 
purposes is now due, and suits are being brought to recover judgments 
thereon; and 

Whereas, It is the belief of the judges of this court that a fair and 
reasonable compromise of said indebtedness can be obtained by the peo- 
ple of the county; and 

Whereas, We believe that an effort to that end should be made by 
the people in conjunction with the county court; therefore, 

Resolved, That it is hereby recommended to the people of the 
county, that they meet in their respective townships on Saturday, the 
5th day of May, 1883, and when so assembled, that they appoint and 
select five delegates in each township, belonging to different political 
parties, whose duty it shall be to convene in the court house in Osceola, 
on the 7th day of May, 1883, and consult among themselves and with 
the creditors of the county, with a view of agreeing, if possible, on some 
terms of compromise of said indebtedness, that may be satisfactory to 
the people and acceptable to the creditors. 

And here it ends. The May meeting will come too late for this 
work, but the writer trusts that the long vexed bond question will be 
amicably and justly settled. 



Js^5!^» 



CHAPTER XL 



MEN'S PASSIONS HAVING FULL SWAY— CRIMES AND CAS- 
UALTIES. 

THE PISTOL-SHOT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD- THE MURDER OF HIS VICTIM-DEATH OF 
HUGHES— THE KILLING OF JOHN D. BAUCOM— JOHN BERRY DECLARED NOT GUILTY 
—MURDER ANU SUICIDE— COLONEL CHARLES SIMS AND WIFE— JEALOUSY AND 
INSANITY— THE NOTED TRAIN ROBBERS AND OUTLAWS— THE YOUN'JER BROTHERS 
—THE GREAT BATTLE, AND DEATH OF J(JHN YOUNGER-LOCAL DETECTIVES A FAIL- 
URE—THE VIGILANTS-FATE OF F. J. FRANCE. 

CRIMES AND CASUALTY. 

To tell of the crimes and casualties of the county from its incep- 
tion to thf present time would be superfluous. Many accidents and 
and crimes of minor importance have transpired, more of personal than 
of an historical nature, an(3 need not be again revived or brought to the 
memory of the people. Of those^which, from their brutality, or from 
the prominence of the parties in social life, a few of the most important 
are given, and the record is extended enough, and dark enough to sat- 
isfy history, while the remainder can well be left to that oblivion in 
which they are buried. 

SHOT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD. 

One of those terrible crimes for which human nature can scarcely 
understand, and which causes a shudder of horror to pass through the 
frame, was the murder of John Hughes by the hands of Jacob Fleming- 
The following description of both the murderer and his victim is victim 
is taken from the local paper: 

THE VICTIM. 

James Hughes, the deceased, was a cripple, ex-Union soldier, 
severely wounded in the battle of Stone River, and a hard working, quiet 
and inoffensive man. He came to this county from Ohio, where he 
leaves a wife and two children, whom he had made preparations to bring 
here at an early day. Ordinarily he was a sober man and not a fre- 
quenter of saloons; but on this occasion, yielding to some unknown 



926 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

influence, he entered the Arcade, and became sonnevvhat under the influ- 
ence of liquor, but not boisterous or quarrelsome. 

THE MURDERER. 

Jacob Fleming, the murderer, though comparatively young in years, 
is a notorious desperado— one whose hands, we are told, have frequently 
been imbrued in the blood of fellow mortals. He developed into man- 
hood during the late war, and entering the Missouri Militia, thirsting 
for revenge on account of real or imaginary wrongs, gave uncontrolled 
license to his passions in this direction, and numerous murders, house- 
burnings, etc., are attributed to his agency and the encouragement of 
others. On a former occasion he took the life of a man in Osceola, shot 
at another in Roscoe, and generally conducted himself in such a man- 
ner as tc be a terror to all law-abiding citizens. He is a married man» 
and the father of two interesting children, happily too young at present 
to realize the depth of disgrace into which they have been plunged by 
their reckless father. His wife is said to be an estimable woman, and 
has made constant efforts to reform him, but to no purpose. There was 
serious talk of lynching him, but we are pleased to know that wise 
counsel prevailed, and those who were rash enough to engage in such an 
act dissuaded from their purpose. He is now in the hands of the law, 
and although he has succeeded in obtaining a'change of venue from this 
county, which it was perfectly natural for his counsel to apply for, we 
feel assured he will have a fair and impartial trial, and justice done in 
the premises. 

The belief of the editor was not carried out and Jacob Fleming 
suffered for his crime at the hands of Judge Lynch: The change of 
venue was probably the cause o{ this sudden action, for it was known 
only to the participators until the time for action had arrived as laid 
down in their programme. 

THE INQUESl. 

The coroner's inquest on the body of James Hughes was as follows: 

We find that the said James Hughes came to his death by two pis- 
tol shots, fired on the 17th 'day of June, 1871, by the hands of Jacob 
Fleming, on. the evening of said day, in the saloon of John D.Ander- 
son, in the town of Osceola. 

The jury was Messrs. Dooley, Gardner, Prock, Hanks, Cole and 
Mitchell, and the coroner, Mr. Daniels. Twelve days after, on the night 
of June 29, 1871, a vigilant committee numbering nearly 100 men, rode 
up to jail and demanded the keys. Of course this was refused. The 
vigilants, however, came on business. They promptly forced the door 
with a heavy hammer brought for the purpose, proceeded quietly to the 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 927 

cell, which door they also broke down, and took out their prisoner. No 
words were spoken. All had been arranged beforehand, and the work 
was systematically carried out. With the prisoner in their possession, 
they took up their march for the old brick yard, and without words 
quickly strung him up. The prisoner was stoically silent, and took his 
fate bravely. He made no appeal, but went to his doom quietly, for he 
was wise enough to know he was then beyond human help. The vigi- 
lants surrounded the gallows and remained until one of their number 
stepped forward, examined the body ana pronounced him dead. They 
then turned, sought their horses and retired. They were effectually 
disguised. 

On June 24, 1875, J. L. Hicks, living in Osceola, was killed by the 
town marshal, John E. Cole. Hicks was on a drunken spree, disturbing 
the peace, and Cole undertook to quiet him, failing in which, he 
attempted to arrest him. This Hicks resented by striking Cole with a 
hickory stick. The marshal shot twice at him, and wounded him in the 
head and arm. 

Hicks was then taken into a store, but a few minutes after he 
attacked Cole with a heavy chair, when Cole again shot him twice 
through the body, killing him. Hicks was a very powerful man and very 
desperate when drunk. Cole's action was sustained by the citizens. 

THE KILLING OF JOHN D. BAUCOM. 

The killing of John D. Baucom occurred on the 19th day of July, 
1875, near Johnson City, in Monegaw Township. He was shot by John 
Berry, who claimed that Baucom had broken up the peace of his family, 
and in a manner that only blood could atone. Before the coroner's 
jury the following evidence was taken on the day of the murder : 

Mrs. Lucy Berry being duly sworn testifies, that she recognizes the 
body as that of John Baucom. I did not see John Berry shoot at John 
Baucom, I did not see Baucom pass when the gun was fired. I did not 
see John Berry take the gun out of the house. I heard the report of the 
gun, it being out of the house. I suppose he (Berry) had shot Baucom. 
John Berry was out of doors when the gun was fired, there being two 
shots fired. Berry came back in the house with the gun. L. J. Berry 
said for me to go to E. C. Berry's and stay. John Berry did not go to 
E. C. Berry's with me, he came afterwards; I don't know where he went. 

LUCY J. BERRY. 

E. C. Berry being duly sworn, testified : I recognize the body as 
that of John Baucom. I suppose John Berry shot him. He told me 
that he shot John Baucom. I did not know whether he hit Baucom or 
not, but suppose he did. It happened at John Berry's house. The last 
time I saw John Berry he was at my house. E. C. BERRY. 

Dr. J. W. Wheeler, W. W. Washburn and H. Lear, being sworn, 
testified: 



928 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

We recognized the body as that of John Baucom. We naade the 
examination and found three wounds upon his body, one taking effect in 
the mouth, knocking out five teeth,— four below and one above, — also 
cutting the tip of his tongue; another shot taking effect on the breast 
above the region of the left clavical; the third shot taking effect about 
two inches below and about the same distance in front of the axila, passing 
between the first and second ribs, and ranging upwards and backwards. 
We suppose it severed the arterv. 

DR. J. W. WHEELER. 

DR. W. W. WASHBURN. 

DR. H. LEAR. 

The following is the verdict of the coroner's jury: 

We, the jury, being householders in Monegaw Township, in the 
county of St. Clair, and state of Missouri, summoned to view the dead 
body of John Baucom, find that he came to his death by a gun shot 
wound received at the hands of John Berry. 

J. B. BURR. Foreman. 

JAMES McH. LEDBETTER, Coroner. 

This verdict required the arrest of John Berry, but he immediately 
fled the country, going in turn to Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas 
and Texas, finally going back to Illinois. The governor of Missouri 
offered a reward of $300 for his apprehension, to which was added $100 
each by the father and wife of the deceased. These rewards were suf- 
ficient to place persons on the lookout, and in 1877 he was arrested in 
Illinois and brought back to this county and placed in jail to await trial. 

The trial was docketed for the September term of the circuit court, 
in 1877, but the defense asked a continuance, and it was carried over 
to the March term, 1878. On the 7th of March the state and the 
defense being both ready for trial, the case was opened and the jury 
selected as follows: W. T. Anderson, William Wynkoop, William Gash, 
William E. Short, James P. Skillman, Thomas W. Wright, Samuel Cul- 
bertson, E. S. Knowles, James Anderson, G. L. Burch, Charles Wilker- 
son, H. M. Cotton. 

The state at once opened the case wMth J. W. Silsby and E. J. 
Smith conducting the prosecution, while Nesbit & Ferguson, W. P. Shel- 
don and Waldo P. Johnson appeared for the defendant. Some- twenty- 
five witnesses were examined, taking testimony occupying the court 
until Saturday noon. 

On the opening of the court after dinner. Mr. Silsby opened in a 
sixty-minute speech, followed by Waldo P. Johnson for the defense. 
John C. Ferguson and F. C. Nesbit each spoke in turn, and the case 
was closed by E. J. Smith for the state. The ability of the lawyers in 
the case and the stubbornness of the defense had attracted a large num- 
ber of citizens of the county, and the court room was crowded. Intense 
interest was felt in the case, and it was evident that the public leaned to 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 929 

the side of the accused. If a man could not defend the honor of his 
family when assailed without being given years of penal servitude, what 
could be expected of the law in any case? Such were the comments 
freely spoken outside of the court room. 

The case was given to the jury about ten o'clock Saturday night, 
and after being out only half an hour, they returned with a verdict of 
not guilty. 

Thus ended a trial that during its progress had created intense 
interest and which was generally regarded as a just verdict. 

MURDER AND SUICIDE. 

Scarcely had the excitement died out of the killing of John D. Bau- 
com when the people of St. Clair were startled with the reported mur- 
der of Colonel Charles Sims and his wife, a wealthy and prominent citi- 
zen of the county, living about a mile from the celebrated Monegaw 
Springs. The rumor, unfortunately, proved true that Colonel Sims and 
his wife were dead, but the tragic affair was the result of jealousy, and 
Colonel Sims had first killed his wife and then deliberately killed him- 
self He was the victim of jealousy, which brought on at times tem- 
porary insanity. The local report as gathered was published as follows: 

DEATH OF COLONEL SIMS AND WIFE. 

Colonel Charles Sims, a prominent and wealthy citizen of this 
county, living about one mile from Monegaw Springs, shot his wife twice 
and then shot himself, on last Friday morning. The following particu- 
lars we have learned: Colonel Sims and his wife had some angry words 
on Thursday of last week, and again on Thursday night, which caused 
Mrs. Sims to leave the room in which Colonel Sims slept, and go into 
the room with the servant girl, where she slept that night. Early the 
next morning Colonel Sims went to the room in which his wife and the 
servant girl slept, and called to them to get up, which they did. When 
the girl left the room Mrs. Sims was putting on her shoes. When out milk- 
ing near the house, the girl heard some loud talking and angry words, 
and then two pistol shots in quick succession. After the lapse of a few 
monents she heard the third shot. The hired man and the girl went at 
once to the house, where they found both lying on the floor dead. We 
also learn that Colonel Sims had been up the whole night, and wrote his 
will, dividing his property between different parties, leaving but a por- 
tion to his two children, daughters. Jealousy seems to have been the 
real cause of this terrible crime. Those who were acquainted with Mrs. 
Sims feel confident there were no grounds for the surmises of Colonel 

Sims. 

59 



930 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

The coroner's jury found nothing to controvert the above, and it 
seems to be the true solution of the terrible affair. Another report pub- 
lished was the same in substance. It reads: 

Colonel Sims was a partner with Waldo P. Johnson in the Monegaw 
Sprines, and it appears that he wanted to sell the same, but his wife 
refused to Bign the papers. Lately he came in from the west, and was 
stopping with his wife at the Widow McBride's, near the springs. All 
along he had complained of a pain in his head, and it has been thought 
by some that he was partially deranged. Last Friday parties heard pis- 
tol shots near the house, and they went to the spot and found him and 
his wife dead. He first killed her, and then shot himself through the 
heart. 

The affair took place on the morning of July 23, 1875, and will long 
be remembered by the citizens of the county, because of the tragic death 
and the high and prominent position of the parties in the social world. 

NOTED OUTLAWS. 

In the annals of crime, or in the exhibition of courage that was 
absolutely without fear, the James and Younger brothers perhaps had 
few equals, and as a desperate band of outlaws their career has been 
unexampled in the history of any age or country. They are now no 
more, so far as daring deeds is concerned. Some are dead, others living, 
but the latter are suffering punishment for their crimes. They may have 
had, and probably did have, full cause during the late war for carrying 
out a spirit of revenge for the murder and abuse of their families, but in 
the robbing of banks and railroad trains, they well knew they were out- 
side of the law, and in becoming outlaws as they did, choosing that 
mode of life, it is safe to say they knew its penalties, and were prepared 
to submit to them if caught. They have been caught and are now serv- 
ing out their punishment, but they have never complained. To the 
Younger brothers, who have made history in extended years of crime, 
St. Clair County is beholded for some exciting scenes, and part of that 
history is a part of the record of St. Clair County. From the Osceola 
Democrat is given an episode in the life of these outlaws, which took 
place within the county, and therefore belongs here, and the closing 
chapter in their career, which took place at Fairbault, Minnesota, Novem- 
ber 20, 1876, when three of these brothers pleaded guilty to crime, and 
were given a life sentence in the penitentiary of that state. The follow- 
ing are the articles from the Democrat : 

THE GREAT BATTLE. 

The whole community was thrown into excitement on Wednesday 
morning by the report reaching town that a desperate and bloody bat- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 93 1 

tie had been fouglit near Monegaw, on the road leading from Roscoe to 
Chalk Level, about three miles from Roscoe, and near the farm of Mr. 
Theodrick Snuffer, between a couple of United States detectives and 
John and James Younger, the defectives having along with them as 
guide, Mr. Ed. B. Daniels, a young man of Osceola. One of the detec- 
tives, named Wright, made his escape back to Osceola, and was unable 
to give full particulars of the fight and its results, but gavTe it as his 
opinion that his partner and Daniels had surrendered and would be 
killed. Friends of Young Daniels at once crossed the river and went a 
few miles to ascertain what was the result, and soon returned with the 
information that Ed. Daniels and John Younger had been killed and the 
detective, Allen, mortally wounded, when a hack was procured and sent 
over to bring the body of Ed. Daniels to town, as also the wounded 
detective. The excitement grew high and Sheriff Johnson thought it 
best to send out his deputy, Simpson Beckley, with a posse of men, and 
prevent, if possible, (in case there should be anything like a mob visit 
the scene of the battlefield) any disturbance. Some half dozen men 
were at once summoned, but before starting information was received 
that the wounded detective had been taken to Roscoe. The sheriff's 
posse then proceeded to Roscoe, and our special reporter accompanied 
them with a view to ascertaining full and authentic information of the 
whole affray. 

Roscoe was reached about five o'clock in the evening, where we found 
the wounded Detective Allen, at the Roscoe House, under charge of 
Dr. A. C. Marquis. We found Mr. Allen suffering considerably from his 
wounds, which consisted of a broken left arm, with several buckshot in 
it, and a pistol shot through the left lung, the ball entering in front and 
passing through the body, the wound having been caused by being dis- 
charged from a large sized navy revolver. In our interview with him., 
he stated the same in substance as his evidence before the coroner's 
jury, which will be found below. 

The shooting occurred about three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, 
the 17th instant, and word was sent to Roscoe the same evening, when 
some of the citizens of that place went out and staid with the wounded 
and dead men until Wednesday morning, when Justice St. Clair, of Ros- 
coe summoned a jury and an inquest was lield over the dead bodies, 
which is here reported in full. The body of Ed. Daniel was taken to 
Osceola and that of John Younger was buried in the afternoon. 

We went from Roscoe to the residence of Mr. Snuffer and there 
learned that the Younger boys, John and James, had come to his resi- 
dence about one half hour previous to the appearance of the detectives 
and young Daniel, they, the Youngers, eating dinner at the time they 
passed. After eating their dinner, John Younger remarked to his 
brother James that they would follow those men and see who they were, 
stating at the time that he supposed they were detectives, and when 
they caught up with them the battle commenced, as reported below. 

We passed over the battle ground, and must confess we were sur- 
prised to find it the place it is, as, from the reports, as well as from the 
evidence of both detectives as to having been taken by surprise, we are 
at a loss to see how such a thing was possible. It is to be presumed 
that the detectives were on the watch, as they certainly knew the char- 
acter of the men they were after. The ground is a beautiful grove, 



>932 HISTORY OV ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

thinly studded with small trees, without underbrush or leaves on the 
trees, and any one approaching could readily be seen for three or four 
hundred yards. 

Mr. Alva Wycoff, of Appleton City, a q-entleman of prominence 
and highly respected, went to the house of Mr. Snuffer on Wednesday 
night and learned all the particulars, and when we met him on Thursday 
morning he assured us that there need be no fears of mobbing, so far as 
the citizens of that portion of the county were concerned, as it would 
be left to the detectives, in whom they had full confidence. 

The body of Ed. Daniel was deposited in its last resting place, in 
the cemetery, this (Friday) morning. 

Dr. Marquis thinks there is a probability that the detective, Allen, 
will recover from his wounds, although they are severe. The citizens of 
Roscoe are giving the wounded man every attention possible. A dis- 
patch was sent to Chicago on Thursday for his wife to come on. 

The following is the evidence before the coroner's inquest, held on 
the bodies of Edward Daniel and John Younger: 

W. J. Allen, being duly sworn, testified as follows: 

Yesterday about half past two o'clock, the 17th day of March, 1874, 
E. B. Daniels and myself were riding along the road from Roscoe to 
'Chalk Level, which road runs past the house of one Theodoric Snuffer, 
and about three miles from the town of Roscoe, and in St. Clair County, 
Missouri. Daniels and myself were riding side by side, and Wright a 
short distance ahead of us; some noise behind us attracted our atten- 
tion, and we looked back and saw two men on horseback coming 
toward us, and one was armed with a double-barrel shotgun, the other 
with revolvers; don't know if the other had shotgun or not; the one had 
the shotgun cocked, both barrels, and ordered us to halt; Wright drew 
his pistol and put spurs to his horse and rode off; they ordered him to 
halt, and shot at him and shot off his hat, but he kept on riding. Dan- 
iels and myself stopped, standing across the road on our horses; they 
rode up to us and ordered us to take off our pistols and drop them in 
the road, the one with the gun covering me all the tim.e with the gun. 
We dropped our pistols on the ground, and one of the men told the other 
to follow Wright and bring him back, but he refused to go, saying he 
would stay with him; one of the men picked up the revolvers we had 
dropped, and looking at them, remarked they were damn fine pistols, 
and they must make them a present of them; one of them then asked 
me where we came from, and I said from Osceola; he then wanted to 
know what we were doing in this part of the country; I replied, ramb- 
ling around. One of them then said, you were up here one day before; 
I replied that we were not; he then said we had been at the Springs; I 
replied that we had been at the Springs, but had not been inquiring for 
them, that we did not know them, and they said detectives had been 
up there hunting for them all the time, and they were going to stop it. 
Daniels then said, "I am no detective; I can show you who I am and 
where I belong;" and one of them said he knew him, and 
then turned to me and said, "what in in hell are you rid- 
ing around here with all them pistols on for.^ and I said: 
"Good God! is not every man wearing them that is traveling and 
have I not as much right to wear them as any one else .'*" and the one that 
had the shot gun said, " Hold on, young man, we don't want any of that," 



HI3T0RV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 933 

and then lowered the gun, cocked, in a threatening manner; then Dan- 
iels had some talk with them, and one of them got off his horse and 
picked up the pistols; two of them were mine and one was Daniels'; the 
one mounted had the gun drawn on me, and I concluded that they 
intended to kill us. I reached my hand behind me and drew a No. 2 
Smith & Wesson pistol and cocked it and fired at the one on horseback, 
and my horse frightened at the report of the pistol and turned to run, 
I heard two shots and my left arm fell, and then I had no control over 
my horse, and he jumped into the bushes and the trees and checked his 
speed, and I tried to get hold of the rein with my right hand to bring 
him into the road; one of the men rode by me and fired two shots at me, 
one of which took effect in my left side, and I lost all control of my horse 
and he turned into the brush and a small tree struck me and knocked me 
out of the saddle. I then got up and staggered across the road and lay 
down until I was found. No one else was present. W. J. ALLEN. 
Subscribed and sworn to, before me, this i8th day of March, 1874. 

JAMES ST. CLAIR. 

TESTIMONY OF JOHN M'FARRIN. 

I heard a shot a couple of hundred yards from my house, and I found 
out after the first shot that it was John and James Younger; after the 
first shot they ceased firing for some time, and then commenced again, 
but I had not seen any of the parties; but after several shots had been 
fired, another man, who I did not know, come down the road, and I think 
they were both shooting at one-another; I am certain that John Younger 
was shooting at the other man; he continued to run down the road east 
of here; I think John Younger passed the man on the grey here; about 
the time John Younger passed him I saw him sink on his hcrse, as if 
going to fall; don't know what become of him afterwards; then Younger 
turned to come west and began to sink, and then fell of^ his horse; then 
James Younger came down here a foot to where John Younger was lay- 
ing and the horse that John Younger was riding, and that was the last I 
saw of James Younger. JOHN McFARRIN. X. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 18th day of March, 1874. 

JAMES ST. CLAIR, J. P. 

TESTIMONY OF JOHN R. M'FARRIN. 

The testimony of John R. McFarrin was corroborative of that of 
John McFarrin, both of whom were together. 

TESTIMONY OF THEODRICK SNUFFER. 

The men came to my house and inquired the way to Mrs. Sims; the 
third man came along afterwards and overtook them; the two Youngers, 
John and James, after they had passed, followed them; I saw James 
Younger after the fight; he told me that John Younger was dead; that 
they had killed one of the men and that one other had been wounded 
and got awav; that they had wounded Allen; that Allen had a pistol 
secreted and fired the first shot. THEODRICK SNUFFER. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this i8th day of ?vlarch, 1874. 

JAMES ST. CLAIR, J. P. 



934 HISTORY OF st. clair county. 

TESTIMONY OF G. \Y. M'DONALD. 

John Younger fell from his horse; James Younger came running up 
to where John had fallen and called me to him; he then turned him 
(John Younger) over and took some revolvers off of him, and a watch 
and something else out of his pockets; I do not know what else; I saw 
John Younger and another man shooting at each other when the first 
firing commenced; I think James Younger took four revolvers off of 
John Younger, his brother; he threw one over the fence and told me to 
keep it; he then told me to catch a horse and go down and tell Snuffer's 

folks. G. w. Mcdonald. 

Sworn to and subscribed before me, the i8th day of March, 1874. 

JAMES ST. CLAIR, J. P. 

TESTIMONY OF DRS. MARQUIS AND LEWIS. 

All we know concerning the death of the two men, being the same 
that the inquest is being held over, is that the one, John Younger, came 
to his death from the effects of a gunshot wound, which entered the 
right side of his neck, touching the clavical bone on the upper side, and 
about two inches from the meredian, went nearly straight through the 
neck; the orifice is small, indicating that he was shot with a small ball 
The other man, Edwin B. Daniels, came to his death from the effect of 
a gunshot wound, which entered the left side of the neck, about one 
inch from the meredian line, and about midway of the neck, opposite 
the cxsophagus, and as per examination, went nearly straight through 
the neck, striking the bone; the orifice was pretty large, indicating that 
the ball was of a pretty large size. A. C. MAROUIS, M. D. 

L, LEWIS, M. D. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this iSth day of March, 1874. 

JAMES ST. CLAIR, J. P. 

The following names comprise the coroner's jury, with A. Ray as 
foreman: A. Ray, G. W. Cox, J. Davis, W. Holmes. R. C. Gill and H. 
Greason. 

The verdict of the jury was as follows: 

We, the jur}', find that John Younger came to his death by a pistol 
shot, supposed to be in the hands of W. J. Allen. 

A. RAY, Foreman. 

We, the jury, find that Edward B. Daniel came to his death b}' a 
pistol shot, supposed to have been fired by the hand of James Younger. 

A. RAY, Foreman. 

LOCAL DETECTIVES — HOW THEY DIDN'T CAPTURE THE OUTLAWS. 

Some three months previous to the above exciting battle and its 
terrible result, some few men at Appleton City concluded to capture 
the outlaws and secure the large reward which had been offered for 
them, besides throwing a halo around their own head and making the 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 935 

State echo with the glory of their great achievement. Just where the 
glory comes in will be found in the following narrative, which is both 
truthful and interesting: 

THE YOUNGERS ARE HUNTED AND CAPTURE THEIR PURSUERS. 

Upon the morning of December 7, 1873, Mr. Joseph Morrow, of 
Chalk Level Township, upon starting from his residence to mount his 
horse, which was hitched at the front gate, he noticed a party of six 
men approaching. Paying little attention he mounted his horse and 
started for a neighbor's house. By this time the advancing party 
attracted his attention by two pistol shots, at the same time calling on 
him to halt, but Mr. Morrow put spurs to his horse and dashed away. 

Some of the Younger boys, as it happened, were in the neighbor- 
hood, and a friend of the boys met the six doubly armed men. Ot him 
the party inquired for certain ones of the Youngers, stating that one of 
the Youngers was riding a horse that had been stolen in Clay Count}-, 
Missouri, and that they (the party) were upon the hunt tor the Youngers. 

Learning that a party were in search of them, the Youngers started 
on the war trail, in search of the himtittg party. The six men extended 
their search to Roscoe, which place they reached on the morning of the 
8th instant. They next scoured the Osage Hills, going in the direction 
of Chalk Level, but after traveling the Chalk Level road some three 
miles, they filed off to the left in the direction of Monegaw Springs. 
The Younger boys being in search of the hunting party all the while, 
came upon and captured the party, or four of them at the Monegaw 
Springs. Two of the party having gone on to Chalk Level, of course 
were not captured. 

The Youngers, after disarming their prisoners, took them to Mr. Wil- 
son's hotel, and had a good breakfast prepared for them, but the poor 
fellows felt so cheap that their appetites entirely failed them, and all, 
with the exception ot Mr. Cobb, of Appleton City, ate sparingly, and 
Mr. Wycoff could not relish any of the delicacies which were so bounti- 
fully set before them. 

After breakfast was over, one of the Younger boys stated to the 
prisoners: " Now, gentlemen, we have you in our possession, and can 
do with you as we wish; and if you (the hunting party) had me and my 
brothers in your power, beyond a doubt you would kill every one of us. 
But zue are men — men^possessing too much brave blood to be guilty of 
such cruel butchery." 

The Youngers further stated that were certain parties whose 
political views were different from theirs at the breaking out of the 
war in 1861, and certain men of that party had murdered their dear 
old father, who, at that time was living in Jackson County, Missouri, 



936 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

a peaceable citizen, and all for the purpose of robbing him of a few 
hundred dollars in cash. The most damnable act beiiic^ to strip their 
widowed mother of all stock and provisions of every kind; burning 
her house over her head, thus turning her penniless out in the cold 
storms of winter — the snow six inches deep— and her and the younger 
children did not have enough clothes to protect them from the win- 
try blasts. She was then compelled to call upon friend and stranger 
for assistance — for clothes enough to keep her and her little children 
from freezing. She was drove from place to place, and finally brought to 
an untimely grave, caused by exposure, and the wretched treatment 
she received at the hands of the Federals. Humanity shudders at the 
thought! 

" There are a few of the d — d party here who had a hand in that first 
hellish act, and you are still trying to implicate me and my brothers in 
every crime committed in Missouri, or any other state. Now, gentle- 
men, we set you at liberty, go to your homes and stay there. We want 
to stay the hand of blood, if possible, but if we can't be permitted to live 
as peaceable citizens, the blame will rest upon other men's shoulders, 
and not upon ours. This we disdain. 

You know that my brother. Cole Younger, was accused of being one 
of the party who robbed, or had a hand in the robbery of the railroad in 
Iowa, which was committed some time ago. At that time I and my 
brother were in St. Clair County, Missouri. This we can prove by the 
very best citizens of the county, men whose word is always acceptable. 
When a certain party found out that we could prove our innocence, in 
regard to the Iowa railroad robbery, then we were horse thieves, insist- 
ing that we had stolen horses. As we can prove a good title to every 
horse we have had in our possession since the war, the d — d fool party, 
who differs with us politically, has called upon Governor Woodson, of 
Missouri, to hunt us out of St. Clair County, as if we were thieves and rob- 
bers. But I do hope that Governor Woodson has too much intelligence 
to believe any such radical lies, told by men whose hands are still red 
with the blood of our innocent old father, who was most brutally mur- 
dered during the war. They committed this and other damnable acts, 
and try to conceal their crimes by shouting ' murder ' at the back of other 
people. And why ? They would rejoice in the destruction of me and 
my brothers simply because they fear some vengeance at our hands — a 
just retribution. This we also disdain, and all we pray for is to be let 
alone to enjoy ourselves in peace. The war is long since past, and as 
we know there is a just God, who will punish the crimes of all wrong 
doers, with Him we are willing to let the matter rest. 

" Now mount your horses, gentlemen, and go back to Appleton City 
and stay there. We don't want to hurt you, and don't drive us to kill 
any of you, for such is a very unpleasant task. We wish you a safe and 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 937 

pleasant journey home, but under no circumstances must you come back. 
Good bye." 

Our correspondent says that after the speech was finished, the 
Younger boys each bid the party " God-speed," thus showing that they 
bear no* ill will toward any of them. We learn further that the four 
brave, stalwart men, who could not bag their game, mounted their horses, 
and it is safe to conclude that in the future they will attend to their own 
business. 

These were the only incidents of importance which transpired 
within the county, of these noted outlaws. 

There have been many other crimes and casualties. Marcellus Har- 
ris killed Dr. James Smith at Osceola; and it was said to have been a 
plain case of murder. He was cleared by the law, only to be waylaid 
and assassinated about a year after, 1861, not over one-fourth of a mile 
from the court house. 

John McMahon killed Elisha Ellis, which, of course, he denied. 
Then came the murderers, Smith, Park, Pierce and Gilbert, the three 
former who took passage across the " dark river " by the courtesy of 
Judge Lynch. There was some trouble about this, and Governor Phelps 
proposed to give Judge Lynch a specimen of his legal power, but it did 
not succeed very well. It, however, made the judge's representatives 
considerably excited, and they came resolutely to the front and stood up 
for their acts in the following specimen of lynch law literature, stating 
their position, and the why and the wherefore of Judge Lynch's pro- 
ceedings. Here is the document in full: 

LETTER FROM THE MODERATORS — PROCEEDINGS OF THE HANGING 

AFFRAY. 

Osceola, Missouri, May 19, 1880. 

We, the moderators of St. Clair, have hung Smith, Parks and Pierce, 
and we wanted Gilbert, but Parks and Pierce said that Gilbert was gone 
off on trial. He was hid back in the corner, and they denied his being 
there until we got in about fifty steps of where we hung them, when Parks 
said, " boys I won't lie about it," and said that Gilbert was back in the 
jail in the corner of the cell. It was too late to go bacic and catch him, 
for he was out and gone. He was not seen by any of the crowd that 
night, for we wanted him as bad as we did the rest of them. The rea- 
son we shot Smith was because he had a knife and tried to fight, when 
they shot him, and he started to run, when they shot him with a gun. 
We expect it was a lucky thing for Tom Emerson that he was shot, for 
Smith would have tried him and may be killed him and got away. We have 
understood that Smith's wife brought him a pair of trousers which had 
the knife concealed in them. 

We have done the work and we did it for the benefit of the honest 
people of St. Clair County, that try to make an honest living for their 
families. Criminals can be tried by the law and a decision given, and 



938 HISTORY OF ST. Ct.AIR COUNTY. 

then run at large after costing the county three or four thousand dol- 
lars, at the peojjle's expense, and then the guilty go unpunished. We 
don't want to hurt or damage anybody only the ones that we think are 
guilty. Our unjust demands are more than we can stand without heap- 
ing an overload on us. This county has been imposed upon by a cer- 
tain class of men, and they are mostly lawyers, and we are getting tired 
of it; the law is not any account and propose trying mob law. 

MODERATORS. 

Perhaps the saddest case of all was that of F, J. France, which had 
been written up for this work in full, but the following comments and 
•condensation of the case from the Osceola Sun of March 15, 1883, 
gives all that is necessary, and the unfortunate close. An attempt will 
be made to have him pardoned, and it is the wish of all those who know 
the man and the circumstances that the pardon may be granted. The 
Sun says: 

We are sorry to say that the supreme court has approved the verdict 
of the lower court, and F. J. France is now an inmate of the Missouri 
Penitentiary. About five years ago France killed a young man by the 
name of Dickey for the alleged crime of seducing his (France's) wife. 
He was arrested and lodged in jail at Osceola, where he remained for 
nearly a year, and at the trial of his case in 1879 the jury found him 
guilty of murder and assessed his punishment at forty years in the pen- 
itentiary. An appeal was taken to the supreme court, and pending a 
hearing of the cause, France succeeded in giving bonds, and was a free 
man up to last Tuesday. Something out of the ordinary run of affairs 
was used to his disadvantage, and his troubles since that date have been 
enough to set a stronger man crazy. 

In 1881 his wife filed divorce proceedings, and while her prayer was 
granted, so gallant a fight was made by his lawyers that he was made 
equal owner of his minor children — they spending the winter with their 
father and summer with their mother. In 1882 the grand jury found an 
indictment against him for the murder of a young man by the name of 
Johnson, several years since. Three other parties were also indicted for 
this latter murder, but France was hurried off to Jefferson City before 
the case had been tried. Concerning the former life of France the Sun 
knows nothing, but during the past four years he has been closely 
watched by us, and has governed himself in an honest, straightforward 
and gentlemanly way. Being always at work, ever ready to turn his 
hand to his trade (carpentering) or anything else that promised him a 
■dollar, drinking nothing save water, he has endeavored to atone for his 
past acts, and we but voice the public sentiment when we wish that his 
trial had resulted otherwise. 



CHAPTER XII. 

COUNTY OFFICIALS AND COUNTY POLITICS. 

COUNTY SEAT COMMISSIONERS— JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, 1840 AND 1841— COUNTY OFFI- 
CIALS FROM COUNTY JUSTICES TO CIRCUIT JUDGES— RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT- 
POLITICAL— THE VOTE FROM 1870 TO 1S76, AND COMPARED— SENATORIAL— THE 
ELECTION OF 1882-THE STATUS OF PARTIES. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

1840 and 1841, William Carter, H. W. Crow, William Gash, L. R. 
Ashworth, James Simrall, George Trotter, John G. Gray, Samuel P. 
Hedges, William M. Cox, A. D. Moore, George Lewis. 

COMMISSIONERS TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT. 

1841 — Joseph Montgomery, Calvin Waldo, Thomas F. Wright. 

COUNTY JUDGES. 

1841— Joseph Montgomery, presiding; William Gash, Hugh Bar- 
nett, Sr., resigned. 

1844 — Joseph Montgomery, resigned, William Gash, Thomas F. 
Wright, appointed. 

1846 — Thomas F. Wright, appointed. Judge Smith, Edmund 
Nance. 

1848 — Judge Smith, presiding; Edmund Nance, Thomas F. 
Wright. 

1850 — James T. Gray, presiding; Harlem Hayes, Calvin Waldo. 

1852 — Calvin Waldo, presiding; Harlem Hayes, James D. Gray. 

1854 — Calvin Waldo, presiding; Anthony N. Hester, James H. Green, 
died November, 1855. 

1856 — Calvin Waldo, presiding; Anthony N. Hester, Joshua Rick- 
man, appointed. 

1858 — Joshua Rickman, presiding; William Rice, Uriah L. Suther- 
land. 



940 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

1865 — William A. Mitchell, presiding; Elias Disney, resigned 
November, 1866, Rawley Llewellen. 

1866 — William A. Mitchell, presiding; Rawley Llewellen, William 
Collins, appointed. 

1868 — William A. Mitchell, presiding; William Collins, Thomas F. 
Robinson. 

1870 and 1872, to July — Thomas Henly, presiding; William Collins, 
Thomas F. Robinson. 

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 

1872 — John p. Low, Jackson Township; William Barnett, Butler 
Township; Joshua Rickman, Chalk Level Township; Scott Nesbit, Mon- 
egaw Township; Christopher Shoe, Appleton Township; Asahael Heath, 
Taber Township; Thales H. Wright, Osceola Township; William H. 
Moore, Polk Township; J. J. C. Wolfe, Dallas Township; Hugh L. M. 
Doyal, Doyal Township; John Breeden, Roscoe Township; William A. 
Long, Speedwell Township; Cyrus Baker, R. R. Moore, Washington 
Township; John W. Plumblee, Collins Township. 

A BENCH OF FIVE JUDGES. 



1873 — Asahael Heath, presiding; John P. Love, Thomas F. Younger,. '■ 
Thomas Henley, John Breeden. * 

1875 — ^Asahael Hiath, presiding; John P. Love, T. J. Younger, Wil- 
liam Barnett, John Breeden. ] 

1877 — William Rice, presiding; William Barnett, A. F. Wycoff, T. j 
M. Cover, John Breeden. | 

REDUCED TO THREE. • 

I 

1877 — Thomas Henly, presiding; Ashael Hiath, William Rice. , 

1878 — R. R. Moore, John T. Tandy, Thomas J. Younger, presiding, j 
1879 — R- R- Mopre, presiding; J. W. Robinson, J. T. Tandy. 
1880— R. R. Mo'ore, Phillip VanAllen, Jasper Grimes. 
1882— J. C. Phillips, E. L. Harper, Mayfield Hoshaw. 

DEATH OF CALVIN WALDO. 

The death of Judge Calvin Waldo, occurred February 17, 1858, 
while presiding justice of the St. Clair County Court, which position he ] 
had held some eight years. His death was mourned by a large circle of j 
friends and relatives. He was a prominent and at the same time was I 
one of the oldest and most honored citizens of the county. 

The county court met after his death, March 10, passed the follow- ; 
ing resolutions and adjourned court : 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 94I 

Whereas, Since the adjournment of the February term of this 
court, in the dispensation of his Providence, it has pleased our All Wise 
Creator to remove from us Judge Calvin Waldo, the worthy presiding 
justice of this court, who died at his residence on the 17th of February, 
1858, therefore 

Resolved, That we feel the afflictive hand thus laid upon us, doubt- 
less for our good, and endeavor humbly to submit to His divine will, and 
that we feel admonished that we too, with the rapidity of time, are pass- 
ing away. 

Resolved, That we tender to the widow, family and relatives of the 
deceased the tenderest sympathies of our nature. 

Resolved, That the foregoing preamble and resolutions be entered 
upon the records of this court, and that a copy of the same be furnished 
the widow and family of the deceased. 

RESOLUTIONS OF REGARD. 

At the April term of the county court, 1877, Asahel Heath, who 
had been presiding justice of the county court for four years, retired, 
and William Price took his place. But his co-laborers could not let him 
retire without an expression of regard for one who had so ably and 
so impartially presided over their deliberations. The court made the 
following preamble and resolutions a matter of record, and they read: 

JUDGE ASAHEL HEATH. 

Whereas, It has come to pass in the revolution of human events 
that we are about to sever our official connection with Asahel Heath, the 
presiding justice of the county court, and 

Whereas, During the four years that he has presided over us, 
questions of grave moment have arisen, and a very critical period in the 
history of the county court has passed; and 

Whereas, It is meet and htting that in parting officially with one 
in whom we have been so pleasantly associated, as well during times 
that tried men's nerves as during the smoother and more even course of 
official duty; therefore, be it •* 

Resolved, That the members of the court sincerely regret the sever- 
ance of official connection which is about to take place between them- 
selves and Judge Heath. 

Resolved, That in his fearless and faithful performance of difficult 
duties during a critical period in the history of St. Clair County, he has 
deserved the just praise of all true citizens. 

Resolved, That we desire here to express our admiration of that 
strict impartiality, strong common sense and unswerving integrity 
which has always governed him in the performance of the duties of his 
position. 

Resolved, That in Judge Heath the people have always found a 
willing and faithful servant, and that in his retirement from the bench 
he takes \\\\.\\ him to the peace and quiet of domestic life, the deep 
regret of his associates and the universal esteem of his fellow citizens. 



942 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the record of the 
court, and that a certified copy of them be presented to Judge Heath 
by the Clerk. 

(Signed) JOHN BREEDEN, 

A. F. WYCOFF, 
L. M. COVER, 
WILLIAM BARNETT, 
Associate Justices of St. Clair County Court. 

JAMES H. LINNEY, Clerk. 
WILLIAM M. COX, Sheriff 
LAWRENCE LEWIS, Treasurer. 
DANIEL P. MORGAN, Deputy Sheriff. 
L. B. CHURCH, Deputy Clerk.' 
G. N. LILLY, Deputy Treasurer. 

COQNTY SEAT COMMISSIONERS. 
1841, Simeon Poston; 1854, William A. McCIain. 

BRIDGE COMMISSIONERS. 
1854, John T. McClain; 1859, Aurelius B. Harris. 

SWAMP LAND COMMISSIONERS. 

185 1, Robert H. SprouU; 1870, Albert G. Clarke. 

CLAIM AGENT. 
1864, John Dawson. 

SUPERVISORS OF REGISTRATION. 

1866, Jacob Pugh; 1870, Lindsay Barnes. 

ROAD COMMISSIONERS. 

1867, C. C. Owens; 1870, Ralph C. Bowles. 

COUNTY CLERKS, 

1841, Charles P. Bullock; 1850, James W. Beck; 1859, Daniel P. 
Morgan; 1862, John J. Scott, appointed; 1862, John Dawson, elected; 
1864, Lindsay Barnes; 1866, William O. Mead, resigned; 1870, Thomas 
J. Monroe, appointed; 1870, George M. Outhwaite, elected unexpired 
term; 1870, James H. Linney; 1878, William M. Cox; 1882, Thomas D. 
Hicks, present incumbent. 

SHERIFF AND CO1.LECTORS. 

1841, John Smarr, died 1844; 1844, John L. Trahem; 1846, Zacha- 
riah Lilley; 1850, George Preston; 1854, Daniel P. Morgan; 1858, Rob- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 943. 

ert p. Cocke; 1863, Broadus G. Roberts, resigned November, 1866; 1866, 
Elias Disney, removed May 11, 1868; 1868, J. Wade Gardner, acting 
sheriff; 1868, Thomas B. Sutherland, appointed; 1868, William William- 
son, elected; 1870, Samuel H. Donovan; 1872, James R. Johnston; 1876, 
William M. Cox; 1S7S. John P. Gordon; 18S2, A. D. Jones, present incum- 
bent. 

COUNTY TREASURERS. 

1841, William H. McCullough; 1848, Waldo P. Johnson; 1852, John 
F. Weidmeyer; 1862, John F. Mitchell, resigned; 1864, John Dawson;; 
i860, John W. Dooley; 1874, Lawrence Lewis; 1878, Kenerly B. Won- 
acott; 1880, James K Wilkinson; 1882, Ignatius M. Woodall. 

COLLECTORS. 

1878, William M. Llewellen; 1882, John P. Gordon. 

COUNTY ASSESSORS. 

1850, J. M. Barding; 1845, Abram Miller; 1858, district No. i, town- 
ships 39, 38 and 37, range 24, Abram Miller; district No. 2, townships 39, 38 
and 'i)'j, range 25, Merrill G. Phillips; district No. 3, township 39, 38, and 
37, range 26, John Burch; district No. 4, townships 39, 38, and 37, range 
27, all of township 36 that lies in range 27, Thomas F. Wright; district 
No. 5, townships 39, 38 and 37, range 28. and all of township 36 that lies 
in range 28, Lafayette F. Willingham; district No. 6, all of ranges 24, 25, 
and 26, that lie in township 36 in St. Clair County, Urich L. Sutherland; 
1S59, district No. I, Thomas F. Wright, district No. 2, Marcellus J. Har- 
ris; district No. 3, John F. Metcalf; district No. 4, William L. Browning; 
district No. 5, William F. Beard; district No. 6, William L. King. 

BY THE COUNTY. 

i860, Abram Miller; 1864, John Wheeler; 1866, Hugh B. Cole; 1867, 
S. D. Whitten; 1869, Jacob Pugh; 1870, S-. D. Whitten; 1872, township 
organization law; 1877, Thad. M. Gardner; 1878, Daniel Williams; 1880, 
A. H. Butler; 1882, John J. Hawkins. 

CIRCUIT CLERKS AND RECORDERS. 

i860, James W. Beck; 1865, C. B. Starkey; 1866, William D. Gra- 
ham. 

CIRCUIT CLERKS. 

1874 — James M. Pugh, present incumbent.. 



944 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

RECORDERS. 

1874, Daniel P. Morgan; 1878, W. U. Townsend; 1882, Daniel P. 
Morgan. 

JUDGES OF PROBATE. 

1867, William A. Mitchell; 1870, G. W. Shields; 1872, T. Johnson 
and Charles H. Sweeney; 1874, Alex Walker, died in effice; 1876, John 
P. Love, present incumbent. 

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS. 

1865, Henry Denny; 1870, J. L. Ross; 1874, Thomas Tucker; 1876, 
John T. Harper. 

COUNTY SURVEYORS. 

1841, R. Sanders Nance, to 1862; 1866, John J. Scott; 1868, I. N. 
Graham; 1872, Ralph C. Bowles, present incumbent. 

SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. 

1851, E. C. Davis; 1853, William F. Carter; i860, Cortes Tincher; 
1864, Lindsay Barnes; 1866, William O. Mead; 1867, John W. Coen, 
1870, — Hill; 1872, William Rice; 1876, W. W. Warren, resigned Jan- 
uary, 1879; 1879, F- H. Miller; i88r, John S. Smith. 

COUNTY LAND COMMISSIONERS. 

1859, Samuel P. Hedges; 1865, William C. Reader, resigned; 1866, 
Samuel C. Chumbly; 1867, Thomas J. Monroe, resigned; 1869, E. T. 
Daniel; 1873, Frank C. Nesbit; 1876, Thomas M. Johnson; 1877, Frank 
P. Hosteller; 1880, Eli W. Cooley; 1883, W. W. Stiaffner. 

CORONERS. 

1856, Columbus Kahn; 1865, A. G. Clarke; 1866, J. Wade Gardner; 
1870, William B. Sharpe; 1872, David McDowell; 1874, J. V. Miller; 
1876, A. C. Davidson; 1878, A. C. Marquis; 1880, A. C. Davidson, pres- 
ent incumbent. 

COUNTY PHYSICIANS. 

1868, A. C. Marquis; 1869, B. L. Dozier; 1870, B. F. Stevens; 1874, 
B. L. Dozier; 1875, Hamilton Kibbie; 1876, J. Wade Gardner; 1877, N. 
P.Wright; 1878, Cally Hamblin; 1879, T. H. Wright; 1881, Cally Hamb- 
lin, present incumbent. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 945 

MANAGERS POOR FARM. 

1871, William P. Welsh; 1873, Jacob Longan; 1878, R. W. Perren; 
1879, Daniel P. Morgan; 1880, Frank Hannah; 1881, A. Canady; 1882, 
W. J. Perrin. 

REPRESENTATIVES. 

1842, Nathaniel Bell; 1844, Hugh Barnett; 1846, Waldo P. Johnson 
1848, John T. Crenshaw; 1850, Alex McClain; 1856, George Preston 
1858, Dr. P. M. Cox; i860, Dr. William Trollinger; 1862, B. F. Cook 
1864, George Preston; 1866, John Whittaker; 1868, John L. Vickers 
1870, C. A. Schooley; 1872, John C. Furguson; 1874, John T. Metcalf: 
1876, Frank C. Nesbit; 1878, T. Jeff Younger; 1880, John W. Wright 
1882, M. B. Strickland, present incumbent. 

COUNTY ATTORNEYS. 

1866, Shield Brothers; 1868, G. W. Shield; 1869, Albert G. Clarke; 
1870, John C. Ferguson; 1872, James A.Ramsey, resigned; 1872, Frank 
C. Nesbit; 1873, T. H. Wells; 1875, T. M. Johnson; 1877, J. W. Silsby; 
1879, J- B. Jennings; 1880. William P. Sheldon; 1882, Albert E. Ross, 
present incumbent. 

CIRCUIT JUDGES. 

1841, Foster P. Wright; 185 1, Waldo P. Johnson; 1854, Dewitt C. 
Ballou; 1858, Foster P. Wright; 1865, Burr H. Emerson; 1868, David 
McGaughay, resigned 1872; 1872, John D. Parkinson, unexpired term; 
1874, John D. Parkinson; 1880, Charles G. Burton, present incumbent. 

TWENTY-FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT. 

St. Clair, Vernon, Barton, Cedar and Dade Counties, 1883. 

CIRCUIT ATTORNEYS. 

1841, George Dixon; i84"4, Thomas Ruffin; 1848, Waldo P. John- 
son; 185 1, Burr H. Emerson; 1858, Thomas W. Freeman; 1865, David 
P. Shields; 1867, Samuel S. Burdett; 1868, William S. Shirk; 1869, 
William N. Pickerill; 1872, Charles G. Burton. Office vacated. 

POLITICAL — VOTE. 

St. Clair County was, before the war, a little more inclined to Dem- 
ocracy than what at that day was called the Whig party. It was not 
until the war that a change took place, and from i860 to 1870, the 
Republican party held power. The election that year made a change, 



946 HISTORY O]" ST. CLAIR COUNTY 

or partly so, and the Democrats came into power. The vote of 1870 ia 
given so that it can be compared with later years, and the political 
status of the county known for comparison with future elections. 
Before the war, while sometimes political feelings ran high, there was 
no ill will engendered, except for the moment, and sectional strife was 
unknown. Of later years too much of this feeling has been carried into 
politics and a bad spirit excited, which has done much local harm, as 
well as in a general way to imperil the spirit of unity among the sister- 
hood of states. The gospel of hate is dying out, and those who would 
carry it into social or political life are rapidly crossing the " dark rirer," 
and it is well. A union of hearts and a union of hands, which none can 
sever, must be the future of the states. 

THE VOTE OF NOVEMBER 8, 187O. 

Representative — 

Graham 490 

Schooley 62 1 

Sheriff— 

Rothgeb 460 

Donovan 65 1 

Circuit Clerk — 

Graham 555 

Pugh 527 

County Clerk — 

Johnston 478 

Linney 625 

County Justice — 

Vestal 469 

Henley 636 

Treasurer — 

McNeil 484 

Dooley 609 

Public Administrator — 

Vaughan 486 

Ross 581 

Assessor — 

Foote 466 

Whitten 634 

Coroner — 

Clark 494 

Sharp 598 

Superintendent of Schools — 

Barber 455 

Hill 628 

Superintendent Registration — 

Thomas 506 

Barnes 542 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, 947 

NOVEMBER 3, 1 874. 

For Judge Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit — 

John D. Parkinson* 1 541 

For Representative — 

Thomas J. Younger* 802 

John T. Metcalf 878 

For Treasurer and Collector — 

Dr. Lawrence Lewis* . . 863 

R. R. Moore 85s 

For Clerk of County Court — 

John R. Hopkins* 736 

James H. Linney 883 

For Prosecuting Attorney — 

Thomas M. Johnson* 842 

R. S. Emmons , 822 

For Clerk of Circuit Court — 

John R. Jenkins* 711 

James M. Pugh 970 

For Recorder of Deeds — 

Daniel P. Morgan* 941 

W. W. Warren 742 

For Probate Judge — 

William M. Cox* 797 

Alex. Walker 904 

For Sheriff — 

James R. Johnston* * 926 

James A. Sisler 77 1 

For Public Administrator — 

John T. Harper* : 848 

Thomas Tucker 851 

For Coroner — 

Dr. N. P. Wright* 841 

J. V. Miller . 845 

For Constitutional Amendment — 

Yes 1319 

No 36 

For Convention — 

Yes 588 

No 706 

1876. 

Legislature — 

Frank C. Nesbit* 1,227 

Emerson Barber 868 

Treasurer and Collector — 

Lawrence Lewis* 1,184 

L. L. H. Cherrington 913 

Sheriff- 
William M. Cox* 1,1 19 

Perry C. Hoshaw 95^ 

*Dem'jcrats. 



948 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Prosecuting Attorney — 

James W. Silsby* i,i34 

David P. Shield 93^ 

Judge of Probate — 

John P. Love* i,i49 

Edwin Mason 929 

Public Administrator — 

John T. Harper* 1,158 

W. V. Bridges 950 

Surveyor — 

Ralph C. Bowles* ... i ,096 

Coroner — 

A. C. Davidson* 2,048 

These tables give the political complexion of the county. The democ- 
racy seemed to have gradually gained ground for the preceding six years. 
This did not hold good, however, two years after, when the Greenback 
party came to the front and elected their men. This party was some- 
thing of the nature of the Patrons of Husbandry, had high aims and an 
honest purpose, but it fell before the blighting influence of demagogues : 
and political adventurers, who, with adamantine cheek and desperate 1 
resolves, determined to rule or ruin the party. " They had been in a num- 
ber of cases, in party parlance, " kicked out of th'e ranks," and they sought I 
other fields for power and pelf They succeeded, and with a few " imprac- j 
ticables," became the leaders of the new party, and it insured the down- 
fall of a splendid organization, with " people's rights " as their platform. 
It should never, that is " hardly ever," have sought an extended or 
national issue. County organization and state ought to have satisfied 
it, while it was in its infancy and cutting its teeth, but in grasping after 
the infinite it lost its state and local power, which alone could result in , 
benefit to the people. It is a heavy contract to overpower the policy ,j 
and strength of a party in a nation, but county organizations kept up for j 
a few years, would have been strong enough to demand state reform, and ^ 
could have won. To-day the true principles of the Greenback party are 
right, as they were eight years ago, but they want like the Grange, to ■ 
dissolve their national and even state organizations, and return to county 
affairs, taking men for their honesty, ability and business capacity, elect- 4 
ing them, and letting party, and "Oh, he's a good fellow," be sat down 
upon. I 

Brains, energy and enterprise to the front, voters of St. Clair, and \ 
let that alone become the battle cry of your party. Progress will then 1 
find an abiding place within your border, and material prosperity will , 
be found in every household. That should be the spirit of Democracy 
as against centralization, and the Greenback party might well join the ' 
throng. The year 1878 brought the Greenbackers, as above remarked, ' 

*Dciii ,-cials. , 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 949 

to the front, and the following is the county vote, of the three parties 
in the election of that year: 

GREENBACK TICKET. 

1. R. R. Moore 1218 

2. James M. Pugh 1 188 

3. T. J. Younger 1 143 

4. William Lewellan 1098 

5. Daniel Williams 1085 

6. A. C. Marquis 108 1 

7. A. L. Gilstrap 1073 

8. William M. Cox 1070 

9. A. W. St. John 1070 

10. F. H. Richards 1067 

11. M. H. Ritchey 1061 

12. K. B. Wannacott 1057 

13. J. P. Gordon 1046 

DEMOCRATIC TICKET. 

Mr. D. A. Armond led this ticket with a majority vote of 941 

J. M. Woodall 881 

D. P Morgan 819 

J. R. Johnston 811 

A. C. Davidson 782 

W. E. Shelton . • 773 

R. D. Shannon 756 

J. R. WaddiU 696 

E. H. Norton 692 

J. E. McHenry 688 

A. M. Sevier 678 

William Griffeth 6^7 

R. H. Sproul 672 



REPUBLICAN TICKET, 



1. James H. Linney -. 763 

2. A. F. Wyckoff 759 

3. W. P. Sheldon 714 

4. W. C. Holsapple 67 1 

5. Joseph M. Baker • 639 

6. Roderic Baldwin 638 

7. Frank Kimsey 632 

8. C. G. Burton 628 

9. E. F. Denney 627 

10. John P Tracy . . 61Q 

11. Thomas Anderson 618 

12. John E. Abbe 607 

13. Daniel Gilson 605 

Total vote in St. Clair County for constitutional amendment 14 

Against 2265 



950 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

TOTAL VOTE POLLED IN EACH TOWNSHIP. 

Appleton 467 

Butler 201 

Chalk Level 1 36 

Collins 126 

Dallas 95 

Doyal 146 

Jackson 103 

Monegaw 336 

Osceola 226 

Pclk 109 

Roscoe 210 

Speedwell 188 

Taber 178 

Washington 67 

Total polled ; 2408 

SENATORIAL. 

Henry and St. Clair Counties in early days belonged to the same 
state senatorial district. The first district formed after St. Clair was 
organized was in 1845, when it was changed, or other counties added to 
it. The district in 1845 was formed of Bates, Henry, St. Clair, Cedar 
and Dade. In 1855, this district was changed and called the Twenty- 
third Senatorial District, and the counties of Benton, Pettis, Henry, St. 
Clair and Hickory composed it. It was connected with Henry up to 
1876, its last senator being LaDue, who ran against Blodgett, with the 
following result: 

LaDue. Blodgett. 

Benton 818 934 

Johnson 2,565 2,349 

St. Clair i . 1 74 i .047 

Henry, majority 461 



Total 5,018 4,330 

LaDue's majority, 688. 

It was then known as the Fifteenth Senatorial District. After the 
new constitution was accepted it became the Twentieth Senatorial Dis- 
trict, and formed by uniting the counties of Polk, Hickory, St. Clair, Dal- 
las, Dade and Cedar. 

The broken term or two years, from 1876 to 1878, was represented 
by W. Q. Paxson, succeeded by the Hon. D. A. Armond of Dade 
County in 1878. The nomination of 1882 was given to E. P. Baldwin, of 
Hickory County, who was elected and will hold until 1886. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 95 1 

THE ELECTION OF 1882, 

in detail, is given below, showing the vote of the three contending 
parties, Democrat, Greenback and Republican, in order of their relative 
strength. The county is now believed to be reliably Democratic in its 
political outlook. 

The first named are Democrats, the second Greenback and the 
third Republican. The result: 

Congress — 

Morgan 987 

Spring 849 

Terrill 746 

Collector — 

Cocke 1 ,076 

Gordon i , 1 30 

Denney 556 

County clerk — 

Hicks 1,103 

Younger i .03 1 

Reese 611 

Treasurer — 

Woodall 1,052 

Yoast 895 

Metzer 826 

Assessor — 

Hawkins 1,022 

Williams 986 

Butler . 764 

Attorneys — 

Ross 1,078 

Warden 954 

Sheldon 720 

Representatives — 

Strickland 917 

Falcon 854 

Grantley 799 

Sheriff- 
Jones 1 138 

Hill 891 

Wright 736 

Probate Judge — 

Love 1029 

Tandy 967 

Hodkins 753 

Circuit Clerk — 

Evans 1012 

Pugh 1 1 17 

Pyatt 246 

Coroner — 

Davidson 1058 



952 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



Coroner — 

Marquis 942 

McNeill 771 

Recorder — 

Morgan 1083 

Dade 878 

Daniels 795 

Presiding Judge — 

Phillips 1 135 

Grimes 977 

Hillegas 547 

First District — 

Harper 1 543 

Pvatt 322 

Houk 532 

Second District — m^^M 

Blalock '377 

Hoshaw 1 502 

Wingfield 347 




CHAPTER Xlll. 

ODDS AND ENDS. 

THE GOLD FEVER— CAPTAIN WALDO'S COMPANY— WHAT BECAME OF THEM— PATRONS 
OF HUSBANDRY-RISE AND DECLINE— NUMBER OF GRANGES— A FEW REMARKS — 
THE MILLING INTEREST— MILLS, WHEN AND WHERE BUILT-SOME SUGGESTIONS— 
THE GRASSHOPPER-THE LOSS AND THE RELIEF— ROSCOE EXPRESSES THANKS- 
FIRST DEED OF R ECO !iD -SWAMP LANDS— POPULATION 

THE GOLD FEVER. 

St. Clair County did not escape the excitement which rolled over 
the country like a huge wave, carrying all before it, in the year 1849. 
The discovery of gold in California seemed fairly to electrify the nation, 
and the people swarmed every outlet that led to the Western Eldorado, 
By sea. around the Horn, or across the Isthmus, or the arid plains, on 
foot even, on horseback and in wagons, cattle, horses and mules for 
transportation, — it was the wildest and most impetuous hegira of mod- 
ern times. It was not exactly a " craze," but it was a consuming fever 
which, when once struck in, was impossible to cure except by going to 
the far-off land. It did not take long for the states to pour a hundred 
thousand able-bodied men into the gold fields of California, besides 
leaving the bones of a few thousand more to mark the route for those 
behind, to bleach and rot upon the plains and desert places, which were 
found far too numerous in their pathway. 

The fever took a virulent hold of a good many citizens of St. Clair 
County. As it spread it took a business shape and a company arrange- 
ment was effected whereby they could, in modern parlance, " pool their 
issues " for a trip to the Pacific coast. This was effected and William 
Waldo was elected captain of the company, and Ervin Thomas in charge 
of transportation. Under this arrangement a company of nearly fifty 
men was formed, the names of forty-two being here appended. 

FOR THE LAND OF GOLD. 

List of those who crossed the plains in 1849: 

Captain William Waldo, Steve Hodgin, 

Robert Foster, William Hodgin, 

Thomas Elkins, John Reed, 



954 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



Stephen Elkins, 
George Weir, 
Jonathan Culbertson, 
James Curry, 
William Curry, 
James Culbertson, 
William Marlow, 
James McMinn, 
John Abb, 
Oliver Culbertson, 
John Wamsley, 
Harrison Dent, 
Henry Dent, 
Albert Gardner, 
Jeff Gardner, 
William Smarr, 



Henry Roberts, 
Simpson Morgan, 
Russell Keller, 
John Wright, 
Richard Fuell, 
Mayfield Hoshaw, 
John Robinson,. 
George Robinson, 
Wash Robinson, 
Tigner Bailey, 
John Johnston, 
Joseph Burke, 
Alec Ray, 
Ervin Thomas, 



William Rice, 

John Waldo, wife & Nathan (colored) 

with twenty-four wagons and two hundred head of stock, cattle, mules 
and horses. 

The train crossed the Osage at Osceola, April 24, 1849, reaching the 
diggings in five months and seventeen days. One man, John Reed, 
died on the head waters of the Humboldt River, and John Waldo, John 
Wamsley and Alec Ray died shortly after reaching California. 

There were a few persons who left St. Clair County for California 
on their own hook, as it were, going alone to take their chances in the 
struggle for wealth, but the names above are all that could be remem- 
bered. The company under Waldo reached as high as sixty wagons 
before they reached California, by others joining them, and they got 
through with no serious trouble, yet suffered much from the fatigue of 
the trip. Some returned, others made California their home, but it is 
doubtful if the wealth taken out of the county to pay the expenses of 
the trip and the outfit was ever returned. 

California soon became a state from the flood of immigration which 
so suddenly overwhelmed her, and in the language of "lodge" resolu- 
tions, what was our loss was her gain. So another state was added and 
another star placed upon the banner of the free, and with this accom- 
plished let us be content. The trials and sufferings are passed, and 
past, let them be forgotten, remembering only the good and the grand 
achievement in the building up of a powerful state. 



PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 



This order flourished here in St. Clair County as it did in all other 
parts of the country from 1873 to 1875. It then commenced to droop, 
and at this date, 1883, it is virtually at an end so far as any outside influ- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 955 

€nce is concerned. The order is still in existence. It has its national 
and state organization, but locally it is done, and yet it was the county 
organization which gave it power, and which caused monopolists to 
tremble, railway kings to bow in submision to their will, and the only 
instance in the years of practiced arrogance and haughty power, which 
they had exercised, they ever admitted any other power master. But 
they tumbled before the banded yeomanry of the land, and their knees 
shook with apprehension when Grangers demanded their rights. 

The granges in this county reached the number of sixteen up to 
September, 1873, and their names, all but two, were Bear Creek, Menoa. 
Concord, Monegaw, Fidelity, Pomona, Liberty, Pleasant View, Morning 
Star, Rosebud, Magnolia, Weaubleau, Mt. Carmel, Union. 

There may have been others, but no record of them was given us. 
They established a county council in 1877, and for a few years ruled in 
politics. 

ITS DECADENCE. 

It has still an organization in the county, and some few are still 
active, but the tremendous power wielded from 1873 to 1876 is gone, 
and to the monopolists and railway magnates it is only remembered as 
a frightful visage, the terrible fabric of a dream. The Patrons of Hus- 
bandry wielded a great power for good, and it is somewhat strange that 
this power so quickly passed away. Men got in the lead who could not 
grasp the great incentive that moved the people to action, and weak in 
intellect, the power which was placed in their hands was allowed to slip 
away. These men have still managed to remain as its almoners, though 
powerless in ability to distribute among the Grangers of the country the 
gift of independence from the thraldom of monopolies, yet pensioners 
•upon the bounty of the agricultural world, held in bondage by consoli- 
dated power and immense financial resources of their enslavers. If the 
power of 1875 is ever again wielded by the farmers and working men of 
the country, they must remove from place every man connected with 
the State and National Granges. Organize by counties, and instead of 
passing over that power in the hands of a select few, wield it at home — in 
every county of the state — then when the power of this local organization 
is gathered together it will be found that it is as of other years, irresistible. 

There would be no harm in a state convention of representative 
men to compare notes, but do not delegate your power to a central few, 
who will wield it honestly perhaps, but if lacking in intellect or in nerve, 
may control that power, as before, to your ruin. There are not over a 
half dozen counties in the state that the farmers cannot control if they 
will, and to-day their enslavement is the result of their own want of 
■energy and the delegation of their power to others, at the dictate of 
part}' leaders or whippers-in, instead of wielding it themselves. 



956 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

The principles of the Patrons of Husbandry are right, but a hundred 
thousand dollar building, erected at the expense of the farmers, for a 
few so-called heads of the order to rest in luxurious ease, was about as 
lamentable a piece of folly as could be conceived on the part of the 
farmers, but a splendid financial trick and scheme for those who live in 
this costly building, and are living at the expense of many a farmer who 
has but a cabin to cover him. Shut down on your National Grange,, 
farmers of St. Clair, and look to your local interests. 

GRIST AND SAW MILLS. 

Among the first things the old pioneer found to be a great necessity 
was a mill. Among all their trials, "going to mill" was the equal of 
any, if not the greatest. Going from forty to sixty miles, a bag of corn 
across the horse's back, and compelled to walk and lead it, was some- 
thing they dreaded, and which they contrived several ways to avoid. 
First was the hole burned in the end of a log, and with the iron wedge 
used to split logs and rails, fastened on to a handle, was the pestle and 
mortar used in those days. Then came the hand mill fastened up to a 
tree, and that was a decided improvement over pestle and mortar. Then- 
came the horse mill, or the band mill, as some would call, and that 
seemed to be a thing of perfection and a joy to those who had prac- 
ticed a year or two on the two first named. 

But even that was slow work. It is said that a sharp boy being 
sent to mill and being very tired of waiting, blurted out to the proprie- 
tor of one of these mills that "he could eat that corn ineal as fast as he 
ground it." The miller looked up and asked the fretted boy how long 
he could do it, and he replied, "until I starved." Undoubtedly they 
were slow to work for fifteen bushels was considered a big day's work. 
However, there was no reason why the old settlers of St. Clair County 
should remain long practicing these primitive modes, when nature had 
given it a power that need only to be guided by the genius of man to 
furnish all with food. Hardly a county in the state has the grand water 
power of St. Clair County. The Osage^ and Sac Rivers are a veritable 
mine of wealth in a manufacturing point of view, while other streams 
like the Big Monegaw, the Weaubleau and Brush Creek can be tound, 
capable of a power, which if utilized to its full capacity, would prove of 
inestimable value. 

THE FIRST MILL. 

The first water mill was put up in i84i,onthe Sac River, southwest 
from Osceola about ten miles. It was krfown for miles around by the 
name of the "Ritchie Mill." It was with one exception the only mill 
of the kind in the county for several years. It had two run of burrs and 
did a good business. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 957 

The next mill that is remembered was put up in 1845. James Gard- 
ner, one of the first justices of the peace in the county, erected a mill on 
Weaubleau Creek; in Polk Township. It was a grist and saw mill, and 
had an extensive patronage, especially east and south. The mill stood 
for about ten year.';, when high water carried it off. There was another 
mill put up on the Weaubleau, an account of which will be found further 
along in this article. There were but three mills running in the year 
1861. From that time to 1867, very little was added to the milling prop- 
erty of the county. In the latter year a practical mechanic and miller 
by the name of A. M. Fuqua, settled in the county, and gave his whole 
time and attention to the milling business, both in the erecting and 
management of them. He had a fine field to display his ability. He was 
the builder of nearly every mill in the county from that day to this. He 
is now a prominent citizen of Osceola, and the proprietor of one, and 
joint proprietor with his son in the two mills located at the county seat. 
The Wagner mill was built in 1867, with two run of burrs, and a Mr. 
Brown erected a saw mill the same year on the Osage, near where the 
present flouring mills stand, or nearly directly in the rear of the resi- 
dence of James H. Linney, but down on the river. It was taken down 
and moved to the Sac to saw the lumber for the $6,000 bridge across 
that historic stream, and from there it started on a trip to Vernon 
County, then back to the Sac, and finally found a resting place at Osce- 
ola, as the property of Mr. Fuqua, A saw and grist mill was put up in 
1869, with two run of burrs, which was finished in the winter of 1869-70. 
One of these mills before the war was owned by James Tally, on the 
Osage, at Tally's Bend. 

Samuel Martin put up a mill on the Weaubleau in 1873 in the cor- 
ner of Doyal Township, and it was kept running for four years. It was 
then sold and taken to Roscoe where it is yet doing effective duty. 

The Taberville Mill remained a while at that point, being the first 
put up there, but was subsequently removed to Appleton City and was 
the first mill in that lively little city and is yet part of the extensive 
milling and flour manufacturing establishment of C. Shoe & Son. 

A grist and saw mill was erected at what was called " Looney's 
Springs," in February, 1S78, which done some excellent work. These are 
the principal mills of note in the county, or that have ever been erected. 
There have been some others, both saw and grist, but not of much force. 
To-day there is room for manufacturing establishments, for water power 
is abundant, but until St. Clair yields a greater amount of grain her 
present milling interest will be able to do the work. 

GRASSHOPPERS. 

Grasshopper year was the year 1875 and it is as prominent and as well 
remembered as the centennial year, 1876. St. Clair County was not as 



958 IIISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

heavily afflicted as some but it made havoc with the northern and west- i 
ern townships, and from Butler to Speedwell they proved a sad reality i 
in the destruction of the growing crops. Committees of relief were | 
formed and aid asked for those who were unable, from their own i 
resources, to meet the tide of destruction or recuperate from the blow. \ 

The relief committee at Appleton City was organized June lO, 1875, 
with A. F. Wyckoff, chairman; A. Luchsinger, treasurer; W. D. Clark, ' 
superintendent of distribution; R. S. Emmons, secretary, who kept a ' 
correct record of the proceedings of the committee. 

Thus the committee on relief was systematically organized for busi- 
ness, with a knowledge of their responsibilities and with an eye to 
prompt relief for the sufferers. The next move was to appoint an active , 
and responsible committeeman in each of the suffering townships, to ' 
become the connecting link between those needing help and the depot ! 
of supplies, which was at Appleton City. I 

The gentleman so appointed was to give the order from his town- 
ship to those who needed assistance, and his endorsement of the voucher j 
was sufficient. I 

The following gentlemen were appointed in their respective town- ! 
ships to give the necessary vouchers to applicants for aid who are resi- ] 
dents of said townships: Osceola Township, Scott Nesbit; Monegaw 
Township, Charles Nesbit; Chalk Level Township, L. S. Cherington and [ 
G. M. Gabbert; Butler Township, William Hook; Tabor Township, John 1 
Hill. Other townships needing aid applied through their township trus- j 
tees, except those in Appleton Township, who went direct to the super- 1 
intendent of distribution. 

There were three other townships contiguous to Appleton City 
which received their assistance from that point, and the following per- 1 
sons were appointed to act for the sufferers in those townships: Thomas 
S. Long; Deepwater Township, Henry County, William Earhart; Deep- : 
water Township, Bates County, S. C. Sturtevant; Hudson Township, | 
Bates County, J. B. Wells. ! 

At the time this committee was formed, some supplies had come to \ 
ha^. One car load, mostly corn, had reached Appleton City, and more j 
wa?'telegraphed as being on the way. Of course, only to those unable \ 
to purchase were supplies furnished free. Seed was furnished at a 
nominal cost to those able to pay. Potatoes, white beans and corn for j 
seed, as well as to eat were divided out. The principal sufferers were j 
north and west of St. Clair and were relieved from the supply depot at | 
Appleton City. j 

Everything that a generous public could do was done, and those ' 
living in the eastern part of the state were not slow in contributing to 1 
the relief of their sorrowing neighbors in the western part. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 959 

The labor and living of a year was gone within ten days, and it was 
not to be wondered at that blank despair seized upon the minds of many 
which even the relief offered seemed but a mocking, when viewed by a 
mind dazed and a sorrowing heart. But it is past, and if not forgotten, 
as it cannot be, yet it now seems as but a frightful dream, once realized, 
but now gone, may it be hoped, forever. 

THE OLDEST DEED OF RECORD. 

This indenture, made and entered into on the i6th day of March, 
1839, between Henry W. Crow and Virginia I., his wife, Phillip Crow 
and Maria F., his wife, and Richard P. Crutchfield and Matilda M., his 
wife, of the county of Rives and state of Missouri, of the one part, and 
Joseph W. Cox, of the county and state aforesaid, of the other part. 
Witnesseth, that the said H. W. Crow and Virginia I., his wife, P. Crow 
and Maria F., his wife, and R. P. Crutchfield and Matilda M., his wife, 
for and in consideration of the sum of $50, to them in hand paid, the 
receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged,, do hereby grant, bargain, sell,, 
convey and confirm unto the said J. W. Cox, his heirs and assigns for- 
ever, one certain lot in the town of Osceola, county of Rives and state 
of Missouri, known as lot No. 3, in block No. 24, together with all and 
singular, the appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise apper- 
taining, to have and to hold the above described premises, unto the 
said J. W. Cox, his heirs and assigns, forever, and we will warrant and' 
defend the same against the claim of ourselves, our heirs and assigns, 
and against the claims of all other persons whatsoever. As witness our 
hands and seals this day and date above written. 

H. W. CROW. [SEAL.] 

P. CROW. [SEAL.] 

VIRGINIA I. CROW. [seal.] 

MARIA F. CROW. [seal.] 

R. P. CRUTCHFIELD. [seal.] 

M. P. CRUTCHFIELD. [seal.] 

State of Missouri, ) 

Rives County, j" " ' 

I, William F. Carter, an acting justice of the peace for the county 
and state aforesaid, do hereby certify that the above named W. H. Crow 
and Virginia I., his wife, P. Crow and Maria F., his wife, and R. P. 
Crutchfield and Matilda M., his wife, have duly acknowledged this deed 
according to law. I further certify that the said H. W. Crow and Vir- 
ginia I. are man and wife, that P. Crow and Maria F. are man and wife,, 
and that R. P. Crutchfield and Matilda M. are man and wife. I also cer- 
tify that I have examined Virginia I. Crow, Maria F. Crow and Matilda 
M. Crutchfield privately and apart from their respective husbands, and 
they say that they have freely relinquished all their right and title tc 
the within mentioned property, without compulsion or undue influenc 
of their husbands. 

Given under my hand and seal this 30th day of March, 1839. 

WILLIAM F. CARTER. [seal.] 



\ 

I 

960 history of st. clair county. i 

State of Missouri, 



County of Rives, f ^^" ! 

I, F. A. Pinnell, recorder, within and for the county aforesaid, do ' 
hereby certify that the foregoing instrument of writing was recorded in ; 
book C, pages 108 and 109. j 

Given under my hand and seal of court, at office, this 30th day of i 
October, A. D. 184.0. F. A. PINNELL, Clerk. 

Filed for record October 2, 1844, and recorded January 7, 1845. 

SWAMP LANDS. | 

The swamp lands of St. Clair County were selected by Robert H. [ 
SprouU, and amounted to 26,034 50-100 acres, patented to the county in 
1855. The first sale ot swamp lands took place at the county seat in 1 
September, 1855, and Daniel P. Morgan made his report to the October | 
term of the court. It sold at $1.25 per acre, and the court at that term | 
ordered the sheriff to continue the sale, both public and private, at the , 
same price per acre. On the completion of that first sale $506.17 was 1 
paid Mr. Sproull for selecting the land. i 

In 1856 the lands were withdrawn from sale and advertised in the , 
Independent for a public sale, October i, 1856. The sale came off as did ] 
several others at a later date, and these sales were not reported until ' 
1859. The largest sales during that period were as follows: 

John Sifford, 3,662 98-100 acres, at $2.38 7-10 per acre, $8,743.11. 

Waldo P. Johnson, 4,801 53-100 acres, at 93 cents per acre, $4,- ] 

465.41. , 

Sundry persons, 1,495 49-100 acres, at $2.67 1-7 per acre, $3,995.10. | 

Sundry persons, 3,783 6-100 acres, at 75 cents per acre, $2,837.30. i 

Sundry persons, 548 68-100 acres, at $1.25 per acre, $685.85. I 

Later, John McMurtry bought 2,284 23-100 acres and paid $3,220.92; | 

Waldo P. Johnson, 205 28-100 acres and paid $408.60. | 

There were other small sales added, which and the total is here ' 

given: 

Amount patented to county, acres 26,034 50-100 1 

Gross sales, acres 21,813 52-100 > 

Acres remaining 4.220 98-100 

The loss to the school fund of this money loaned amounted to a ! 

good many thousand dollars on account of the war, and caused many 

law suits and much trouble. 

The next sale of note was to Gabriel S. Masky, who purchased I 

517 63-100 acres. 

GETTING AT THE SITUATION. ■ 

Nothing had been seriously done after the war to trace out the ' 
unsold land, or iro into the examination of the tracts which had been ! 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 961 

default, until 1869, Then the county court, which should have sooner 
looked to the interests of the schools of the county, appointed Albert 
G. Clarke agent. He was to go back to the first sale and tract of land 
and purchasers, see who had paid and who had defaulted, and he was 
given full power to unravel the matter, and when satisfied to advertise 
the land belonging to the county, notify unpaid holders to come forward 
and pay'up, and all who failed to advertise their lands also. In the 
meantime, the county court, November 6, 1869, appointed Thomas B. 
Sutherland and R. H. SprouU to show the selected swamp lands of the 
county as a basis for Mr. Clarke's work. They reported to the court two 
months afterward, or in January, 1870, and reported also their account 
of $564 for the two months' work, which was paid. 

Mr. Clarke was ready by fall, and he advertised a sale September 
21, and another November 10, 1870. The September sale amounted to: 

3,433 49-100 acres and brought $14,395 25 

The November sale 501 4-100 acres and brought 1,267 50 

Total sale $ 1 5,662 75 

For the remaining land there were no bidders. 

The county yet owns sixteen sections of swamp lands, which will 
probably be of great value in a few years, and with the forfeited land, 
the school fund will not be a loser to exceed $5,000 by the losses of the 
war. There is probably not a county in the state that sold its swamp 
lands for the prices reached by St. Clair, or lost less outside the losses 
of the war. 

POPULATION OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

The county of St. Clair having been organized in 1841, the first 
enumeration was the census of 1850. St. Clair, however, was settled in 
1833, but being a part of and attached to Rives (now Henry) County, 
until 1841, her population in 1840 can only be approximately given, but 
will be found to have been, in round numbers, about 2,300. Therefore, 
the population is here given by decade, up to and including i860, for the 
county in the aggregate. 

White. Col'd. Total. 

Population of 1840 2,200 

Pupulation of 1850 3,107 449 3,556 

Population of i860 6,229 5^3 6,812 

CENSUS OF 1870. 

The census of 1870 is here given by townships, as previous to this 
changes in the municipal divisions and in boundaries have been so great 
as to preclude the giving of correct figures for these divisions. The 
townships, with the white and colored population, is as follows: 

61 



962 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

White. Col'd. Total.^ 

Butler Township 640 6 646I 

Chalk Level Township 840 11 85 1| 

Jackson Township 410 I 41 1| 

Monejraw Township 1,433 i i,434' 

Osceola Township 882 y^ 957J 

Polk Township 316 31^ 

Roscoc Township 873 49- 922! 

Speedwell Township 603 3 6o6| 

Washington Township 593 6 5991 

.1 

6,590 152 6,742, 

White. Col'd. Total.j 

Osceola (town) 286 45 331; 

Roscoe (town) 302 . . 302; 

Taberville (town) 157 3 i6oi 

This is not a flattering showing, in fact it is a very bad exhibit, the; 
loss in population in the aggregate being seventy; that is, there was: 
seventy more population in i860 than in 1870. This loss, however, wasj 
exclusively among the colored people. The gain of white population 
during the decade was 361, and the loss of the colored population 431, 
or seventy more than the gain of the whites, thus reducing the aggregate 
just that number. The colored population in i860 was 583; in 1850, 
449, — a gain of 134; but in 1870 there were but 152 colored people in 
the county. What caused this exodus is not explained. 

IHE CENSUS OF 1880. 

The new township organization law of 1872, called forth in St. Clair i 
County, as in others, a revisions of the municipal divisions, increasingi 
their number, and rearranging the boundaries. Instead of nine town- 
ships, as in 1870, there were in 1880 no less than fourteen. During the 
decade Appleton City was founded in the northwest corner of the county, 
and Taberville seems to have died. The growth of the county, however, 
was a source of pride for the census of 1880, as much so as the census 
return of 1870 was mortifying. It is hardly to be believed that this lat- ' 
ter census was correct. The mistakes and blunders of the census of i 
1870 is beyond all comprehension. 

THE INCREASE. 

I 

The growth of St. Clair County is here summarized, and its percent, 
of gain or loss, leaving out fractions, shown for each ten years, or decade 1 
of its existence: ! 

Population, 1840 — 2,200. i 

1850 — 3,556. Gain of 62 per cent. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 963 

i860 — 6,812. Gain of 92 per cent. 
1870 — 6,742. Loss of I per cent. 
1880 — 14,125. Gain of no per cent. 

This was a splendid increase, of which few counties can boast of the 
decade past and the future is certainly bright for continued prosperity- 

POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS. 

Appleton 1,983 

Butler 1,399 

Chalk Level 861 

Collins 863 

Dallas 635 

Doyal 838 

Jackson 775 

Monegaw 1,321 

Osceola 1,162 

Polk 605 

Roscoe 1,253 

Speedwell I.I33 

Taber • 95 1 

Washington • 346 

14,125 
POPULATION OF TOWNS. 

Appleton City 1,034 

Osceola 373 

Roscoe .^ 172 

1,579 

Agricultural population 12,546 

In cities and towns i»579 

Total County 14,125 




CHAPTER XIV. 

WAR RECORD-PRESS— EARLY BAR. 

FROM 1 86 1 TO 1865. 

5 
The troubles, trials and, we add, the crimes of this eventful period' 

is not a pleasant theme to dwell upon, even after nearly two decades of; 

time has softened the memory of those who still live, or has lessened i 

the sorrow for those who gave up life to a cause they believed to be 1 

right. 

When war's first alarm had echoed through the hills and valleys of: 
the Osage the people awoke, and, while for peace and union, were mostly 
Southern in their ideas and views. A small minority joined the Federal 
cause, and had not the Kansas Jayhawkers destroyed Osceola many 
more would have joined the Federal forces, but Lane and his murderous i 
followers of thieves and assassins came near driving out all Union sen- 
timent from the hearts of the people. 

How Osceola was pillage'd and destroyed, and how fearfully and ter-; 
ribly avenged will be found in the history of Osceola in this work. What < 
is known of Confederate sympathy for the cause of the South is gath- | 
ered from the volunteers, who numbered between 800 and 900 men, who 
joined that cause from St. Clair County. But their record is not found j 
here. The Confederate muster rolls were seldom kept, but doubtless in 
the Confederate archives, captured or found and taken to Washington, 
would reveal much of what is now only known to the participants of the ^ 
struggle, and they are fast passing the river of death to the mysterious 
beyond. 1 

The destruction of Osceola was so far in advance of any other act | 
of vandalism in the county that little else that occurred was worthy of 
history. 

When the muttering of the storm was first heard and the Osage j 
hills began to re-echo the approach of it, the leading citizens of Osceola] 
called a meeting and issued an address to the people of St. Clair County. ; 
It is here given in full, and will be found of interest to those who are 
yet living and gave their names and influence to this address, and to the ; 
present and future as a part of that history which has left a dark blot ' 
upon its pages, and which, as time presses on, future generations will j 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 965 

wonder why the people in those days gave way to passion and engaged 
in the murderous strife of a civil war. 

The names marked with a star {^) are those of parties who are now 
dead. 

To our fellow citizens, friends and acquaintances in this section of the 

state. 

We are in the midst of an excitement unparalleled in our history, 
but it should be remembered and born in mind by all good citizens, that 
the state of Missouri is yet a member of the Federal Union. The peo- 
ple are still under the broad aegis of the constitution and laws which 
guarantee to every citizen protection to his person and property, and 
the free enjoyment of his opinions. And while we stand by the consti- 
tutional and proper authorities of our state, and will cheerfully obey its 
mandates, yet we would invoke our fellow citizens, by every consider- 
ation dear to the rights of men, to abstain from all violence whatever, 
upon citizens in your midst, on account of differences of political views. 
Let them be permitted to enjoy them, at their usual places of abode, 
free and unmolested. We exhort you to use no violence, in word or 
deed, to their persons or property — for all should remember that any 
such rash conduct will never prosper a. Just cause. 

Hastily, in conclusion, we invoke you to keep the peace in your 
neighborhoods, and let every man's person or property be kept invio- 
late, under the constitution and laws of the state. 

"William J. Mayo, *Samuel C. Harrison, 

Waldo P. Johnson. *W. Dorrell, 

*William A. McClain, Samuel Moore, 

^George H. Vaughan, *Thomas B. Johnson, 

J. F. Weidmeyer, *Aaron Trippitt, 

D. P. Morgan, *James W. Beck, 

*John T. Crenshaw, Thomas R. Vaughan, 

*W. L. Vaughan, *Joseph W. Cox, 

■=^M. J. Harris, *William Rice, 

R. C Vaughan, P. M. Cox, 

R. R. Cocke, T. N. Henly, 

*T. W. Mitchell, S. C. Bruce, 

"John T. McClain, John J. Yeater, 

*E. D. Murphy. 
Osceola, Missouri, May 18, 1861. 

A few months after that Jim Lane convinced them that they were, 
instead of being protected, wholly unprotected in their person and prop- 
erty. 

FEDERAL TROOPS. 

The first company raised for the northern army was Company D, of 
the Sixteenth Regiment of Enrolled Missouri Militia, of whom Ben- 
jamin F. Cook was chosen captain. 

The company was organized August 2, 1861, and through the kind- 
ness of Captain Cook, who is still a resident of St. Clair County, we 



966 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



came in possession of the muster roll of his company, and give the 
names in full. On the date above mentioned sixty-nine ofificers and 
men joined and formed the company, and the remainder connected 
themselves soon after. 

The following is the muster roll referred to: 

MUSTER ROLL OF CAPTAIN COOK'S COMPANY, AUGUST 2, 1 86 1. 



Benjamin F. Cook, captain, 

John Wheeler, ist lieutenant, 

Joseph Whitaker, 2d lieutenant, 

John Whitaker, orderly sergeant, 

Hugh B. Cole, sergeant, 

Mark Renfro 

John M. Martin, " 

Jacob Thompson, " 

William B. Robertson, sergeant, 

James Gilbert, corporal, 

Francis M. Cole, corporal, 

Robert H.Fisher, " 

James Cauthon, " 

Washington V. Bridges, corporal, 

Broadus G. Roberts, " 

Richard D. Deer, 

Isaac Tucker, " 

William C. Holesapple, 

William J. Hutton, 

James A. Hicks, 

George W. Casey, 

Robert M. Leonard, 

Robert A, Leonard, 

James M. Lord, 

Robert Lawler, 

Joseph H, Martin, 

John C. Miller, 

Caloway Melton, 

George E. Marlow. 

Benjamin F. Roberts. 

Joseph Roberts. 

Isaac Robinson. 

Stephen J. Renfro. 

James T. Reynolds. 

John Saunders. 

Robert D. Sheeks. 



John O. Bristow, 
William Bristow, 
Albert G. Clements, 
Sterling Cooper, 
Franklin Choice, 
Joseph L. DeLozier, 
Jacob Ernest, 
Seth H. Fisher, 
James French, 
William D. Gamblin, 
John Higgins, 
William T. Higgins, 
Jacob Higgins, 
Francis N. Higgins, 
Joseph L. Higgins, 
Filmore R. Higgins, 
Henry Hall, 
John J. Hawkins, 
John B. Hutton, 
John Hubbs, 
John T. Keton, 
George W. Leonard, 
Richard Lennox, 
Thomas Lord, 
William O. Martin, 
Robert C. Martin, 
Daniel Miller, 
Jacob Swank. 
George Walker. 
John Witt. 
Benjamin F. Weir. 
George W. Wyatt. 
William H. Burchett. 
William Belisle. 
James Boswell. 
Robert P. Cole. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



967 



Austin Sheeks. 
Bethnell Hendricks. 
Isaac Hendricks. 
Parish Brown. 
Henry Snyder. 
William F. Thompson. 
Ewing E, Thompson. 
Thomas J. Tucker. 
Thomas Tucker. 
William Todd. 



George Chapman. 
Gabriel Cove. 
Charles DeShazo. 
Thomas H. Fletcher. 
Oliver P. Fletcher. 
George Eskridge. 
Robert J. Meredith. 
Oliver B. Copeland. 
Thomas R. Parsons. 
John O. Smith. 



The company was organized by Captain Chase, of the First Iowa 
Cavalry. Captain Burdette also raised a company, or battalion, and 
joined Colonel Hays' regiment. The First Iowa Cavalry, above spoken 
of, was quartered in Osceola after it was destroyed. 

There were quite a number more who joined the Federal forces, and 
although all the names have not been remembered, most of them have 
been gathered and are here appended. Other muster rolls were not be 
had, but the following were volunteers from St. Clair County during the 
war, and are in addition to Captain Cook's company: 



Jacob Pugh. 
David Pugh. 
James M. Pugh. 
Anderson Morton. 
Ralph C. Bowles. 
James T. Cole. 
Francis M. Ayres. 
Frank Graham. 
John T. Campbell, 
William V. Fisher. 
W.W.Robinson. 
William Price. 
John W. Price. 
Charles Burton. 
Thomas Burton. 
William W. Lord. 
J. J. Delozier. 
W. H. Wyatt. 
Thomas Wyatt. 
John Casey. 
N. T. Casey. 
W. W. Walters . 
John Dawson. • 
Elias Disney. 
James J. Reavis. 



Joseph Zohrenger. 
Otto Zohrenger. 
William Thomas. 
W. P. Sheldon. 
Thomas Roberts. 
John E. Mc Williams. 
R. W. Perrin. 
William James Perrin. 
John T. Redman. 
Littleton Clarkson. 
Teff Higgins. 
J. J. Sheeks. 
Jesse Fowler. 
Jacob Fleming. 
Bass Summers. 
T. W. Miller. 
John R. Bradshaw. 
S. B. Hodges. 
McCloud Benson. 
C. L. Ayres. 
J. C. Hartley. 
Daniel Shippey. 
David McGee. 
John Upton. 



968 HISTORY OF ST. CI. AIR COUNTY. 

There were some local deeds committed that may well be forgotten, 
many that oblivion should cover and memory fail to record, but these 
were among those who were too cowardly to meet as brave men should, 
face to face upon the field of battle. But the war ceased after four years 
of a desperate struggle, which has few parallels in the annals of history. 
The blue and the gray fought, as brave men always do, for the cause 
they believed to be just, and in courage and endurance they proved 
themselves noble sons of the patriots of 1776, who in years agone were 
famous in song and story, whose deeds of daring are recorded among 
the bravest of brave men in the annals of our country's history, and 
whose heroic self-sacrificing lives will ever adorn the pages of that 
immortal record which flashed to the world a nation born and liberty 
triumphant. 

THE PRESS OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

To give a history of the press of St. Clair County would fill a vol- 
ume, for it has been a sort of graveyard for many years for the fourth 
estate. A recoKl of the rise and fall from year to year will be sufficient . 
to show that the newspaper has not flourished in St. Clair County. 

The first paper published in the county was at Osceola, the county 
seat, in 1853. William H. Mayo was the publisher, and an able, but 
erratic genius, named Edward C. Davis was the editor. He became state 
superintendent of schools, a forger, jail bird and drunkard, but was unde- 
niably the ablest writer that ever graced the tripod in St. Clair County. 

In 1854 Mayo & Lamkin were publishers. This paper was called 
the Osceola Independent. Later Richard (Dick) Divens was publisher 
up to as late as i860. This was the only paper which flourished in ante- 
belhiiii days. 

The first paper after the war was the Osceola Herald, by the Gra- 
ham Bros., started in 1866 and died June 4, 1874. November 29, 1872, 
the Graham Bros, sold the paper to Thomas D. Hicks and Louis M. 
Reese. 

They continued until July 24, 1873, when Hicks stopped and the 
Graham Bros, with Reese, entered upon its publication. It continued 
until January 27, 1874, when it suspended for six weeks and- then started 
up again with the old proprietors, Robert S. and William D. Graham, 
and continued until June 4, 1874, as above stated, and died. Politically 
it was Republican. 

There was a Missouri Democrat in 1866, but who run it was not 
stated. The first paper that came under the name of a Democratic 
paper was the Osage Valley, J. Wade Gardner, publisher. It changed 
its name to Democrat, and this is probably the paper referred to above, 
and the Osage Valley was the first started, the same year as the Herald. 
The change from the above name to Osceola Democrat, occurred July 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 969 

I, 1871, Mr. Gardner's valeditory and Mr. T. C. Davis' salutatory 
appearing in the paper of that date, John W. Dooley, publisher. This 
was a ten day arrangement, for on July 10, 1871, Thad M. Gardner 
became publisher, Mr. Davis retaining the editorship. Mr. Davis con- 
tinued until May 25, 1872, when he retired from the editorial position, 
and Mr. Gardner tried it alone until July 20, 1872, when he sold out and 
A. C. Appier assumed control at that date. June 13, 1873, the Democrat 
suspended. However, it started up again and A. C. Appier & Co. con- 
tinued until June 25, 1874, when A. C. Appier quit, and on July 2 the 
paper came out under the auspices of H. P. Appier & Co. as publishers. 
Then July 23 A. C. Appier and Charles H. Lucas assumed control of the 
paper, the former as publisher and the latter as editor. This was the 
situation for the political campaign, after which, November 24, 1874, the 
paper again suspended, and Messrs. Appier & Lucas retired. 

After a two weeks' rest, a brave citizen of the county purchased the 
office. His name was John R. Hopkins, and the paper was still called 
the Democrat, xvith John R. Hopkins & Co. publishers. This»occurred 
December 10, 1874, and an editorial head was added February 18, 1875, 
in the person of F. M. Woodbury. After three months of labor, Mr. 
Woodbury said: 

Farewell.- — With this issue our connection as editor of the Dem- 
ocrat ceases. To all we bid adieu. F. H. WOODBURY. 

May 27, 1875, the above was published, and the next issue, June 3, 
1875, A. C. Appier serenely came to the front and announced that he 
would be, henceforth, editor. This continued up to August 12, 1875, 
when that horror of horrors, an opposition Democratic paper, sounded 
its note of defiance, and claiming to be the only original " simon pure," 
placed at once that original legend at the head of its editorial columns, 
double-leaded and in black-faced type: " We have come to stay." 

Before going on with the recital of this interesting drama, it may 
be well to remark that from the ashes of the dead Herald arose a bloom- 
ing flower, and as the Grange business at that time assumed consider- 
able importance, the flower was christened the 

farmers' friend. 

Wade W. Shaffner assumed the paternity of this exotic, while the 
Graham Brothers, manfully backed by their party, stood sponsors for the 
innocent. However, it blossomed out more like a sunflower than a lily, 
and as Mr. Shaffner was pretty well stocked with brains it made a gal- 
lant fight. It started April 4, 1874, with its first issue, but it blossomed 
a little ahead of time, and to recuperate waited until May 9th for its 
next issue. Then it continued until June 4th, when it accomplished 



970 HISTORY OF ST. CT.AIR COUNTY. 

the unparalleled feat of swallowing the Herald. As a business transac- j 
tion this was a grand suceess, but when it was required of the genial ' 
Shaffner that he was, on general principles, to also swallow the entire 
Republican party of St. Clair County, the melancholly fact is here I 
recorded that his stomach rebelled, and — but in saying farewell let us 
drop a tear. The golden stairs were reached in November, 1874. 

HOW LONG IT STAYED. 

The advent of the Osceola Sentinel seemed to impress Mr. Hopkins 
that perhaps the rising commercial metropolis of the county would sup- ' 
port a Democratic paper, and he therefore removed the Democrat office 
to 'Appleton City and issued his first number November 2, 1875, T. C. 
Davis editor. He had suspended his paper a few weeks preparing for 
his removal from Osceola. The Sentinel had started out with T. C. Davis 
as editor, but he withdrew and went to Appleton City with the Demo- 1 
crat. H§ only remained two months on that paper, when F. H. Wood- 
bury took charge, January 5, 1876. j 

Dr. H. C. Kibber took the helm of the Sentinel after Mr. Davis, in 
August, 1876, and held the position some months. Dr. Kibber brought ' 
his journalistic experience from Roscoe. 

Time passed on and time generally brings changes, and there was 
no exception in the year 1876. Mr. John Hopkins had got enough of the 
newspaper business in Appleton City, from a Democratic standpoint, 
and promptly came to the front and Osceola, by purchasing in May, 
1876, the Osceola Sentinel and consolidated it with the Appleton City, 
formerly Osceola Democrat, and removed his material from Appleton 
City to Osceola. His last issue of the Democrat in the former city was 1 
June I, 1876. 

SENTINEL-DEMOCRAT. 

The first issue of the consolidated paper called the Sentinel-Demo- 
crat was on June 15, 1876, F. H. Woodbury, editor, and John R. Hopkins, 
publisher. For two years and six months this paper was the organ of 
the Democratic party, or until January i, 1878. 

THE OSCEOLA SUN. 

January 3, 1878, the Sentinel-Democrat was sold, the purchaser 
being Thad. M. Gardner, who changed the name to the Osceola Sun. 
Mr. Gardner and Thomas C. Davis being the editors. Mr. Gardner 
retained control until September 12, 1878, when F. H. Woodbury became 
publisher, and Mr. Davis continuing its editor. This continued for 
two months, when on November i, 1878, Davis retires and Rufus P. 
Woodbury was made editor. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 97 1 

March 6, 1879, R- P- Woodbury says farewell, and Lewis M. Reese 
takes charge as editor and proprietor. This was to continue but a short 
time, for Thad. M. Gardner took the helm again, April, 1880. Ill health 
caused Mr. Gardner to retire from journalism in 188 1, and Charles H. 
Lucas & Co. became proprietors, C. H. Lucas, editor. It is still owned 
by them and is the acknowledged organ of the Democratic party of St. 
Clair County. It is well and ably edited and is in a sound financial con- 
dition. The present spring has been added a power press, new type, etc. 

THE VOICE, 

a greenback paper in sentiment, was first established in Appleton City, 
but as that was known to be the graveyard of any paper not strictly 
Republican in sentiment, the Voice, having been purchased by Mr. 
Llewellen, or a controlling interest, was removed to Osceola before 
death could claim it as its own. The paper was removed in March, 
1881. Mr. F. Chamberlain first started it, but on removal to Osceola 
was in the editorial charge of T. S. Smith. The latter person is still 
editor and the owners are Marquis & Smith. It is also provided with a 
power press, and has been successful since its advent into Osceola. 

THE PLATONIST 

was a venture of T. M. Johnson. The Banner of Truth, by W. M. Love, 
January, i, 1882, and the Prohibition Call, started August i, 1882, by J. 
F. Watkins, the latter edited with somewhat more zeal than discretion, 
are now, with the exception of the former, still issued occasionally. 

ROSCOE GAZETTE 

was published in Roscoe Village in 1870, and ceased to exist in 1871, its 
material being removed to Osceola. Dr. Kibber had been its editor. 

TEMPERANCE STANDARD 

was the work of F. H. Woodbury, and was started in 1878 or 1879, ^"d 
.was published at Lowry City. These were the only papers published 
outside of the cities of Osceola and Appleton City in the county. 

PRESS OF APPLETON CITY. 

Like Osceola, the press of this city have met with sorrow, disap- 
pointment and changes in the past; but like the latter city, its solitary 
press is now on a pretty solid foundation. Appleton City, with its pop- 
ulation of 1,500, is not a reading or a paper sustaining community. It 



972 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

has but one paper, while Osceola, with only one-third its population, 
fairly supports two. This may not be altogether the fault of the people. 
They were deluged with an article scarcely to be called mediocre, but 
they did have a few good papers started, which they gave no better sup- 
port than those which proved more of a curse than a blessing. 

THE NEWS 

was the first paper published in Appleton City, and its first issue was 
May 4, 1871. Bancroft & Coston, editors and publishers. It was a five 
column folio, and devoted to real estate as its principal feature. 

GAZETTE. 

This was the next venture, and came out March 15, 1873; Cobb & 
Emmons, proprietors, and the latter, R. S. Emmons, editor. D. C. 
Meyers became publisher. 

It then changed to Meyers & Stone. It was published about one 
and a half years, and the office was then unfortunately burned out. It 
was also the property of J. B. Egger and H. C. Donohue, with John 
Henderson as business manager, which was after the fire. These gen- 
tlemen sold the Gazette to T. W. Cobb & Bro. July 22, 1875. Dr. T. C. 
Murray, their editor, retiring April 22, 1875. On August 16, 1875, the 
Cobbs changed the name to the Appleton City 

PILOT. 

The paper continued until July 12, 1877, as T. W. Cobb & Bro. pro- 
prietors, but at this last mentioned date, Dell Cobb assumed control 
until July 26, just two weeks, when he sold out to C. F. Meyer & Co. as 
editors and publishers, the firm being C. F, Meyers and D. C. Meyers. 
In the meantime the Appleton City Democrat had come and gone, as 
will be seen in the article " Osceola Press." 

The Messrs. Meyers employed, October 13, 1877, Will D. Graham 
and that winter or following spring changed its name to the Voice of 
the People, and, as will be seen by the Osceola article, it was removed 
to Osceola and is still living, and successfully, too. 

THE LEADER. 

The next venture was the Leader, by Reese & Cobb, in the spring 
of 1878. This continued until August i, same year, when Mr. Reese 
retired and the Cobb Bros, took charge. On November 6, 1879, the 
Cobb Bros, sold out to Mr. E. Krom, who proved a competent journal- 
ist, and changing the name to Courier, made it one of the brightest 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 973 

papers issued in Southwest Missouri. This continued until January i, 
i88i, when Mr. Krom closed his journalist career, and entered into 
another business. He is now assistant postmaster of Appleton City, 
has charge of the office and is an esteemed resident of that city. 

PANTAGRAPH. 

The irrepressible Cobb Bros, again came to the front and brought 
the next week, January 8, i88i, the Pantagraph, a successor to the 
Courier, or the firm was Dell Cobb & Co. 

The following August a company calling themselves the Journal 
Company, bought out the Pantagraph, and the first issue of the Appleton 
City Journal was on August i8, 1881. All of these papers flew the 
Republican banner. March 16, 1882, Mr. B. F. Terry was editor and 
proprietor of the Journal, and in November, 1882, Charles Hilton suc- 
ceeded to the establishment, as editor and publisher. He is a hardwork- 
ing journalist, and is on the high road to success, and his paper is the 
pride of the city. 

THE EARLY BAR. 

The early bar of St. Clair County, those who practiced in the courts 
and rode the circuit were, in legal parlance, a brainy set of men, and 
many of them have since become noted in the forum, in the field and in 
the political arena. 

Thomas Ruffin was circuit attorney, then a member of congress from 
North Carolina, resigned his seat, raised a regiment and fell in the cause 
of the Confederacy. He was one of the brightest stars in the galaxy of 
legal lights, a giant among men of intellect. 

Of Judge Waldo P.Johnson, whose home was here for somany years, 
few words need be said, for he ranks with the noblest in the state, and 
his history is a household story in St. Clair County. Judges Ballou, 
Wright and Emerson rose to the bench, and wore the ermine with grace, 
dignity and ability. 

Many others played a conspicuous part in the legal arena of their 
times, and are worthy of a prominent place in the history of the bench 
and bar of the state. 

The following names and date they commenced practicing at the 
bar in this county may be of interest to the legal fraternity: Benjamin 
P. Major, November 30, 1841; George Dixon, first circuit attorney, 1841; 
J. W. Davis, November 30, 1841; Felix Hunton, Robert Stewart and 
James Winston, August, 1841; Messrs. Major and Stewart acted as cir- 
cuit attorneys pro tevt. for a short time; E. C. Davis, 1842; A. M. Tutt, 
John T. Crenshaw, R. P. Clark, William S. Mayo and William H. Ollee, 
1843; Thomas Ruffin, July 3, 1843; L. Abney, December 4, 1843; C. C. 



974 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



Smith, April i, 1844; Waldo P. Johnson, September 30, 1844; R. A. 
Bout^han, October 8, 1845; W. A. C. Ballou, April 7, 1846; Burr H. Emer- 
son, 1846; S. M. Grant, April 23, 1848; Thomas P. Engle, May 3, 1853; 
O. C. Hall, October 28, 1855; Thomas W. Freeman, M. L. Means, Foster 
P. Wright and William A. McClain, October 29, 1855; S. Chandler, May 
6, 1856; A. B. Whipple, December 9, 1856; Allison Wamsley, 1857; T. 
H. Richardson, March 10, 1859; James D. Perkins, March 8, i860; Thomas 
B. Johnson, September 3, i860; George H. Vaughan, September 4, i860; 
John F. Snyder, i860. 

These were the principal names who practiced in this judicial cir- 
cuit up to i860. Since that time many of the ablest lawyers in the 
state have practiced in the courts here. There were J. P. Tracy, R. T. 
Butler and James Masters, of Stockton, Hickory County; Sidney Wil- 
son. Amos S. Smith, Charles Kroff and W. O. Paxton, all of Hermitage, 
Missouri; William N. Pickerill, M. A. Fike and Banton G. Boone, Clin- 
ton, Missouri; Governor John S. Phelps, Hon. T. A. Sherwood, Spring- 
field, Missouri; George G. Vest, Sedalia; Colonel M. W. Johnson, 
Linn Creek; T. M. Johnson, Nevada; T. H. Well. 

On March 21, 1871, H. S. Douglas, of Osceola, was admitted to the 
bar, and C. A. Sweeney, of Roscoe, Judge McGaughey on the bench. 




CHAPTER XV. 

OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP— SOME ASTOUNDING FACTS PLAINLY 

STATED. 

POPULATION— STOCK— VINEYARDS— METES AND BOUNDS-THE PIONEER, AND WHEN HE 
CAME— TOWN OF OSCEOLA— ITS RISE, PROGRESS AND DESTRUCTION-THE NEW 
CITY OF OSCEOLA— WHAT SHE WAS, AND IS, AND WILL BE. 

SOME WORDS FITLY SPOKEN. 

This is one of the central townships of the county, and time will de- 
velop it as one of the richest. The Osage River passes through it from 
southwest to northeast, making it one of the grandest in the bold out- 
lines of its rugged cliff, the density of its woodlands and the windings of its 
beautiful river, whose high bluffs, magnificent caves and its valleys and 
ravines, gives it a most weird and fanciful appearance. All those who 
have traversed its sinuous course have exclaimed, "How grand the 
sight." Nature has indeed been lavish of her gifts, and the swiftly glid- 
ing waters of the Osage River sings a soft low lullaby, as they pass on 
to the murmuring sea. And in those bluffs lie countless millions of 
wealth. They are one vast bed of coal, lead, cement, rock and mineral 
paint. All these and other metals have been found, and when art has 
exposed this hidden wealth, and nature given up the countless millions 
now within her bosom, then will the people wonder at the sight. And 
this is the future of Osceola Township, for man's energy will not be 
daunted or relaxed until this vast wealth has been uncovered, and the 
richness of nature's secret gifts exposed to view, 

What this township may become in the near future is not hard to 
discern. With coal within its limits and iron on its border, with the 
Osage River navigable to its door and railroad transportation certain in 
the near future, and will undoubtedly become a large and prosperous 
manufacturing point, a veritable second Pittsburg, situated upon its 
hundred hills. When the tremendous water power of her river is util- 
ized, and the steam engine exerts its power, it will make music for 
countless thousands, who will then find homes and pleasures here. A 
climate unsurpassed for its health giving properties. The richness of 
its soil, the mineral wealth of hills and bluffs. Nature has scarcely ever 
made a more desirable place for man's habitation than this portion of 
St. Clair County. 



976 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

SOMETHING OF A LOCAL NATURE. 

Osceola Township was first settled in 1833, and the present city of 
Osceola in 1834. The Osage River runs diagonally through the town- 
ship, dividing it into nearly two equal parts. The Weaubleau flows into 
the Osage from the south, touching its eastern border and northeastern. 
Little Brush Creek, a small stream, is also south of the Osage, and runs 
north through the central portion of the township and empties into it. 
Gallinipper Creek is the principal stream north of the river, and extends 
over a considerable amount of territory before mingling its waters with 
those of the Osage, The township has considerable more of timber than 
prairie; in fact, with the exception of about seven sections south of the 
river and central in the township, and five sections in the northwest 
corner, the remainder can be mostly designated as timber land, with 
here and there a patch of prairie. The bottom lands lying along the 
Osage are among the richest lands to be found in the county, the soil 
being a fine alluvial, from three to six feet in depth, and simply inex- 
haustible. The prairie land and the timbered upland are good agricul- 
tural lands, fertile to a high degree, while south of the Osage River the 
country, especially along its banks, is broken and hilly, but away from 
the river is of the same general nature of the prairies and woodland 
north of it. 

TIMBER. 

South of the Osage River and along the banks of its numerous 
tributaries timber grows to perfection. There are walnut, hickory, beach, 
ash, and nearly every other kind that could be enumerated. All this 
timber is rapidly becoming valuable. 

AREA AND POPULATION. 

Osceola Township is six miles north and south by eight miles east 
and west, and in round numbers has 48 sections, or an area of 30,720 
acres. This number of acres is probably exceeded by nearly or quite 
1 50 from the irregular lines of its southwestern border, formed by the 
Osage River, which enters the township from that point, and is made a 
part of its boundary, gaining, however, as above shown, somewhat more 
than it loses. 

It is one of the six original townships formed by the first county 
court, in May, 1841. When it became a part of Rives County in 1834, 
the county court of that county at first gave the county of St. Clair the 
name of St. Clair Township, but in November, 1835, changed it into two 
townships, calling them Monegaw and Weaubleau. Osceola was then 
Weaubleau Township, or a part thereof, and its west line, now as then, 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 977 

was the west line of the township. The original size of Osceola Town- 
ship was its present width, but extended three miles further south, and 
then north to the Henry County line. It was between 1867 and 1870 
that she was shorn of her territory, south, and it was in 1867 that Butler 
was taken from the northern portion of her limits. The township is yet 
of fair proportion, being one and a third of a congressional township in 
size. Here, then, we have a township rich in agricultural and mineral 
lands, rich in cement rock and mineral paint; rich in coal, building 
stone and forests of timber; a water power that could turn the mills of 
a Lowell, and a climate that brings the hue of health to the cheek, the 
fullness of life to the footsteps, and activity to the brain. This is what 
has made Osceola in former years the pride of southwest Missouri, and 
which the civil war, led by a band of Kansas jayhawkers, and all that 
name implies, was turned into a wilderness and kept thus for years. 
But the dawn of a brighter and more glorious day is at hand, and Osce- 
ola, township and city, are moving with buoyant steps and hope in the 
ascendant, to meet the good time coming. 

STOCK RAISING. 

• 

There is not a country in the world better adapted to stock raising 
than St. Clair County, and Osceola Township is one of the most favored 
portions of it. The farmers are rapidly improving their stock by the 
adding of new blood. Cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., require little care dur- 
ing the winter, two months being the estimated time of feeding. 

VINEYARDS 

would pay well. The country is adapted to the raising of all kinds of 
fruits and berries, and a wine press, backed by a good vineyard, would 
pay a good profit on the investment. Fruit raising of all kinds is profit- 
able. 

POPULATION. 

The population of the township in i860 was 2,077, of which 1,794 
were whites and 283 colored. Then the war came on, and the census of 
1870 gave Osceola 957, of whom 921 were whites and 36 were colored. 
Add to this population that of Butler, 646, and there was still a falling 
off during that decade of 474, of which over half, or 247, were colored. 

Many have supposed that recuperation commenced when the war 
ended, but this was not so. The devastations brought- on by the con- 
flict were not effaced for years, and while the people struggled from the 
outset to recover from the blighting and disastrous effects of that period, 
the light of hope gave no color to their cheeks until at least a half 
decade had been passed. It was not until 1870 that the promise of a 



978 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

brighter future gave any token of dawning upon a country who had once 
known Lane, the Kansas Jayhawker. From 1870 to 1880 progress was 
slow, but it was nevertheless sure. 

In 1876 the state census showed a population of 1,094, and that of 
1880, 1,162. This of course is not a rapid growth; neither have the past 
three years become more so, but the township is growing slowly, yet 
surely, and at this time has about 1,350, with a decided promise at this 
time of a much more rapid growth than at any other time in her past 
history. 

METES AND BOUNDS. ^ 

Her metes and bounds, as given from the map, would be on the 
north Butler Township; east, Polk; south, Doyal, and west. Chalk Level 
and a portion of the Osage River. Her boundary, as recorded upon 
the county records, so made in 1872, is described below: Commencing 
at the southeast corner of township 38, range 25, thence running north 
along the township line to the northeast corner of said township; thence 
running west along the township line to the northwest corner of section 
2 in township 38, range 26; thence running south along the section line 
to the center ot the main channel of the Osage River; thence along said 
main channel to the place where the Sac River empties into said Osage 
River; thence up the center of the main channel of said Sac River to a 
point where the section line between sections 6 and 7, in township 37 
of range 25 crosses said river; thence east along said section line to the 
southwest corner of section 5 in said township; thence running north 
along the section line to the northwest corner of said section 5; thence 
running east along the township line to place of beginning. 

THE PIONEER, AND WHEN HE CAME. 

Among the early pioneers who settled in Osceola Township, it is 
rather hard to tell who really came first. Daniel Perrin, who came in 
1835, and settled on section 23, east of the town site of Osceola, was 
among the first. Jonas Musgrove, northeast of the town, on the Osage 
River, came the same year. Fowler, of whom Fowler's Bend is named 
after, came soon after, but he was in Jackson or Polk Township. Philip 
Crow came from Kentucky in the winter of 1835, and so did Reuben S. 
Nance, familiarly known as Sanders Nance, who for twenty years was 
surveyor of the county from 1841 to 1861. Nance and Philip Crow had 
a row, and the timber which Nance had hauled on the ground to build a 
cabin, and the first where the town of Osceola now stands, was given up 
by Nance, and Crow took possession. This was in the winter of 1835-6. 
The store of Crow & Crutchfield was opened in March, 1836, and was 
the first store in St. Clair County, Richard P. Crutchfield, from Kentuck}', 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 979 

joining Crow that winter. Ashby Peebly was another early settler, who 
came in 1835. In 1836, in April, Dr. Pleasant M. Cox, from Tennessee, 
arrived and settled on section 20, the same that Philip Crow was on. 
With the doctor came his brothers. William and Joseph, the former set- 
tling on section 21. Charles Bowmar was another early arrival, and 
belongs to the pioneers of 1836, and to him may be added Washington 
and Henry Whitlow. They also done business in Osceola, and the sec- 
ond in the town. They, however, settled first south of town a short dis- 
tance. Bowmar lived north of the river, and his neighbors, in 1837, 
were Joseph Coslow and Zachariah Lilly, who settled on the northwest 
quarter of section 20. South of the river, in the central and southern 
portions of the township, were Rodney Walker, Samuel Wyatt, Joel 
Starkey, Joel Rodman, James Boatman and John W. Ritchie. Starkey 
settled on section 32, Wyatt on 28, and the others as neighbors. 

Littleton Lunsford, a Hardshell Baptist, also settled near the above, 
on 29. He was a specimen of the Lorenzo Dow style of preaching, and 
his description of Satan's kingdom was enough to make every particu- 
lar hair upon a man's head stand right up. He was thoroughly Calvin- 
istic in doctrine, and he preached with all the fervor of his nature, and 
with an eloquence which at this day is scarcely found among the clergy, 
even at the salary of $10,000 a year. His education was limited, but his 
native genius and oratory was a theme of wonder in all that region 
round about. There are a few of the old settlers yet living who remem- 
ber this gladiator of the pulpit, and who shudder to this day while 
thinking of Lunsford as he hurled his thunderbolts of wrath upon their 
devoted heads. 

Where a portion of the Lilly farm now lies, was owned in 1836 by 
Alexander and Henry Hoover, neighbors also of Charles Bowmar; and 
Jonas Caton settled the Walker place, near the ford of the Osage by 
that name. James Clayton, George W. McFarland and Major Harris, 
a son-in-law of Dr. P. M. Cox, all settled in this township, although the 
Harris place is now in Doyal. 

John Thompson came in 1840, and settled on section 28, and was 
from Tennessee. He located on the south part of the southwest quarter. 
McFarland, above mentioned, staked his claim on section 36, in the 
southeast corner of the township. 

It is stated that Phillip Crow started, in 1838, the first mill in Cedar 
County, on Bear Creek. It was located about three miles northeast of 
where the town of Stockton is now located, and was for quite a long 
time the only mill in that section of country. 

James Gardner, who made his home at the county seat, was for a 
while a resident of Polk Township. John W. Bridges, Rev. David Ware 
and Elder Keeney, Stephen Noel, David Corbin and son and William C. 
Thompson, were all settlers in and near Osceola in 1838. Charles P. 



9S0 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Bullock, SO long county and circuit clerk, and the first lawyer in St. Clair 
County, settled east of town, on section 15. Mr. Bullock, it is said, still 
lives, and is a resident of Pineville, McDonald County. 

Very few of those whose names are given above are now living, but 
one who still maintains an erect bearing with a mind clear and a mem- 
ory that is remarkable, is Dr. P. M. Cox. From him we gathered much 
valuable information, and the thanks of the writer of this history is here 
earnestly given. 

MELANGE. 

The first white child born in the county was a girl, in 1837, the 
daughter of William Cox. 

The first white male child born in the county was George M. Cox, a 
few months later, in 1837. 

The first resident physician in the county was Dr. Pleasant M. Cox, 
in 1836. 

The first justice of the peace was James Gardner in 1835. 

The first colored child born in the county was called Willie Cox, his 
mother being owned by Mr. William Cox. This child was born in 1837. 

The first blacksmith shop in the county was started by John W. 
Bridges in 1836 or '37. 

The first store in the county was Crow & Crutchfield's in March, 
1836. 

The first attorney was Charles P, Bullock. 

The first resident mininster was Littleton Lunsford. 

The first election held in Osceola Township was at Crow & Crutch- 
field's in Angust, 1838. There had been other elections but the polling 
places were in Doyal at Gash's. 

James Gardner taught the first school in Osceola Township. 

The first horse mill was in 1837, and was the property of Dr. P. M. 
Cox. 

The first frame house, lumber whip-sawed, was put up in 1839. 

John G. Wright was killed May 3, 1872, by a piece of rock crushing 
his skull, from a blast let off by men, while working in the cut north of 
town for the Memphis railroad. 

Two men, while on a hunt in November, 1872, found a tin can in a 
hollow tree with $3,000 in gold inclosed. They divided. 

The churches of the township are located at the county seat, and 
will be found in that part of this work. Schools outside of the city of 
Osceola number 5, and each district has a school house, frame, amply 
provided with all necessary conveniences. 

The state school fund for St. Clair County to be distributed in May, 
1883, amounts to $4,200.65. The same for Henry County (not received 
in time and therefore entered here) is the sum of $6,002.45. There are 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 98 1 

in St. Clair County ninety-eight school districts and ninety-four school 
houses. The report of the county superintendent of schools for 1882, 
though promised and repeatedly called for, which would have been of 
interest here, was withheld. For what reason cannot be by this writer 
explained. The value of school property in 1881, last report, was $32,- 
370, and the school fund, county and township, $36,183,50. 

OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. 

1874 — Zach. Lilly, trustee; John Butcher, collector; H. L. Luttrel, 
assessor; C. J. Harrison, clerk. 

1875 — Zacheriah Lilly, trustee; J. Wade Gardner, collector; C. C. 
Dorrell, clerk; J. R. Hopkins and J. W. Silsby, justices of peace; P. M. 
Cox, assessor; John Satterwhite, constable. 

While the future of the township is now bright and promising, it 
will require much from those already living within its borders to let its 
advantages be known. It is to the developing of its mineral resources 
and utilizing of its splendid water power that will give it material pro- 
gress. It has not the extended field for agriculturalists that some of the 
other townships possess, but its location, commanding, as it will, both 
railroad and water transportation, gives it a greater and earlier promise 
of advanced prosperity than almost any other township in the county. 
Its people should be up and doing and its vast resources advertised to 
the world. It needs capital to develop these; therefore let it not hide 
its light under a bushel measure. 

ST. CLAIR COUNTY SEAT. 

Osceola, the county seat, is situated on the south bank of the Osage 
River. The surroundings for several miles are rich in mineral, particu- 
larly iron ore. Men familiar with the Pennsylvania iron region and the 
iron mountains of Missouri say that the hematite in this county, and 
particularly in Jackson and Monegaw Townships, is far superior to any- 
thing they had ever seen. 

Manufactories are the chief need of the town, and owing to the tim- 
ber, mineral and water here, are a sure thing in the near future. The 
Osage River furnishes plenty of water to turn wheels and supply manu- 
factories for all purposes. Sac River empties into the Osage nearly in 
sight of the town, and the latter is nearly as large as the Osage itself. 
The Osage River is navigable to this point several months of the year, 
and with a small outlay by the government large boats could run to this 
city fhe whole year round. 

Before the advent of railroads Osceola was considered as the head 
of navigation of the Osage River, and all Southwest Missouri and a por- 



982 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUN'IV. 

tion of Arkansas came here for their goods. A city of 1,500 souls stood 
here, one of the liveliest towns in the state, but Jim Lane laid the place 
in ashes and left not even a house to mark the point where it stood. 

ITS BIRTH. 

The first house built upon the site of the city of Osceola was built 
in the winter of 1835-36. Sanders Nance and his colored man, Martin, 
cut the logs and hauled them to the bluff back of the residence of 
James H. Linney, Trouble as to who staked out the claim arose 
between Nance and Phillip Crow, and the former vacated the ground, 
giving Crow possession. Phillip Crow put up the house and also a store, 
of poles. He was joined by Richard P. Crutchfield, and in March, or 
about April ist, 1836, the first store within the limits of St. Clair Coun- 
ty was started on the banks of Osage River. It was known as the 
"crossing of the Osage at Crow & Crutchfield's," for several years, and 
the name, " Osceola," was given it after the celebrated Indian chief of 
that name. Crow & Crutchfield were soon joined by others, and Dr. 
P. M. Cox, Joseph Cox and William Cox, all brothers, came in May, 
1836. Dr. Cox purchased the land adjoining Crow's. Finding it a 
good trading point, Messrs. Cox and Crow decided to lay out a town, 
and they located the same mostly on section 20. Soon after the store 
and house of poles, which was the liquid refreshment establishment of 
the embryo city, Phillip Crow started to build him a residence. He did 
so, on the point where the present lumber yard stands, near Mr. F. 
R. James's brick residence. Dr. Cox first built on the point just this 
side of the railroad, on the northeast quarter of section 20, and after- 
ward staked his claim on section 17. The Cox brothers, Dr. P. M., 
William and Joseph, opened the second store in Osceola, in the spring 

of 1837- 

James Gardner opened the first hotel, a double log with a passage 
way between. Bridges & Dudley run a blacksmith shop, Dr. Cox healed 
the sick, and the ministers were of the circuit riding class. 

Steven Noel started the first saloon in the place, and was the first 
road overseer in the county, having been appointed by the Rives 
County Court in 1836. 

William C. Thompson started a saddler's shop in 1838. 

In 1839 David Corbin and son built the first frame house put up in 
the town. When completed it was occupied as a tailor shop b}' a 
Frenchman named Ernest Leming. The lumber used was whipsawed 
by the old man Corbin and his sons, in the old style of whipsawing of 
that day. The next house, which the owner's extravagance led to fine 
lumber instead of logs for floors, etc., was that of Lawrence Lewis. The 
joists and planks in his house and the floor of his barn were sawed by 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 983 

hand, and the plank floor of his residence was the second laid down in 
the county. 

By this time Osceola began to show signs of permanent improve- 
ments, and for the next two years grew steadily. In 1840 the popula- 
tion had reached the number of about fifty to sixty, and Crow and 
Crutchfield had a portion of their land platted. The first sale of lots, 
of which the deed was made of record, was two lots sold for $25 each, 
by the above named parties, to James Dudley and Washington Whitlow 
on February 21, 1840, and was recorded the following year after the 
organization of St. Clair County. The lots were lot i, in block 20, and 
lot I, in block 21, filed for record March 2Q, and recorded April 10 1841. 

The first lot sold by the county seat commissioner, was lot number 
5, block 16, for $13.12^, on March 14, 1842, in three installments of six 
months each. 

The growth of the town, and the near approach of an independent 
organization of the county, caused the Osceoleans to be on their metal, 
for they wanted to secure for themselves the county seat. So, taking in 
the situation early, they prepared for the struggle and won. 

ATTRACTING ATTENTION. 

The beautiful valley of the Osage and the magnificent region of 
country which lined its banks, extending back for miles, began to attract 
the attention of those seeking homes, in at that time called the region 
of the setting sun. Osceola from its commanding situation, its magnifi- 
cent surroundings, comprising the valley and the uplands, the hills and 
prairies of Southwest Missouri became the Mecca, which brought its 
devotees from not only its own state, but from Arkansas and the Indian 
Territory. 

WHY IT BECAME NOTED. 

It was one of the first trading posts estabished in the interior of 
Missouri, and at an early day steamboats navigated the Osage, making 
the town the headwaters of navigation. Yes, situated in the heart of 
Southwest Missouri, in the rich and fertile valley of the Osage, and has 
within easy and convenient access, an abundance of superior coal, lead, 
copper and iron; the celebrated Monegaw Springs, which possess supe- 
rior medicinal qualities, and will some day be the great summer resort 
of the south and west, is it any wonder that she grew and prospered, 
and became a city of 1,500 to 2,000 people. Then look at her productive 
capacity. If it is true that water, wood, stone and coal are requisites for 
a number one location for a town or city, all these are here. Water runs 
by the town in such quantity as to float steamboats six months in the 
year, and all who have lived or traveled in this country know that the 



984 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Osage water is pure. Of wood, the finest bodies of hard timber in the 
west are found. On the Sac River, which empties into the Osage two 
miles above Osceola, are also some of the finest bodies of timber to be 
found anywhere. 

Coal is everywhere, all around and probably under the city, nearly 
crowded out by an inexhaustible supply of water lime rock for manu- 
facturing cement. Of this there are two different, independent strat- 
ums, a strata of at least twenty-four feet in thickness, which has an 
exposed front on the river bank from which the rock can be obtained for 
years without blasting, and is pronounced equal in every respect to that j 
of the celebrated Louisville cement. Here are both the fosiliferous and ; 
non-fosiliferous formations. Another very important feature in this con- 
nection, is the fact that no other locality in the country possesses advan- 1 
tages over this, so far as cheapness is concerned in its manufacture, wood 
and coal in abundance and with an outlet to market by means of the | 
Osage River. Any amount that can be required of fine building stone, j 
either sand or lime stone, lies in the immediate vicinity of the town, i 
Some of the very best of lime is that made from this limestone, while 
right adjoining Osceola is some as fine brick clay as is to be found west I 
of St. Louis, 

In the immediate vicinity of Monegaw Springs, eight miles up the \ 
Osage River from the city, there is a large and valuable deposit of iron, ■ 
which can easily be brought down the river and smelted in the furnaces ' 
builded and operated here. 

Such was Osceola and her surrounding up to the commencement of 
the civil war. She commanded the trade of an extensive circle of coun- ! 
try. Her merchants kept stocks of all kinds of goods, exceeding hun- 1 
dreds of thousands of dollars in value. Osceola, then the pride of all i 
Southwest Missouri and portions of Arkansas, was razed to the ground, I 
not a house being left to mark the spot where a few hours previously had ' 
teemed and toiled nearly 2,000 souls. 1 

From a correspondent of the Osceola Sun we extract the following, ' 
giving a vivid description of the destruction of this important town and | 
trading post: 

THE BURNING OF OSCEOLA BY JIM LANE. ! 

The " Border War " was know all over the United States long before 
the first cannon boomed at Sumpter, and grew out of the questions that 
had long been agitated, whether Kansas should be a free or slave state, 
and it culminated in the election, the freesoilers carrying the day by a : 
small majority. Jim Lane and others of less notoriety began a warfare 1 
all along the frontier counties in Missouri, bordering on Kansas. This I 
grew more bitter when Missouri began retaliation, crossing the border j 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUN'JV. 985 

into Kansas and committing many depradations in revenge for deeds 
that had been committed in their state. 

It was these bands that afterwards became noted as the Missouri 
and Kansas guerillas. .Jim Lane, long before 1861, had threatened to 
make a raid on Osceola, for the purpose of robbing the bank at this 
point. Osceola, at that time was the great metropolis of southwest 
Missouri, and in fact, it was the greatest commercial city west of Jeffer- 
son City or southwest of Boonville. The people of St. Clair County had 
nothing to do with casting illegal votes in the Kansas election, nor had 
they taken any part in the border war. About the first of December, 
i860, Jim Lane collected together about one hundred and fifty of his 
followers and started for Osceola. After moving his band as far east as 
Papinville, he retraced his steps back across the border line, and his 
band disbanded, subject to the call of their leader. The cause of his 
sudden change of mind was that the citizens of St. Clair County had 
been informed of the object of his visit, and had collected in force for 
the defense of their beautiful county seat. Fully five hundred well 
armed men were ready to met him and they remained on" guard till all 
danger was over. Lane kept up his agitation of a raid on Osceola, and 
pictured to his followers in glowing colors the vast amount of wealth 
that would be secured from the town and bank, but they well knew that 
the old pioneers would never give their consent, and that the streams 
would be dyed with blood as long as the old Virginians and Kentuckians, 
by whom the county was populated, had strength enough to level the 
ever ready and never failing rifle. Soon after this futile attempt of Lane's 
the thunder of battle sounded along Columbia's southern shore. 

Fort Sumpter fell, star after star shot from the cluster of states, and 
southern blood and valor were at fever heat and rallying to arms. 
1 86 1 was here, and war was inaugurated. The blaze of battle began 
to scorch the fair fields of the sunny south, and the great commonwealth 
of Missouri was suffering terribly from invading armies on three sides 
of her, she being almost a desolate daughter of the Southern Confed- 
eracy. Illinois joined with Kansas and sent untold numbers of plunder- 
ers into the richest districts of Missouri. Banks were robbed, the 
wealthiest citizens plundered, stock driven off, and wagons and teams 
stolen and loaded with the goods taken from the people, and wearing 
apparel and jewelry of every description was taken from the ladies. 
There never was a richer field for plunder than Missouri in 1861. The 
people flew to arms. Old men and boys alike, regardless of age, form- 
ed themselves into home guards for protection against the numerous 
bands of outlaws that overran the state. Guerilla bands were organized 
all along the bloody border, and a jayhawker and guerilla war began in 
earnest. Old men and boys were murdered by the jayhawker bands 
for opinions' sake, and "blood for blood " became the rallying cry; and, 



986 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

to give a more bitter aspect to the feeling, black flags were unfurled by 
both parties, and the glare of the burning houses served to show where 
the human monsters had left their prey. 

As men were now hurrying off to join the regular army the Mis- 
souri border was left pretty much unprotected, and the Jayhawkers 
widened their field of operations. In September, 1861, while General 
Price's army was at Lexington, and no Confederate soldiers in St. Clair 
County, except a few stragglers and recruiting officers, Lane considered 
his chance for carrying out his long neglected threat of burning and 
sacking Osceola. It stands on the right or south bank of the Osage 
River, and is one of the healthiest towns in the West, being situated 
upon a beautiful elevation 200 feet above the river bed and surrounded 
by beautiful, rolling ridges, at the foot of which gush forth springs of 
sparkling water of the finest quality and taste. St. Clair County was 
settled up by a thrifty and enterprising people, who turned their atten- 
tion largely to stock raising, and a majority of them had grown wealthy 
before hostilities began. Men of wealth and enterprise bought property 
in Osceola and went into business. The town is considered at the head 
of navigation, although the boats have ascended as far up the beautiful 
stream as Taberville, at or near the western boundary of the county. 
Boats ascended the river as far as Osceola regularly before the breaking 
out of the war, and the town became the great shipping point for eleven 
counties in the Southwest, and goods were also hauled from this point to 
Benton County, Arkansas. 

The town had grown to large proportions, and was a mine of wealth 
to the citizens of the county. To show the flourishing condition of our 
county in i860, it is only necessary to say we had a common school fund 
of $98,000. There were twelve or fifteen business houses in town, and 
several did wholesale as well as retail business. Prominent among the 
business men we may mention Johnson & Vaughn, John F. Weidemeyer 
& Son, dry goods; John Yeater, dry goods and groceries; Sterns & 
Baker, saddlery, and Sterns also had a shoe shop; Dorchester, hardware; 
Clark Vaughn, hardware; Dr. Dorrell, drugs; Henry Pollard and Richard 
Fuell, hotels and livery. Besides these we had one furniture store, sev- 
eral saloons and blacksmith shops, several church houses, a carding fac- 
tory, tan yard and several other businesses, including a bank and news- 
paper office. The newspaper was owned by Richard (Dick) Devin, who 
died not long since. The bank was contolled and principally owned by 
Messrs. Johnson, Vaughn and Weidmeyer. The court house was a fine 
brick structure which had been built at a cost of $15,000 to the county. 
Johnson & Vaughn and John F. Weidmeyer & Son did wholesale busi- 
ness, and at times as many as a hundred wagons from the southwest 
counties were on the streets or backyards waiting for loading at these 
two business houses. The place had long been the " apple in the eye" 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 987 

of Jim Lane as the richest strike in the southwest, and on the 22d day 
of September, 1861, he collected together about two hundred of his band 
and from a point near Fort Scott made a bee line for the town. 

The bank deposits, amounting to about $150,000, had been removed 
to other cities for better security, as the directors knew the exposed con- 
dition of the place, and Lane's desire to raid the town. The line of 
march of the Jayhawkers led down the south side of the Osage River 
from Fort Scott to Osceola, a distance of about sixty miles. They crossed 
Sac River at the Waldo Ford. Sac River is a small stream that empties 
into the Osage two miles above Osceola. On the 23d day of September, 
1861, about eight o'clock P. M., Lane and his band entered the town with 
torches in hand and two pieces of artillery. No Confederate soldiers 
were occupying the town at the time of their entrance, but Captain John 
M. Weidemeyer and fortj' men chanced to be in the vicinity, and as Lane 
entered the town they fired upon him from the brush, and then slowly 
retreated in the direction of Warsaw. Weidemeyer has since often been 
heard to say that if he could have pictured the scene which a short 
twenty-four hours was to bring forth, he and his men would have died 
in their tracks before deserting the doomed city. The pillage soon 
began. Instead of pursuing Weidemeyer the Jayhawkers burst open the 
doors of the bank and removed the safe that had contained the money, 
and blew it open, but only a (e\v private papers of no value to any one 
except the owners rewarded them for their trouble. Finding himself 
balked, Lane flew into a towering rage, and swore the whole town should 
suffer the consequences, and be burned and pillaged. The clan were 
ordered to search the town for anything of value. No citizens from the 
country were allowed to pass the pickets under any circumstances while 
the pillage was going on. 

The morning of the 24th, Dr. John Trollinger and three others 
wished to cross the river into town, not knowing that it was infested by 
Lane and his band. They arrived on the opposite side of the river and 
hallooed for a skiff to bring them over. This was done, but no sooner 
were they safely landed than they were fired upon by fifty or sixty out- 
laws. The doctor received eleven buckshot wounds, though not of a 
serious character, and one of his friends, named Summers, was shot in 
the mouth with a minnie ball, which carried away a part of his jawbone 
and injured him for life. The other two managed to escape, leaving 
their horses in the hands of the enemy. 

As Zachariah Lilley, one of the old pioneers of the county, and a 
man greatly beloved by all who know him, was fording the river on 
horseback, aiming to come to town, he was fired on by the guard, and 
the gentleman had to wheel his horse and dash into the timber to save 
his life, the bullets whistling around him in a very unpleasant manner, 
but fortunately he escaped unscathed. 



988 HISTORY or ST. CLAIR COUNTY 

] 

In this manner they fired on everyone who dared to approach the j 
town. By night the pillage was over, and a large wagon train had been ; 
loaded with the spoils. Negroes swarmed to Lane like flies around a 
carcass, and were permitted to load themselves down with goods of 
every description. What was considered of little value or too bulky for j 
easy removal was thrown into the streets. Hundreds of barrels of 
whisky had their heads knocked out, and the contents formed little rivu- 
lets and ran into the river. The court house was broken open and the j 
county records destroyed. And now Lane ordered his men to scatter 
and apply the torch to every house in town. The band went to work, | 
and soon the business portion of the town was a seething mass of flames.] 

The fire leaped from house to house. The flames and smoke seemed ] 
to have reached their element, but still the storm raged on. The county i 
buildings were soon enveloped by the devouring fiend, but still the ' 
flames went up It was not long before the entire city of magnificence ■ 
and wealth — the pride of the entire people of Southwest Missouri, was 
a smoking mass of ruins. Even the women and children were not 
allowed to move anything from their burning houses, and much suffer- 
ing was the result. Soon the work of destruction was finished. Lane ' 
and his men started with their plunder for Kansas, leaving old age and j 
helpless innocence to keep vigil over the dead and wounded, and water; 
with tears the spot which only a few short hours before had been peace- i 
ful, contented, happy homes. In Lane's official report to the govern- 1 
ment he said he had taken $ 1, 000,000 worth of goods away with him, I 
and it could not have fallen short of that amount, and it is safe to say he ' 
destroyed a great deal more than he carried away. , 

But the city of Osceola was fearfully avenged when Lawrence, j 
Kansas, was razed to the ground, and the inhabitants scattered to the \ 

four winds of heaven. 

I 
THE NEW LIFE. I 

I 

The war ended, as all wars do in time, and Osceola arose to a 
new life. The destruction of the old town had been complete, and ai 
new city on the banks of the beautiful Osage was to be raised upon its! 
ruins. All was not lost. The land was there, some of the owners still! 
lived, and the spot nature had marked out for the homes of a generous 
and hospitable people was to be restored, and where all was ruin and ' 
desolation, a glorious city was to arise, and a cultured and refined peo- ! 
pie would make of it bright and beautiful homes, and for true and j 
generous hospitality, an abiding place. 1 

So new Osceola commenced life, not rapidly but steadily, and where 1 
but a (qw years since was ruin, now stands an embryo city .of" some 1 
550 inhabitants, with a future before it unsurpassed in all the length i 
and breadth of this land. All her wealth of timber and mineral ' 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 989 

resources are still left her, the boundless prairies, the rich upland and 
imperishable bottom lands are still there to give up annually the 
richness of their inexhaustible nature, her water power and the enter- 
prise of her citizens will yet place her in an enviable position before 
her sister cities. 

At the close of the war a new order of things were inaugurated and 
the town soon took a reasonable start and grew, not so fast as could be 
wished for, but steadily and solidly. The want of railroad facilities were 
a drawback, for the road north of her and one south drew the travel 
away, but a brighter day is dawning, and before the present decade has 
passed two railroads will be at her door, bringing and receiving wealth 
as they pass. Her growth required the incorporation of the village into 
a town, and to this end a petition was circulated, with the following 
result. 

OSCEOLA INCORPORATED. 

The people of Osceola concluded, like Roscoe, to become a body 
politic; so they also came before the county court to have their village 
raised to the dignity of a town. The petition was presented to the 
county court for action August 6, 1868, and reads as follows: 

Whereas, The petition of W. O. Mead, J. W. Ramsey, E. J. Smith, 
Thomas J. Monroe, Wm. D. Graham, J. Wade Gardner, Lindsey Barnes, 
Thomas D. Hicks, Alfred G. Clarke, T. B. Sutherland, F. W. Johnston, 
E. B. Daniel, Charles E. Spedden, W. S. Terry, Joseph P. Landes, R. S. 
Graham, E. P. Bartlett, W. P. Sheldon, William H. Scoby, G. W. Shields, 
E. T. Daniel, William Williamson and Henry Florsheim has this day 
been filed, praying that they may be incorporated in the following metes 
and bounds, to wit: As the same is laid out and described in the ori- 
ginal town plat of said town of Osceola drawn by Phillip Crow and R. 
P. Crutchfield, and now remains on file in the office of the clerk of the 
circuit court and recorder of said county of St. Clair, and also described 
and set out in the plat of Cole's addition to the said town of Oscola be, 
and the court being satisfied that two-thirds of the inhabitants of said 
town be incorporated within the boundsabove mentioned, and they shall 
be known as the " Inhabitants of the town of Osceola," and the court 
appoints as trustees William O. Mead, T. B. Sutherland, William Wil- 
liamson, Charles E. Spedden and Henry Florsheim until legal termina- 
tion. 

The above named trustees failed to qualify in the time prescribed by 
law, and their appointment was revoked, and on December 14, 1868, E. 
T. Daniels, William Williamson, Thomas B. Sutherland, J. Wade Gard- 
ner and William O. Mead were appointed as trustees upon the same 
condition as the others, "until legal termination thereof" The same 
year, 1868, Cole's addition was added, but before the date of incorpora- 
tion. 



990 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, { 

There was very little to change the steady progress of the city for 
several years. The hope of a railroad enthused the people for awhile, 
but it turned to ashes on their lips and fraud triumphed. The Hopkin- 
son Mill was started in 1870 and completed June 15, 187 1. It was a good 
mill, with all the modern jflouring machinery in use at that date. It was 
named the "Eclipse Mill," and had three run of burrs, while the building 
itself on a solid rock foundation was 30x40 feet in size, two and one -half 
stories high. The expected advent of a railroad started the citizens into 
activity, and the improvements during the year were many. Among 
these improvements the following property holders put up one or more 
buildings: T. Amrine, J. Baldwin, E. P. Bartlett, D. N. Batchelor, J. 
Bowers, Lewis Conant, G. Culley, F. Daniel, E. T. Daniels, S. G. Dis- 
brow, J. W. Dooley, S. H. Donovan, S. Faurot, J. C. Ferguson, W. Fuqua, 
J. L. Hicks, J. T. Hopkinson, G. Jones, H. Kibbie, P. Knipe, D. C. 
McNeil, L. A. Mentzer & Co. (post office), G. S. Monroe, A. J. Moore, 
W. Moore, J. L. Osborn & Co., W. H. Osborn, A. B. Brock, J. P. Ryan, 
W. P. Sheldon, D. P. Shield, A. S. Stewart, trustees M. E. Church, W. 
Williamson, W. F. Wynkoop. Mr. John Hancock also erected a fine 
residence. 

This, however, did not include all, while in many cases repairs and 
additions would foot up to considerable sums. 

STAGE LINES. 

A daily line of coaches to Clinton, started in 1871, making close 
connections with trains east and west on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
Railroad. A tri-weekly line to Bolivar was also started, affording the 
means of transit to that point, from which stages left for Springfield, 
Lebanon and other parts of the southwest. 

There were seventeen business houses in the city in 1875, besides 
six lawyers, five physicians, one saloon, two hotels, one dentist, three 
carpenters, one steam saw and grist mill, one cooper, one blacksmith 
and one paint shop, two livery stables, two banks and one newspaper. 
This was not much improved until 1880 the town remaining almost sta- 
tionary in its growth. The trouble with the railroad debt caused gen- 
eral stagnation. 

INCIDENTS OCCURRING. 

Osceola Cornet Band flourished in 1870, It " petered " out. 
The weather in the summer of 1870 was extremely warm at spells, 
and a record was kept for two weeks, that from June 23, at 12, as below: 

dgs above 
zere. 

June 23 95 

June 24 94 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 991 

dgs above 
zero. 

June 25 94 

June 26 84 

June 27 94 

June 28 97 

June 29 98 

Then again in July, 1870, as follows: 

July 14 91 

July 15 92 

July 16 92 

July 17 100 

July 18 95 

July 19 94 

July 20 , 94 

An average of 94 degrees above zero for seven consecutive days, 
each. 

SEVERE STORMS. 

The most remarkable snow storm ever passed over Osceola, occur- 
red January 5, 1871. Starting in with a rain storm, the thermome- 
ter standing at 65 degrees, and then within an hour turning first to 
sleet and then to snow, continuing almost constantly from' Thursdayr 
at 9 p. m., to Sunday morning, when the snow lay on the ground to 
the depth of about 14 inches. Nothing was like it according to the 
report of the "oldest inhabitant," though something of the kind, but 
not so severe, happened in 1863. 

William Sanders, a desperate character, was shot and killed by 
Marshal John P. Wilson, in trying to secure his arrest, September 27, 
1872. 

The Osceola Savings Bank opened for business, September 2, 
1872. John Hancock, president; W. O. Mead, cashier. 

A fire occurred on the night of December 7, 1872, destroying a 
barn and contents, valued at $500. L. A. Mentzer lost a valuable 
horse at the same time. 

A hack line was established in January, 1872, between Osceola 
and Appleton City. 

The Osage Literary Club was in existence in 1872 and 1873, and a 
Philosophic-Literary club was again started in 1879; They are of the 
past. 

An Archery Club was organized which attained considerable skill. 
In a trial of skill between opposing sides the following were the win- 
ners: Capt. J. H. Linney, Miss Sallie Harris, Mrs. E. L. Landes, Miss 
Lizzie Lilley, Mrs. J. H. Linney,. Mrs. J. H. Lucas, Will Lilley, L. Con- 
ant, Miss Ella Amrine. 



\^ 



992 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

JUDGE LYNCH. 



One of the most exciting incidents in the record of the town of 
Osceola took place on the night of May 12, 1880. Murders had been 
committed, and somehow while the victims perished, the perpetrators 
always managed to escape. This got to be very trying to the people, 
for it made crifqinals bolder and men's lives were constantly in jeop- 
ardy. At last, when some three or four murderers were confined in jail, 
the vigilants, under Judge Lynch, decided to take matters in their 
own hands, and they did. 

On the night above mentioned about 150 men marched up to the 
jail and ordering the sheriff not to interfere, coolly broke the locks and 
took out Smith, who was confined for killing Triplett; Parks and Pierce, 
who had been confined for some time for the killing of Bohan, and delib- 
erately hung all three. They were well armed and thoroughly disguised 
but left word that hereafter murderers would suffer the penalties of their 
crimes and lawyers would not be allowed to clear them. The bodies 
were left hanging until daylight and then taken down and brought to 
the court house. A coroner's jury decided that Judge Lynch had ordered 
the execution of the criminals, but could not lay their hands on this 
important personage, and this ended the horror. 

MAKING A SQUARE. 

The people of Osceola did not wish exactly to square the circle but 
they did wish that the boundary of the town of Osceola should not have 
angular lines, but to have square corners and right angles and this was 
effected in May. 1882, as follows: 

BOUNDARY OF OSCEOLA. 

On the 4th day of May, 1882, the town of Osceola petitioned to 
have her boundary enlarged, and produced a plat which was filed, of 
land adjoining the town of Osceola. Some of this land platted was 
subdivided into lots and streets and the other lands contained in the 
boundary set forth below with that portion already subdivided, is neces- 
sary to make Osceola even and with regular boundar\- lines. These 
lands added and included in the plat filed are described as follows: 

Beginning at meander post 6, on the right bank of the Osage River, 
at a point where the line between fractional sections 19 and 20, in town- 
ship 38, of range 25, enters the Osage River on the south side, also the 
initial descriptive point from whence the town of Osceola was originally 
laid out; thence south on line between sections 19 and 20, 32 chains and 
14 links, according to the L^nited States survey, to the southwest corner 
of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 20; thence 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 993 

east on the line between the north and south half of the south half of 
section 20, 60 chains, more or less, according to the United States sur- 
vey, to the center of the southeast quarter of said section 20; thence 
north 80 chains, more or less, according to the United States survey, to 
the center of the southeast quarter of section 17; thence west on the 
line between the north and south half of the southeast quarter of said 
section 17, 20 chains, more or less, according to the United States sur- 
vey, to the quarter section line running north and south through the 
center of said section 17; thence north on said quarter section line 14 
chains and 60 links, more or less, to the Osage River; thence follovv^ing 
the meanderings of the Osage River up the river on the right bank to 
meander post 6. the place of beginning. 

The court further finds that the foregoing boundary and description 
of the corporation, as aforesaid, is inclusive of the original boundary of 
the town of Osceola, Missouri, and that the said description compre- 
hends the addition to the town of Osceola according to the plat of survey. 

Therefore, be it ordered, adjudged and decreed that the land 
described as aforesaid, be added to and incorporated within the corpor- 
ation of the town of Osceola, Missouri, and that this order be spread 
on the records of the court. 

POSTMASTERS. 

The first postmaster of Osceola was Philip Crow, in 1838. In 1862, 
Daniel H. Webster became postmaster, and in 1870, L. A. Mentzer, a 
very popular gentleman, became postmaster, and is still in charge of the 
ofifice. 

CHURCHES OF OSCEOLA — PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

On the first Sabbath in March, 1842, a number of the citizens 
belonging to the above denomination decided upon the organization of 
a church, and the following named persons were the original members: 
Samuel W. Harris, Robert Osborn, Lawrence Lewis, Elizabeth Cox, 
Melissa Osborn, Samuel S. Moore, Dooey Osborn, Elizabeth Osborn. 
The Revs. Amasa Jones and E. P. Nod organized the church. The Rev. 
Amasa Jones was one of the first preachers and teachers at Harmony 
Mission, going there in the year 1820, and from there removing to or 
near a place called Germantown, in the year 1838. The congregation 
had no regular pastor up to 1855, and at this time its communicants 
numbered twenty-two. The elders of the church were Samuel W. Har- 
ris and Robert Osborn. Up to 1859 the church was supplied by the 
Rev. Amasa Jones, Rev. G. W. Harlan and Rev. J. V. Barks. In Feb- 
ruary of the latter year, the Rev. J. V. Barks was unanimously invited 
to act as stated supply for that year, which he did, and this ended the 
proceedings of the church of ante bellum days. 

When peace had come, and prosperity or the hope of prasperity 
had begun to dawn in the minds of the people, the old members of the 
church once more thought of its reorganization, and in September, 1867, 



994 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

this was accomplished by the Rev. J. M. Brown, with the following list 
of members: G. W. Shield, Thomas J. Monroe, T. B. Ney, Miss A. E. 
Wise, Miss L. Hicks, E. P. Bartlett, Miss J. A. Scobey and J. P. Landes. 

The church was named the " Presbyterian Church of Osceola." On 
November 28, 1868, the Rev. D. C. Milner, who had been called to the 
pastorate, preached his first sermon and remained in charge three years, 
and proved himself an earnest and faithful embassador for Christ. 

A church building was needed, and in the winter of 1870-1 prepara- 
tions were made to erect a brick church ample in accommodation for all 
who wish to come, and this was done. The church, a fine brick building, 
was completed ready for occupancy in 1871, and was and is one of the 
most imposing brick structures in the city. It was then to be dedicated, 
and this occurred soon after, and a description of the ceremony is here 
given, with a short history of the church. 

The dedication was by the Rev. C. H. Dunlap, of Sedalia, whose 
eloquence and impressive manners caused deep feeling throughout the 
ceremony. He took the following for his text, being the first verse of 
the I22d Psalm: "And I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go 
up into the house of the Lord.'" 

Some items concerning the "rise and progress" of this building 
may not prove uninteresting to our readers. The subscription paper 
was first started by the Rev. J. M. Brown, now of Neosho, over three 
years since. Two lots were kindly donated by the Hon. Waldo P. John- 
son, three lots purchased by extra subscription and the corner stone of 
the building was laid in 1870. The original cost of the building, which 
is 38x56, together with the current value of the lots, makes the entire 
church property worth about $4,500. 

This building was the first church edifice completed since the war. 
Its interior arrangements are comfortable and pleasant, and its exterior 
neat and attractive. 

In 1872 the Rev. G. W. McMillen began his labors for the church, 
and severed his connection in 1873. In addition, from 1874 to 1879, the 
following named pastors officiated, in the order named: Rev. William 
P. Baker, (now dead) Rev. William M. Reed and Rev. S. W. Mitchell. 
From the latter date to the present time, with but short intervals, the 
Rev. J. F. Watkins has ministered to the church. It has prospered 
greatly under his administration. It has now a membership of sixty. 
Present session of church, Hugh R. McAllister, Scott Nesbit and W. E. 
Lilley. 

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. 

Tljis church was organized before the war, and had a fine church 
building, which was destroyed by fire with Osceola's destruction. The 
church was re-organized in 1871, with the tollowing members: Mrs. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 995 

Augusta Baldwin, Dr. Doyal and wife, and Mrs. James Hicks and two 
others, names forc^otten. Their present membership is thirty-one. 
Rev. Mr. Prottsman was the presiding elder and organized the church. 
The pastors have been Rev. Briggs, Rev. Armstrong, Rev. Bruding 
Rev. Doner, Rev. Hultz, Rev. James Baughrenburg, Rev. Stewart, and 
the present pastor. Rev. James Proctor. The society built a very neat 
church (frame) in i88i, costing $8oo. The Sunday School has sixty-five 
scholars, I. M. Woodall superintendent. The school is in a prosperous 
condition, as is also the church. 

CHRISTIAN CHURCH. 

This church was organized in 1871, by Elder W. J. Burge, of Henry 
County, with' sixty members, the following names only being given: 
Dr. Hamilton and wife, Mrs. Sutherland, James R. Johnston and wife, 
James M. Pugh and W. W. Warren. Since its organization Elder War- 
ren has been its pastor. Its members now number thirty. 

REMARKS. 

The writer failed to receive, though often asked for, the report of 
the Baptist, and many churches returned but skeleton remarks. The 
only full and satisfactory report came from the Presbyterian Church and 
is given in full. All others would have been as well treated had reports 
been sent in as requested. 

M. E. CHURCH. 

After the close of the war, in 1865, this church was organized with 
Thomas M Johnson, Mrs. Anna Johnson, E. J. Smith, Dr. D. C. McNiel, 
William W. Johnson, Mary Gardner, E. M. Westfall, Susan Reese, G. H. 
Whitaker and wife, L. N. Davis and wife, Pauline J. Landes, John Stock- 
man, Mary J. Landes, Bidkah Jones and wife, George Outhwaight and 
wife, and Mary F. and Susan A. Outhwaight as its original members. 

The present membership is forty, and the pastors have officiated in 
the order here given: Rev. D. C. McNiel, Rev. A. R. Nichols, Rev. Gas- 
corn, Rev. A. Y. Graham, Rev. F. M. W. Smith, Rev. C. H. Wooley and 
Rev. E. J. Hunt. The Rev. C. H. Wooley died in the third year of his 
pastorate, and on April 28, 1879. 

They erected a very handsome frame church at a cost of $2,500, but 
the year was not stated. 

The Sabbath School has about 100 pupils, a union school and about 
equally divided, under the superintendency of Levi A. Mentzer, and is 
in a very flourishing condition under his able management. The pas- 
tors have been earnest and efficient in the discharge of their duties. 



996 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUN'n'. 

The ladies of the church purchased two lots, paying $225 each, through 
their own exertions, and deserve credit for their unselfish work. 

GEM LODGE, NO. 1 55, A. O. U. W. 

This lodge was instituted by W. R. Sheen, D. D. G. M. W., August 
29, 1879. Drs. D. C. McNeil and N. P. Wright were appointed as medical 
examiners. 

The charter members were Robert Latz, Oscar Q. McNeil, W. W. 
Warren, Jacob H. Donovan, W. M. Cox, James H. Linney, A. S. Stewart, 
L. Conants, N. P. Wright, Francis P. Daniels and Joseph P. Landes. 

The first officers were : Robert Latz, M. W.; W. W. Warren, P. M. 
W.; Jacob Donovan, G. F.; A. S. Stewart, O.; F. P. Daniels, G.; Oscar Q. 
McNeil, R.; L. Conant, Fin.; Joseph P. Landes, Receiver; W. M. Cox, I. 
W.; N. P. Wright, O. W.; N. P. Wright. Examining Surgeon. 

Number of members 37. Two members have died within thirty 
days, and their families received their beneficiary of $2,000. 

The present officers are: T. H. Wright, P. M. W. ; J. Wade Gardner, M. 
W.; W. O. Mead, G. F.; W.C. Holsapple, O.; O. Q. McNeil, Recorder; Jacob 
H. Donovan, G.; D. D. K. Holly, Fin.; Joseph L. English, Receiver; L. 
Samuels, L W.; Charles Gaubatz, O. W.; John Seevers, Med. Ex. 

The lodge is in a flourishing condition and contemplate the erection 
of a hall the present year. 

OSCEOLA LODGE NO. 65, L O. O. F., 

was first instituted October 2r, 1853. Its hall and papers were destroyed 
by fire in 1861, when Osceola was burned, and the charter reclaimed 
July 2, 1867. The charter members were Lawrence Lewis, W. B. Mur- 
ray, John J. Scott, William M. Cox, William H. Scobey, Francis M. Coe. 
The first officers were: John J. Scott, N. G.; William H. Scobey, V. G.; 
William M. Cox, Secretary; and L. Lewis, Treasurer. The present 
membership is thirty, and the officers are: W. C. Holsapple, N. G.; John 
Severs, V. G.; W. A, Daniels, Secretary; and Joseph L. English, 
Treasurer. 

HOREB CHAPTER NO. 47, R. A. M., 

Osceola, Missouri, was organized April 3, 1868, under dispensation, and 
instituted by Dr. D. C. McNeil, P. H. P., by authority of G. H. P. of 
Missouri. The following were the officers and members: E. P. Bartlett, 
M. E. H. P.; T. B. Sutherland, E. K.; J. W. Gardner. E. S.; S. S. Burdett, 
C. H.; W. D. Grayham, P. S.; EHas Disney, R. A. C; J. H. Thomas, M. 
3d v.; W. M. Cox, M. 2d V.; J. P. Landes, M. ist V.; W. O. Mead, Sec- 
retary; B. L. Dawson, Guard. Since this chapter has been formed, two 
others have been formed, in part of the members belonging here, so that 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, 997 

the membership is yet small, numbering at this time sixteen. The 
chapter is composed of the leading men of the city, and is in good 
working order. 

The present officers are as follows: John H. Lucas, H. P.; W. M. 
Cox, K, ; A. G. Cornelius, S.; D. K. Holly, Treasurer; Jacob Donovan, 
Secretary; James H. Linney, C. H.; Robert Latz, P. S.; J. Wade Gard- 
ner, R. A. C; T. H. Wright, M. T. V.; T. D. Hicks, M. S. V.; J. P. Lan- 
des, M. F. v.; Thomas Amrin, G. 

.ST. CLAIR LODGE, NO. 273, A. F. & A. M. 

This lodge was organized at the city of Osceola December, 1867, 
and the following were its officers: Samuel S. Burdette, W. M.; Elias 
Disney, S. W.; John H. Thomas, Jr., J. W.; Thomas B. Sutherland, Treas- 
urer; William D. Graham, Secretary; William O. Mead, S. D.; E. P. 
Bartlett, J. D.; D. P. Shield, T.; William M. Cox and T. B. Nay, Stew- 
ards. 

In 1872 they built a handsome lodge room over the Hancock store 
at a cost of $2,000, and this sum is now, with interest, nearly all paid. 

The hall was dedicated with impressive ceremony, on St. John's 
day, June 24, 1873. The books of the lodge show a membership of 130. 
Deaths, (4) removals, etc., have reduced this number, but there are still 
some fifty active members. 

The officers are: C. J. Harrison, W. M.; William C. Holsapple, S. 
W.; D. K. Holly, J. W.; J. H. Lucas, S. D.; Dr. J. W^ade Gardner, J. D.; 
Franc P. Daniel, Treasurer; B. B. Bennett, Secretary; Levi A. Mentzer, 
and Scott Nesbit, Stewards; John M. Renfro, Tyler. 

POPULATION OF OSCEOLA. 

The population of the city is, after much research, given at the 
the dates mentioned, and will be found as the only correct record: 

Population in 1840 50 

Population in 1850 477 

Population in 1855 1062 

Population in i860 1523 

AFTER THE WAR. 

Population in 1865 183 

Population in 1870 331 

Population in 1880 373 

Population in 1883 562 

The town proper is like the county, out of debt, the railroad bond 
debt of the latter excepted. 



998 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

TO\VN OFFICIALS. 

1874— W. T. Johnson, W. O. Mead, F. C. Nesbit, L. A. Mentzer 
and W. D. Lowder, trustees. 

1878 — William T. Johnson, Robert Latz, Franz Daniel, L. A. Ment- 
zer, F. P. Hostetter, board of trustees; W. T. Johnson, mayor; Louis 
M. Reese, clerk; G. W. Shield, attorney; John E. Cole, marshal; John 
E. Cole, assessor and collector. 

The city, in 1883, having the necessary population to become a city 
of the fourth class, it voted March 27, 1883, upon the question and was 
carried by sixty majority. The first election for town officers, April 3, 
1S83, gave the following result: 

For Mayor — 

Thomas M. Johnson 66 

Dr. J. Wade Gardner 50 

For Marshal- 
Henry T. Calvird 75 

Wesley G. Shepherd 26 

B. F. Jones 13 

Aldermen, First ward — 

John P. Gordon 45 

Joel Y. Wilson 21 

T. H. Wright S 

John Seevers 33 

Aldermen, Second ward — 

John C. Whaley 50 

John R. Hamblin 48 

John Hancock 3 

Walter Dunn i 

Capt. James i 

The vote for commissioner of schools in this district is as follows: 

John S. Smith 69 

T. M. Johnson 46 

Joel Mvers ' 14 

W. W. Mallory ; i 

The vote as far as heard from, is as follows: 

John S. Smith 315 

T. M. Johnson 103 

Joel Myers 103 

W. W. Mallory 79 

M. Roderick 25 

BUSINESS OF 1883. 

4 dry goods and general stores. 2 hardware and stove stores. 
2 agricultural implement stores. i grocery and furniture store. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



999 



I furniture store. 
I variety store. 

1 boot and shoe store. 

2 lumber yards. 

2 printing and job ofifices. 

1 steam saw mill. 

2 meat markets. 

3 boarding houses. 

2 feed yards and stables. 
2 barbers. 



1 millinery store. 

2 drug stores. 

2 harness stores. 

1 bank. 

2 steam flouring mills. 

2 blacksmith and wagon shops. 

3 hotels. 

1 livery and sale stable. 

2 carpenters and builders. 
I saloon. 



PROFESSIONS. 

4 physicians. 5 churches. 

9 lawyers. 

Biographies of all the leading lawyers will be found under that head. 

ST. CLAIR COUNTY BANK 

was organized as a state bank in 1870, with a capital of $50,000, its pres- 
ident being William W. Sanford, of St. Louis, Missouri; vice president, 
John C. Nesbit, and cashier, Joseph P. Landis. The stockholders organ- 
izing the bank were: "William W. Sanford, John C. Nesbit, Joseph P. 
Landes, Frank C. Nesbit, E. I. Smith, John C. Ferguson, Waldo P.John- 
son and Scott Nesbit. 

In March, 1874, Scott Nesbit removed to Osceola from his farm and 
took the position of assistant cashier, which position he has occupied 
ever since. William W. Sanford died in the city of St. Louis in Febru- 
ary, 1882. The present officers are L. A. Mentzer, president; John C. 
Nesbit, vice president; Joseph P. Landes, cashier; Scott Nesbit, assist- 
ant cashier. 

This institution has done much to develop the business of the county, 
and has in the course of its thirteen years of business accumulated a fine 
surplus "fund in addition to its original capital. It was f he first bank 
organized in the county after the war. 

There is nothing now to stop the onward progress of the city ot 
Osceola. She has secured a healthy growth, and having doffed the 
habiliments of youth, will now progress from manhood's stage. She has 
within and around her all the elements of solid prosperity. She has a 
generous, cultured, refined and hospitable people; she is a growing town 
in the most prosperous state in the Union, and therefore her progress 
and material prosperity is as assured as the rising and setting of the 
sun in its diurnal course, and let us believe that her people are well 
worthy the bright future in store for them 



CHAPTER XVI. 

APPLETON TOWNSHIP. 

ITS BOUNDS-WATER, TIMBER AND AREA-POPULATION-PRODUCTION-PIONEERS AND 
PROGRESS-APPLETON CITY-ARLINGTON-INCORPORATED- ITS FIRST SETTLERS- 
APPLETON CITY ON JANUARY i, 1883-MANUFACTURES-ITS RAILROAD SHIPMENTS- 
DISTRICT FAIR. 

APPLETON TOWNSHIP. 

This was the last township organized in St. Clair, and this was in 
1880. The township was taken from the west side of Monegaw, and the 
growth of Appleton City in the northwest corner, which had become 
the commercial metropolis of the county, demanded better and nearer 
township facilities. 

This arrangement was effected by petition to the county court, 
when Appleton City became satisfied that, although the commercial 
metropolis of the county as aforesaid, she was not St. Clair County by 
several townships. The township is bounded in the north by Henry 
County, on the east by Monegaw Township, on the south by Taber 
Township, and on the west by Bates County. For beauty of landscape, 
the fruitfulness of its soil, in the variety of its productive capacity, Ap- 
pleton Township has no superior in Southwest Missouri. The county 
court gave its description as follows : 

BOUNDED. 

"Established and being bounded by the congressional lines of town- 
ship number 39. of range 28," — June 5, 1872. 

WATER, TIMBER, AND AREA. 

The township is fairly watered, the Big Monegaw Creek entering 
the township on the north side near the center and running west of 
south some six miles, turns thence in a southeasterly direction to the 
southeast corner of the county, flowing into the Osage River. The Little 
Monegaw rises in the north, and running south on the east side of the 
township, empties into the Big Monegaw, about one-half mile from the 
southern line of the township. These are the principal streams and with 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. lOOI 

their branches, makes the north, central and eastern part of the town- 
ship vvell watered. Timber is only found on the Monegaw, and the 
township is a prairie with a rolling surface, splendid drainage and unsur- 
passed for grapes, cereals or vegetables. 

It is this quality of the soil and its varied productiveness, combined 
with the facility of railroad transportation, which has made the prosper- 
ous city of Appleton, with its commanding position of wealth and enter- 
prise. 

The township, owing to the fraction addition to congressional town- 
ship 39 on its northern border, is seven and a half miles north and 
south by SIX (the regular width) east and west, containing about forty-five 
sections of land, or 28,800 acres. 

GROWTH AND POPULATION. 

The growth of the township has not kept pace with the city, but 
that is not to be expected. The city draws both from Henry and Bates 
County much sustenance and is not a town of local township import- 
ance, but is the financial and commercial center of a large scope of 
country. 

Its population in 1876 was 1.354 

Its population in 1880 was 1.983 

A gain in four years of 629 

Of this the township is given 949. The total increase shows a gain 
of fifty per cent in four years, which ought to satisfy the people. 

The assessor's returns for 1876 gave the following statement of the 
township's productiveness in stock and cereals, with a probable town- 
ship or farming population of 700, and ranks with other townships as 
follows: 

HOW IT STOOD. 

In horses it was fourth and had 472 head. 
In cattle it was third and had 1,700 head. 
In sheep it was sixth and had 889 head. 
In hogs it was tenth and had 1,097 head. 
In corn it was sixth and had 118,860 bushels. 
In oats it was sixth and had 5,980 bushels. 
In hay it was second and had 3,609 tons. 
In the valuation of real estate it was second. 

While this is a very small showing for the capability of the town- 
ship, it is an exceedingly good one when the population is considered. 

What Appleton Township needs is a few thousand immigrants to 
give substantial bottom to her capital cit)% and to develop her great 



1002 HISTORY OF ST. CI.AIR COUNTY. 

agricultural and mineral resources. Of the latter, strictly speaking, she 
has none, but of coal she has an abundance; and those resources would 
have been spoken of more extensively had our request for information 
been granted. "Self" is being guarded with scrupulous care, while 
" public spirit" goes a begging. This is not productive of general pros- 
perity, whatever it may do to advance an individual one. There is no 
question but what a public spirit is the foundation stone of general pros- 
perity, while a selfish spirit, born of personal interest alone, is the curse 
of every enterprise of a public nature, and finally reacts upon those who 
practice it, — if not always financially, it never fails socially. Their 
standing is only sustained by money, and generallyonly tolerated then ; 
by the public. j 

THE PIONEERS. I 

The township of Appleton, as now known, was a part of Monegaw, j 
and Monegaw Township was organized by the Rives County Court, , 
November, 1835. When St. Clair itself took on the robe of independ- 
ence, the name Monegaw was not changed, but its dimensions were i 
curtailed. 

Appleton Township was not settled as early as many others, because 

of its vast prairies. The pioneer preferred to be near water and wood- j 
land, and as this was found in the southeast corner of the township, 

there was its first settlement. On the Big Monegaw, or near it, James ! 

Carroll settled in 1839, and his wife is still living. . 

John and Franklin Dittee came and settled within about two miles j 

of the Yonces, neighbors, in Monegaw. Mrs. Carroll's settlement was j 

known as the " English Settlement." All these came in 1838. A. C. ! 

Dittee at this time lives on the old homestead on section 26, and they all j 

came from Tennessee. i 

Phillip Ruby settled near where Appleton City now stands or south | 

of it, on section 8. A. Buskirk owns the place, and this was the most | 

northerly settlement in the township. Ruby came in 1840 and was also i 

from Tennessee. Then Henry Ruby, John Norton and Aaron Davis j 
came the same summer or early in the fall of 1840, and settled on section 

21, some two miles east of south from Phillip. The settlers all followed \ 

up the bank of the big Monegaw from the starting point, which was the j 

" English Settlement." There were no roads, no mills, and, as Mrs. Car- • 

roll expressed it, " no nothing," when they came except the land, tim- \ 

ber and water and the wild animals of the forests. j 

Jesse Ridgway, who settled on section 34, may be called the oldest 'i 

settler of the township. He is still living and is a man of good mem- • 

ory and enjoys the growth and prosperity of the country and looks back i 

with a vivid interest on the times and trials of his early daj's. He set- i 

tied on his present homestead in 1837. James Carroll, above spoken of, ■ 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IOO3 

may have come first and Ridgway followed, but there was but a few 
weeks apart in their arrival. James Dittee came in 1839 ^'id settled on 
section 35. The Rev. William Browning, of the M. E. Church, was 
among the early arrivals, as early as 1838, and was the first preacher in 
that part of the country. He settled on section 23. Rev. L. R. Ash- 
worth, mentioned in Roscoe and other townships, a Baptist, preached 
occasionally in that section. 

Of course the services were held at the cabins of the farmers, for 
unless a neighborhood was sufficiently large to make a log school house 
a necessity, none were put up, and so the settlers had services at their 
own houses when the circuit rider came, or a local preacher settled in 
their neighborhood. The regular church of those days was the log 
school house. Even at this day, in many districts, the school and 
church are the public school buildings of the neighborhood. 

THE TRADING POINT. 

Clinton and Osceola were the trading points for this whole section 
of country. Crow & Crutchfield, at Osceola, and the Wallace Brothers at 
Clinton, were the leading merchants. John F. Weidemyer at Osceola a 
few years later done a large business with the people in this township. 
The roads were through the open woods and prairies, and pretty gen- 
erally in a straight line, but the new farms fenced in makes the distance 
at this day some five to six miles greater. The hog known as the rail, 
or hazel splitter, was the breed brought to this country, and while being 
a hog, was a self-sustaining one if there was a good crop of mast. He 
had little of the nature of the Poland China or the Berkshire. He had 
several other names, but the old settlers know the breed, and some of 
these yet think that he has not, even at this day, a superior. 

Although the youngest of the townships, Appleton has eight school 
districts, has given earnest and unremitting work to advance the cause 
of education in the township, and to provide for the growing youths and 
maidens ample facilities for a thorough English education. In this work 
it has been successful, and there is no township in the county has a more 
thorough or perfect system, for none but able educators are employed. 

POLITICALLY. 

Politically Appleton. Tovvnship, perhaps it would be better to say 
the city, is strongly Republican. Its township officers, elected in 1875, 
were as follows: W. D. Clark, trustee; G. W. Clark, assessor; C. E.Smith, 
collector; E. Mason, clerk; H. M. Colton, constable; M. S. Davis and L. 
D. Fay, justices of the peace. 

The township is not certain to remain politically in its present 
course, and may follow the other townships in the county, and vote the 



1004 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Democratic ticket. The county may be considered Democratic by a fair 
majority at this time. The township, as a whole, is a good one in every- 
thing that goes to enrich an energetic and thriving population, and so far 
Appleton leads in the energy and progressive spirit of her people. For 
awhile an aggressive spirit was evinced by her people, born of rapid 
growth, but it is now conservative, and her prospects are more bright 
than at any time before in her history. 

APPLETON CITY 

dates its birth but a short time in advance of the arrival of the iron 
horse, or what was known as the Tebo & Neosho Railroad, now the Mis- 
souri, Kansas & Texas Division of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. It is 
situated in the northwest corner of 'St. Clair County, within one mile of 
the Bates County line and one and a half from the southern border of 
Henry. It is about midway between Butler, the county seat of Bates, 
and Osceola, the county seat of St. Clair County, and is the commercial 
metropolis of a wide extent of country, and is destined to grow and 
prosper as time passes on, for it has been fortunate in its location and in 
the progressive spirit of its people. 

The town was not so first named. In 1868 William M. Prier pur- 
chased the ground that is now embraced within the ciiy limits of Apple- 
ton and platted a portion of it for a town. He failed to realize on it at 
that time. 

Then came a local paper with this description of the town of Arling- 
ton: 

Many will ask where and how large the town of Arlington is. It is 
the first station in St. Clair County on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas 
Railroad, and although laid out but a couple of weeks since, is a town 
of considerable size. From a gentleman who visited the town one day 
this week we learn that there are some thirty good buildings completed 
and under construction, and double or treble that number under con- 
tract. So we are to have a live railroad town in the northwest corner. 
Good! We feel proud of the addition of this young giant of our county, 
and hope at no distant day to view the young city where but a few days 
ago was waving corn. 

The town of Arlington above described was platted, or rather laid 
out, September 22, 1870, and the above article was published October 6, 
1870. This is about all that "Arlington" ever amounted to, but it is -a 
far prettier name than the town now has, and although gratitude is a 
good thing, it could have been expressed without spoiling a pretty 
name. 

But the two attempts to start a town was followed by a third, and 
this time success crowned their efforts. From the columns of an Apple- 
ton City paper, then edited by the present assistant postmaster, is taken 
this: 



Hi:>TORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IOO5 

RETROSPECT. 

"The country adjacent to Appleton City comprises the finest portions 
of the three great counties of Bates, Henry and St. Clair, and is unex- 
ceeded in beauty and fertility. It is but a few years ago, where now 
stands one of the most flourishing towns of the southwest, the buffalo 
and deer sported over its undulating prairie, with none to molest save 
the red men of the forest. After the close of the great civil conflict, the 
surrounding country became settled, and the places now occupied by 
residences and business houses, streets and alleys, was then invaded by 
the ploughshare of the husbandman, and converted into magnificent 
fields of waving grain, and of nutritious grasses. Then came a change." 

A COMMANDING VIEW. 

The town is built on an elevation, which commands a view of the 
country for miles in every direction. It is principally located on section 
5, and extends northward on fractional section 5, and part of fractional 
section 6 is platted also. The town was platted in October, 1870, or in 
the first week of November. The town plat was the work of a Mr. 
Tracy, and was acknowledged before J. Trousdale, notary public, and 
then placed upon the records. Having effected this the next move was 
for the citizens who had settled there to get up a petition for the incor- 
poration of the town, which was accomplished and the petition presented 
to the county court, and the following action taken at the February term, 
1871. 

INCORPORATION OF APPLETON CITY. 

A petition to this court having been filed on the 5th day of Decem- 
ber, 1870, in the office of the clerk of this court, asking for an order by 
this court for the incorporation of the said town of Appleton City, and 
the establishment of a police for the local government thereof, the 
court being satisfied that more than two-thirds of the taxable inhabit- 
ants of the said town have signed said petition, and also that the prayer 
of said petitioners is reasonable, the court doth therefore order and 
declare said town incorporated, and the inhabitants thereof shall be a 
body politic and corporate by the name and style of the "Inhabitants 
of Appleton City," and by that name they and their successors shall be 
known in law; have perpetual succession, unless disincorporated; sue 
and be sued; plead and implead; defend and be defended in all courts, 
in all actions, pleas and matters whatsoever; may grant, purchase, hold 
and receive property, real and personal, withing the limits of said town, 
and no other, — burial grounds and cemeteries excepted, — and may lease, 
sell and dispose of the same for the benefit of said town; and may have 
a common seal, and break and alter the same at pleasure; and said' 
inhabitants shall henceforth have and enjoy all the rights, powers and 
privileges that can be granted or conferred to or on them by the order 



I006 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

of this court; the said town being described and included within the 
following described metes and bounds, to wit: 

Commencing at the southeast corner of lot No. i, of the northwest 
quarter of section 5, in township 39, of range 28, west of the 5th princi- 
pal meridian; thence north to the northeast corner of lot 4 in said quar- 
ter section; thence west to the northwest corner of said lot No. 4, of the 
northwest quarter of section No. 5 1 thence south to the southwest 
corner of said lot No. 4; thence west to the northwest corner of the 
east half of lot No. 3 of the northeast quarter of section No. 6, in the 
said township and range; thence south to the southwest corner of the 
said east half of lot No. 3; thence west of the northwest corner of lot 
2 of the northeast quarter of said section No. 6; thence south to the 
southwest corner of lot i, in norcheast quarter of section 6, township 39, 
of range 28; thence east to the place of beginning, being in all 520 acres, 
more or less, in said town incorporated as here stated. 

It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that there are less than 
2,500 inhabitants within the limits of said town, as the said limits are 
described, the court doth hereby appoint R. H. Long, R. S. Emmons, A. 
McGregor, John Nichols and Z. Burgin as trustees of the said town of 
Appleton City, and it is ordered that said trustees appointed as herein 
stated, hold their respective of^ces as such trustees until legal termina- 
tion of said office. 

This made it a full fledged town, and the citizens were ready to go to 
work to malce it the leading point for trade in that section of the coun- 
try, and how well they have worked the past decade, can be seen in the 
splendid growth of the city and the commercial advantages it possesses. 

In 1870 the only building on the site where now stands the flourish- 
ing city of Appleton City was a small frame house belonging to William 
Prier. A post and slab fence extended along what is now the business 
street, and north of that was a fine field of corn, while south of it was 
unfenced prairie, covered with an unbroken sea of waving grass, ready 
for the mower, but with no one to mow it. In the latter part of Sep- 
tember Appleton City was founded. The town company organized with 
a capital of $16,000. The corporate limits embraced lots i, 2, 3 and 4 
of the northwest of section 5, and lots i and 2 and east one-half of 3 of 
the northeast of section 6, in all 520 acres. Lots 2 and 3 in section 5 
were plotted and recorded, and for several years constituted Appleton 
City. 

The first building placed upon the new town site was brought from 
near Rockville by Charles Speddin, and placed upon lot 14, block 15, 
and occupied as a store. It is now a part of the dwelling house in which 
M. Downey lives. 

Hodkins, King and R. S. Emmons were pioneers in the dry goods 
trade; Charley Speddin in groceries. Dr. H. H. Taylor opened the first 
hotel in a building moved from Hudson. M. S. Davis opened out trade 
in the hardware line, and in a few weeks was followed by Luchsinger & 
Streifl". 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 100/ 

Mrs. Dunbar brought on the first stock of millinery. 

The railroad was completed to the place October 19, 1870. 

Coal in abundance is found on the edge of the city, and with the 
shipping facilities of the M., K. & T. railroad, and the mountains of iron 
within from fifteen' to twenty miles, Appleton City should be a manufac- 
turing point of some importance; but St. Clair County, like most of the 
counties of Missouri, has failed to advertise its resources and advant- 
ages, and as a natural consequence, less favored points, with more public 
enterprise, are far in advance of them. 

The town and surrounding country is filling up gradually, but con- 
sidering the location, climate, soil and other advantages the thousands 
of acres of rich prairie lands that are being offered at very low figures, 
should have been taken up long ago, and Appleton City should now 
have a population of at least 5,000 psople, considering its location. 

In 1871, in the early spring, the following were the total business 
houses in existence: 

Hodkins & King, Emmons & Co., dry goods; David & Wyatt and 
G. R. Pickerell, groceries; Parks & Luchsinger and Davis & Bronson, 
hardware; Levy & Co. and J. Dunbar, clothing; G. W. Chrisman, Mason 
& Commisky, J. L. Barret and Dr. Shirely, drugs; Prier, Garth & Co. 
and W. F. Cameron, J. C. Trousdale and R. S. Emmons, lumber; R. S. 
Emmons and J. F. Atkinson, insurance; A. B. Clifton, watches and 
jewelry. 

In a short time another railroad was expected to cross the line of 
country in which Appleton City was situated, and the citizens expressed 
a desire to contribute a bonus to get the road. They held an election 
November 5, 1872, to decide upon a subscription of $20,000, on the con- 
dition that the Fort Scott, Jefferson City & St. Louis railroad would 
make Appleton City a point and maintain a depot, and the road to be 
completed by October i, 1873. The bonds were voted but the road 
failed to realize on its programme and was never built. So Appleton 
City is yet a town of one railroad. 

The first paper started in Appleton City, was the Argus, by Messrs. 
Stone & Meyers. It was an eight-column folio, and its first issue was 
September 7, 1871. It started put with a platform, of which a new coun- 
ty', taken off of Bates, Henry and St. Clair, was to be formed, and Apple- 
ton City to be the county seat. It was an unfortunate mistake, for not 
only did St. Clair County oppose the scheme, but Henry and Bates also, 
and it did more to retard the progress of the city than all other causes 
combined. It alienated the people of its own county, except those con- 
tiguous, and also got the opposition of those in adjoining counties. 

For a few years its newspapers were a detriment to its growth, with 
a few ambitious spirits, whose judgment was sadly deficient. It has 
recovered from its craze, and instead of bidding defiance tO' all mankind 



I008 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

is anxious and willing to work in harmony with people of its own county, 
and contend for trade and mastery by business energy. This is the right 
spirit, and Appleton City has grown and prospered since it has taken 
this course. The county seat craze made, however, sad havoc with its 
early prosperity. Since 1876, it has made wonderful progress. 

In 1878, A. D. LaDue and A. F. Wyckoff, each, laid out a part of 
lot I, of section 5, and in 1880, A. Buskirk plotted a part of lot 2, north- 
east quarter of section 5, as additions to the city. 

Up to 1876, the town had no brick buildings within its limits, in fact, 
its main street was like all railroad towns, nearly all being one story 
buildings. W. D. Clark, that year, built the first brick, being a two story 
business house, which he occupied as a grocery store. On January i, 
1883, there were seventeen brick and stone buildings in the city. That 
the business of the city may be known in future years, we give from the 
Journal of the city, Charles Hilton, editor and publisher, the following 
brief synopsis of its business interests: 

It says: When we consider the fact that not half the soil of the coun- 
try tributary to Appleton City has ever been under cultivation, the result 
in the building up and advanced progress of Appleton City, has been a 
wonderful success. With an inexhaustible supply of coal, water plenty, 
and other favorable conditions, we believe that almost any branch of 
manufacturing would find this a good point. 

The first good grain elevator between Sedalia and Fort Scott was 
built at this place by Luchsinger & StreifT. in 188 1. It is now occupied 
by G. W. Johns & Co. Wyckoff & McFarlane have just completed an 
elevator, and these two firms, having each ample warehouse room, are 
handling an immense amount of grain and seeds. 

Fourth Street is the principal business street of the city, is macad- 
amized with the blue limestone that abounds in the vicinity. 

The pride of our city is Durley Hall, built in 188 1 by our towns- 
man, H. W. Grantley, containing one of the finest opera halls in South- 
west Missouri, and is the pride of our city. It is a magnificent two 
story brick, no feet deep, fifty feet wide and forty-five feet in height, 
and cost $20,000. It has a front and rear entrance, the former eight feet 
wide, leading to the hall by an easy stairway. The lower story con. 
tains two fine stores, and the upper or second story is given, with the 
exception of two front rooms, entirely to the hall and its dressing rooms, 
etc. The hall was named after a fi-iend of the proprietor who resides at 
Bloomington, Illinois, in which city is a another opera house of the same 
name. The Durley Opera House stands as a monument of business 
energy and enterprise in which the proprietor, as well as the citizens 
can feel a just pride. 

From the first Appleton City commanded the trade of a large extent 
of country and as the fertile lands were put under the plow and the natural 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IOO9 

pastures covered with herds of cattle, the shipping of grain and stock 
from this point grew to an immense figure. 

More brick buildings will probably be built in 1883 than any pre- 
ceding year. Adams & Wescot burned a half million brick a little 
southeast of town in 1882, and plenty of good building stone is found 
just outside of the city limits. 

The following account gives the names of the dealers in the branches 
named : 

E. Allen, N. S. Gardner, Klein Bros., J. Schempp, J. D. Hedrick, C. 
O. Hedrick, House & Son, and Ellis & Wix, are the dry goods firms. 

Joseph Reid, W. D. Clark, House & Son, S. B. Shaw, J Schempp, 
Stout, Guerant & Yonce, Gait & Henson, Ellis & Wix, Andy Naylor, and 
P. S. Cartwright are the grocery dealers. 

Luchsinger & Streifif, J. L. Rood, R. Sutmiller & Co. and Clark & 
Burns are the hardware dealers. 

Palace Drug House, White Bros, and J. R. Baugh, drugs. 

J. F. Boyd & Co., and J. R. Hurley & Co., are the lumber men. 

E. O. Dierfield and James Forbes, saddles and harness. 

James Forbes is the hide and wool merchant. 

Luchsinger & Streiff, Wyckoff & McFarlane are agricultural imple- 
ment dealers. 

Donnohue & Belisle, Stephenson, Griggs & Bailey, French, Payne, 
and others are the stock shippers. 

Pickerill, Hosmer, and Payne & Sons, keep livery stables. 

The Prier House and the Appleton House are the hotels. 
^ Latsch is the watchmaker and jeweler. 

R. Burdge is a photographer. 

George Moody and T. Rainwater, marble works. 

Mrs. J. R. Pickerill, Mrs. Spring, Mrs. W. W. Chapel, fancy dress 
goods and milinery. 

E. M. King and J. M. Wakeman, keep books, toys, notions, etc. 

M. H. Wilson deals in musical instruments. 

D. G. Wells, sewing machines. 

Koopman & Shrout, and Fehrion & Son, meat market. 

C. L. Anderson, VanHall & Son, and Anthony & Son, each do their 
part towards keeping the people well shod. 

There are four blacksmith shops, at which the muscular sons of 
Vulcan wield the hammer, while painters, masons and bricklayers, car- 
penters are too numerous to mention, but the first-class mechanical work 
of all sorts that our city can exhibit, proves that we are lacking nothing 
in these classes of artisans. 

J. D. Ballaugh, Snyder, VanHall, and Weaver & Kain, keep res- 
taurants. 

64 



lOIO HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

There are two licensed saloons, kept by B. D. Patrick and James 
McCartys. j 

Jacob Schempp was a pioneer in the grocery trade and now owns 
and occupies a large two-story brick, and does a heavy business in both 
the dry goods and grocery line. James Hodkins, A. F. Wyckoff, William 
Prier, E. M. King, M. S. Davis, Z. Burgin, J. R. Pickerill, L. Davis, C. M. 
Meddaugh, John Thorn, R. Sutmiller, C. Spedden, W. T. B. Wetherby 
and Eli Wells were among the pioneers and are still there. 

The legal fraternity is well represented by Judge Shields, H. W. 
Grantley, Gilbreath & Ross and W. W. Chapel. 

All of these attorneys are engaged in the land business, which is 
also carried on by George Markey. 

The physicians are W. E. Shelton, P. E. Caimes, M. B. Kinchloe, T. 
Roten and C. E. Wing. 

A. C. Kincheloe, dentist. 

James Hodkins, Judge Shields, M. S. Davis, George Markey and S. 
C. Sturtevant, insurance agents. 

There are two first-class tonsorial artists in Appleton City — L. A. 
Williams, who has been in the midst of the people during nearly the 
whole history of the place, and Mr. Woodley (colored) also has a barber 
shop on the south side of the street. 

Mrs. Wilson, music teacher. 

Journal Office, Charles Hilton, publisher. 

William Steele, merchant tailor. 

Frank Barrett, H. C. Farris, house and sign painters. 

William Lamey, feed stable and yard. 

Kellogg, Thorne & Vannice, contractors and builders. 

Johnson & Slaughter, contractors and builders. 

Prier House, J. A. James, proprietor. 

Three boarding houses. 

One Masonic hall. 

Two public wells, one with a force pump and the other an iron 
turbine wind mill. 

BANKS. 

The first bank in Appleton City was established in November, 1873, 
by F. Egger & Sons, and on March 20, 1882, was organized as the First 
National Bank, with an authorized capital of $200,000, and a paid up 
capital of $55,000. The present officers are John C. Bram, president; 
F. Egger, vice-president; John B. Egger, cashier. The directors are 
John C. Bram, F. Egger, John Baldwin, A. Buskirk, and R. F. Guer- 
rant. 

The Merchants' Bank was organized in 1881, with a paid up capital 
of $30,000. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. lOII 

CHURCHES. 

The first religious meetings and Sunday Schools in the place were 
held in the upper room of Hodkins & King's dry goods store, the build- 
ing now occupied by Andy Naylor as a grocery. The Presbyterians had 
a church at Hudson, and undertook to move it to^Appleton City. It 
was cut down through the middle, one half .conveyed to its destination 
with oxen and trucks, but while the other half was on the way, being 
left for the night, was set on fire by some unknown person and burned. 
The half remaining was used in the construction of the present Pres- 
byterian Church, being the first in the place. Rev. Jackson having 
recently resigned his place as pastor of that church, they are just now 
without a regular pulpit supply. 

The Methodists have a building, with Rev. Hamel pastor in charge. 

The Baptists have a new building, with Rev. Thompson as their 
stated preacher. 

The Christians have a good house, also with Rev. Claypool in 
charge. 

The German Lutheran Church also have a building and regular ser- 
vices. Pastor, Rev. U. Sopher. 

The colored people have a church building, in which their school is 
kept, but no regular preaching at this time. 

The different churches each have flourishing Sunday Schools. 

APPLETON CITY MILLS, 

C. Shoe & Son, proprietors, is situated near the business portion of the 
town, west of the depot. The building is a two and a half story frame, 
with a basement, and is forty feet front by fifty feet deep, with a two 
story addition, twenty by fifty. There are four run of French burrs, with 
a grinding capacity of seventy-five barrels per day. The engine is thirty 
horse power and of good workmanship, and the quality of flour unex- 
celled. Messrs. Shoe & Son bought this mill at Taberville and moved 
it here four years ago. They have the latest improved machinery, and 
have added the new patent process flour to their manufactures, — a very 
important addition. They have two burrs on wheat, one on middlings 
and one on corn. They purchased and used in their mill in 1882, 
35,000 bushels of wheat and 20,000 of corn, making 1,400,000 pounds of 
flour, 350,000 pounds bran and 70,00 pounds shipstuff 

CHEESE FACTORY. 

In April, 188 1, Mr. O. C. Beach, from Illinois, commenced the man- 
ufacture of cheese at Appleton City, having erected a building for that 
purpose. His first year's business proving highly satisfactory, he again 
started his works for 1882. The season commences in April and ends- 



I0I2 HISTORY OI' ST. CLAIR COUNTY 

in November. Mr. Beach has two vats of 600 gallons capacity, and his 
milk receipts are 1,600 pounds per day, with a full capacity of 6,000 
pounds. He has also a revolving- churn of 200 gallons capacity. The 
building is three stories high, and arranged most perfectly for the busi- 
ness. It is a fact easily proven that the farmers within a radius of five 
miles of his factory can make more money by keeping cows and pat- 
ronizing this institution than in any other branch of farming. 

Business for 1882: Milk received, 201,511 pounds; cheese made, 
18,210 pounds; net proceeds, $2,183.20. 

The Appleton City planing mill, owned by Moore Brothers, turns 
out sash, doors, blinds, moldings, brackets, and all kinds of work usually 
done at a first class planing mill. 

R. M. Raymond carries on the manufacture of carriages, and sells 
about $3,500 worth of his own work annually. 

Raymond & Moore have a stock of factory made carriages. 

In the fall of 1882, Taylor and French built a fruit evaporator that 
used several thousand bushels of apples, and thus made a market for the 
surplus apples that were not suitable for shipping. 

SHIPMENTS BY RAILROAD. 

The following are the shipments for six months, ending on the lOth 

of April, 1880: 

Car loads. 

Hogs 192 

Cattle 125 

Mules and horses 35 

Sheep 14 

Wheat 96 

Corn 162 

Oats 21 

Flax seed 37 

Castor beans 5 

Potatoes 2 

Flour 9 

Corn meal 7 

Total 705 

There was in 1881 and 1882, a fair advance. Especially will this 
showing be largely increased the present year, on account of the good 
crops of 1882. The month of January, a dull month, showed the follow- 
ing heavy shipments: 

Cars. 

Cattle 65 

Hogs 18 

Green apples 2 

Corn 77 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IOI3 

Flax seed 2 

Sheep 2 

Total 166 

It is expected that over 2,500 full cars will be shipped the present 
year. 

A FEW FACTS. 

The Appleton City News, published by Bancroft & Castor, March, 
1 87 1, was the first published in Appleton City, and not the Argus, by 
Meyers & Stone, which did not start until sometime after. It was short 
lived. 

The first child born in the city was James Clifton, son of A. B. Clif- 
ton, in 1871. 

In 1882, J. E. Gladden laid out another addition on lot 3, northeast 
of section 5. 

The population of Appleton City in 1880 was 1.034. It is probably 
now about 1,300, and expects to double itself by 1890. 

In 1880 Appleton City boasted of a brass band. 

The largest fire Appleton City experienced was in 1872, which 
destroyed the office of the Appleton City Argus, three or four buildings,, 
a considerable amount of lumber and a large lot of corn. 

Appleton City is sixty miles from Sedalia and fifty-two from Fort 
Scott. By the completion of the Clinton & Kansas City Road it will be 
about TOO miles from the latter city. 

The Appleton City Savings Bank closed its doors November 15, 
1877. The cashier had disappeared, but the cash was in the safe. The 
business had been loosely managed and had by bad debts absorbed the 
capital. 

DISTRICT FAIR. 

The people of Appleton have secured one prize, the district fair. 
With such a country around these fairs should be made the all-important 
event of the year, and strenuous efforts kept up to increase the attrac- 
tions from year to year. In this the business men of Appleton City 
should be open-handed and generous, for they do not have to wait 
" after many days " for their return of outlay. But the population of the 
surrounding counties is increasing, and unless that fair improves and 
grows county fairs will be started that will militate against its growth 
and success. So far it has been well managed, but it has lacked pro- 
gressiveness. It must not be a district fair only in name, but in fact. It 
must be more than a county fair; if not, county fairs will encroach upon 
its territory. Men only of enlarged views and business capacity should 
be given in charge. A mind dwarfed by self-interest is not the one to 
take charge of a public enterprise. 



I0I4 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

The receipts and expenditures of 1880 are here given, and when 
those of 1885 shall have been published, let a comparison be made, and 
may that comparison show an increased progress in every department 
that will excite the admiration of the people. 

The receipts and expenditures of St. Clair, Bates and Henry Dis- 
trict Fair Association during fair week, September 29, 30 and October i 

and 2, 1880, were: 

RECEIPTS. 

Total amount received at gate $1 ,672 1 5 

Entrance fee on stock 428 35 

On stand privileges 185 00 

Stall rent and citizens' purse 184 25 

$2,469 75 
EXPENDITURES. 

Total amount paid on premiums $1,723 90 

For printing 46 25 

Police and work on grounds ■ 143 10 

On indebtedness of association 351 80 

Freight 4 50 

Postage and stationery 12 50 

Material and repair on grounds 107 45 

$2,389 45 
Cash in treasury 80 30 



Attest: Ave E. Page, Secretary. 



$2,469 75 
J. B. EGGER, Treasurer. 



The officers January i, 1883, were H. W. Grantley, president; Rob- 
ert Stubblefield, vice president; A. E. Page secretary; J. B. Egger, 
treasurer. Directors— George Clark, Robert Stubblefield, J. N. Cham- 
bers, Charles Nesbit, Frank Gilbreath, H. Livingstone, E. K. Clark, 
Thomas Payne, Clark Wix and H. W. Grantley. 

The first organization of this fair with the names of its stockholders 
.and first officers will be found in the general history. 

CITY OFFICERS AND POST OFFICE — 1882. 

Mayor — E. Mason. 

Marshal— I. H. Nichols. 

Councilmen — First Ward, J. R. Baugh; Second Ward, Thomas 
Strieff; Third Ward, James Messick. 

The school board consists of H. W. Grantley, W. F. McColley, A. 
Luchsinger, F. H. Miller. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IOI5 

H. W. Grantley, postmaster, was appointed and took possession of 
the office February 20, 1880, having succeeded C. F. Meyers. The offi- 
cial statement and receipts of the office for 1881,. reported January i, 
1882, is given below: 

Total receipts for 188 r $3,430 12 

Total expended for 1881 1,300 00 

Net proceeds $2,130 12 

Money orders issued 2,184 amounting to $23,425 80 

Money orders paid 592 " 8,556 1/ 

Fees of money order office 242 10 

The returns for 1882 were not reported in time for this work. The 
first postmaster of Appleton City was J. R. Pickerill, in 1871. 

CHURCHES AND LODGES — LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

The Lutheran Church of Appleton City was organized May 22, 1873, 
with the following original members: Jacob Schempp, James Galles, J. 
Sholts, P. Herman, D. Steltes, W. Aarimg, John Niltry and J. A. Schell- 
man. 

The church was erected in 1873, at a cost of $400. and $150 was 
paid for the lot. It has a membership of twenty-one, the Rev. O. Spier 
pastor. The pastor is also superintendent of the Sunday School, which 
is in a flourishing condition, with twenty-five pupils. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was organized in 1874, and its first list of members 
contains the following names: L. Talbot, F. Browning, C. Howell, W. 
D. Walbridge, Sidney Talbot, George W. Troup, W. Stout, C. Scott, 
Charles Burge, Dr. E. C. Kinchelo, Mrs. G. Burge, S. Talbot, H. Weth- 
erby, S. Rood, E. French, S. Harding, A. Walbridge, J. B. Milburn and 
Mrs. H. Harvey. 

This was a good beginning, and since then the church has grown 
until it now numbers sixty-three members. Brother Samuel Victor 
served as pastor three years, and Brother Israel Tompkins one year, 
1882. The church is a handsome frame building, put up in 1880 at a 
cost of $1,500. The Sunday School connected with this church is pro- 
gressing finely, with an attendance of fifty-five scholars, William B. 
Stout being its loving and able superintendent. 

FIRSl PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 

of Appleton City, was organized December 28, 1867, and was located on 
the northeast corner of block 8, in said city, in 1871. Its original mem- 



I0l6 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

bers were: E. S. Chapin, Sarah Chapin, Julia Fields, H. H. Peipmen and 

A. E. Peipmen, his wife, Mrs. Sarah A. Taylor and Mrs. Esther Long. 
It has a present membership of sixty, and the following named pastors 
have officiated as such, in the order named: 

Rev. Seth G. Clarke, Rev. William M. Newton, Rev. R. H. Jackson 
and Rev. A. B. Martin. The church, a frame one, was erected in iSyir 
at a cost of $3,000. The Sabbath school, which is under the charge 

B. P. Dugan, has an average attendance of some sixty pupils, and is a 
strong auxiliary to the church. 

The church organized as above, was in Hudson, Bates County, Mis- 
souri, but on the laying out of Appleton City, most of its members 
removed to the new city and decided to move the church building also, 
which was done. 

APPLETON CITY LODGE, NO. 412, A. F. AND A. M. 

was organized May 26, 1876, and elected the following as its first 
officers: J. C. McFarland, W. M.; James Hodkins, S. W.; R. H. Long, 
J. W.; C. D. Clark, Secretary. Its present officers are: C. O. Hedrick, 
W. M.; H. W. Grantley, S. W.; A* H. Butler, J. W.; Joseph Klein, 
Secretary. 

The lodge is in good condition, financially and otherwise, and num- 
bers at this time 59 members. 

GEORGE FRANK GOULEY CHAPTER, R. A. M., 

was organized January 14, 1876. The first officers were: W. H. Stone, 
H. P.; S. S. Burdett, K.; A. F. Wyckoff, S.; T. B. Sutherland, Treasurer; 
Edwin Mason, Secretary; J. C. McFarlane, C. H.; A. M. Ferguson, P. S.; 
R. C. Neeley, R. A. C; W. F. McCalley, G. M. 3d Vail; Christopher 
Shoe, G. M. 2d Vail; W. E. Shelton, G. M. ist Vail; William M. Prier, 
Guard. The present officers are: W. H. Stone, H. P.; H. W. Grantley, 
K.; N. S. Gardner, S.; C. Shoe, Treasurer; Joseph Klein, Secretary; A. 
Naylor, C. H.; William F. McCalley, P. S.; Ezra Clark, R. A. C; A. H. 
Butler, G. M. 3d Vail; F. Hoffstrom, G. M. 2d Vail; J. C. McFarlane, G. 
M. 1st Vail; William M. Prier, Guard. Number of members, 35. 

ST. CLAIR LODGE, NO. IO4, A. O. U. W., 

was organized February 6, 1879, with the following as charter members 
and first officers: Joseph Reid, P. M. W.; N. S. Gardner, M. W.; L. A. 
Williams, O.; C. F. Myers, Recorder; W. E. Shelton, F.; John F. Boyd, 
R.; D. E. Wyckoff, G.; M. E. Witter, G. F.; William Vannice, I. W.; Geo. 
Markey, O. W.; Dr. W. E. Shelton, M. E. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 101/ 

It numbers at present over fifty members, has had but two deaths 
since its organization and is in fine financial condition. 

The present officers are: E. Krom, M. W.; A. E. Page, P. M. W.; 
E. M. Pyle. Recorder; VV. D. Clark, R. ; E. M. Pyle, F. ; L. A. Williams, O. ; 
R. L. Booth, G. F.; James Wyckoff. G.; A. Black, O. W.; Joseph Reid, I. 
W.; Dr. W. E. Shelton, M. E. 

MINNEHAHA LODGE, NO. 41I, I. O. G. T., 

was organized April 26, 1880, by Elder Daniel K. Shields, with sixty^ 
charter members. Its first officers were: N. B. McNemer, L. D.; Dr. W. 
E. Shelton. W. C. T.; Nettie Tuttle, W. V. T.; C. O. Hedrick, C; F. H. 
Miller, R.S.; Anna Donohue, A. S.; Sarah Adams, F. S.; A. D. Foreman, 
Treasurer; James Wakeman, M.; I. L. King, D. M.; W. B. Teller, I. S. 
G.; Anna Vannice, O. S. G.; Mrs. H. C. Sloss, R. H. S.; Mrs. Fannie 
Neeley, L. H. S. 

Its present officers, February i, 1883, are: Dr. M. B. Kinchloe, L. 
D.; J. A. Moor, W. C. T.; Retta Adams, W. V. T.; Rev. T. G. Wood, C; 
O. C. Beach, R. S.; Mollie Wolverton, A. S.; Angie Garner, F. S.; E. H. 
Adams, Treasurer; Theodore Morgan, M.; Lillie Wood, D. M.; Etta 
Ingalls, I. S G.; H. B. Johns, O. S. G.; Eddie Allen, R. H. S.; C. Clark, 
L. H. S. 

The present membership is seventy and their meetings are held 

weekly. 

ENCAMPMENT NO. 86, I. O. O. F. 

Charter was granted May 23, 1879. The following are its present 
officers: John F. Rooll, C. P.; George Markey, H. P.; Samuel Drake, S. 
W. ; Thomas Streiff, Treasurer; J. W. Wakeman, S. 

LODGE NO. 366, I. O. O. F. 

Charter was granted May 19, 1877, and was instituted by George 
McKeen, of St. Louis, Missouri, with the following charter members: G. 
H. Whitaker, N. G.; Thomas Streiff, Secretary, W. O. Mead, T. 

The present officers are: G. W. John, N. G.; V. W. Pyatt, V. G.; J. 
W. Wakeman, Secretary; Jasper Talbot, P. S.; J. W. Wakeman, Treas- 
urer; Thomas Streiff, R. S.; W. R. Vannice, L. S.; J. B. Nuckles, W.; E. 
M. Pyle, C; George Markey, R. S. S.; J. B. Egger, L. S. S. 

Amount paid for charitable purposes, $1,000; cash on hand, in bonds- 
and securities and paraphernalia, $i,ioo. Present membership, fifty-six. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL. 

In 1871, a substantial and commodious brick school house was- 
erected upon a rise of ground west of the railroad at a cost of over 
$16,000, and was for years the most conspicuous building in the place.. 



10 1 8 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



The growth of the city has been such that the school for the year 
1882 became so crowded that in the fall of that year an additional room 
room was provided and five teachers are employed. Prof A. E 
iHart, of Indiana, is principal and is seconded by S. C. Sturtevant and 
Misses Sarah Gault, Mollie Wolverton and Angle Garnar. 

These educational facilities are supplemented by the Star Academy, 
with Professor J. R. McFarren, as principal, and Mrs. R. M. Sharp, assist- 
ant. Pupils are prepared for college; penmanship, bookkeeping, and 
drawing are specialties, and a more skillful penman than the professor 
is not to be found. The Germans have been having an excellent private 
school carried on in their church by a Mr. Herter, and will be continued 
by Rev. O. Spher, the pastor of the German Lutheran Church. The 
interests of the colored children are also looked after by the school 
-board. School is in operation in their church building, where the dusky 
•sons and daughters of Africa have the opportunity of qualifying them- 
selves for future usefulness. 

The number of pupils in 1877, was 173; number enrolled, 144; num- 
iber of pupils in 1878, 198; number enrolled, 162; number of pupils in 
.1879, 232; number enrolled, 205; number enrolled in 1882, 318. 




CHAPTER XVII. 

MONEGAW AND CHALK LEVEL TOWNSHIPS. 

MON EG AW— METES AND BOUND:;— TOPOGRAPHICAL— PIONEER DAYS— SETTLED AND BY 
WHOM— JOHNSON CI lY -CHURCHES-OHIO POST OFFICE-SCHOOLS AND POPULA- 
TION—CHALK LEVEL-BOUNDARY - POPULATION AND PRODUCTION— CHURCk- 
CHALK LEVEL VILLAGE- MONEGAW SPRINGS-OSAGE BLUFF AND CAVES. 

AN ORIGINAL TOWNSHIP. 

This was one of the original townships, and was first organized in 
1841. Its boundaries were then defined by the county court at the May 
term, and included within its limits the present townships of Appleton, 
Taber and Chalk Level, as well as its own territory as now defined. As 
the population of the county increased, it was from time to time shorn 
of its fair domain, giving life and independence to other municipalities. 
It is in size a pretty fair township yet, and is second in size in the county, 
only being excelled by Speedwell, whose children become famous hunt- 
ers as soon as they are able to carry a rifle. But while this last sentence 
is a fact, it is a digression, and therefore return to our subject. 

Monegaw has an acreage in round numbers of 41,280 acres. The 
map shows that it is bounded* on the north by Henry County, east by 
Chalk Level Township, south by Taber and west by Taber and Apple- 
ton Townships. In the last reorganization of townships its metes and 
bounds were thus described : 

MONEGAW TOWNSHIP. 

" Established and bounded as follows : Commencing at the south- 
east corner of section 13, of township 38, of range 27; thence running 
north along the township line to the northern boundary line of the 
county; thence west along said boundary line to the northwest corner of 
township 39, of range 27; thence south along the township line to the 
southwest corner of section 18, in township 38, of range 27; thence run- 
ning east along the section line to the place of beginning." 

ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Monegaw possesses in beauty of landscape, in the depth and rich- 
ness of its soil, as fine a body of prairie land as can be found in either 



1020 HISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

this or any other county sufficiently undulating for thorough drainage. 
It is in all respects a perfect agricultural township, and when these vast 
and fertile lands shall be put under cultivation her productive resources 
will astonish those who are unacquainted with the extraordinary pro- 
ductiveness of these lands. It is extremely doubtful if more corn was 
raised in any township in the state of Missouri, in the proportion to 
population than Monegaw raised in 1876. With a total population of 
1,055 men, women and children she raised 256,600 bushels of corn. 

In the county that year Monegaw was first in corn, as above; first 
in cattle, 2,333 head; first in hay, 5,130 tons; second in mules; third in 
horses, 493; sheep, 1,049; hogs, 1,835, and in the value of her real estate; 
fourth in population, 1,025; and fifth in oats, 6,995. What she turned out 
in the great yield of the year 1879 is not of record. The one-third of 
the township lying in the southern part contains immense coal fields, 
probably far in excess in quantity, as it is superior in quality, of the cel- 
ebrated coal beds of Bates County. Southern Monegaw is one vast coal 
field. Other minerals are also found, but coal is everywhere from two 
feet to twelve feet in thickness. It will not be long ere this wealth, 
almost limitless, will be brought to the surface, and the coal fields of 
Monegaw noted the country over. It will turn out a wonderful amount 
of productive mineral wealth some day. Springs and water, found in 
wells from fifteen to fifty feet in depth, furnishes water for the northern 
and central portion, and the Little Monegaw waters the southeastern 
section of the township. The Big Monegaw invades about three miles 
of its territory in the southwest, and a branch leads out, bearing north, 
but is only sufficient for stock purposes. When its resources are fully 
developed, in coal, minerals, cereals and stock, Monegaw Township will 
unfold such enormous wealth as to cause intense astonishment to the 
people of the county and state. 

The pioneers of Monegaw settled mostly in the southern part along 
the Little and Big Monegaw and their branches. The wide, open 
expanse of prairie lying to the north, so beautiful to the eye, found no 
reponse from the pioneer, and he placed his affections upon the forests 
and timber, upon the crystal streams whose rippling water slaked their 
thirst and made the irrigation of their fields unnecessary. Here in the 
south, less than a mile from where Johnson City now stands, the English 
settlement, so-called, made a start and four families a home. Joseph Car- 
roll came in 1837 and put up the first cabin, and James Rickey, Bunkem 
Anderson, John Hodgson and Joseph Herndon all settled in the south- 
west corner of Monegaw Township. The former came in 1838, but Mr. 
Herndon not until 1843. The Widow Colthaid, with her sons, John 
Thomas, Jacob, Joseph and Adam, made the wood ring with the 
sound of their axes, south of Johnson City, settling on sections 32 and 
35. Andrew Younce settled on the north one-half of the southeast one- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. I02I 

quarter of section 30, and Robert Allison on section 32. Adam Boots 
settled on section 30, all in 1839-40. On the east side were James 
Terry and Peter Terry, the son of James. They settled on section 25, 
39, 27. So did Irason Taylor, John R. Llewellen on section 26, Henry 
Ledbetter on section 24, Ira Ledbetter and Harrison Underwood on 
section 13, and a Mr. Zuck on section 23. These were the settlers who 
came previous to 1845. There are a few of those old pioneers still liv- 
ing, and the descendants of others now occupy the fair fields and homes, 
and Monegaw can boast of some enterprising people. 

" Bunkem " Anderson, so-called, started the first horse mill, down 
on or near the creek, in 1839, southwest of Johnson City. 

The first school was taught in an old log cabin, put up for school 
purpose, at Coperas Springs, in 1846. That was the first school house 
erected, but several years before that a Dr. Trotter taught a school, 
about 1843, and the cabin he taught in was burned down by the boys. 
They got tired of their teacher, and brought the winter term to a sud- 
den end. 

At the August term of the county court of St. Clair County, John 
Hodgson and Ernest Laney, at the November term ot the same year, 
petitioned to be admitted to citizens and received certificates of appli- 
cation. Their five years' term of probation ended in 1846, and at the 
April term of the circuit court, John Hodgson was admitted to full citi- 
zenship. Laney was probably admitted also, if alive, but the records 
fail to state it. 

On Reid's Creek, in 1857, there was a grist mill and a saw mill put 
up. It had two runs of stone and called the Monegaw Mills. It disap- 
peared during the troubles. 

JOHNSON CITY. 

This village came into being at the close of the war, A. J. Crigler 
building and opening the first store, soon followed by William Hodg- 
son. Then Joseph Herndon built the first blacksmith shop and rented 
it to G. W. Stephens for three years. This gave the town a local habi- 
tation, and the name given it was in honor of Andrew Johnson, then 
president of the United States. 

The land was owned by James E. Patterson and William Hodg- 
son, and lies on sections 29 and 30, in the southeast corner ot 30, and 
the southwest of 29. 

Away back in 1844 or '45, Joseph Herndon became the postmaster 
of Monegaw Post Office, and held the same for nine years. His house 
and his hat generally constituted the post office, being about equally 
divided according to circumstances. If there was a logging bee or a 
" raisin'," and he attended, the post office would be found in his hat. 
After him came John Reid, and he held on until the office was abolished. 



I022 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

and Johnson City, the capital of Monegaw Township, started intO' being. 
From 1865 to 1873 the postmasters of Johnson City were in the order 
named, the first being J. L. Ross, then W. W. Rider, J. W. Peck. J. \V. 
Wheeler, Hiram Wells and the present one, P. Wheeler. 

The merchants of the city were, first, A. J. Crigler, then Hodgson 
& Crigler, Blakely & Ross, W. W. Rider, A. J. Cobb, John Hodgson, 
William Hodgson, J. W. Wheeler and P. Wheeler. The three last are 
doing business in 1883. 

John B. Englert has an extensive wagon, and blacksmithing estab- 
lishment, turning out a good wagon complete. Freeman Flat has a 
blacksmith and wagon repair shop. 

Elias Disney, ex-sheriff, carpenter. 

There is a good, substantial frame school house, which is also used" 
as a union church, erected in 1879. The denominations using this 
building are Cumberland Presbyterian, Christian, M. E. Church and 
Baptist. 

Orion Post Office was started in May, 1871, and C. J. Baldwin was 
postmaster. There is no such office now, and probably Ohio Post Office 
has taken its place. 

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

The Westfield Presbyterian Church was organized in 1873, with 
eleven members, including the minister The names of the members 
were George Burk and wife, J. T. Nesbit and wife, James Parsley and 
wife, C. W. Nesbit and wife, Mrs. Barbara Warner, and Mrs. Gardner. 
From this small beginning this church has grown and spread until it now 
numbers something upwards of eighty members, is in a flourishing con- 
dition, and disseminate a wide spread influence for good. In the year 
1881. a new church edifice was erected at a cost of $1,350, substantial in 
its building, and neatly though plainly furnished, and capable of seating 
a large congregation in a comfortable manner, being in size 46x32 feet. 
The first preacher after the organization was the Rev. W. M. Newton. 
The church, costing some $1,500, was completed in June of 1881, and 
dedicated the same month, the Rev. William M. Newton officiating. 
The first preacher in the new church was the Rev. R. H. Jackson, and he 
still retains his pastorship, and is doing loving work in his Master's 
cause. In connection with the church is a hve acre lot to be used as a 
cemetery, and no pains or expense will be spared to make this sacred 
spot a beautiful "city of the dead." 

OHIO rOSTOFFICE 

was established in 1878, v/ith Robert McGauthey as postmaster. It was 
located about one and a half miles west of its present location. It is 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO23; 

now on the northwest corner of section 13, township 39, range 27. The 
office was first offered to John G. Warner, who declined it in January,. 
1878, and it therefore did not open until March, and a new postmaster 
found. It was moved to its present site November 15, 1882, and S. G. 
Craig appointed postmaster. The latter gentleman opened a store, now 
Ohio, in July, 1882, and the office was turned over to him at the above 
date, his appointment dating from October, a month previous. 

SCHOOLS. 

In the number of her school districts, Monegaw Township exceeds- 
all others in the county, having eleven, all with good substantial school 
buildings, and the people of the township are priding themselves with 
the belief, that in school facilities, and in the educational advancement of 
the children of school age in the township, they are in the lead. This is 
something they may well take pride in, for culture and refinement and 
material progress go hand in hand. If the past and present is only ant 
incentive to the future, all will be well. 

The local officers in this township; selected in 1875, were for 

Trustee — William Llewellen. 

Clerk — M. Yeoman. 

Collector— W. H. Wheeler. 

Assessor — C. Thornbury. 

Constable — C. F. Younger. 

Justices of the Peace — E. C. Berry, C. J. Baldwin. 

September 6, 1882, Monegaw Township was divided into two voting 
precincts, one to be at John.son City, the other at the Ohio Schoolhouse. 

Population, 1870 i,434^ 

1876 — two townships taken off 1,02c. 

1880 1,321 

CHALK LEVEL TOWNSHIP, 

was originally a part of Monegaw Township, when that township and 
Weaubleau composed the municipal divisions of St. Clair, while under 
the civil jurisdiction of Rives County. When it became St. Clair, in 
fact, it was still Monegaw, and remained so until November 4, 1869, 
when Chalk Level became one of the municipal divisions of the county. 
Just why such a name was given is hard to say. It is level enough in its 
northern part, but there is precious little level ground in the southern 
portion of the township. 

The people, however, are "pretty level headed," which will be a 
solution of the question, satisfactory to the general reader, and they 
"can. chalk "^ it down. It is- the "beanpole" township of the county 



1024 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

being a trifle over thirteen and a half miles north and south by a width 
of just four miles. It is bounded on the north by Henry County, east 
by Butler, Osceola and a portion of Roscoe, south by the latter town- 
ship and the Osage River, and west by Taber and Monegaw, and has an 
area in acres of about 34,000, the north two thirds being splendid prairie 
land, gently undulating and rich in every productive quality. The south 
third is broken, rough, stony and hilly, with bold bluffs jutting out 
from the banks of the Osage, with only about one fourth fit for cultiva- 
tion and the rest excellent grass and grazing lands. This land could be 
purchased cheap and it is the home of the sheep. But what this 
portion of the township lacks in agricultural wealth and resources is 
more than made up by coal and lead. The former is found nearly in 
every part of it, and lead indications are more numerous than in any 
■other section of the county, although both Collins and Doyal claim to 
possess this metal in large quantities. In this portion of the township 
are the famous Monegaw Springs, whose wealth of mineral and healing 
waters will yet make it a Mecca for the invalids of the states. These 
springs will be more particularly described a few pages ahead. Some 
three miles east of these springs is a white sulphur spring of great med- 
ical quality, and one of the most pleasant to the taste of any of the 
medical waters in the county. This spring is found on the northwest 
quarter of the northwest quarter of section 27, township 38, range 26, 
and is called the Salt Creek Springs. John C. Looney was the first 
owner of these springs. Dr. John Elliott settled near these springs in 
1850, opened a general store near them and tried to get up a summer 
resort, but failed simply because transportation was not to be found 
.except on horseback and in wagons for twenty-five or thirty miles. 

THE OLD SETTLERS. 

The early settlers of the county much preferred the broken in the 
southern than the rolling prairies of the north, and the first settlers of 
what is now Chalk Level Township settled mostly in the southern por- 
tion of it. 

Those who settled previous to and during the 3'ear 1838 were John 
I. Wood, from Virginia, who settled on fractional section 3 1 in the south- 
west corner of the township, on the Osage River, in 1837; Robert Ander- 
son lived north him, the same year, at Monegaw Springs; Simeon C. 
Bruce settled on section 4, township 38, range 26; John C. Looney, sec- 
tion 27, same township and range; Paris Sims on section 21, same town- t 
ship and range; Alexander Hoover on section 7, same township and 
range; M. C. David on section 5, township 39, range 26, and Noah Win- 
ston on section 32, township 39, range 26. These were all early settlers. 
The Alexander Hoover above mentioned was the son of Alexander 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO25 

Hoover, of Taber Township. Theoderic Snuffer, from Montgomery- 
County, Virginia, settled on the south half of southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 32 and south half of southwest quarter of section 33 in 1838, and 
Owen Snuffer, his son, came with him, then some twelve years of age, 
and now a prominent citizen of the county. Elisha Thomas, another 
son of the "Old Dominion," came in 1840 and located on the west half 
of southeast quarter of section 33. Then Martin McFerran, a brave and 
gallant soldier of the war of 1812, also from Virginia, found a home on 
the southwest quarter of southwest quarter and northwest quarter of 
northwest quarter of sections 28 and 33. He came in 1838. Then John 
Bedell came the same year, or very early in 1839, and purchased the east 
half of northeast quarter of section 32 for the erection of a cabin, 
but in the latter part of that year or in the spring of i§40 John Bedell 
was awakening the people of Huffman's Ferry with the ring of his anvil. 

There were a few settlers, well known, that came a few years later. 
There was Elder John F. Thompson, of Virginia, came in 1843, took 
the California fever in 1849, 1^^ for the golden land in 1850, having run 
a tannery some six years, and was known on that account, far and wide. 
He arrived safely and was successful, for he sent his wife $r,8oo, but that 
was the last his family or friends have ever heard from him. He prob- 
ably has passed to the golden shore. 

Lowry Jones came in 1844, and Finis Anderson in 1848, and the 
northern portion of the township gathered in its settlers mostly between 
1840 and 1850. 

The township could not be called progressive, and it was that por- 
tion of Monegaw which seemed to settle slowly. 

As above referred. Chalk Level was not organized until 1869, and 
remained as such until 1872, when its described boundaries were placed 
upon the records with its sister townships. It was as follows: 

CHALK LEVEL. 

Established and bounded as follows, to wit: Commencing at the 
center of the main channel of the Osage River, where the section line be- 
tween sections twenty-six and twenty-seven, in township thirty-eight, 
range twenty-six, crosses said river, thence north along said section line to 
the northern boundary line of the county, thence west along said boundary 
line to the northwest corner of township thirty-nine, range twenty-six, 
thence south along the township line to the center of the main channel of 
the Osage River, thence along said main channel to a point where the 
township line between township thirty-seven, range twenty-six, and 
township thirty-eight, range twenty-six, crosses said river, thence east 
along said township line to 1:he center of the main channel of said river, 
thence along said main channel to the place of beginning. 

And the above is its present boundary. 



1026 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, 

On the re-organization of the township, local officers were elected 
for several j^ears, and in 1875 the following were chosen the township 
officers: George Lyon, Trustee; L. L. Cherington, Collector; William 
M. Cox, Assessor; J. M. Rickman, Clerk; T. O. Dark, Constable; George 
Withrow and E. H. French, Justices of the Peace. 

SCHOOLS. 

Probably the first school house in the township was erected in 1845, 
made of logs, and a subscription school and was taught by Robert 
Smarr, a son of John Smarr, the first sheriff. The Smarrs came from 
Virginia. Another school was taught in that, or southern part of the 
township, a select school, by Henry J. Speed, in 1858. Then Theoderic 
Snuffer, a few years later, donated an acre of land for a school house, 
and it was built on the land, being on the northeast quarter of the north- 
east quarter of section 32, 38, 26. These were all the early schools, but 
from the foundation of that 'log school house erected in 1845, there have 
arisen no less than ten full school districts, and one other in connection 
with a fractional district with Butler Township. The most of those 
school buildings are frame with all the modern conveniences, and there 
is no township in the county where better educational advantages can 
be found. There has not been much progress in the growth of Chalk 
Level, in population or wealth, but she is in the advance of all others in 
proportion to population, in the cause of education. To this will soon 
be added a more energetic work in the cause of material progress, and 
when that day is reached it will be a happy one for her people. 

POPULATION AND PRODUCTION. 

Among the townships. Chalk Level alone has remained at a stand- 
still during the past decade, and in fact may be said to have retrogaded, 
for her gain of only ten in ten years falls far short of a natural increase. 

The population in 1870 was 851 

The population in 1880 was 861 

This is not a flattering exhibit. The outcome of her cereal and 
stock production is also below what it should be according to population. 
In 1876, Chalk Level was seventh in the number of horses and corn yield, 
sixth in that of cattle and real estate, and fourth in mules, which gave 
her a few mules ahead, but her people should not feel mulish in reading 
the paragraph. They should wake up and not allow other townships, 
no richer in agricultural resources, no greater in the wealth of their min- 
eral deposits, to exceed her in material progress. There is that within 
Chalk Level Township that can make her, in spite of all opposition, the 
equal of any of her sister townships, and her citizens must respond to- 
the demand of an enlightened and progressive era. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO27 

CHURCHES. 

There is a Cumberland Presbyterian Church on section 32, township 
39, range 26. Thfe Baptists have just completed a church edifice on sec- 
tion 28, to\vnship 3Q, range 26. Methodists have a log church building 
on section 5, township 38, range 26. The Campbellites and other denom- 
inations use the school house at Chalk Level Village. 

The Christian Church, organized last October (1882), use the union 
church building last mentioned, in section 5, township 38, range 26. The 
original members were W. T. Robinson and wife, Mary E. and Frances 
Lewis, M.. B. Hall and wife, J. F. Alexander, wife and daughter, Mary 
Rickman, N. L. and J. T. Rickman. They have a membership of thirty- 
five, and the Rev. William Burge is their pastor. 

The first preachers in the township were the Rev. John Neely, and 
the Rev. William Browning, both of the M. E. Church. 

VILLAGE OF CHALK LEVEL. 

This village was first started in 1866, and Mr. Ab. Simmons, built 
the first store, and was its first merchant. Hackett & Casey opened the 
first blacksmith shop; George Lyons, the first carpenter, and Dr. E. H. 
French, its first physician. The first postmaster was probably Abraham 
Simmons, as he had the first store. But away back between 1840 and 
1850, a post office was kept by William Browning at his residence on his 
farm. J. Truesdale was the second postmaster, Ab. Simmons, the third, 
Mac. Wilson, the fourth, in 1874, Gabriel Waldron, in 1875, A. D. John- 
son, in 1876, G. B. Atkinson, in 1877, A. A. Cleveland, 1878, and the 
present postmaster is W. T. Robinson. 

The oldest settler now living in the township is S. C. Bruce, an 
honored citizen of the county. 

W. T. Robinson keeps a general store. Dr. John S. Wilson, a drug 
and grocery store combined. Samuel Brundon has the only blacksmith 
shop, and Dr. E. H. French still occupies his position in the healing art 
he has so long and so successfully held. 

It is not a large town, but for a country village has quite an exten- 
sive trade. It has beautiful scenery north, east and west of it, with 
many thriving farmers, and the village has not by any means reached 
its growth. It will never be very large, but it will be a great convenience 
to the people around who are likely to sustain it, because it is a neces- 
sity. 

MONEGAW SPRINGS. 

These famous springs take their name from the equally famous 
Indian chief, " Monegaw," who was for many years the moving spirit of 
the Osage tribe of Indians, as well as their chief, A nobler Indian, or a 



1028 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

better specimen of physical manhood than the celebrated chief, nevei 
led a band of warriors into mortal combat. Tall, straight as an arrow, 
and of great strength, he led even where none but the most reckless 
dare to follow, and combined with this was a native intellect that had 
few equals outside of those celebrated chiefs, Black Hawk and Tecum- 
seh. He was in looks and bearing and in ability, a counterpart of the 
latter chief, a spirit which would not brook restraint, or be subject to 
control. Such was Monegaw, and when the pale faces became at last as 
leaves of the forest in number, and when his band of braves had been 
reduced to but a handful in number, though their proud spirits were yet 
unbroken, Monegaw saw the hopelessness of the struggle, and calling 
his few noble braves, told them that the homes and hunting grounds of 
the fathers were no longer theirs, and that their home was toward the 
setting sun. " Go," he sadly said, " but Monegaw is your chief no longer. 
My hunting ground has been taken from me. My home on the Osage 
and the Sac is now in the hands of the white man, and that which has 
been my home shall be my burial place, and I will leave here only to go 
to the happy hunting ground beyond the skies." He ceased speaking, 
all was silent a few moments, then one by one his few braves silently left 
him, giving him a sad look of farewell. 

This party was at the cave near the springs, and in that cave " Mon- 
egaw," the greatest and bravest of the Osage Indians, starved himself 
to death. His proud spirit was broken, and this beautiful country with 
it rugged grandeur, became, as he said, the spot where his spirit should 
go to the " Great Father " and there find rest. 

His stronghold was the frowning cliffs of the Osage and those bold 
and rugged bluffs which extend from the mouth of the Little Monegaw 
to that of the Big Monegaw, and the beautiful caves there found was his 
refuge when he returned from the war path or from raids upon the white 
man. These bluffs are about two miles in length. It is so rough and 
cragged that a person can only look upon it with a shudder, and in many 
places the top of the bluff extends or projects over the river many feet. 
In other places there are to be found rock houses or caves which are 
very large and roomy. The upper, or west end of this irregular bluff is 
hemmed in by a heavy forest foliage, which extend their branches close 
over the rocky walls, and would afford protection or concealment to 
any band or body of robbers, murderers, or demons, who might infest 
the country. This high bluff rises in some places a thousand feet above 
the bed of the river In some of the rock houses are to be seen various 
inscriptions which will call one's mind back for hundreds of years — when 
this fair land, now dotted over with magnificent farms, towns, cities and 
happy homes, was a vast wilderness, inhabited by various bands of sav- 
ages and every species of beasts of prey. At the mouth of one of the 
caves lies large sand rocks, which have large and deep furrows or grooves 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IO29 

cut in them. There is no doubt but that the cutting was done by the 
Indians in whetting or dressing up the points of their spikes, spears and 
arrows, preparatory to going on a hunt or to take the war trail; near the 
front or entrance on the side of one of these caves can be seen a cutting 
representing three warriors, dressed in war paint and feathers, upon the 
line of march, one following the other. On entering the room and look- 
ing at the rocky ceiling one will behold many inscriptions of various 
things. There are turtles swimming in all directions, warriors swim- 
ming the river, some leading ponies, while others are carrying their 
spears, bows and arrows, and in the background can be seen what 
appears to be a living Indian wrapped in a blanket. 

Let it be said, however, that the palefaces, on finding his remains in 
the cave, gave them a decent burial, and the trappings found by his side 
and which proved his identity were placed in his grave that he might 
find them in the happy hunting ground beyond. Farewell, old Chief 
" Monegaw," farewell! And from him these springs take their name. 
Lindsay and Charles Applegate were the first to settle at or by these 
springs, and they put up a cabin there in 1833 or early in 1834. They 
had put up also a little water mill, the first in the county, but small. In 
1835 James Anderson bought the Applegates' claim and lived there for 
several years. The Andersons came from Virginia. The forty acres 
lying directly south of the springs is where Anderson raised his log 
cabin. The healing qualities of these waters were well known to them, 
and the place was called by the French trappers who passed through the 
county " Stinking Waters," and there are evidences that many Indians 
of other tribes besides the Osages came to these springs to recuperate 
their health. The old settler had great confidence in ^e healthfulness 
of the waters of these springs, but it was not until about 1850 that their 
great medical qualities became known and circulated. 

It was in 1850 or 1851 that congress sent out a board of medical 
experts to examine the water of these springs, for there are nearly 100 
in all, and other medical waters found, and their report was to the effect 
that they were the best black sulphur spring water and containing greater 
medical properties than any other to be found in the United States. 
Springs are numerous and found in different portions of the county. 
The salt springs situated about five miles southwest from Osceola before 
referred to, sulphur springs at Taberville and on Salt Creek, and numer- 
ous chalybeate springs in other parts of the county have attained more 
or less fame; but the greatest of those which have excited the most curi- 
osity as well as containing the greatest medical properties are the famous 

MONEGAW SPRINGS, 

situated in Monegaw Township, one mile north of the Osage River, 
seven miles from the county seat, and sixteen miles from Appleton City. 



I030 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

These springs are contained within a distance of about 200 feet, and are 
102 in number, each spring being different from all the others. Some 
have different properties; some are more strongly impregnated with 
sulphur than others; some of the springs are more or less salt, and one 
at least is the purest, clear fresh water to be found in the county. The 
springs are black, white and yellow sulphur, chalybeate and pure water. 
Many chronic cases of long standing, which had been pronounced 
incurable by leading physicians, have been cured by the use of these 
springs. The neighbors tell of several cases of rheumatism and dys- 
pepsia of years' standing that were cured in a short time. 

Monegaw Cave, situated about a half mile from the springs, has 
been explored nearly a mile. In some places the roof is forty feet high, 
and adorned by nature in a wonderful manner. One could well imagine 
themselves in " Alladin's cave," while gazing on the quartz crystal and 
other curiosities with which this wonderful cave is adorned. Specimens 
of silver ore have been discovered here, apparently rich; but as no assay 
has been had, their value is unknown. In sight of this cave, and cover- 
ing a surface of at least forty acres, we traveled over thousands of " red 
hematite," the richest iron ore known in this or any other country. In 
other places we found the blue specular in immense quantities, and con- 
venient to both is coal and timber, capable of furnishing coke and char- 
coal to be used in utilizing these wonderful mountains of ore. 

MONEGAW CITY. 

As a town it was rather slow to grow, but a Mr. Houck seems first 
to have made_more extensively known the famous medical properties of 
the waters. He was the first to start the embryo city of Monegaw, and 
started in as the first merchant. He worked hard to let the virtues of 
the springs become known, and by 1856 and 1857, the city of Monegaw 
had a population of some 400. It was not, however, very easy of access, 
and the war ended the town, for it has since then ceased to exist. A 
good hotel building is there, and the famous springs still bubble up and 
run over with their crystal waters, but that is all that is now left. The 
future of these springs is, however, now bright. A company has been 
formed to resurrect the dead city and to open up a m.eans of ingress and 
egress, that it will become a pleasure to visit the springs, instead of seri- 
ous annoyance and trouble. It is in fact to be made a summer resort, 
with all the modern appliances of convenience and comfort, while enjoy- 
ing its life and health sustaining waters. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

BUTLER, JACKSON AND POLK TOWNSHIPS. 

BUTLER TOWNSHIP-THE FIRST BREAK— ONE OF SEVEN— TOPOGRAPHY AND AREA— PRO- 
DUCTION AND POPULATION— WATER AND .TIMBER— SETTLED AND BY WHOM— 
GEORGE W. PENN— LOWRY CITY— CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, LODGES AND BUSINESS- 
JACKSON TOWNSHIP-MINERAL NOT AGRICULTURAL-METES AND BOUNDS-WHITE 
SULPHUR SPRINGS-CHURCHES, POST OFFICES AND SCHOOLS-POLK TOWNSHIP- 
BORDER TOWNSHIP- BOUNDS- A SINGULAR SPRING— PIONEERS— WATER, TIMBER 
AND SOME ROCK-POPULATION — PRODUCnON— CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS— ITS 
GENERAL FEATURES 

BUTLER, ONE OF SEVEN. 

This township was the first new township made out of the original 
six, which constituted the municipal divisions of the county. Its first 
boundaries will be found in the general history, but the present is here 
given, taken from the records. It is nearly eight and a half miles north 
and south by seven and a half miles east and west, covering an area in 
round numbers of about 38,000 acres. The Osage River being its prin- 
cipal eastern boundary, it has a large number of fractional sections. 
Geographically it is bounded on the north by Henry County, east by the 
Osage River, except a strip in the northeast corner, which is divided 
from Jackson Township by range line between ranges 24 and 25; on the 
south by Osceola, and on the west by Chalk Level Township. On the 
new divisions organized in 1872, the township boundaries were placed 
upon the records as then made. This record, as regards this township, 
reads: 

TOWNSHIP OF BUTLER 

is bounded as follows: "Commencing in the center of the main channel 
of the Osage River, at a point where the south line of township 39, of 
range 25 crosses said river; thence down the main channel of said river 
to a point where the east line of said township crosses said river; thence 
running north to the boundary line of the county; thence west along 
said boundary line to a point where the section line between sections 2 
and 3 in township 39, of range 26, intersects said boundary line; thence 
running south along said section line to the southwest corner of section 
35 in said township; thence east along the township line to the center 
of the main channel of the Osage River; thence down the main channel 
of said river to the place of beginning." 



I032 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES. 

Butler Township is fully four-fifths prairie land, and it is admitted 
by competent judges to be the equal of any in the county. For beauty 
of landscape, richness of soil and wealth of production, Butler Town- 
ship, if not first, will rank as such before many years. With the advent 
of the Clinton & Osceola Railroad through its center, from north to 
south, it will be one of the most desirable homes for immigrants to be 
found. This will be accomplished within a few short months, and But- 
ler will rank as one of the wealthiest townships in the county. Its pop- 
ulation in 1880 was 1,399, ^"<^ is probably now 1,500. It is the largest 
population of any township excepting Appleton, and far exceeds that 
township in agricultural population. In 1870 it was less in population 
than Chalk Level, but now exceeds it. Its gain during the past decade 
is as follows: 

Population in 1880 i,399 

Population in 1870 646 

Gain 753 

or a trifle over 115 per cent. This was more rapid than any other town- 
ship in the county. 

WATER AND TIMBER. 

The Osage River on its eastern border is its resource for water, 
with the exception of two small branches, which empty into the Osage, 
and Gallinipper Creek, which touches a portion of its southern and 
western border. There are a few springs within the township, and water 
is easy to obtain by sinking wells from twelve to forty feet. 

The timber lies along the bank of the Osage River, on the eastern 
side, and is of value. In minerals, the township is rather bare, though 
it is believed that lead exists in the southeastern partj on and near the 
river. 

THE EARLY SETTLERS. 

Among the earliest settlers in the township was Hugh Barnett, who 
settled on section 24, and came in the year 1838. Two sons, John and 
William, came with him. John settled on section 23. James Addington 
settled on section 14; John C. Greenwell on section 13, near the river, 
the same year. Christopher Greenup, James, William, John and Daniel 
Bunch all came in 1839, ^^^ settled on sections 2, 3 and 11. J. G. Wil- 
liams and William Crowley came in 1837, and were viewers of a road in 
May, 1838, being appointed by the Henry County Court. Williams is 
now, if living, a resident of Colorado. William Snell also lived on sec- 
tion 14, and came about 1839. These settlers were leading citizens of 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO33; 

the county for many years, and have left the impress of their energy of 
character upon the township. These were all in township 39, range 25. 

In 1840, there came Eli Oden, who settled on section 35, as alsa 
did C. G. Browning, township 39, of range 26. Hiram and Horatio 
Short came the same year and made section 26 their home, same township 
and range. Clifton Browning and a Dr. Browning and Dr. Giles came 
also in 1840. C. G. Browning bought the southeast quarter of northeast 
quarter of section 35, of James V. Garnett, an early settler who came 
in 1837. Besides the few names here mentioned, there were very few 
settlers on the west side of thfe township as early as 1840. They clus- 
tered near the river and along its banks for miles, but no settler was 
hardy enough in those days to settle upon the open prairie, miles from 
running water and timbered land. 

One of the first camping grounds in St. Clair County, was the Meth- 
odist camping grounds, located on the southeast quarter of section 
25, township 39, of range 26. This ground was used as such as early 
as 1845, and people were known to come from twenty to thirty miles to- 
attend the meetings. Each brought their provisions along, and it was a 
regular camping out, the meetings holding as long as the provisions 
held out. This was the Lord's work, resting upon the endurance of the 
settlers to stand the short rations. So far as the early settlers of Butler 
are concerned, they were in pretty good circumstances on their arrival. 
Not much wealth as rated at this day, but enough to purchase their lands 
and give them a start without enduring the troubles of a debt hanging 
over them. The Bunches, Barnetts, Greenwells, all came prepared to- 
secure homes, and only their living to work for. They and their descen- 
dents have prospered. 

The people of Butler have looked for many years for railroad trans- 
portation through their township. High hopes or great expectations 
had taken hold of their minds, and they had even gone so far as to lay 
out a city of metropolitan proportions to meet their new view of life 
when the outside world could be reached with the iron horse as the mode 
of travel. There are bright hopes now for this long deferred railroad 
being completed, and when it is the citizens of Butler will have cause 
for rejoicing. It will not only be a convenience but a source of wealth. 

A PROMINENT CITIZEN. 

In 1841 George W. Penn came to St. Clair County and settled in 
Butler Township. He was born on the 9th day of December, 1813, in 
Caswell County, North Carolina. For thirty years Butler Township had 
no more active and enterprising a citizen. He died September 18, 1871,. 
at the age of fifty-eight years. When the town of Lowry was laid out 
he was one of its first merchants as well as its first hotel keeper. These 



1034 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

he opened in May. 187 1, and lived but four months afterward. He belonged 
to the M. K. Church, South, and when the death of George W. Penn was 
announced not only Lowry City and Hutler Township mourned but St. 
Clair County had reason to weep for her loss. 

Under the new township law the following local officers were elected 
in the spring election of 1875: John Walker, trustee; D. B. Scobey, 
collector; R. W. Wright, clerk; Daniel Williams, assessor; S. M. Gracey 
and Jonathan Cooley, justices of the peace, and H. H. Sn\'der, con- 
stable. 

LOWRY CItV. 

The Pride of the Prairie is located on section 13, township 39, range 
26, with as handsome a surrounding as the eye would wish to dwell upon. 
Those grassy slopes, dotted here and there with neat farm houses, well- 
stocked barns and herds of graded cattle tell of thrift and plenty, and 
in the midst of this, on rising ground bathed in the sunlight, stands the 
" Pride of the Prarie," great in the promise of a glorious future. It lies 
about seven and a half miles a little north and west of Osceola, and 
about eighteen and a half miles from Applcton City, a little south of 
west, and is directly on the line of the railroad now in process of con- 
struction between Clinton and Osceola, some twent}' miles from the lat- 
ter place. The city is regularlarly laid out; all thoroughfares running 
north and south are avenues, while the streets cross these at right angles, 
thus combining beauty and symmetry. It is on the high divide between 
the Osage and Grand Rivers, and the country to the north, south and 
west can be seen for miles. 

WHEN LAID OUT. 



I 



Early in March, 1871, the then proposed railroad between Osceola 
and Clinton having assured John Hancock that his offer was accepted, a 
plat of the town was drawn and a lithograph of the plat executed. Of 
course the new town became the absorbing theme in that section, and a 
number of the people were ready to purchase lots and take their chances 
for prosperity and wealth in the embryo city. In May, 1871, John Han- 
cock named this new town " Lowry City," in honor of a wealthy resident 
of Evansville, Indiana, for whom he formerly clerked j-ears ago. The 
town soon gave evidence of rapid growth, and in the year of its birth 
made a vigorous and healthy progress. 

G. W. & J. P. Wright put up the first store or business house, and 
were the first merchants. Dr. J. P. Wright was the first physician; D. 
M. Reid started the first blacksmith shop; R. Wright was the first car- 
penter, and C. F. Huebner the first shoemaker; and these settled all in 
the spring of 1871. The business firms then were: 



I 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO35 

J. P. Wright and Co., general store. 

G. W. Wright, drugs, groceries, boots and shoes. 

G. W. Houx, hardware. 

C. F. Huebner, harness and boots and shoes. 

The first postmaster was J. P. Wright, and he was succeeded by J. 
il. Hopkins. The third was William Hook; fourth, John B. Bell, and 
;he present postmaster, J. H. Trissel. 

Physicians, Dr. J. P. Wright and Dr. Joseph A. Mee. 

Dentists, E. J. Deringer and A. S. Wright. 

Tinner, Joseph R. Barnett. 

Blacksmith, W. D. Poindexter. 

Wagon manufacturer, — Vemiller. 

Wright House, G. W. Wright, proprietor. 

Hotel Penn, Mrs. Penn. 

Carpenters, J. H. Trissell and Mr. Fields. 

Grange Store, Phillip H. Clear. 

Drugs and groceries, W. G. Browning. 

Millinery, Mrs. Y. U. Poindexter. 

Dry Goods, H. Tutloch. 

Billiard Hall, James Cardwell. 

On May 8, 1872, Lowry City became a voting precinct, the polling 
Dlace being removed from Walker's School House. The public sale of 
ots took place November 20, 1871, in which some forty odd lots were 
iold, ranging in price from $26 to $145, and had the railroad been built, 
IS was expected, Lowry City to-day would have been the second city in 
;ize in the county, if not the first. 

LOWRY CITY LODGE NO. 403 A. F. & A. M., 

,vas organized in October, 1873. Its first officers were: A. M. Head, W. 
VI.; James Mahan, S. W.; William Cox, J. W.; George M. Gobbert, Sec- 
retary; John Cash, Treasurer; J. R. Jenkins, S. D.; R. W. Garnett, J. 
D.; John Barnett, T. 

Its present officers, 1883, are J. R. Barnett, W. M.; W. W. Gass, S. 
W.; Dr. James M. Mee, J. W.; David Chinn, Secretary. 

Original members, A. M. Mead, William M. Cox, Joseph Mahan, 
fohn Cash, George M. Gobbert, John R. Jenkins, R. W. Garnett and 
[ohn Barnett. 

The order is in good condition and has grown steadily. It now 
numbers thirty-three members, and a neat hall of their own. 

LOWRY LODGE NO. 407, I. O. O. F., 

was organized May 19, 1881, with the following charter members: John 
H. Trissel, C. F. Huebner, W. P. Snyder, C. W. Wright, Thomas R. But- 



1036 HISTORY OF ST. Cl.AIR COUNTY. 

ler, Joseph Barter, Newton Dowers, P. H. Clear, S. J. Duvall, William 
Conner, J. C. Stockman, H. Denny, Thomas Dean and D. Tucker. 

The first officers were elected and installed as follows: J. C. Stock- 
man, N. G,; M. C. Mowbray, V. G.; C. F. Huebner, Secretary. v 

Second officers: C. F. Huebner, N. G.; M. F. Davis, V. G.; M. ci 
Mowbray, Secretary. 

Third officers: M. C. Mowbray, N. G.; N. Dowers, V. G.; F. D.'- 
Lacost, Secretary. 

Fourth officers: P. H. Clear, N. G.; Jonas Rathgib, V. G.; A. C. 
Winters, Secretary. 

The lodge is progressing finely, and has a membership of twenty- 
two. 

PLEASANT VIEW GRANGE, NO. 1 526, 

was organized at Lowry City, January 20, 1874, by Deputy M. V. B. 
Page, of Vernon County, Missouri, with the following named persons as 
charter members: 

J. C. Waldron and wife. Jonathan Cooley, H. W. Sale, J. K. Wilkin- 
son, Robert McF'arlin, Jr., and wife, W. H. Sparks and wife, Jonathan 
Hearn, A. M. Dyke, J. M. Francis, R. F. Lyon, Joseph Hannah and wife, 
E. E. Hall and wife, Isaac Hearn, Henry Hearn, Mrs. Evaline Cooper- 
son, James H. Walters, L. C. Walters, James Reasoner, O. P. Duvall. 

The first officers were, J. C. Waldron, Master; Jonathan Cooley, 
Secretary. Term of office expired January i, 1875. 

J. M. Francis was elected Master, and E. E. Hall, Secretary. Term of 
office expired January i, 1876. 

Jonathan Cooley was elected Master, and Robert McFarlin, Secre- 
tary, Term of office expired January i, 1877. 

H. W. Sale was elected Master, and R. McFarlin re-elected Secre- 
tary, They held their offices until March, 1878. 

Jonathan Cooley was elected Master, and P. H. Clear, Secretary. 
During this year the Grange became dormant, and did not meet regu- 
lar until August 2, 1879, when it met and reorganized, with Jonathan 
Cooley, Master, and P. H. Clear, Secretary. 

January i, P. H. Clear was chosen Master, and F. W. Sale, Secre- 
tary. Term of office expired January i, 1881. 

P. H. Clear was re-elected Master, and H. W. Sale re-elected Sec- 
retary. Term of office expired January i, 18S2. 

P. H. Clear was re-elected Master, and J. M. Francis, Secretary. 
Term of office expired January i, 1883. 

Daniel Williams was chosen Master, and J. M. Francis re-elected 
Secretary. 

Present number of members, males, 41; females, 17. Total, 58. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IO37 

The members of this Grange are owners of a large two story frame 
building 20x60 feet in size, with store room below and hall above, and 
are out of debt. 

M. E. CHURCH. 

The M. E. Church, now of Lowry City was organized in 1865, by a 
few earnest people. They were William Hook, B . H . Woodbury, George 
W. Houk and Henry Houk. The present membership is fifty. The 
church was built in 1878, frame in construction and cost $900, Since 
1870 the pastors have been the same as the Osceola M. E. Church; this 
church being in the same circuit. There is a Union Sunday School 
In a flourishing condition numbering seventy-five pupils, with B. H. 
Woodbury of the M. E. Church, superintendent, 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 

is comparatively a new organization, it being first called together March 
24, 1882, the folio wii^rf^med members effecting its organization: 

C. Brom and 'wife, R. D. Lawlor and wife, Sarah F. Penn, Taxanna 

F. Smith, G. H. Matthew and wife, John G. Baynhan and wife, Morgan 
Wright and wife, A. S. Wright, Missouri Poindexter, J. P. Wright and 

G. W. Mahan. Its first pastor was the Rev. R. D. Lawler. 

The church has a promising future, with an extended influence for 
good. 

SCHOOLS. 

They have nine school districts in Butler Township, besides another 
in connection with Chalk Level Township, about one half of the terri- 
tory lying in each township. These schools average six months each, 
have a full average attendance, and have the past few years advanced 
rapidly. This is accounted for by the fact that good teachers have been 
employed, the qualifications of the man being taken into considera- 
tion and not wages. The demands of the people for educational facili- 
ties have been advantageously met. 

JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 

As an agricultural township Jackson cannot be called first-class, 
although there are some prairie and bottom lands within her border 
equal to the best. But her wealth lies in her immense iron bed which 
covers nearly, if not quite, one third of her area. Central Jackson is 
simply a bed of iron ore and covers some twelve sections of land. This 
is wealth if communication with the outside world becomes a living 
reality. Iron furnaces, with coal all around, would build up the waste 
places in the township. The northern portion of the west along the 



1038 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Osat:^e River and a strip along its southern border are as good agricul- 
tural lands as are to be found. This land has been appreciated for in 
the last decade Jackson Count)' has gained rapidly in population. 

The population in 18S0 was 775 

The population in 1870 was 411 

334 

This is a gain of about eighty per cent, and above the average gain 
of the townships. 

The Osage River makes her western boundary very irregular and 
the same can be said of its northern boundary in part, for the meandering 
of that stream waters its northern part and then forms a portion of its 
northern boundary. This makes at least half of tiie township well 
wooded and watered, and to this may be credited her surprising growth 
when taken into consideration that one-third of her territory can not be 
cultivated for agricultural purposes. There is no better stock country 
than that to be found in the northern and western part of this town- 
ship. 

IRON ORE. 

When the wealth of her mineral shall be brought to the surface 
and utilized as it should be, Jackson. Township will not be lacking in 
the essentials of prosperity. Those iron beds will not be exhausted for 
years, and when her mineral wealth shall have been developed, combin- 
ed with her agricultural and stock resources, Jackson will not need to take 
a back seat in either wealth or population. 

METES AND BOUNDS. 

Jackson Township lies in the northeast corner of the county, Henry 
County being on the north, Benton on the east, Polk Township on the 
south and Butler Township on the west. She is more partiularly 
described by the order of the county court: 

JACKSON. 

Established and bounded as follows, to wit: Commencing at the 
southeast corner of township thirty-nine, range twenty-four, thence run- 
ning north along the township line to the northeast corner of said town- 
ship, taking in all of township forty, range twenty-three and twenty-four, 
that is in St. Clair County, thence running along the northern boundary 
of the county to the northwest corner of said township thirty-nine, range 
twenty-four, thence south along the township line to the center of the 
main channel of the Osage River, thence up the center of said main 
channel to a point where the south line of said township crosses said 
river, thence east to the place of beginning. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO39 

Excepting the Osage River, there are no streams of importance in 
the township. A few minor branches flow into the above named river, 
but with the exception of giving plenty of stock water are but of little 
consequence. The Osage, however, makes several deep bends into the 
township, watering nearly its entire north half. 

WHITE SULPHUR. 

In the northeast corner of the township, on fractional section i, is 
to be found one of the finest springs of white sulphur water to be seen 
in the state. It was first discovered by John E. Bouldin in 1837, and is- 
highly prized to this day. The windings of the Osage make numerous 
important bends, and on the ridges from the top down on both sides to 
the river is found splendid land and cattle ranges. The Horsehoe Bend 
in the south corner makes a very pretty horseshoe in shape, and reaches 
some two miles into Jackson Township and the land in the bend belong- 
ing to Butler Township. On the north we have Tally's Bend, Waldo 
Bend and Dawson Bend. 

AREA. 

In area Jackson Township is eight and a half miles north and south 
b)' an average of about six and a half miles east and west, and in round 
numbers has about 30,000 acres of land, not all, as was before remarked, 
good agricultural or farming land, but such a splendid combination of 
mineral wealth and productive soil as to give a promise of a bright 
future. 

WHEN SETTLED. 

This township may be considered to have been settled from 1836 to 
1840; that is, the old pioneers who blazed the way for civilization and 
progress, settled there during those years and left their impress for all 
time. Within what is now the present boundary of Jackson Township^ 
settled quite a number who became prominent in those early days in 
the history of the county. J. E. Bouldin came in 1836; one of the Daw- 
sons in 1837. The first settled on fractional section i, and the latter on 
fractional section 2. John Waldo was on fractional sections 3 and 4, the 
same year; then there was Thomas F. Wright, from Kentucky, in 1837, 
who settled on fractional sections 5 and 6; John Tally, from Alabama, 
on the same section 6; James Foster on 5. Wright was a justice of the 
peace and a county judge, succeeding Judge Barnett in 1842. There 
came from Tennessee, in 1837' and 1838, several settlers, among whom 
were Thomas Copenhaver, who drove his stake on section 26; John 
Thompson on section 23; L. Gover, section 26; also E. L. Harper; then 
A. Miller, on section 24; Gideon W. Smith on section 2, and Neshack 



I 



1040 . IIISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Tipton on section 35. or fractional section i, township 40. range 24. 
Jesse Lovney first settled on section ?3. and he too. like Tally, came 
from Alabama. James Tally came in 1837, and with his brother John 
settled in the bend which goes by their name. Josiah Dent settled on 
section 5, and William Brown on fractional section 4; and these com- 
plete the list of most of the early settlers of Jackson Township. 

BAKER AND ICONIUM. 

There are two post offices within the township, one known as Baker, 
on fractional section 4, opened in 1869, Elijah Smith, postmaster, until 
1872, and since that time Elder W. M. Love has acted, and the office 
called Iconium, which was opened in March, 1879, with a weekly mail to 
both places. At Iconium. Mr. C. W, Wright i" postmaster, and also 
a merchant, keeping a general store. 

Mr. Armstrong runs the only blacksmith shop. 

Mr. James L. Bernard is now erecting a store building, intending to 
open another store at that place. 

There is a good country around Iconium, and there is no reason 
why it should not become a flourishing country town. Iconium is located 
on section 26, in the southwest portion of the township. 

Under the new township organization law, the following persons 
were elected at the April election in 1874: Hiram Gray, trustee; A. 
Miller, clerk; Silas R. Miller, assessor; Levi M. Gover, collector; A. G. 
Wood, constable, (to fill vacanc}'); John Copenhaver, Ben. Brake, L. C. 
Mathews and John J. Smith, road overseers. 

At the election 1882, the township organization law was again 
adopted, it having been annulled in 1878. 

THE PRAIRIE GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH 

was organized on the fourth Sunday in April, 1868, and is located on the 
northwest quarter of section 4. north of the Osage River. Its organiza- 
tion was effected by Revs. Thomas Briggs and W. P. Wright, the fol- 
lowing being the names of the original members: W. H. Sibley, M. 
Wright, Sydney Kirtley, Samuel Garwood, S. J. Smith, Hugh Ingram, 
R. Eversole, William Parker, Henry Hollace, Catharine Wright, Ann 
Evarett, Nancy Parker, Lavisa Dent and Martha Copenhaver. 

The present membership is fifty-two. The pastors who have offici- 
ated are as follows: PLlder R. D. Lawler. Elder W. P. Wright, Elder J. 
H. Sands, Elder W. M. Love, the present pastor, who has labored as 
such for the past seven years. M. Wright is clerk. The church's first 
and present place of worship is the school building erected for both pur- 
poses, a neat frame building costing the sum of $800. The\- ha\'e also a 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. I04r 

flourishing Sunday School connected with the church with an attend- 
ance of thirty-five scholars. Its superintendent is S. B. Davidson, who 
has made it a success. 

WRIGHT'S CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH, 

was organized in February, 1866, by the Rev. William P. Wright, and 
Rev. C. V. Maddox. It is located on the northwest quarter of section 6. 
The first house of worship erected was in 1872, size 22x30, and of logs. 
This building was accidently burned a month after its completion. The 
present church was built in 1877, and is a handsome and substantial 
frame structure, in size 22x32, neatly finished and furnished and at a cost 
of $650. 

Its members who united in the organization were Rev. William H. 
Sibley and wife, James Foster and wife, James M. Lane and wife, 
Thomas Wright and wife, Morgan Wright and wife, Lucinda Commons, 
Lavisa Dent, C. R. Fields and wife, Rev. C. V. Maddox and wife, and 
Lucinda Dent, (colored). 

The church has grown and prospered, and now has a membership of 
seventy-one. A very pleasant Sabbath School under the superinten- 
dency of Mr. A. C. Tally is connected with the church and has a regu- 
lar attendance of some twenty-five pupils, Its present pastor is the 
Rev. William P. Wright. 

SCHOOLS. 

The schools of this township are well attended and number five. 
The school and church on section 6, is a fine building costing some $800. 
Take it altogether and the cause of education is receiving all care and 
attention, and the future is bright with promise. 

* POLK TOWNSHIP, 

lies upon the eastern border of the county, being bounded on the north 
by Jackson Township, east by Hickor)^ County, south by Dallas and 
west by Osceola Township. It was one of the six original townships of 
1841. In old times Dallas was a part of this township, and at one time 
Jackson was also added to it, and remained so some seven months, when 
Jackson was again taken off, and made a separate township. At the 
passage of the new organization law, the boundaries of Polk Township 
were defined and made of record as follows: 

Commencing at the southeast corner of township 38, range 24; 
thence running north along the township line to the northeast corner 
of said township: thence running west along the township line to the 
center of the main channel of the Osage River; thence up said main 
channel to a point where the township line between township 39, of 

66 



1042 HISTORY 01" ST. CLAIR COUNTY 

range 24. and township 39, of ranf^c 25, crosses said river; thence south 
along said township line to the southwest corner of township 38, of range 
24; thence east along the township line to the place of beginning. 

The central and northern part of this township is good tillable land, 
the south part is stony and broken, and while there is some good land, 
the most of it is of light soil. This township, like Jackson, has a large 
amount of iron ore within its limits, while it has numerous springs which 
give rise to Bear Creek and another small stream north of it. 

One of the curiotities of the township is a spring in the southeast 
corner of section 16, near the residence of John Poling. The water in 
this spring in the winter is rather warm in temperature, while in the 
summer it is nearly ice cold, being a change of some twenty degrees in 
temperature between the cold of summer and the heat or warmth of 
winter. It of course never freezes over. 

James Gardner, Simeon Poston, Ash Peebly and Matt. Hoover all 
came way back in 1833 or 1834. James Gardner was elected a justice of 
the peace December 10, 1835, the county then being named Rives. 
Simeon Poston was the first county seat commissioner and held it for 
twelve years. The records of the Rives County Court show that James 
Gardner was elected a justice of the peace for " VVablaw " Township. 
This is the way the name was spelled in those days. Peebly was from 
Howard County and Hoover from North Carolina. 

All along the banks of Weaubleau Creek on the east and west sides 
settlers built their cabins, and along in 1S34 to 1837 came William 
Clarkson, George McFarland, Henry Earl, Jonas Musgrove (the ford 
across the Osage being named after him), Elijah Puckett and William C. 
Marlow, the latter settling on the east half of the southwest quarter of 
section 6. Anthony Hester, who was county judge in 1854 and now 
lives in Butler Township, first settled on section 19, and above him on 
Weaubleau Creek, on the east side about one mile, Edmond Nance set- 
tled. On the same side of the stream and three-quarters of a mile 
above Nance was the claim and cabin of Richard Crenshaw. Just down 
the creek a half mile Joseph Benum settled, but he was just over the 
line in what is now Osceola Township. 

In May, 1841, Richard Crenshaw purchased of Fielding A. Pinnel, 
of Henry County, clerk of that county for sixteen years, the east half of 
the southeast quarter of section 18, township n, range 24, now Dallas 
Township. Albom D. Ashton, William Gardner and Joseph Bolinger, 
all came before 1840, and the latter owned a mill site on Weaubleau 
Creek. It was the northwest fractional quarter of section 19, township 
38, range 24. On this same site a mill was built in 1845, by Mr. James 
Gardner. It was a grist and saw mill, the former having two runs of 
burrs, and was probably the second mill erected in the county. It stood 
for ten years and then the booming waters of the muddy WV-aubleau 



HISTORY OF ST. Ci>AIR COUNTY. IO43 

took it into an affectionate embrace and delivered it to the swelling bosom 
of the beautiful Osage. 

WATER AND TIMBER. 

The Osage touches its northwest corner as it makes its curve for the 
Horseshoe Bend. Bear Creek empties into the Osage at the bend, and 
this stream rises in the southeast, has numerous heads or branches and 
then forming one stream about one mile southeast from the center of the 
township, and then running northeast finds its way in the Osage as 
above. The bottom land along Bear Creek is very rich and productive, 
but the township, taken altogether, is hilly and broken. On Bear Creek 
and in the northern part lies the best of the agricultural lands. Silver 
and lead, as well as iron is said to exist in the township, but the latter 
is certain and destined to be a valuable adjunct to its wealth. 

Its timber covers over two-thirds of the township, and while there 
is much small and scraggy, there is also on Bear Creek and on the bend 
ot the Osage, much valuable timber. The township will always, or for 
years to come, have good stock ranges, and it is a good stock township. 

AREA AND POPULATION. 

Polk Township in size is a congressional township of six miles 
square, and would have had, but for a strip in the Horse Shoe bend of 
the Osage. 23,040 acres. That strip is about lOO acres, which gives it 
22,940 acres. 

Population in 1880 605 

Population in 1870 316 

Gain 289 

Not quite, but very nearly doubling its population the past decade. 
Take the amount of unproductive soil and this is a remarkable increase. 
When you take the character of the country into consideration it is a 
little surprising that the increase per cent, the past decade is greater in 
the eastern than in the western portion. The township in population is 
next to the smallest, Washington Township alone having a less popula- 
tion. The stock ranges is probably one of the causes for much of the 
mineral lands, so-called, are good grass lands. 

In the agricultural resources of the county will be found the assessed 
valuation of the township in 1876. That of 1874 is here given, as fol- 
lows: ♦ 

Value. 

Horses 239 $8,132 

Mules 55 1.973 

Cattle 578 5,866 

Sheep 638 784 



I044 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Value. 

Hogs 1.057 I 431 

Moneys I.I33 

All other property 24.536 

Total value personal property $43-855 

In 1871 there was a talk of a layout of a town on what is called 
" Thousand Acre Prairie," but it did not succeed. This was in the 
northern and eastern part of the township. Polk Township has no post 
office within its bounds. 

BETHEL CHURCH. 

The Bethel Baptist Church of Polk Township is one of the oldest, 
if not the oldest, church organization in the county, and was for years 
the only church for many miles around. 

It was first organized on April 29. 1837, by Rev. Elijah Williams and 
Rev. Hiram Savage. It is located in the northern part of the township, 
and had an old log cabin as its first place of worship, outside of the 
cabins of the members. The original members of this church were: 
William Owsley, Enoch Cyrus, Rebecca Cyrus, Harvey Harper, Francis 
Owsley, Abraham C. Nowell, John M. Harper, Nancy Harper, Mary Carr, 
Sarah Perkins, Bird Estes, Mary Estes, Elizabeth Commons, Joseph 
Harrison, Prenilla Harrison, Sarah Powell, Benjamin Barnett, Sarah 
Harris, Hannah Barnett, Hannah Roberts, PLlizabeth Reeves, Eliza 
Donaught, Samuel Bishop. 

Its first pastor was the Rev. Littleton Lunsford, in 1837, and he was 
followed by Revs. William Owsley, James Richardson, H. P. Parker, M. 
Monroe, M. Walker and John Hatfield. 

Their first church was built of logs, by a portion of the members, in 
1845. The second church, of the same material, was erected in 1850, 
and the last, also erected of hewn logs, was put up in 1870, at a cost of 
$200, subscription raised of the members of the church. 

Mr. Harvey G. Harper has been most of the time officiating as the 
church clerk at their meetings. The church has a regular pastor, and 
holds its covenant meetings on the fourth Saturday and Sunday follow- 
ing. Its present membership is eighteen, and its congregation large. 

The schools of Polk Township, number 4, and each have a good 
house. The attendance is fully up to the average, being about seventy 
per cent, of those of school age. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

DALLAS, COLLINS, DOYAL AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIPS, 

DALLAS TOWNSHIP-WHEN, WHERK AND HOW MUCH-THEY CAME— SETTLED-AMONG 
OTHER THIN'GS-THE OLD LOG CHURCH-KING'S PRAIRIE-POLITICAL AND OTHER- 
WISE— COLLINS TOWNSHIP, AND A VOLUME OF FACTS— THE NAME— 1830 TO 1840— 
THE LOOM-THE GOOD WORD-DOYAL TOWNSHIP— WAS THE CREATION OF 
1872— THE ADVANCE GUARD-COON CKEEK-ITS EARLY ARRlVALS-POPUl ATION 
AND AREA— DOYAL'S BOUNDS-HER CHUReHES AND SCHOOLS— ELECTION OF 1874— 
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SIX— METES AND BOUNDS-THE 
SAC RIVER AND BRUSH CREEK- THE ADVENT OF JACOB COONCE-GAME AND 
OIHER SETTLERS-ITS SCHOOLS, ETC.— IN MEMORIAL. 

DALLAS TOWNSHIP. 

This township lies in the southeast corner of the county, being^ 
bound on the north by Polk Township, east by Hickory County, south 
by Hickory County and Collins Township and West by Doyal Town- 
ship. It is congressional township in size and was placed upon the 
record June 5, 1872, with its metes and bounds described as follows: 

Established and being the congressional township number 37, of 
range number 24. 

Originally, and for a great number of years, Dallas Township, as 
now known, was a part of Polk, in fact Polk Township covered this ter- 
ritory up to the above date. 

AREA AND TIMBER. 

Its area as described gives it 23,040 acres of land, about four-fifths 
timber and one-fifth prairie. The Weaubleau Creek rises just over the 
border in Hickory County, enters the township in the southeast corner, 
and then passes diagonally across the township, and then north on its 
wester border, and leaves the township in the northwest corner. Weau- 
bleau Creek is a stream large enough and water enough for milling pur- 
poses, and waters with its branches a large portion of the township. It 
is rich in minerals, both lead and iron are known to exist, and capital 
alone is needed to develop this important addition to her wealth. Tim- 
ber of a good quality is found on the Weaubleau, water in springs and 
creeks plentiful, and the bottoms on the Weaubleau rich, with a deep, 



1046 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

rich and alluvial soil. As a stock raisinj^ township it has no superior 
in the county. Its surface, however, is broken and hilly, and in some 
places considerable rock is found. Iron is found from the center of the 
township west and nortiiwest to Doyal, and that township is also well 
supplied with a larjje amount of this ore. Limestone is plenty, the low 
lands are rich, and the red land excellent for wheat. Before the war 
Dallas, then Polk, was a good tobacco township, and for that crop it has 
some excellent land. The lead ore is found in several places, and quite 
an excitement was raised a few years since, in 1873, when lead was found 
on section 27, near Wolfe's Mill, not a half mile from James Doyal's. 
When this mineral shall be developed, it will bring a new era of pros- 
perity to the township. 

THE OLD SETTLERS. 

Elijah Rice may be said to be among the earliest settlers in this 
township. He came in 1837, and settled on the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 7. Thomas Hester and Robert Hester came soon after as did 
Anthony Hester, of Polk Township. Robert Hester settled on the south 
half of the northeast quarter of section ID, and the Widow Nancy Slo- 
cum now owns the same property. Richard Crenshaw, as stated in Polk 
Township history, was there in 1841, but came a few years sooner. 
Thomas Hester settled what is now the Stiles land, being the southwest 
quarter of section 7. In 1840, W. R. Cauthon, who came from Tennessee, 
located on section 29 of the west half of the southwest quarter. Thomas 
Chilton the next year purchased the southeast half of the southeast 
quarter, and the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 
8. The Wares came in 1836, and they located on sections 21 and 22, 
and took up nearly the whole of it. There were Thompson Emmons and 
Jackson Ware, and came from Virginia. They moved away many years 
ago and the land they cultivated is now a forest. 

James Cauthon came in the winter of 1841-2, and settled on section 
14, and John J. C. Wolfe came the same year and settled on section 22. 
John D. Sims settled on section 21. and Edward DeLozier, on section 
20, now the W. B. Robinson place. These all came in 1842. These 
were the men that followed the star of empire, and made civilization a 
success. 

The settlers when they first located followed the banks of Weaubleau 
Creek, in that they secured water, fuel and game. Deer, turkey, wild 
cats, foxes and wolves were plentiful, while now and then a bear would 
raise his shaggy head, from his lair in the thick brush. Hunting was 
sometimes a pastime, but other times it meant work for the winter's 
meat. 

Then the logging bee was something that meant hard work 
but it helped a neighbor out, and a " raisin " was another of those neigh- 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO47 

borly traits that made all old settlers brothers. R. Eads and Francis 
Yoast built the first water mill in the township in 1844 and sold it to 
John J. C. Wolfe. William Morrison had a blacksmith shop and the first 
one as early as 1837. He settled on section 24. This township in an 
early day was somewhat infested with snakes, and the gentle rattle- 
snake, the familiar blacksnake and the innocent striped or garter snake 
could generally be found without much seeking. 

AMONG OTHER THINGS. 

The first school house was erected in 1840 and on the west half of 
the northeast quarter of section 19. It was on Richard Crenshaw's land. 
It was a subscription school, built of nice logs all rounded as nature 
made them, with no door and a mud chimney. It was in this classic 
hall of education that the present popular and able county treasurer of 
St. Clair County received his first rudiments of learning, where he 
received those impressive lessons of which the hickory limb formed so 
essential a part, the down stroke being heavy and the up stroke light. Of 
course he is a Democrat of the Jacksonian stripe. 

Of these educational facilities Dallas Township has four, and there 
is a fractional district united with Doyal. The school buildings of this 
day are comfortable with all the necessary articles for a thorough course 
of a common school education. 

There was another old log school house on section 8 on the north 
half of the west half of the southwest quarter. This was on what was 
called the old Wilkinson place. 

THE LOG CHURCH. 

Then there was a log church building erected especially for religious 
services on the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 29. 
This was probably the first exclusive church building erected in the 
county outside of Osceola. There was an earlier church organization in 
the county, but not a church. 

The first ministers to hold religious services in the township were 
the Rev. Marcus Monroe, Baptist, and the Rev. Daniel Murphy. These 
earnest men and doers of the Lord's work preached throughout the 
whole eastern part of the country from Henry to Hickory, Benton and 
Polk Counties. No churches then, but the cabin of the settler, became 
the sanctuary of the Lord. 

The first resident minister was the Rev. Christopher Woodall, of 
the Baptist denomination, father of the present county treasurer, who 
came in the year 1840. They have no church building in the township 
of note, but several organizations. 



1048 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COJNTY. 

Dallas Township, taken together, may be said to be a good stock 
raising and cereal growing township. There is quite a large portion 
broken land, somewhat hilly and rough, but still excellent stock ranges. 
Her red land is good wheat land and her bottom lands none better for 
corn. It is mostly timbered, very little prairie in proportion. 

Sandstone, excellent for building purpose, is found, perhaps too 
much of it. The limestone soil is strong, and some flint is found. The 
township may be said to be rolling, as a general thing. 

In 1880, Dallas Township had a population of 635, this being its 
first census recorded except in 1876, when its population was 548. This 
would show that it had received little or no immigration. 

The King Prairie, so called, is the most noted in the township, cov- 
ering some three sections. The Kings came in 1834 or '35, and owned 
some 400 acres, and from them it took its name, and is as pretty a piece 
of land as can be found anywhere. Rolling enough to have good drain- 
age, the soil deep, rich and fruitful, it is looked upon as the garden 
spot of Dallas Township. 

One curious thing in connection with this township is that a few 
deer and wild turkeys are yet found within its limits, but this probably 
arises from its close proximity to Hickory County, which may be con- 
sidered one of the finest counties in the state for the home of wild 
animals. 

LONG RIDGE CHURCH. 

The organization known as the Long Ridge Church was formed 
by the united efforts of a few earnest people, in the year 1-869. Among 
those who joined in this praiseworthy work were: William Tucker, 
wife and family, Mrs. Strickland, Jesse Bullard, the organization being 
conducted by the Rev. Armstrong, who was its first pastor. He was 
succeed by the following pastors in the order named: Revs. Breeding, 
Danner, Woodward, Herndon, Hultz, Logan, Banberg, and the Rev. 
Proctor, present pastor. They have no church building, but hold ser- 
vices at the Stiles School House. The membership is nearly thirty. 
The class has been for some time principally presided over by William 
Tucker. He was appointed in 1869 steward, and has served since that date. 

Politically, Dallas Township was Republican from the close of the 
war until 1880, when the Democrats claimed her redemption. She was 
generally about two-thirds to three-fourths Republican, as will be seen 
by the election tables of 1870-4-6. The last election, in the fall of 1882, 
she went, for the first time, Democratic in many years. 

The local election for township officers in 1875 gave the following: 
G. W. Martin, Trustee; E. M. Kimsey, Assessor; John Stark, Collector; 
W. G. Cauthon, Constable; James Cauthon and John V. Miller, Justices 
of the Peace. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 104^ 

COLLINS TOWNSHIP. 

This is the southeast township of St. Clair County, and consists of 
about equal parts of prairie and wooded land. The magnificent prairie 
valleys formed by the erodings of the past; the beautifully clear, crystal 
waters; its richly diversified growth of forest of fine timber, and the 
bold outlines of the jutting cliffs found here and there along the banks 
of the beautiful streams, all tend to render Collins one of the most pic- 
turesque townships in the county. This justly called magnificent town- 
ship embraces within its limits 23,040 acres, nearly all of which is tilla- 
ble land, rich in undeveloped resources. You may ask why is this land 
valuable. 

Picture to yourself a forest filled with babbling brooks and grasses 
fine, a pasture for herds of cattle that none could want better, and filled 
with such timber as the oak, walnut, hickory, sugar maple, elm and other 
varieties. Such is Collins Township in all of its real and natural beauty, 
and as such adds much to its wealth. In this township are found val- 
leys of the richest alluvial soil and undulating upland that for purposes 
of cultivation cannot be surpassed in the county. These are all sources 
of wealth to Collins Township. 

This is not all that tends to make its lands valuable. Along Brush 
Creek in the southern part, and the "Little Weaubleau " in the north- 
ern, are found some of the best quarries of sand and lime stone, suitable 
alike for rubble work or brown stone front. These quarries, with the 
rich coal and mineral deposits along Coon Creek, add still other sources 
of wealth, which summed up make fine forests of fine timber, fine val- 
leys of fine land, beautiful uplands with rich and succulent grasses, fine 
stones created from fine sand. What township could ask more or greater 
wealth from nature.-* The record of township boundaries in 1872 gave 

COLLINS, 

bounded as follows: "Commencing at the southeast corner of section 4, 
township 36, of range 24; running thence west on the township line to 
the northwest corner of section 3, township 36, of range 25; thence 
south on the section line to the southern boundary of the county; thence 
east to the southeast corner of section 33, of township 36, of range 24,-; 
thence north along the county line to the place of beginning." 
June 5, 1872. 

Collins was originally a part of Washington, one of the original 
townships formed when the county was organized in 1841, and remained 
a part of that township until 1872, when it became the present Collins 
Township. 

Collins is bounded on the north by Doyal and Dallas Townships, on 
the east by Hickory County, on the south by Polk and Cedar Counties^ 
and on the west by Washington. 



1050 HISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

THE NAME "COLLINS." 

The county court of St. Clair County in 1872 complying with the 
provision of what is known as the " new township law," cut old Wash- 
ington asunder and from it constructed two townships, one to retain 
the name of the " father of our country," and one to yet receive a name. 
The citizens of the new township came forward at this time, and with 
great appreciation for the services of one of the judges of the county 
court, asked that it might be named in honor of Judge William Collins. 
Accordingly the county court complied with the request and named the 
new township " Collins." 

The people of this township equal in energy and thrift the citizens 
of any township in the county. They have worked hard to make them- 
selves and families homes. Many well cultivated farms and comfortable 
residences give evidence that their labor has not been in vain. As a 
township Collins, since her formation, has steadily improved and emi- 
gration has kept pace with her improvements. 

THE EARlY pioneers. 

Perhaps the first settlement ever made in Collins Township by the 
pale faces, was made by Daniel Molder, of Tennessee, who, in 1831, 
came to Collins and located on section 21, of township 34, range 24. Mr. 
Molder, who seems to dispute the first settler with Jacob Coonce, with 
characteristic energy built him a log hut, and proceeded to establish 
himself a permanent home in the then wilderness. His nearest neigh- 
bor was some miles distant. But this was not to last long, for in the 
spring of 1832, James Francis, of Tennessee, settled near him, and estab- 
lished neighborly intercourse. Another neighbor made his appearance 
in this district in 1833. Isaac Culbertson cast his lot with his brother 
pioneers in Collins Township. The immigration of 1834, brought such 
pioneers as Albion Ayres, Isaac Rogers, William Allen, Richard Deshazo, 
A. M. McMiner and L. R. Ashworth, who lived in Roscoe, a minister of 
God's word, who, while attending to the duties of his little patch of corn, 
would on Sunday mornings visit some near neighbor, who lived not more 
than three, four or five miles distant, and by preaching the good word 
cheered the hearts of many downcast spirits to renewed exertions. 

After this, followed Peter Francis in 1835, Francis Yoast in 1836, 
Samuel H. Martin in 1837, Robert Gardner in 1839, and William King 
the following fall. 

Of the old pioneers, there now remain but two. These are Mr. 
Yoast and Mr. Peter P>ancis. Mrs. Dolly Martin, the wife of Samuel 
Martin, is still living, and enjoys the friendship, esteem and love of all 
with whom she is acquainted. 



i 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO5 I 

The first school in the township was taught by a man named Wayne. 
He charged for his services $2.50 per scholar for a term of three months, 
and received in pay, as legal tender, coonskins and corn. He taught in 
the neighbors' houses, and " traveled around." From this time the edu- 
cational interests of Collins Township was one of the chief interests, 
and to-day this township ranks second to none in educational facilities. 

THE LOOM. 

This first manufacturer that ever trod the soil of St. Clair County, 
was Samuel Martin. In 1836, Mr. Martin's family were nearly out of the 
necessary wearing apparel, and as there were no ready made clothing to be 
found closer than St. Louis, it devolved upon him to furnish a means for 
manufacturing the necessary goods from which to make it. Therefore, 
in July, he commenced work. None knew what he was constructing, 
but while looking at the great beams, some fourteen feet long, swung to 
the roof of a log kitchen, some surmised what would be the result of so 
much patient labor. 

They were correct in their surmises, for after three months of hard 
work Mr. Martin produced a full grown loom. His wife was the first to 
use it, finishing on the 13th day ot September a piece of jeans seven yards 
in length. This was the first piece of cloth ever made in St. Clair County, 
one yard, of which is now in the possession of Mrs. Dolly Martin, the lady 
who wove it. 

It is not known to a certainty who was the first child born in the town- 
ship, but perhaps John R., a son of Daniel Molder, born in 1838. The first 
death was in the month of July in 1834, and was a son of Mr. Isaac Cul- 
bertson. 

SCHOOLS. 

The first school house of which we could receive any information 
was located in section 12, and was built of logs; dimensions, twenty by 
fourteen feet. After this, several such buildings were put up, but all 
have been replaced by structures more commodious. 

THE GOOD \YORD. 

The first sermon preached in Collins Township was by the Rev. L. 
R. Ashworth, at the house of Mr. Culbertson. 

COON CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH 

is 4nost beautifully located on a rising eminence in the midst of what is 
known as Allen's Prairie, on section ii, in one of the finest agricultural 
and best cultivated sections of the county. It is also one of the oldest 



1052 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNIY. 

churches, having been organized in the year 1842, and from its position 
commands one of the most extensive and pleasing views to be found 
any where in this section of the country. The original members of this 
church were : Evan Lollery and wife, William Culbertson and wife, 
Garner Phillips and wife, L. R. Ashworth and wife. Rev. L. R. Ash- 
worth and Rev. D. R. Murphy organized the church in the year above 
mentioned, the former being its first pastor. 

The new church was erected in August, 1872, at a cost of some $Coo, 
and is a neat frame structure, plainly but substantially built and finished. 
The first pastor to succeed the Rev. L. R. Ashworth was Rev. James 
Wheeler, followed by Rev. V. Burge, Rev. J. T. Metcalf, Rev. W. F. 
Shackelford and the present pastor, the Rev. J. M. Freeman. The pas- 
tors have all remained quite a number of years; the Rev. J. T. Metcalf 
officiating for fourteen years, and none less than four. They have con- 
nected with the church a Sunday School whose pupils number sixty-five 
and very ably and successfully conducted by T. J. Browning. 

DOYAL TOWNSHIP 

is the creation of the new organization law of 1872, but its territory has 
been there all the time. It is in fact about the oldest settled township 
in the county, and can date back to 1832 and 1833. The first election 
ever held in St. Clair County was held in this township, October 24, 1835, 
and was for a justice of the peace. The election was held at the house 
of Daniel Waldo, on section 8. Waldo owned on s'ections 12 and 13, 
across Sac River, but his cabin was in Doyal, on section 8, as above. 

THE ADVANCE GUARD. 

The Waldos, Gashs and Culbertsons came in 1832-3. They were 
followed by Reuben S. Nance, the first surveyor of the county in 1835, in 
the spring of that year. Mr. Nance started the second or third store in 
this county in 1836, whether before Calvin Waldo's or not, is hard to say. 
Waldo was in full blast in June, 1836, and Nance purchased two bills of 
goods in St. Louis, one on April 4, 1836, and one on April 5, the follow- 
ing day, and he opened a store on Coon Creek on the arrival of these 
goods. The time of travel is not known. The bills above spoken of 
were in the hands of the writers. Clardy clerked it for him the same 
year, for in November, 1836, Clardy went to St. Louis, and there settled 
or paid all of Nance's purchases up to that date. In 1837 it became 
Nance & Clardy, and continued until 1839. Nance settled on section 34. 

COON CREEK. 

In the Coon Creek Settlement were Joseph P^benezer, William 
Gash and Thomas Piper, in 1834, Joseph Isaac Culbertson in 1835, P. 



HISTOR\"' OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO53 

DeLozier, wife and three children, in 1834. Joe Culbertson settled on sec- 
tion 15, and Thomas Piper on section 26. Daniel Brandt, Ben Sams, 
and Nicholas Miner. Brandt settled on section 32. Burdet same on 
same section, William Culbertson on section 33. Nance first on section 
28, and others on section 32, and John A. Culbertson on section 27, the 
latter, however, did not come until 1837, and his father, William, came 
with him. 

The Culbertsons came from Marion County, Missouri. Eb Gash's 
place, on section 22, who came in 1833, is now owned by James Elliott. 
John Goots came in 1837 and made section 20 his home, and James 
Gardner, from Virginia, settled on section 29, in 1838. William Gash 
first settled on section 36, and remained one year, and then settled on 
section in 1834. It was on this section that the first county and cir- 
cuit court was held in St. Clair County. The Waldos settled on the 
Sac River. James A. Eads and Filmore Thompson came in 1840, the 
former settling on section 17 and the latter on 30. 

These were the early settlers of Doyal, and quite a number of them 
have made history. 

ITEMS. 

John Goots started a horse mill about a mile from Coon Creek, on 
section 20, soon after he came. 

The first preacher was Littleton Lunsford a Hard Shell Baptist. 

The first school house was put up on section 33, and John Able was 
the first teacher. This was'in 1837, and the building, or cabin, was on 
the banks of Coon Creek. This was also the first church. 

Eb Gash's wife died in 1840. 

Selina Gash and Washington Whitlow was the first marriage, and 
in 1841. 

Dr. P. M. Cox, now living hale and hearty at the age of seventy- 
three years, was the first physician. He came in 1836 and commenced 
practice at once. 

Dr. Lawrence was the second physician. They practiced over an 
extensive scope of country. 

The Rev. Even Loler, a Missionary Baptist, settled in the Coon 
Creek Valley. Three of his sons are now living, and all are preachers, 
one in this county, one in Henry County, and one in the state of 
Nebraska. The old man finally lost his reason and died in 1867. 

In 1870, a post office was established in the township and called 
Doyleston. It was on the Bolivar road, some seven miles south of Osce- 
ola, and got started in December. H. L. M. Doyal was postmaster. It has 
been closed. The next post office, by courtesy, was on the Humanville 
road, at the house of John A. Culbertson. It being about twelve miles 



1054 IIISTOKV 0¥ ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

to a post office they were dropped off there for a number of years, com- 
mencing about 1850. 

TOrOGRAI'IIV. 

Doyal Township is about equally divided between prairie and tim- 
ber. The township is rather rolling, but not too much so, except on the 
Sac River, where it is somewhat broken. There are some very fine 
stretches of prairie that are as rich in soil and productive capacity as 
they are beautiful to look at. Along Coon Creek the land is exceed- 
ingly fruitful, and some of the finest farms in the county can be found 
on this creek. The western portion is the most broken. Cook Creek 
rises in the southeastern part of the township, and running northwest, 
empties into the Sac River about three miles from the northern bound- 
ary of the township. Sac River is its western border, the Weaubleau 
touches its northeast corner, and Little Brush Creek reaches it, or takes 
its rise in the central part, running north, and emptying its waters in 
the Osage. The timber is good, the soil rich, and in mineral production 
Doyal is well supplied. 

Iron ore is plenty, and lead is believed to exist in large quantities, 
and a few years ago quite an excitement was raised by finding some 
nearly pure galena near the Sac River. There also is coal said to exist, 
but it has not yet been found. In fact, no search has ever to any great 
extent been made for mineral or coal in St. Clair County; all that is 
known has been stumbled on by accident. But so much has thus been 
discovered that the matter of vast mineral and coal deposits is an estab- 
lished fact. 

The agricultural productions of the township cover the whole range 
of cereals and tobacco. The land is suited to all. and the grasses grow 
luxuriantly. Stock finds good grazing land and long ranges, and this 
line of farming could be profitably carried on. 

POPULATION AND AREA. 

In area Doyal is somewhat larger than a congressional township, 
having about forty and a half sections of land or 25,920 acres. The Sac 
River causes many fractional sections. Her municipal boundary is given 
as follows on the records: 

Established and being all of congressional township 37 of range 25, 
and township 37 of range 26 east of Sac River, excepting section No. 6, 
township 37 of range 25. 

June 5, 1872. 

This is on the north by Osceola, on the east by Dallas, south by Wash- 
ington and west by Roscoe Townships, striking the Sac River at section 
6, township 37, range 25, which divides it from Roscoe. 



, , HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 1055 

Doyal Township's first census was taken under state auspices in 
1876,. which gave her a population ot 756. Four years after, 1880, she 
had gained 82, or a total of 838. This was not more than a natural 
increase, and therefore cannot be said to be gaining very fast; yet there 
is room for greater exertion and energy on the part of her people. 

SCHOOLS. 

Her school districts number five and a half and a fraction, and her 
school year has averaged four months. The schools have, the past year, 
been well kept, with a higher grade of teachers. 

The school house on section 36 is used by the Christian Church 
denomination, they having no church building of their own. 

PLEASANT HILL CHURCH, DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, 

was organized in 1852, on section 36, township 37, range 26. The orig- 
inal members were William Dudley and wife, James Dudley and wife, 
Thomas Piper and wife, Mrs. McMinn, S. S. Stearnes and wife, George 
Preston and wife, Mrs. Stewart and Thomas Hester and wife. The pres- 
ent membership numbers fifty, and the church is growing gradually. A 
church was built in 1861, frame, at a cost of $400. 

Its pastors have been Revs. H. A. Speed, B. D. Smith, See Byba, E. 
P. Belshe, G. W. Phillips, W. W. Warren. Elder Cropper and Rev. W. C. 
Blalock. The present pastor is the Rev. W. W. Warren, who has 
officiated the past ten years, with the exception of eighteen months, 
when the pulpit was filled by the Rev. W. C. Blalock and Elder Cropper, 

ELECTION. 

The township officers elected in 1874 were: Trustee, William J. 
Horn; Collector, James S. Nance; Assessor, Thomas F. Heffern; Clerk, 
Almon Miner. 

WASHINQTON TOWNSHIP. 

This is the south central township of the county, being bounded on 
the north by Roscoe and Doyal Townships, east by Collins Township, 
south by Hickory County and west by Hickory County and Roscoe 
Township, and in size is a trifle less than a congressional township, hav- 
ing 35 J sections, or, in round numbers, 22,720 acres of pretty well assort- 
ed land, from good to indifferent. 

In 1872, the following was made its boundaries: 

TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY. 

Established and bounded as follows: Commencing at the north- 
east corner of section 4, township 36, of range 25; thence west to Sac 



1056 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

River; thence followinj^ the meanderings of said river to the northwest 
corner of section 16. townsliip 36. of ranire 26, crossing the river to the 
Cedar County line; thence south along the Cedar Count)' line to the 
south line of the county; thence east along the county line to the south- 
east corner of section 33. township 36, of range 25; thence north to the 
place of beginning. 
June 5. 1872. 

Topographically speaking, W'ashington Township has a very 
uneven, rolling and broken surface, and has less good agricultural lands 
ofanyinthe county. It is, however, a splendid stock township, for 
grasses grow finely and even luxuriantl\-, while water is abundant. 
There is a wealth of timber in the township, some may be small, but 
there are some strips well filled with a heavy growth of forest. The 
Sac River and Brush Creek and Turke}' Creek, furnishes an abundant 
supply of water, and the principal business should be stock raising. 

Brush Creek comes in in the southeast corner of the township and 
flows northwest, emptying its waters into the Sac River. Turkey Creek 
is on its southwest and runs almost due north and falls also into the 
Sac, and the township is interlaced with branches flowing into these 
streams. 

THE ARRIVALS. 

Washington Township can claim as being the home of the first set- 
tler in St. Clair County, Jacob Coonce. Although Mr. Coonce lived one 
year in Roscoe Township, he moved to Washington in 1832, and ever 
afterward made it his home. The Gibsons made it their home in 1836, 
settling on section 15, township 36, range 25; John Haney and Rich- 
ard Haney on section 16, John Snell on section 33, and John Denson on 
section 14. These pioneers came in 1S37 and 1838. Elisha Wamsley, 
Peter Francis and Richard DeShazo all came in 1835, and William Allen 
in 1836, and settled on section 6; Alfred Burks in 1837, and James 
Stams in 1839, settling on the Sac River. Jacob Rowe settled on sec- 
tion 28, in the southwest corner, in 1842. This covers most of the early 
settlers of Washington; then one of the Gash family and one of the Cul- 
bertson's settled in this township in 1834, but their precise location or 
section was hard to find and being ver}' near the Doyal line have prob- 
ably been credited to that toW^nship, but the\- undoubtedly settled in 
Washington. 

POPULATION, ETC. 

In 1870 Washington, then including Collins Township, had a popu- 
lation of 599. In 1876, after being despoiled of Collins Township, it 
had but a population of 301, and in 1880 it had only increased to 346. 

Washington is not a good cereal township, yet there are some splen- 
did lands on Brush Creek, and some excellent bottom land on Sac River. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO57 

But stock men need not go to Texas for cheap land or extended ranges 
if they but new the value of this township for stock raising, and its 
proximity to markets. 

CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. 

Its church facilities are found at the school houses of the township, 
of which there are three full districts and one half district, connected 
with Collins. 

IN MEMORIAL. 

This sketch is closed with an obituary of Jacob Coonce, the oldest 
settler in the county, taken fron the Osceola Sun, and no more worthy 
subject has yet been found to have his memory embalmed in the hearts 
of the rising generation. Here is the article: 

Death has again laid his remorseless hand upon one of the citizens 
of St. Clair, the victim being one of the early pioneers and most estim- 
able men of the county, whose residence here dates back more than 
half a century. 

Jacob Coonce breathed his last at his old homestead in Washington 
Township on Sunday, April 21, 1878. 

Uncle Jake, as he was familiarly called, was, at the time of his death, 
nearly seventy-five years of age. He was born and reared in St. Louis 
County, Missouri. When just entering the threshold of manhood he 
went to the mountains in the northwest, remaining there for several 
years, after which he visited the British colonies, under the leadership 
of General Dodge. His first visit to the portion of Missouri now com- 
prising St. Clair County was made in 1827, coming into this region on a 
hunting and trapping tour, and making his headquarters near where now 
stands Howard's, or Ritchie's Mill, on Sac River. He then ranged from 
Gasconade up to the above named point. 

An Indian trading post was situated upon Sac River on what is now 
known as the " Captain Harris Farm," and was kept by a man named 
Hogle. Mr. Coonce permanently settled in St. Clair County in 183 1, 
locating on the farm where his death occurred forty-seven years later. 
Having previously obtained permission of the agent of the Osage Indi- 
ans to make his home where he did, and being naturally of a kind and 
peaceable disposition, his residence during the stay of the red man in 
his vicinity was never marred by any trouble. His first neighbors were 
Daniel Waldo, Daniel Brant, Nick McMinn, Ebenezer Gash and the 
father of Albert G. Gardner, all of whom have years ago passed into the 
valley of death. 

In 1847 Mr. Coonce enlisted for service in the war of the United 
States with Mexico, joining Captain Smithton's company under General 
Sterling Price. He served .in this war until its termination in 1848, when 
he returned to his farm in this county. 

Uncle Jake and Missouri's famous scout, Kit Carson, were personal 
friends, and were comrades and fellow- sufferers in some of the western 
exploring expeditions headed and guided by Carson. 

When the rebellion arose Mr. Coonce naturally sympathized with 
the cause of the South, but never took up arms against the government. 

67 



1058 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 



In 1863, when the unsettled state of affairs in Southwest Missouri made 
it impossible for even a man of his years to remain at home in safety, he 
removed to Boone County, and passed the next four years at his old 
occupation of farming. Peace being restored he returned to his farm 
in Washington Township, twelve miles south of Osceola, where he has 
since resided. 

Like the true pioneer. Uncle Jake possessed a most kind and chari- 
table disposition, and was always ready to assist a fellow-being in dis- 
tress; generous in all his transactions, he had few enemies and counted 
his iriends by the score. The weight of many years had caused his once 
vigorous step to totter in feebleness and dimmed his sight, but the warm 
impulses of the true man were as strong within him as ever, and deep 
sorrow for his loss mantles the neighborhood wherein he died. 




CHAPTER XX. 

ROSCOE, SPEEDWELL AND TABER TOWNSHIPS. 

ROSCOE TOWNSHIP— WHAT IT WAS IN 1872— WHEN SETTLED— RELIGION AND EDUCATION 
—THE VILLAGE OF ROSCOE— WHEN INCORPORATED— 1870 TO 1880— GAZETTE-BUSI- 
NESS— SPEEDWELL TOWNSHIP-POPULATION, AREA AND BOUNDS-PIONEERS AND 
HUNTERS-WATER, TIMBER, STOCK AND CEREALS— FAMOUS HUNTERS— TIFFIN -ITS 
SETTLEMENT, SCHOOLS, ETC.— TAKER TOWNSHIP— WHEN SETTLED AND BY WHOM 
—VILLAGE OF TABERVILLE-ITS DESTRUCTION- AFTER THE WAR— HEAD OF NAVI- 
GATION— CHURCHES AND SCHOOL— ADDITION AND PARK. 

ROSCOE TOWNSHIP 

is probably the most hilly, mountainous, broken and stony township in 
this county, excepting Washington. For quarries of fine building stone 
it has no superior, and some day the wealth of her granite rock may be 
utilized. Now it is of little value. After leaving the Osage River on 
her north border, the west and southwest one-third of the township is 
fine prairie land, and there is another strip in the northeast, covering 
some six sections, which is rich in soil and of great productive capacity. 
Its land is strong, and the bottom land of the Osage and Sac Rivers is 
of very deep alluvial soil, and one of the best tobacco and corn growing 
bodies of land to be found in the county. 

GEOGRAPHICALLY AND OTHERWISE. 

Roscoe Township has considerable more miles of border than any 
other township, and about as winding and tortuous an one as can well 
be imagined. The Osage gives it nearly all its northern border, while 
the Sac makes its eastern line. 

ROSCOE. 

Established and bounded as follows, to wit: "Commencing at a 
point where Sac River empties into the Osage River, in section 31, 
township 38, range 25; thence west, meandering with said Osage River 
to a point where said river crosses the township line between tovvnship 
38, range 26, and township 37, range 26, crossing the river; thence west 
on said township line to where it again strikes said river, thence with 
the river to the section line, where the river crosses, between sections 3 
and 4, township 37, range 27; thence south to the county line; thence 



I060 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

east to the northwest quarter of section i6. township 36, range 26; 
thence following^ the meanderings of Sac River to the point of be- 
ginning. " 

Its position on the map gives its boundaries in connection with other 
townships as follows: North the Osage River, vvhich separates it from 
Taber, and parts of Chalk Level and Osceola. On the east the Sac River 
separates fromOsceola. Do)'al and Washington; south, Doyal Township 
and Cedar Count}-, and west by Speedwell Township. It is in size the 
third township in the count)-, being only exceeded by Monegaw and 
Speedwell. In round numbers it has 62 sections of land, or an acreage 
of 39,680 acres. It has an abundance of coal in the northern part, and 
doubtless every kind of mineral that is found in the count}-. Its 
lead blossoms are rich, giving ever}' indication of large quantities of 
this metal, and when you combine all the advantages, the wealth that 
lies under its surface, its fine quaries of many varieties of stone and mar- 
ble, the richness of its bottom land and its wealth of timber and agri- 
cultural resources, Roscoe Township has a fine field for future develop- 
ment and surprising growth in productive wealth. 

In the state census of 1876, the production of a county was given 
by townships. In St. Clair Count}', Roscoe held her own. She was 
first in the yield of tobacco, 14,500; first in hogs, 2,339; first in oats, 11,- 
434 bushels; second in horses, 522; third in mules, 119; third in the 
yield of corn, 136,756 bushels, and seventh in cattle and sheep, having 
1,534 of the former and 684 of the latter, and at this da}' these figures 
are more than doubled. There are no more enterprising and hard 
working farmers, and none more progressive than those who claim Ros- 
coe Township as their home. 

WHEN SETTLED. 

Roscoe Township has the honor of having the first cabin erected 
within the limits of St. Clair County, within her border. The noted 
hunter and trapper, Jacob Coonce, put up the first cabin, and located it 
on section ii, in the spring of 183 1, and the first corn ever raised in the 
county was planted b}- him around that cabin. In the following year, 
1832, Jacob Coonce moved to Washington Township and settled on 
Brush Creek. 

The Kelsos were about the next that settled in the township, and 
Samuel Kelso settled on what has since been known as Huffman's Ferr}- 
and Bend. In 1838, David Huffman purchased his claim. The Kelsos 
then moved to section 5, Taber Township, and soon John Smarr, the first 
sheriff of St. Clair County, bought them out, and they then started up 
the river, and managed to drop down on section 32, of the same town- 
ship, Taber. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO61 

Colonel Beal came to this section with a large family, and liking the 
location, purchased their claim and they moved still on. This last sale 
was made in 1839. 

Huffman came from Virginia, .and first settled in 1836, on" section 
32, Chalk Level Township, near the Roscoe line, and now owned by N. 
B. Greene. It was Thomas Kelso who owned the bend and David set- 
tled on section 6. 

The Rives County Court granted a license to Huffman at the 
December term, 1839, to run a ferry at that point, it being the second 
ferry across the Osage River. 

Nathaniel Bell, the first representative from the new county of St. 
Clair, settled on section 33, Lemuel Huffman on the same section, Nich- 
olas Ganter on section 22, John Burch on section 23 and James Wilson 
on section 9. Most of these came early in the thirties. 

Wright Hill had a horse mill in 1837, and this was patronized far 
and near. Abram Copenhaver settled on section 17 and owned the land 
on which the town of Roscoe now stands, and John Smith, of peach 
brandy fame, lived on section 19, and to this latter may be attributed in 
early times the old pioneers' love for old Roscoe, or then known as 
Speedwell, or rather might be said Monegaw Township. John Smith's 
peach and honey was considered worth a few miles' travel, and not a few 
of the old pioneers made it a business to do some traveling. John and 
Sabe Cringer lived near Copenhaver and were his neighbors. 

Ervin Thomas settled on section 10 in 1837, and Joseph Montgom- 
ery on section 6, west side of the Osage, in 1837. He probably located 
his claim in 1836, but he was at that time judge of the Rives County 
Court. He came from Virginia, and died at his home on section 6 in 
1854. John Armingtrout settled on section 5 and John Perry on section 
4. Both came from Virginia and in the year 1837. 

Wyatt's Grove on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter 
was the location of the county seat for two terms, and it was just north 
of this line, on section 9, that the fight was made for the location of the 
county seat in 1841. William Moore settled on section 10, and Horace 
McDaniels on section 28. These came in 1838. Henry Arterbury came 
in 1838 also and lived near McDaniel, and was among the first sons-in- 
law in the county, and the first in Roscoe Township. He married Miss 
McDaniel in 1839, and Jesse Applegate, justice ot the peace, officiated. 
They removed after their marriage to Osceola Township, and settled on 
section 6. A Mr. Ward located the claim on the Roscoe side of the Sac 
River, upon which in 1841 the Howard & Ritchie mill was built, the first 
water mill in the county. He came in 1837. John Howard came from 
Kentucky, and lived a while in Polk Township, and then moved in 1840 
to the Ward place, and in the following year erected the mill. There 
was also a saw mill at the same place. 



I06j history of ST. CI.AIR COUNTY. 

SCHOOLS. 

The hist school was a subscription school, and an old log cabin 
stood for years, which had been erected in the fall of 183S by the neigh- 
bors for school purposes. James Hrady taught the first school and he 
was succeeded in the winter of 1S39 40 t)y Joseph Waldo. This was 
several }-ears before the organization of school district. After St. Clair 
became a county, Lewis R. Ashworth also taught a school in 1839, and 
was tlie first preacher in the township. That old school house also 
became the first place of worship in the township. The present educa- 
tional facilities of Roscoe are good. 

There are eight public school buildings besides a school district 
formed of a part of Speedwell and a part in Roscoe. These schools are 
well provided with all the necessary paraphernalia for a good common 
school education. In this the people of Roscoe have exercised wise fore- 
thought, v'hich will reap them a glorious harvest ere many years. 

The Rev. A. R. Ashworth was a minister of the Christian Church. 
There is now the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church on the western border 
of the township, which is in a flourishing condition, and there is situ- 
ated near Roscoe village the " Roscoe Congregation of Disciples of 
Christ," which was organized in 1871. The names of the original mem- 
bers of this church were: Mayfield Hoshaw and wife, Valentine Ruck- 
man, Martha Ruckman, Rebecca Burch, J. M. Quinley, Charles Bedell. 
Julia Moore, George Hendricks, Malinda Jenkins (colored), Susan Bedell 
and Nancy Thomas. The church has grown with the growth of the sur- 
rounding country and has now a membership of fifty. The pastors are 
Rev. W. W. Warren and Rev. W. C. Blalock. The latter was pastor but 
one year, and the former, with that exception, since the church was 
organized and is its present pastor, earnest and faithful to his charge. 

The first store kept in the township was by Patrick Shields who 
opened up near the ferry, and at the same time and place a blacksmith 
shop went into operation by the strong arms of John Iredell, and this was 
in the spring of 1840. Up the river in 1840 Ebenezer Ball located near 
where Chalk Level joins Roscoe, about three miles from Huffman's 
Ferry. 

WHEN IT BECAME ROSCOE. 

Roscoe Township came into being Februar)- ii, 1870. The petition 
was drawn up and circulated in October, 1869, asking for the division of 
Speedwell Township. This was numerously signed by the " east side " 
people and presented to the county court in November follo\ving. It 
then was laid over to the February term, 1870, and the j)ra)-er of the 
petitioners granted on the day above named. In 1872 her boundaries, as 
found in the first part of this chapter, were defined and placed upon the 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO63 

records. In 1875 the follovving township officers were elected, at the 
spring election: J. Burch, Collector; J. Dale, Clerk; W. Shackleford, 
Assessor; C. Breeden, Constable; A. Freeman and J. St. Clair, Justices 
of the Peace. 

It is said the original village was located on the river near the ferry, 
and that not until after the war was it carried to the bluff, its present 
location. The land was owned by William Goetz. It was then quite a 
flourishing village, and for many years was, in fact, the largest town in 
the county, numbering at one time about 600 in population. It was on 
the southwest trail from Sedalia, in the days of wagons and stage 
coaches, to the southwest and grew and flourished. The hotel was kept 
by Matilda Hart, and was erected in 1867. The Missouri, Kansas & 
Texas Road having been completed from Sedalia to Fort Scott in 1869, 
or at least through Henry County, caused the rapid decline of Roscoe 
and the building up of Appleton City. In 1870 it had fallen off nearly 
one-half and had a population of 302, within twenty-nine even then of 
being equal in size to Osceola. 

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF ROSCOE. 

It being one of the oldest settled towns or villages in the county, it 
was among the first to aspire to the dignity of an incorporated town. 
On August 3, 1868, a petition was presented to the county asking for an 
order of incorporation of the town of Roscoe, and that petition was in 
words following: 

Whereas, The petition of Thomas Riggs, G. W. Chrisman, Solo- 
mon Daniel, James F. Atkinson, Isaac Crowder, F. H. J. Ligon, G. W. 
Burges, A. S. Hart, James St. Clair, A. F. Edger, S. G. Disbrow, Willet 
Gardner, Charles W. Gardner, A. C. Shears, D. T. Bartley, R. M. Servis, 
G. W. Cox, F. Stewart, A. Edwinten, Samuel E. Hoover, Charles J. Shel- 
lenberger, Jacob Kephart, John Morris, R. C. Gill, M. R. Wilson, B. R. 
T. Copenhaver, Alonzo Ray. S. K. Marbovey, John H. Simmey, W. W, 
Dickey, L. W. Folsom, Isaac Bain, Daniel Hackey, L. H. Brown, J. P. 
Smith, D. P. Shippey and S. H. Duffey has this day been filed, praying 
this court to incorporate the village of Roscoe in the county of St. Clair 
and state of Missouri, in pursuance of section i, chapter 41 of general 
statutes, it is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed by the court that 
the inhabitants of all that district of country, situated in the county of 
St. Clair embraced within the limits hereinafter prescribed, and the 
inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and corporate by 
the name and style of "The Inhabitants of the Town of Roscoe," and 
by that name they and their successors shall be known in law, have per- 
petual succession unless disincorporated, sue and be sued, plead and be . 
impleaded, defend and be defended in all courts, and in all actions, pleas 
and matters whatsoever; may grant, purchase, hold and receive prop- 
erty, real and personal, within such town and no other (burial grounds 
and cemeteries excepted), and may lease, sell and dispose of the same 



1064 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

for the benefit of the town; may have a common seal, and may break 
and alter the same at pleasure. The corporate power and duties of said 
town shall be vested in a board of trustees, to consist of five members. 

The first board of trustees shall be appointed by the county court, 
and shall continue in office until successors are elected and qualified, and 
such successors shall be chosen by the qualified electors residing in said 
town, on the first Monday in April in every year, and such trustees shall 
have such powers as is contemplated by the act authorizing the county 
court to incorporate towns. 

The corporate limits of said town shall comprise all that district of 
country situated in the county of St. Clair, to wit: Commencing at the 
southeast corner of section 17; thence running north along the section 
line to the center of the main channel of the Osage River; thence up said 
channel to a point where the section line between section 7 and section 
8 crosses the river; thence south along said line to the southwest corner 
of section 17; thence east to the place of beginning. All in township 
37, of range 26. 

The trustees appointed were William H. Mannering. Jacob Kephart 
George W. Burgess, Alonzo Ray and James F. Atkinson, and they were 
to hold their office until their successors were elected and qualified. 

1870 TO 1880. 

From 1870 to 1880, Roscoe still felt the blighting effects of a rail- 
road town, and was reduced to a population of 172. That was its lowest 
ebb, and it has now about 250, and will grow as the country settles, and 
will probably by the next United States census reach her old status. 

Roscoe lies about ten miles southwest of Osceola, and has school 
facilities equal to Appleton City, and superior to that of the county seat. 
Its public school is a fine two story brick building. In 1869, Roscoe 
aspired to a newspaper, and one was started by I. B. Boyle, and called 
the Roscoe Gazette. Boyle was somewhat given to intemperance, and 
after quite a protracted spree at Kansas City, on recovering suffered 
considerable pain and took morphine to relieve it. He took an overdose 
and died from its effects September 7, 1870. 

Charles Daniel had become the publisher and Dr. Kibber the editor, 
about January 7, 1870, and was continued several months, when it was 
finally removed to Osceola, the same year. That was the first and last 
paper published within its classic precincts. 

Where the present village of Roscoe stands, Abraham Copenhaver 
lived and erected the first house on its site, but it was then his farm, but 
moving the town back and over the bluff, placed it on his land. 

The first house was erected by H. Burch, in 1867. It was a business 
house, and he was the first merchant. Dr. G. Selsby was the first phy- 
sician, Jacob Kehart made music from his anvils, and E. M. Lutz, in a 
minor key, added that of the hammer and saw; these were the first in 
their respective departments. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO65 

The postmasters have been: William H. Manning, Charles Gard- 
ner, — Parks, Henry Swan, Alonzo Ray, Joseph St. Clair, Miss Shucker, 
Miss Jessie Allen, Miss Perry Pepper, Frank S. Oyer. 

The M. E. Church, of which Rev. Proctor is pastor, hold services on 
every first Sabbath, and on Saturday night previous. The Sabbath 
school meets every Sunday morning at nine A, M. 

Roscoe Lodge No. 342, A. F. & A. M., meets on Thursday night on 
or before the full moon in each month. W. W. Warren is the present 
W. M., and G. P. Brown is Secretary. 

Rosebud Grange. No. 817, meets every second and fourth Saturday, 
at two o'clock, in their hall. The present officers are: J. S. Lewellen, 
W. M.; V. Ruckman, Lecturer; George P. Brown, Secretary. 

BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 

Perry Pepper, Roscoe House. 

Metcalf & Burch, general merchandise. 

J. E. Wells, hardware. 

Thomas Houston, harness. 

William Butler, general merchandise. 

A. Waymire, blacksmith. 
M. Baker, blacksmith. 

B. F. Pepper, wagon maker. 

A. C. Marquis, M. D., physician. 
Thomas Anderson, M. D., physician. 
Roddy & Addams, millers. 
Mrs. Lucy Hoshaw, millinery. 

PLEASANT SPRING CHURCH. 

Pleasant Spring Baptist Church was organized in 1847, on section 
14, some three miles west of Roscoe village. The names are not all 
given of the original members, but those who joined in organizing the 
church were: O. Smith, B. T. Morris and wife, Snoden T. Morris and 
Nancy Morris. The church has grown until it now has ninety-eight 
members. Its church building was erected in i860, but was destroyed 
during the late war, and not since rebuilt. Its pastors have been as 
follows: Revs. O. Smith, John Ford, J. B. Box, John C. Brasher, John T. 
Metcalf, Harvey Smith, Elder Birdsong, W. B. Belisle and perhaps oth- 
ers. The Sabbath school is well attended, has sixty pupils on its roll 
and is ably conducted by W. B. Belisle. 

M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. 

This church was organized in 1870, in the southern part of the 
township, by J. H. Pyles, Jacob Smith and wife, Mrs. Kirkland, Mrs. 



I066 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Jane Pyles, William Robertson, Sr. and wife, William Robertson, Jr. and 
wife, Richard Robertson and wife and J. C. McDonald and wife. From 
this small beginning the church has grovvm and prospered, and has now 
a membership of ninety. They built a neat frame church in the spring 
of 1881, costing $500. The names of the pastors who officiated as such, 
are here given in their order: Revs. Armstrong, Joseph Breeding, W. 
T. Banner, R. W. Reynolds, J. N. Anthony, — Barrenburg, W. D. Stew- 
art and J. M. Proctor. Connected with the church is a Sunday school of 
sixty scholars, under the the superintendenc}' of Richard P)'les. 

SPEEDWELL TO\YNSHIP 

is celebrated in song and story for her renowned hunters of pioneer days. 
Speedwell Township is one of the six original townships, and 
included within her borders the present territory of Roscoe. It was of 
course laid out at the May term of the county court in 1841. The present 
township is divided about equally between prairie and timber, and is a 
good cereal and stock township. It has, since 1870, been steadily grow- 
ing, and adding during the last decade about 90 per cent to its popula- 
tion has done it by a general average each year or each five years. 

In 1870 her population was 606 

1875 882 

1880 1,133 

This was a gain of 276 in the first five years, and 251 the last half 
of the decade, or 527 for the entire decade. This is not quite up to the 
average of the entire county, but it will do. 

AREA AND BOUNDS. 

This township is the largest in the county and will average about 
seven and a half miles north and south, by nine miles in width, east and 
west. The Osage River which constitutes her northern boundary line is 
not altogether straight in its course, and it would require the count of 
her fractional sections to give her exact area in acres, but in round num- 
bers she has some 44,000, and perhaps a few acres over. Her general 
boundary can be described as follows: On the north by the Osage River^ 
east by Roscoe Township, south by Cedar County, and west by Vernon 
County. In 1872 the several municipal boundaries of the county were 
made a matter of record, and in the following will be found the congres- 
sional township and range, which gives her geographical boundaries. 

SPEED\YELL. 

Established and bounded as follows, to wit: Commencing at that 
point between sections 3 and 4, in township 37, range 27, where the 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO67 

Osage River crosses the line between said sections, thence following the 
meanderings of said river to the west line of the county, thence south on 
county line to the south line of the county, thence east to the southeast 
corner of section 9, township 36, range 27, thence north to the place of 
beginning. 

THE ARRIVAL OF PIONEERS. 

Among those who came in the last half of the thirties were Allen 
Phillips, who settled on section 8, township 36, range 28, almost in the 
southwest corner of the township. James Anderson about the same 
time settled on section 11, township 37, range 28. They were probably 
the first but were not left long the monarchs of all they surveyed. Uncle 
John Whitley, always called so by the early settlers, and John R. Whit- 
ley, a son, James Breckenridge, Ben Burch and a few other followed the 
first named closely. Uncle John settled on section 8, town 37, range 27; 
Breckenridge on section 22, same township and range; and Benjamin 
Burch on section 4, in same township and range. There were William 
Bacon section 18; Hamilton Morris, Benjamin T. and Snowdon Morris, 
all brothers; the first settling on se'ction 28. Benjamin on section 14 and 
the latter on section 11; James S. McKinley on section 16 In town- 
ship 37, range 28, came Uriah Sutherland, a prominent citizen of the 
county; James Breckenridge, one of the noted hunters, settling on sec- 
tion 22; William and Frank Roark, also famous; and Benjamin F. Sny- 
der on section 24, who well remembers the perils of the early days. 

WATER, TIMBER AND PRODUCTION. 

Those who lived in Speedwell Township are not deficient in love 
and belief in the superior attractions of that township, and to hear some 
of them talk a belief in a sort of heaven upon earth would creep unsus- 
pectingly into the mind of the hearer. Clear Creek, which takes its 
name from its clear and sparkling water, enters the township in the 
southwest corner, runs north in a very crooked and tortuous manner to 
near the center of the township and then, as serpentine in its course as 
a stream can well be, crosses the township in a northeasterly direction 
and empties in the Osage. 

The rippling waters of the Little Clear Creek rises in the central 
southern part of the township, running north discharges its waters in 
its larger namesake. These beautiful streams and their branches water 
the entire township, and its wooded hills and ravines and its beautiful 
undulating prairies makes it indeed a fair land to look upon, and per- 
haps her enthusiastic citizens are not far out of the way in claiming for 
it something of the nature of the promised land. 



I068 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

STOCK AND CEREALS. 

Speedwell Township in its productions stood, in 1876, first in sheep, 
having 1,349 head; second in cattle, with 1,968; third in horses, with 
459; fourth in corn, with 131,9150 bushels, and fifth in hogs, with 1,563 
head, in the list of municipal townships. 

BAND OF FAMOUS HUNTERS. 

There are many incidents in all parts of the country of the life of 
the early settlers, pioneers who came west before the era of steamboats, 
railroads and telegraph, and of which they knew nothing for many after 
years, except from transient travelers, or some item from a stray news- 
paper which had found its way to their cabin. 

This want of knowledge of the result of man's genius was the occa- 
sion of one of the most ludicrous episodes that ever happened in this or 
any other county. It was the trip of the first steamboat on the Osage 
River as far up as St. Clair County, whose whistle had a most unearthly 
screech and roar, more like that of "an infuriated wild beast of the jun- 
gles than that of a steam whistle. The facts and incidents of this strange 
theme will be found in the " Old Settlers." the opening of St. Clair 
County history, but the band of hunters who made themselves famous 
belong to Speedwell Township, and therefore she is not only entitled to 
being a land of promise, but of having the most noted and famous band 
of hunters who ever drew a bead upon a denizen of the forest, whose 
names will ever remain high on the roll of fame among the noted hunt- 
ers of pioneers days. Their names are here given to history, as well as 
to the memory of those who were their neighbors and friends. 

NAMES. 

John Whitley, James Breckenridge, Benj. Burch, William Roark, 
Frank Roark, Benjamin F. Snyder, Hamilton Morris, Benjamin T. Mor- 
ris, James Anderson, Snowden Morris, John R. Whitley and William 
Bacon. 

It is reported that William Randolph, who settled on section 22 
near James Breckenridge, was also one of the band, but not his brother 
Joseph, who settled on section 9, both in township 37 of range 28. 

ROCK HOUSE. 

This is the name of a cave in the bluffs which overlooks the Osage 
River at what is called " Whitley's Bend." It is a beautiful cave, with 
an entrance wide enough for a man to pass through on horseback, and 
the rocks around and high up the mountain bluff have quaint figures cut 
into them and names which few can understand. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. I069 

It was the rendezvous of the Indians for ages. No doubt with care- 
ful examination this cave could be found far more extensive than is now 
even supposed. 

Not far beyond is another and smaller cave, which connects by a 
narrow passage with the larger one. The grown men of the neighbor- 
hood know little of these caves, but their children (boys) can give some 
wonderful accounts of the numerous passages to be found leading from 
both the large and smaller cave. 

These caves are found all along the banks of the Osage, but excite 
but little interest or curiosity among the people; some living close by 
for years have never yet seen them. They are well worth scientific 
exploration, which would develop undoubtedly much that would be 
found valuable in regard to the mineral resources of the county, as well 
as food for the curious in the geological formation of the country. 

WHEN DISMEMBERED. 

In February, 1870, Roscoe Township, as now formed, was taken 
from the territory of Speedwell, leaving her boundaries as here described. 

The same year, the farmers, or a portion of them, associated them- 
selves with a few farmers of Bacon Township, in Vernon County, joining, 
and organized a farmers' club. This was on April 9, 1870, and the fol- 
lowing officers were elected: Joseph Lewis, President; Dr. William 
Long, Vice-President; B. Robinson, Secretary; J. A. Purinton, Corres- 
ponding Secretary. 

It was called the Osage Farmers' Association, and held its organi- 
zation until 1873, when it was united to or swallowed up by the Patrons 
of Husbandry, or Granges. These latter continued until the Greenback- 
ers took possession of the township in 1878. 

ITS CAPITAL. 

Speedwell maybe called exclusively an agricultural and stock town- 
ship, with cotton rock and sandstone sufificient for building purposes, 
but it has no large town, or very much of a village within its limits. 

TIFFIN. 

This little village is the capital of Speedwell Township, and is the 
only village, as well as post office within its limits. Tiffin is located on 
section 13, in township 37, of range 28, but close to range 27, and at the 
confluence of Little Clear Creek with Big Clear Creek. It has a hand- 
some location, a rich country around it, and will prove a village of no 
small importance in the coming years. Clear Creek is quite a large 
stream here, and a mill was put up a few years ago known as Pape's Mill. 



I070 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Gideon Pape owned the land, and put up the first store in connection 
with his mill, in 1876. In July of the same year, the first post office in 
Speedwell Township was given it, with Gideon Pape postmaster, keeping 
the place at his store. Gideon Pape is still postmaster, and keeps a 
general store. Theodore Wemley, drug store; William H. Pollet, phy- 
sician and surgeon; Mr. Seby, blacksmith, and Henry Lockliter, wagon 
maker. 

The ferry across Big Clear Creek is in charge of John E. Vogel. 
The saw mill, which had been running so many years closed out a few 
months since. 

The town was surveyed and platted in April, 1878, Ralph C Bowles, 
county surveyor, surveyed and laid out the town that year and month. 
Tiffin will grow and Speedwell Township will increase in population 
and prosper, because she has a soil and climate, which is all that need 
be demanded, and an enterprising and industrious people. That is the 
reason, and it is all sufficient. 

SCHOOL. 

Her educational facilities are first class, having no less than eight 
school districts, besides one divided between her and Roscoe. There is 
not a child within the township but has the opportunity to receive a 
good common school education, and they have done it for the people 
have organized these number of schools for the express purpose of seeing 
that their children have not the want of learning, as was the fate of the 
old pioneers. 

TABER TO^VNSHIP. 

This township lies on the western border of the county with Apple- 
ton and Monegaw Townships on the north, Monegaw and Chalk Level 
on the east, with the bend of the Osage. That river on the south, sep- 
arating it from Roscoe, Speedwell and Bates County on the west. It is 
a large township, something in the shape of a shoe, being some twelve 
miles wide on the south side, extending across to congressional township 
No. 3, and an average of six and a half miles, north and south in range 28. 

In round numbers its area is about 38,000 acres of land, and four- 
fifths of it as rich and inviting prairie land as the eye need dwell upon. 
Its water supply is the Osage River on the south, in the northeast the 
Big Monegaw, and upon these streams will be found about all the timber 
in the township. The eastern portion lying south of Monegaw Town- 
ship has a considerable growth of young oaks, which covers some ten 
or twelve sections of land. In its coal area it is the third township in 
the county, the whole northeast being underlaid with it, the veins being 
from two to six and a half feet in thickness. Monegaw and Appleton 
Townships may have more coal than Tabor, and Chalk Level comes in 



i 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. lO/B 

as fourth. Some day there will be immense wealth taken out of the 
bowels of the earth in this and adjoining townships. The coal is supe- 
rior to the Rich Hill coal, and is, to a great extent, the quality known 
as gas coal. It is superior to that used for heating and cooking pur- 
poses, called steam coal. 

FIRST SETTLERS. 



They came in the year 1836, and a few may have been scattered 
here and there a year or two sooner. There was a cabin erected on the 
northwest corner of section 36, the fractional part lying in Taber and 
west of the river bend. It was put up in 1835. It was called the Green 
farm, or place, but little is known of the man, when he really came, or 
where from, or where he went to. 

Robert H. Sproull, of Virginia, came in 1836 and settled on the 
northwest quarter of section 12, township 38, range 28. He was a con- 
nection of Joseph Montgomery, and came the same time, the latter, 
however, locating on section 6, Roscoe Township, on the west side of 
the river and bend. Mr. Sproull was followed by John Smarr, in 1836, 
who bought out David Kelso's claim on section 6, township 37, of range 
27. Kelso moved further west, settling on 32, same township, but in 
range 28, and in 1838, the Beal family arrived and bought out Kelso- 
again. The Beals all came from Virginia, and there were a good many 
of them, Charles was the old man, and Robert, William, Jordan, George 
and two or three more, and two of the same name, Samuel and 
James Beal, but they belonged to another family. William P. Burck" 
was a son-in-law of Beal's, and settled on section 35. He, also, came 
from Virginia. Martin McFerran, well and widely known in those 
days, settled on the same section. Cyrus V. Robinson joined him 
on section 34, 38, 27, in 1838. McFerran came in 1837. Robert Shortess- 
came also in 1837, and was a neighbor of Robinson's, settling on the 
same section, 34. He came from Ohio. James Masterson came soon 
after. These were the principal early settlers, and all came prior to the 
year 1839. The Younces also settled in this township in 1838, though 
some have located them in Monegaw and others in the southeast corner 
of Appleton. A very complete history of this family and three or four 
neighbors, is given in the third chapter of St. Clair County history. The 
first birth in the township was a daughter of Mrs. Younce, and the first 
death, also, fell to her lot in the loss of a little two year old daughter,, 
the first year they came. 

WHEN FORMED. 

Taber Township kept pace with the general population of the coun- 
ty, not as rapid growth in early days, but steady. 



1072 IIISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

It was then a part of Monegaw Township and did not come into 
existence until 1870, and then too late to reap the Denefit of the census 
of that year. Monegaw was then the largest township and had the 
largest population. 

At the August term of the county court in 1870 Taber Township 
was formed and her boundary described as follows: 

Is composed of all that part of Monegaw Township south of the 
township line between township 38 of range 28 and township 39 of 
range 28, and west of the west line of Chalk Level Township. 

The township thus remained for two years, when, under the new 
township organization law, Taber's 

METES AM) BOUNDS 
were given as follows: 

Established and bounded as follows, to wit: Commencing at the 
center of the main channel of the Osage River where the township line 
between township 38, range 26, and township 38, range 27, where said 
line crosses said Osage River; thence north with said township line to 
the northeast corner of section 24 in township 38; range 27; thence west 
along the section line to the southwest corner of section 18, said town- 
ship and range; thence north to the northeast corner of township 38, 
range 28; thence west along the township line to the northwest corner 
of said township; thence south along the township line to the center of 
the main channel of the Osage River; thence along the main channel of 
the river to the place of beginning. 

The people of Taber have not been as energetic it would seem as 
some other portions of the county; has been more inclined to take 
things as they came than to make any extraordinary attempt in pro- 
gressive work. Yet Taber is a fine field for the agriculturist, and if 
there is any virtue in good land easy of tillage Taber ought to advance, 
and that rapidly. 

Perhaps the soil is too rich, and a living comes with so little exer- 
tion, that indolence instead of energy has got the upper hand. Not all 
are so, but take the township together and it is not noted for energy or 
much progress. It will, however, be easy to inaugurate an era of prog- 
ress, for there is nothing wanted but energy, and but little of that if 
perseverance is added. 

As before stated, Taber Township was organized too late for the 
census of 1870, but in 1880 her population numbered 951 souls, being 
the seventh in that line in the county. In 1876 her population was an 
even 700, so that the gain since then has been fair — something like 35 
per cent, in four years, or about ninety per cent, for the decade. It 
should more than double itself the present decade. 

In stock and cereal it is up to the average, and in flax leads all 
other townships. If its advantages were onl}- known, Taber Township 
vwould come to the front rapidly. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO73 

VILLAGE OF TABERVILLE. 

The village of Taberyille was laid out in the year 1859, and was sur- 
veyed and platted by Robert H. Sproull. The land upon which the 
village rested belonged to Dr. Taber. He formed a company and had 
the village platted as above stated. They included some twenty-five 
acres in the town plat. Dr. Taber, who was at the head of the town 
company, built the first house, a store building, and opened the first 
store, keeping a general stock, suited for country trade. A blacksmith 
shop was also started. 

The first physician was Dr. James Smith, who had practiced several 
years previous in the township and in Speedwell. It finally reached a 
population of about 250 to 300 people. In the winter of 1862-3, the Fed- 
eral troops took possession, the town being held alternately by the mili- 
tia and the state troops. The latter had possession in the summer of 
1863. After holding possession some eight or nine months, the troops 
left, and the bushwhackers made a descent upon it as a Federal post, 
and destroyed all the business houses, leaving the dwelling houses all 
standing, and doing no futher damage. A Mr. Roundtree kept store 
also. It was the second store in the place. A Mr. Purienton kept a 
store there for about five years, and boasts of a large trade, for he is still 
in the business, a good portion coming from Bates County. The hotel 
was kept by Brown Hill. Dr. Taber started the first ferry across the 
Osage at that point, in 1858, and then he was followed some years later 
by Milton Heath, and was called Heath's Ferry. In 1871, it had a good 
grist and saw mill, and in 1875, a woolen mill flourished, owned by Dr. 
Long and others. The flouring mill was owned by Messrs. Rycroft & 
Moore, and was called the Taberville Mill. It is now doing duty at 
Appleton City. 

After the war Captain Cornelius, the efficient and popular deputy 
county clerk, opened a store in Taberville, and continued business for 
some time. His forte, however, is looking after the county affairs 
through his spectacles in the clerk's office. The town has seen its worst 
days, has touched the bottom round of the ladder, and will now and 
henceforth rise. Slowly it may be, but the opening is upward and it 
must ascend. 

THE HEAD OF NAVIGATION. 

The town of Taberville may be considered to be at the head of nav- 
igation on the Osage River. In high water boats have ascended the 
river to Papinville, in Bates C-ounty, but there are too many bars and 
shoal places above it to make it safe for boating. It is beautifully situ- 
ated on the north bank of the Osage, and has a splendid view of the 
magni£cent prairies which surround it on every side — a country that is 



1074 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

rich in productiveness and ought to sustain a village ten times the size 

of the capital city of Taber Township. Just what the population is at 

this time is hard to state. In 1870 the census gave it a population of 

160, and in 1880 it was not thought large enough to be mentioned, yet 

it must have nearly a hundred citizens living in or near it. The Whitley 

prairies lie to the north and east and all around it is plain to be seen an 

agricultural garden, and as the oldest town in the county with the equal, 

if not the superior, of any in the county in its surroundings, there is no 

reason why Taberville should not become, in a few years, a city at least 

of the fourth class. But she cannot sleep for four or five years if she 

expects to grow. 

CHURCH AND SCHOOL. 

A very laudable enterprise has been started the past year, that of 
building up a church and an educational institute of the first class. The 
beauty and healthfulness of the location commends it to all, and there 
is no reason why a flourishing educational institute should not be sus- 
tained when it becomes known. 

Quite a large number of citizens donated land to the church for the 
purpose above mentioned. Mr. John Hill donated twenty-five acres to 
the church adjoining the town of Taberville. Milton Heath gave five 
acres, with several fine sulphur springs upon it. Waldo P. Johnson con- 
tributed ten acres, and R. A. Gregory donated timber for the church 
building. It is a M. E. Church, and the school, etc. will be under its 
care. On the twenty-five acres donated by Mr. Hill, it is proposed to 
plat a town and call it Mount Taber, and will be an addition to the old 
town. The five acres contributed by Mr. Heath, is reserved for a park 
and pleasure ground, and the very valuable sulphur springs are taken 
care of. This five acres has a splendid grove of forest trees, and upon 
this beautiful spot in August, 1882, a camp meeting was held. The 
present year (1883), it is expected that both church and school buildings 
will be erected, and a school term opened the coming fall. The park 
ground is all fenced. 

MOUNT TABER CHRISTIAN CHURCH 

was organized March 4, 1882, in the Burns Schoolhouse, with the follow- 
ing members: H. L. Pheris and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Tremain, Langhorn 
Dade and wife, Mrs. Sarah Willis, Nancy Cockrell, William H. Boatman, 
Alonzo Jennings, Mrs. Eunice Binns, Mrs. Tabitha Binns, and Mrs. Mol- 
lie Pingrey. The present membership is twenty-two. Arrangements 
have been made to erect a church building on section 27, township 38, 
range 27, which is one of the finest locations in the township, or even in 
the county. The church building is to be completed the present yearr 
188:1. 



HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. IO73, 

In addition, there is in the township of Taber an M. E. church, sit- 
uated on section 19, township 38, range 27, a neat frame building,' put 
up at a cost of $750, in 1880. There are also eight public school districts 
in the townships, all well fitted up for the educational advancement of 
the pupils attending, and in this respect Taber Township has kept fully 
to the front in educational interests and progress. With all her advant- 
ages, energy, on the part of her people, will make her future one of 
great promise. 




BIOGRAPHICAL. 



zr^ 



^Mrc 



« b - i» — i' — ^ 6 '^^ — -I — e) 



OSCEOLA TOWNSHIP. 



WILLIAM E. BELL, M. D., 

was born in Polk County, Missouri, in 1847, and is the son of Robert H. 
Bell, M. D., a native of Lexington, Kentucky, born in 18 19. He studied 
medicine in Lexington, and graduated at the Transylvania college in 
that city. Coming to Missouri, he settled in Polk County, practicing 
there and in Benton County for fifteen years, and then removed to Pet- 
tis County, where he is now a prominent physician. William's mother 
was formerly Sarah M. Ferguson, a Kentuckian by birth. He was the 
oldest of five children. While young, he fitted himself for the practice of 
medicine, studying with his father as percepter. He received a good 
acedemic education, and after a thorough preparation he practiced in 
Polk County two years, and for two years in Benton and Hickor}- 
Counties. He attended two full courses of lectures at the medical col- 
lege in St. Louis, where he was graduated in 1879. I" September, 1880, 
he came to Osceola, where he secured a good practice. He is making 
the diseases of women and children a specialty, and when not otherwise 
engaged, his time is taken up in the investigation of diseases, and keep- 
ing up with the new complications and their remedies. Few men of his 
age have made a more enviable reputation than Dr. Bell. 

PARIS BROWN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 27, was born in Washington County, 
Kentucky, August 12, 1838, and was the son of Wesley Brown, of Ken- 
tucky, who died in 1846. His mother, Elizabeth (Peters) Brown, with 
her family came to Washington County, Missouri, in 1848, and was there 
married to Thomas Calvird, who died in 1868, his widow dying in 1879. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO77 

Of the first family of six children Paris was the third. By the second 
marriage there were five children. Paris was reared principally in this 
county, and with the habits of industry instilled in his youth he has been 
successful in securing a valuable farm of 480 acres, and he is recognized 
as one of St.- Clair County's prominent farmers. Mr. Brown married 
Mary Jane Peebly July 11, 1855. She died June 10, 1862, leaving one 
child, James H. He afterward married Mary Ann Wilkerson. She 
died in 1868, and left one child, Mary Ida. Mr. B. married Mrs. Lucinda, 
widow of John Flemming, in 1870. They have five children: Wesley, 
Mary Ann, Silas H., and Charles and William, (twins). Politically he 
is a Republican. He belongs to the M. E. Church, South. 

ALONZO A. CLEVELAND, 

farmer, stock raiser and dealer, section 13, was born in Randolph County, 
Indiana, December i, 1853, and was the son of Morgan H. Cleveland, of 
New York, who married Miss Lucinda Brandon, of Ohio, a daughter of 
John Brandon, originally from Ireland. They had nine children. Mor- 
gan Cleveland was a merchant for thirty-five years in one town in 
Indiana. He went to California in 1849, ^'"'d remained long enough* to 
acquire quite a fortune, and on his return he bought 1,600 acress of land. 
He came to St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1865, and died in 1870. Alonzo 
A. received a good education in youth, and had advantages of a thor- 
ough business training in his father's store. At the age of eighteen, he 
commenced teaching school, and followed it at intervals for several 
years. In 1878 he started a store in Chalk Level, and after conducting 
it four years, sold out and bought his present farm of 140 acres. Polit- 
ically he is a very active Greenbacker, having done much in organizing 
the party. 

LEWIS CONAUT, 

dealer in general merchandise, was born in Androscoggin County, 
Maine, in May, 1830, being the son of Benjamin Conaut, of Bridgewa.ter, 
Massachusetts, who was a soldier in the war of 18 12. His father, Lott 
Conaut, was also born in Massachusetts and participated in the revolu- 
tionary war. Benjamin's wife, formerly E. Staples, was born in Maine. 
Lewis was the eighth child of a family of ten children. In 1853 he emi- 
grated to VanWert County, Ohio, and after several business ventures 
engaged in the grocery and provision trade and as agent for the Ameri- 
can Encyclopedia, in which he was satisfactorily successful. He enlisted 
during the war and served four months. In 1866 he came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, and in 1870 engaged in his present business with W. 
A. Dale as partner, and after two years he bought Mr. Dale's interest. 
He is the oldest merchant in the city. John Butcher was with him for 



1 078 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

eleven months and James H. Linney was his partner fifteen months. In 
1882 he put in operation an apple evaporator, and in the fruit season did 
a successful business. He was married January i, 1862, to Miss Ange- 
lina S. Williamson, daui^hter of John W. Williamson, a native of New 
Jersey. They have three children: Lewis H., Arthur B. and Albert E. 
Mr. C. is a Republican in politics and his religious belief is with the 
Universalists. He is a Mason and a member of the A. O. U. W. fra- 
ternity. 

CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. COOK 

was born in Franklin County, Virginia, August 31, 18 16. His father, 
John Cook, who was born in Franklin County, Virginia, was the son of 
Captain James Cook, of the same state, who was killed at Sansbury, 
South Carolina, in the Revolutionary war. The family are of English 
descent and are from the same locality as was Captain Cook the navi- 
gator. The mother of Benjamin was formerly Aura Belcher, of Vir- 
ginia, and of French ancestry. Their family consisted of nine children 
of whom Benjamin was the sixth. He was reared there and learned the 
trade of tobacconist, working at that employment forty-four years. In 
18^8 he came to Missouri and settled in St. Clair County on a farm. In 
1862 he organized a company of Union troops for the Sixtieth Regi- 
ment Enrolled Missouri Militia and was elected captain. Afterwards 
Company H, of the Provisional Regiment was raised and he was put in 
command. In the spring of 1864 he organized a company of volunteer 
mounted militia whose duty it was to keep track of marauding parties, 
in which capacity he acted until the close of the war. In 1863 he was 
elected a member of the state legislature, performing the duties of that 
position with much ability. Mr. Cook married Miss Julia A. F. Mitchell 
in September, 1842. She died in 1849, leaving three children: William 
B., Mary E. and Lafayette. In 1850 he married Susan A. F. Meridith, 
daughter of James Meridith, of Virginia. They have seven children : 
Sarah V., Eliza D., Susan E., James H., John Rives, Mirand A. and 
William R. Politically Mr. C. is a Republican. He is an active mem- 
ber of the Grange. 

ALFRED GRIFFITH CORNELIUS, 

deputy county clerk, was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and is 
the son of James Cornelius, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who was mar- 
ried in 1820 to Elizabeth PLUiott. Her father, James Elliott, came from 
Ireland. In 1837 the family moved to Morgan County, Ohio, where Mr. 
C. was engaged in business for many years. Mrs. Cornelius died in 
1872, and her husband in 1880. Alfred G. received a good primar}- edu- 
cation at home, and then entered Granville College, remaining two 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO79 

years and qualifying himself for teaching school, which profession he 
followed for some time. In the spring of 1853 he formed a partnership 
with his father in the drug trade in Morgan County, which he continued 
for two years. Selling out he embarked in general merchandising, in 
1857, but soon after was burned out. In i8S9he opened a grocery store 
and continued the business until 1861. In July of the same year he 
enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Com- 
pany H, and was appointed orderly sergeant. His regiment partici- 
pated in the second battle of Bull Run and he was also in many of the 
engagements of the Potomac. For meritorious conduct he was pro- 
moted to lieutenant, and then to captain, and made a capable and effi- 
cient officer. After returning home, in October, 1865, he came to Mis- 
souri and farmed in Johnson County until 1869, when he resumed gen- 
eral merchandising, this time in Taberville. In 1878 he sold out. In 
the spring of 1879 he was appointed deputy county elerk, and served 
three years. In the spring of 1883 he was again appointed deputy 
county clerk. Mr. C. married Miss Emaline Miller, of Pennsylvania, in 
1854. They have three children: A. Branch, Edward M. and Kate M. 
The latter married Mr. Thomas David, of this city. Politically he is a 
Democrat, and he is a Royal Arch Mason. 

FRANZ POWELL DANIEL, " 

harness and saddle manufacturer, was born in Poland, Prussia, February 
19, 1836, his parents being John and Hannah W. Daniel. He learned 
the harness trade, commencing when fourteen years of age, and in Octo- 
ber, 1857, he enlisted in the German army, in the cavalry service, and 
was detailed as saddlemaker of the regiment. June 28, 1866, he emi- 
grated to America, and settled in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked at 
his trade. He came to Osceola, Missouri, December 28, 1868, and in 
April of the next year he opened a harness shop, and is now proprietor 
of the oldest establishment in town, and he is having a prosperous trade. 
Mr. Daniel married Miss Antonia Dierfield, of Germany, in January, 
1863. She died in Chicago June, 1867, leaving one son, Powell. His 
second wife was Bertha Dierfield (sister of his first wife). By this mar- 
riage they have four children: George. Agatha, Tell and Anna. Mr. 
D., politically, is a Democrat, and he is also a member of the A. O. U. 
W. and Masonic fraternity. 

THOMAS ADDISON EMERSON, 

blacksmith and wagonmaker, was born in Cumberland County, Ken- 
tucky, in 1849. His father, Samuel R. Emerson was born in Green 
County, Kentucky, in 1801. His grandfather came from Ireland. Thomas' 
mother, Elizabeth H. Bledsoe was born in Cumberland County, Ken- 



lOSo HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

tucky. Her father was Benjamin B, Bledsoe, of England. Samuel 
Emerson came to Missouri, and settled in Georgetown, Pettis County, in 
185 1, making a claim on the land where Sedalia now stands. He was an 
attorney for many years, and after living in Taney, Benton, and John- 
son Counties, he finally located in Bolivar, Polk County, and bought a 
farm, and for a while divided his time between farming and his profes- 
sion. He subsequently devoted his time to the farm until his death in 
1865. His widow died in 1871. He was the third son of a family of 
seven, all of whom were attorneys. The subject of this sketch is the 
eighth of nine children, of whom but three sons survive: Samuel P., W. 
B.. and Thomas A., and all are blacksmiths. In 1869, Mr. E. came to 
this city, and is now doing a good business at his trade. He married 
Miss Sally E. Prock, October 26, 1874. She is the daughter of Ambrose 
Prock. They have two children: Ralph, and Rosa Bell. Politically he 
is a Greenbacker. He was deputy sheriff of this county and jailor for 
five years. 

JOSEPH L. ENGLISH, 

was born in St. Louis, February 12, 1830. His father, E. English, who 
was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1788, was a carpenter by trade, and 
came to St. Louis in 1816. He married Miss Catherine Foulks, born in 
Pennsylvania, March 18, 1800. Her father was Christopher Foulks, 
originally from Germany, and a tobacconist by calling. Mr. English 
died in St. Louis, August 14, 1866, and his wife died Novem.ber 28, 1882. 
They raised a family of twenty-one children, twelve boys and nine girls, 
Joseph L. being the seventh. He learned the tinner's trade at his birth 
place, and when twenty-one years of age went to Chester, Illinois, and 
open a tin and stove store. In one year he sold out, and returned to St. 
Louis, and commenced the brewing business, which he continued for 
four years. In 1853, he came to Warsaw, and resumed the tin and stove 
business. In i860, he came to Osceola, and conducted a drug business 
with Washington Dorrell. In 1862, Osceola was burned, and his stock 
shared the fate of the city. After remaining here for a year, he returned 
to St. Louis, entering into work for the government at his trade, and 
continuing it until the close of the war. After one year's residence in 
Sedalia, he came to Osceola, and in 1867, formed a partnership with 
William Shelton, and they built the first tin and stove store in town, and 
one of the first buildings erected in the town. Since 1870, he has been 
alone, doing a very successful business. In 1883, on account of poor 
health, he disposed of his stock of goods and stoves and retired from 
business. In 1855, he married Miss Mary Dorrell, the daughter of Dr. 
W. Dorrell. She died in 1870, leaving two children, Alonzo and Lillie. 
His second wife was Sarah M. Stovall, of Franklin County, whom he 
married in 1873. Her father was Thomas Stovall. They have two child- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. lOSl 

ren, Thomas and Maud. Mr. English votes the Democratic ticket. Mrs. 
E. is a member of the Baptist Church. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
and the A. O. U. W. fraternities. 

JOHN NATHANIEL EVERETT 

was born in Henry County, Missouri, February 28, 1858, his parents 
being Simeon and Ann Rebecca (Thornton) Everett, Virginians by 
birth. The father of the former was Nathaniel Everett, also of Vir- 
ginia, his wife being a daughter of J. T. Thornton, of Virginia, born in 
1800. Simeon Everett came to Missouri and settled in Henry County 
in 1842, John T. Thornton having located there in 1839. ^^ owned the 
ferry across Grand River in Osage Township. Mr. Thornton is now 
eighty-three years of age and has been deaf for thirty years. He now 
lives with his daughter, Mrs. A. R. Everett, in Brownington. The sub- 
ject of this sketch worked hard on the farm from the time he was a 
small boy until 1870, when the family moved to Clinton, and he entered 
the Democrat office and learned the printer's trade. He worked in that 
office eleven years. He came to this city in October, 1882, and is now 
foreman of the Voice printing office. Mr. Everett married Miss Maggie 
Schrewsberry April 3, 188 1. They have one child, Nellie May, born 
September 14, 1882. Politically, he is a Democrat. He belongs to the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

JOHN C. FERGUSON. 

"Died at his residence at Osceola, Missouri, November 15, 1881, 
John C. Ferguson, in the thirty-seventh year of his age." This brief 
notice tells of the closing of the life of one of the most brilliant, accom- 
plished -and rising young men in the state. He came to Osceola in the 
year 1868, commenced the practice of law, and it was not long ere his 
mental strength manifested itself. In 1870 he was appointed prosecut- 
ing attorney for St. Clair County, and in 1872 was elected to the lower 
house of the general assembly, where he became, by his ability, one of 
the leading members of that body, although one of its youngest. Public 
attention was attracted to him by the able and vigorous manner in 
which he advocated and defended the celebrated "Assumption Bill."' 
He was chosen presidential elector for this district in 1876 and made a 
brilliant canvass. But in no sphere was labor so congenial or his repu- 
tation greater than in his chosen profession. As a lawyer he was learned 
and able, a safe and judicious counsellor, a bright and polished orator; 
he stood throughout the southwest with but few equals and no superior. 
As a citizen he was ever ready to aid and assist in every movement to 
advance the interests of his county and her people. As a man he was 



I082 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTV. 

modest and retiring, generous to a fault, scorned a mean act and had a 
contempt for shams. Ever kind and considerate to the poor, his very 
last act while on his bed of sickness was one of charity. He was ever 
tender to the weak, only defiant to the strong. He was married in 1873 
to Miss Mary F. Outhwait, who, with two children, a boy and girl, sur- 
cive him. 

ANDREW MONROE FUOUA, 

proprietor of the Leveta Mills, was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, 
in 1823, and was the son of Colonel Washington Fuqua, of Virginia, 
who moved to Kentucky in an early day. In 185 1 he went to Edgar 
County Illinois, where he lived until his death in 1879. Andrew's 
mother was formerly Rebecca Wilson, a Kentuckian by birth, and of 
Irish descent. She died in 1875. They had a familj' of fourteen child- 
ren of whom Andrew M. was the fourth child. He worked while a bo\- 
with his father at the carpenter trade, and when seventeen years old 
he went to milling, building and repairing mills, etc. In 185 i he moved 
to Coles Counly, Illinois, and settled on a farm, and fitted up a horse- 
power saw mill which he operated winters. He afterwards built a steam 
saw and grist mill. In 1867 he came to Missouri and settled in Osceola. 
He first repaired a mill on Ogle Creek, in Hickory Cou..ty. He then 
bought and repaired one on Weaubleau Creek. Purchasing an old mill 
at Warsaw, he set it up at Taberville, but subsequently disposed of it 
and came to Osceola in 187 1, erecting the first grist mill in the place. 
He is a half owner of the Eclipse Mills, of this city which his son runs, 
and also owns and conducts the Leveta Mills besides a fine saw mill. He 
has owned and operated seven different mills in the county. Mr. 
Fuqua married Miss Ellen Saunders, in 1845. She died in 1847, leaving 
one child, Marion. He married for his second wife, Malina Grose in 1847. 
They have four sons: James E., David P., Joseph N. and Rile\' F., all 
millers. One son, William, while at work on a railroad was killed by 
the cars, and another son, John, died in Illinois. 

JAMES E. FUQUA 

was born in Fleming County, Kentucky, June 23, 1850. He came to 
Missouri with his father in 1867 and settled in Taberville, St. Clair 
County, where he remained for some time. James E. has been educated 
to the milling business, and in connection with his father who owns one- 
half of the Eclipse Mills, he has operated and owned more saw and grist 
mills in St. Clair County than any other man in the county. Mr. Fuqua 
married Miss Anna E. Shields October 20, 1873. They have four child- 
ren: Laura, Beeta, Edmond and John. Crickett died September 5, 
1882. Politically he is a Democrat. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO83 

J. WADE GARDNER, M. D. 

In the latter part of the last century, the grandfather of our subject, 
emigrated from Scotland to America, settling in Virginia, where he 
farmed until his death. His son, Robert F. Gardner, was born August 
7, 1805, in Campbell County, Virginia. He located in Marshall County, 
Tennessee, in 1838, and in 1841 settled in St. Clair County, Missouri, 
where he died when fifty-six years old, in October, 1861. J. Wade 
Gardner, the eldest of five children of Robert T. and Susan B. (Beck) 
Gardner, was born in Marshall County, Tennessee, May 10, 1839, and 
when but two years old was brought by his parents to St. Clair County, 
where they gave him his early education in the schools of Osceola. In 
his eighteenth year he began the study of medicine under Dr. G. W. 
DoUel, with whom he remained three years. In 1859 ^^ located in Dal- 
las, Texas, but after remaining a short time he returned to Missouri, and 
entered upon the practice of medicine, and connected with it the drug 
business in Wellsville, Dade County. At the breaking out of the war in 
1861, he removed to Neosho, and was in charge of a hospital under 
General Rains' command until January, 1862, when he went to Arkansas- 
The following June, on his return to Pineville, McDonald County, Mis- 
souri, he was taken prisoner, but was released upon taking the oath of 
allegiance to the United States' government, and in July, 1862, returned 
to Osceola. He remained on his father's farm, practicing medicine in 
the neighborhood until the fall of 1864, when he moved to St. Louis, but 
only stayed there one year, when he came back to Osceola, and was 
appointed deputy clerk, which position he held until January i, 1867. 
From that time until January i, 1871, he was engaged in the real estate 
agency and mercantile business, and aLo practiced his profession. He 
was then reappointed deputy clerk and held the position six months, 
when he was obliged to resign, having on the first day of July, 1871, 
established the Osage Valley, a Democratic paper. The duties of his 
new calling demanding all his time. But in a short time he disposed of 
his newspaper office and again turned his attention to the real estate 
business in connection with the practice of medicine, which he has con- 
tinued to the present time. In 1876 he was the county physician. Dr. 
Gardner has always taken an active part in politics. In i860 he was 
appointed elector on the Bell and Everett presidential ticket and in 1864, 
to the same position on the McClellan ticket. During Governor Brown's 
administration he was elected clerk of the senate committee on appor- 
tionment or redistricting the state into representative senatorial and 
congressional districts. He was a delegate to the Democratic State 
Convention of 1862, 1873, and 1874, and also held various positions of 
importance in his county. The Doctor took a very active part in oppos- 
ing the payment of county bonds issued for railroad purposes in advance 



1084 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

of the completion of the roads, and has taken a leading part in the 
endeavor to compromise the county indebtedness for the encouragement 
of immigration. He is a member of Horeb Royal Arch Chapter No. 
47, of the Masonic fraternity. September 7, 1859 ^^^ was married to 
Miss Mary R. Devin, daughter of Judge William R. and Rebecca (Oliver) 
Devin, of Polk County, Missouri, but orginally from Virginia. By her 
he has one child: Rosanna, born June 21, 1867. 

JOHN PARKS GORDON 

was born in St. Louis, Missouri, December 16, 1837, and was the son of 
Preston Gordon, who was born and raised in Mercer County, Kentucky, 
and who settled in St. Louis when it was a village. After living there 
for about twenty-five years, he came to St. Clair County in 1855, where 
he purchased 1,000 acres of land. He died in 1875. The mother of 
John, formerly Julia Ann Baker, was born in St. Louis County, Missouri, 
and died December 7, 1861. They had eight children of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch is the eldest. He worked on his father's farm, making 
the raising of stock a leading feature, and very soon grew into promi- 
nence as a stock dealer. In 1861 he entered in the Missouri State 
Guards for six months, then entered the regular service, and served in 
the trans- Mississippi district. He was engaged in many hard battles^ 
and in a skirmish in Cedar County he received a severe wound, the ball 
entering near his left shoulder, passing through his body and coming 
out at his right hip. After his recovery in nine months he joined the 
regiment with which he remained until the close of the war in 1865. In 
1868 he went to Texas and engaged in raising cotton and farming. 
Returning in 1876 he was elected sheriff and was re-elected in 1880, 
faithfully discharging the duties of this position for two terms. In 1882 
he was elected county collector. Mr. Gordon married in 1872 Mary 
Ann Glass Dickson, daughter of John M. Dickson, of Grayson County, 
Texas. She died in 1876. He married for his second wife Miss Ida 
Patterson in i88r. She is the daughter of William N. Patterson. They 
have one child, William Henry. Politically he is a Greenbacker, and 
religiously a Baptist, and he belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

DR. C. M. HAMBLIN 

was born in Franklin County, Virginia, March 4, 1824. His father, 
Thomas Hamblin, was a native of Giles County, Virginia, and his grand- 
father, M. Hamblin, came with his wife from P2ngland. The former died 
in Kentucky, in 1847, his widow surviving until 1858. They had seven 
children. C. M. grew up on a farm, and by study at home and attend- 
ing the common schools, obtained a good education. The family moved 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO85 

to Kentucky in 1833. In 1856, he came to Missouri and settled in Ver- 
non County, entering 900 acres of land, which he commenced to improve. 
When the war broke out he joined the Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, was 
appointed hospital steward, and acted as assistant surgeon with Surgeon 
Maynard. He had studied medicine previous to entering the army, and 
he was necessarily obliged to prescribe for the sick. Having the advice 
of the surgeon, and assisting in many surgical operations, it proved a 
good school, of which he at once took advantage. At the close of the 
war he returned to Kentucky, where he remained until 1872, then came 
to Osceola, and engaged in the practice of medicine. He has had charge 
of the sick at the poor farm for five years by appointment, and is the 
present county physician. Dr. H. married Miss Lucinda Sutherland in 
1846. She was the daughter of David Sutherland, of Kentucky, origin- 
ally from Scotland. They have five children living: John Robert, Dan- 
iel, Mollie, Callahan and Minnis. The doctor is a Republican. He has 
belonged to the Christian Church for thirty years, and he is a Mason. 

John R. Hamblin, of the firm of Hamblin Brothers, proprietors of 
livery and feed stable, is a son of Dr. C. M. Hamblin, and was born in 
1850, in Logan County, Kentucky. He moved to Missouri with his 
father, and settled in Vernon County in 1856, and in 1861, he went to 
Humanville. In 1872, he came to Osceola, from Kentucky, and has here 
been engaged in business of various kinds, operating an engine for some 
three years. In 1878, he was one of a company who took contracts for 
carrying the United States mails to different points, one route being to 
Appleton City, &c. In 1880, he bought with his brother the livery barn, 
where he is also doing a large feed business. Mr. Hamblin married Miss 
Martha Smith, in 1872. She is the daughter of Edvvard Smith, of Logan 
County, Kentucky. They have two children, Robert and Claudius. 
Politically he is a Republican. He belongs to the Christian Church, and 
is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. fraternities. He is 
one of the city councilmen. 

CHARLES J. HARRISON. 

attorney at law, was born in Monroe County, Missouri, January i, 1850. 
His father, Francis M. Harrison, was born in Kentucky and cam.e with 
his father, Charles Harrison, to Missouri about, the year 1830. The 
mother was also born in Kentucky, her maiden name being Nancy Mil- 
dred Collins. The subject of this sketch was the second of seven child- 
ren, and his early years were passed upon a farm. He received such 
education as the public schools afforded until at the age of nineteen, 
when he entered the Shelbyville Academy, where he remained one year. 
The following year he entered the University at Lexington, Kentucky, 
for a thorough course, but owing to reverses in his father's fortune he 



I0.S6 rilSTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

was compelled to abandon that idea and return home before the end of 
the first year. In 1871 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and 
engaged in the real estate business at Appleton City, where he remained 
until the fall of 1872. Then entering the office of Hurdette & Smith, at 
Osceola, he began the study of law. By hard study, and aided by the 
firm of Hurdett & Smith, he was enabled at the September term, 1873, 
of the St. Clair Count)' Circuit Court, to pass a satisfactory examinatiort 
and be admitted to the bar. On being admitted to the bar he was taken 
in as a partner by the firm, under whom he read, the firm name being 
Burdett, Smith & Harrison. In 1874 the senior member of the firm 
received the appointment of commissioner of the general land office at 
Washington, District of Columbia, and removed to that city. Messrs. 
Smith & Harrison continued in business in Osceola until 1875, when 
they removed to Sedalia, Missouri, where Mr. H. lived one year, and 
then returned to St. Clair County and was occupied in other business 
than the law until the year 1878, when he again resumed the practice of 
law. In 1880 he formed a partnership with Hon. John C. Ferguson and 
Hon. F. C. Nesbit, which continued until the fall of 1881, when the death 
of Mr. Ferguson dissolved the firm. He subsequently united with Judge 
John D. Parkinson, under the firm name of Parkinson & Harrison, which 
still continues. Mr. Harrison was married May 18, 1876, to Miss Lulu 
Constable, and by this union they have two children, Elma and Thomas. 
Mr. H. is not a member of any church, is a Democrat and a Mason. 

Mc. HERNDON 

was born April 22, 1852, in Ozark County, Missouri, his parents being 
Rev. H. W. and Martha A. C. (Piland) Herndon, who were married 
December 2, 1847. The former, a physician and surgeon by profession, 
was born in East Tennessee, while the latter, a daughter of Samuel and 
Martha Piland, was born November 22, 1830, in Hartford County, North 
Carolina. Tothem were born six sons and three daughters. One son, 
Joseph S., who was born September 28 ,1848, was an honored student of 
the Medical College at Salem, Oregon, and graduated at the head of a 
class of 100 pupils, taking the prize offered that year. He engaged in 
the practice of medicine at Salem, and is now the principal physician 
and surgeon at the penitentiary in Olympia, Washington Territory, and 
is also the surgeon of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He married Miss 
Mary E, Turner, of Linn County, Oregon. One daughter, Mary A., born 
August 15, 1850, married L. H. Gist, of this county. Mc. married Miss 
Mary E. Bair, of Jasper County, Missouri, January 10, 1875, and by this 
union there are three daughters: Celia L., born November 5, 1875; Nora, 
born April 26, 1878, and Lillie A., born November 12, 1880. The next 
daughter, Macy, who was born January 24, 1854, married Charles C. Din- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. lOS/ 

ney, of Oliver, born March 4, 1856, died August 21 of the same year. 
Martha J., born June II, 1857, married William Cleveland. Jasper N., 
born March 30, 1859, married Lydia J. McConnell. Samuel F. and James 
H. were born October 9, 1865. The Rev. H. W. Herndon died several 
years ago. His widow now resides with one of her sons. Mc. lives not 
far from the old homestead, and is actively engaged in farming and the 
raising of stock. Politically, he is a Greenbacker. He is a member of 
the Missionary Baptist Church. 

THOMAS DAWSON HICKS 

was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, January 5, 1847. His father, 
James L. Hicks, was also born in that couniy, December 20, 1820, and 
he was the son of Thomas M. Hicks, born at Greenfield Court House, 
North Carolina. The mother of Thomas, formerly Miss L. J. Hancock, 
of the same county, as her husband, was born in 1825. They moved to- 
Missouri and settled in Hickory County in 1852, coming to this county 
in 1865, and locating in Osceola. He was shot on the street and killed 
June 23, 1875, by the city marshal. Mrs. Hicks died July 26, 1871. They 
left three children, of whom Thom.as D. is the oldest. He learned the 
printers' trade in this city at which he worked for seven years. In 1873, in 
company with Louis M. Reese, they published the Osceola Herald for one 
year. In 1875 he was occupied in clerical work in the county offices. 
In 1878 he was appointed deputy county collector, and performed his 
official duties very satisfactorily. In 1882 he was elected county clerk. 
Mr. Hicks married Mrs. Mary E. Hubbs, November 9, 1873. She was 
the daughter of Andrew J. Strain, of this county. They have one child, 
Mabel Burleigh. Mr. Hicks is a staunch Democrat. He belongs to the 
M. E. Church and is a Royal Arch Mason and is also connected with the 
I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. fraternities. James L. Hicks, the father 
of Thomas D., enlisted in the Eleventh Volunteer Cavalry in the spring 
of 1863 and served in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and 
Missouri, and in 1865 he received an honorable discharge. His daugh- 
ter, Nancy Hicks, married Mr. James M. Pugh, circuit clerk. 

DANIEL K. HOLLY, 

druggist, etc., was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, in 185 1, his par- 
ents being Daniel and Catherine Holly, both natives of Germany. The 
former came to this country in 183 1 and settled in Butler County, Ohio, 
moving thence to Montgomery County, and later to McLean County, 
Illinois. In 1838 he came to Missouri and settled in St. Clair County 
on a farm. In the spring of 1868 he removed to Sedalia. They had a 
family of thirteen children, eight now living. Daniel K. was the young- 



I088 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

est child, and after leaving home he was engaged in various kinds of 
business with varied success. In 1877 ^e came to Osceola. In 1879 ^^ 
purchased a stock of drugs, to which he has added, and now carries a 
stock that would be a credit to a larger city. He commenced with lim- 
ited means, but by good management and attention to business has 
established himself in a paying trade. Mr. Holly married Miss Frankie 
Archibald November 26, 1S79. She was the daughter of Thomas Archi- 
bald, of Ohio. They were of English extraction, but were brought up 
in New York. They have two children, Mabel Alice and Vesta. Poli- 
tically, he is a Republican. He belongs to the Masonic fraternit}' and 
the A. O. U. W. 

THOMAS HENLEY, 

farmer and proprietor of the Osceola Ferry, was born in Herefordshire, 
England, in November, 1825, his parents being Mathew and Elizabeth 
Henley. They came to this country in the fall of 1841, settling in Law- 
rence County, Pennsylvania, on a farm. They had a family of seven 
children. Thomas, the oldest son, remained at home until the death of 
his father, in 1846. January i, 185 1, he went to California and Oregon, 
but returned in December, 1852, well paid for his adventure. Selling 
his interest in the old homestead to his brother he purchased a farm in 
the vicinit5^ The oil excitement enhanced the value of his land and he 
sold his farm at a large advance. In the fall of 1866 he came to Osceola 
and bought land. He began improving and repairing the damages 
incurred during the war, and now has one of the desirable homes of the 
county. He was elected county judge in 1870, and served one term. 
He was also appointed judge by Governors Woodson and Phelps. As 
an official he was both capable and honest, and performed his duties 
with great credit to himself and acceptably to the county. Judge Hen- 
ley was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Ann Cook in 1850. She died 
in 1866, leaving four children: Mathew C, Thomas J., William C. and 
Anna V., now Mrs. William Gallaway. He married Miss Catharine 
Cracraft for his second wife in 1878. They have one child, Rosa Ella, 
born February 7, 1880. The judge votes the Democratic ticket and 
belongs to the Masonic order. In 1866 he bought a half interest of the 
Osceola Ferry and 230 acres of land belonging to it. In 1881 he bought 
the entire interest and now owns and manages the ferry and farm. 

THOMAS MOORE JOHNSON 

was born in Osceola in 185 1, and is the son of the Hon. Waldo P. John- 
son, who was born in 1817, in Harrison Count}', Virginia. His grand- 
father was William Johnson, a native of New York, and an uncle of his 
was once governor of\'irginia. Waldo P.Johnson came to Missouri 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO8.9 

and settled in this county in 1842. He received a collegiate education, 
studied law at Clarksburg, Virginia, and was admitted to practice at that 
place. Coming west he located in St. Clair County. He first opened 
an office in Osceola, and has since been occupied in the practice of his 
profession. In 1846, he was elected a member of the legislature after 
having started with the army for the Mexican War, but he returned and 
occupied his seat. In 1848, he was elected county treasurer. In 1850, 
he was elected circuit attorney, and in 185 1, he was succeeded by the 
Hon. Burr H. Emerson, Mr. J. having been elected judge of this judi- 
cial district. In 1861, he was elected United States Senator, and the 
same year was chosen one of the commissioners to meet in Washington 
to negotiate terms of peace. He cast his fortune and influence with the 
Confederacy, and resigned his seat in the United States Senate, and 
became a member of the Confederate Senate. During the war he was 
appointed colonel of a Confederate regiment, and remained with it until 
the close of hostilities. In 1875, he was elected a delegate to the state 
constitutional convention, and was elected its president. After remain- 
ing for some two years in Sedalia, he returned to this city, and soon after 
removed to St. Louis, where he has since lived. His large property and 
real estate interests in this county and Southwestern Missouri requires 
much of his time in Osceola. He was married in 1847. to Miss Emily 
Moore. She was the daughter of Thomas Moore, of Maryland. They 
have a family of four sons: William T., Thomas Moore, St. Clair and 
Charles P. Thomas Moore received a classical education at Notre Dame 
College, Indiana, graduating in 1871, and receiving the degree of A. B. 
He studied law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1872. In 
1874, he was elected prosecuting attorney of St. Clair County, and dis- 
charged the duties of the office with great satisfaction. In 1877, he 
moved to St. Louis County, and opened an office for the practice of law, 
and also edited a paper. He returned to St. Clair County in 1879, ^"^ 
is now connected with the law firm of Johnson & Lucas. In 188 1, he 
was elected mayor of the city, and also re-elected in 1882. Mr. J. mar- 
ried Miss Alice Barr, in May, 1881. She is the daughter of Rev. C. J. 
Barr, of this county. Mr. Johnson is a close student, is well versed with 
all the leading authors, and he is recognized as a man that has given 
more attention to scientific questions than any one in the county. 

JOHN POPE LOVE, 

judge of the probate court, was born in Knox County, Tennessee, July 
28, 1828. His father, Thomas B. Love, was born in Chester County, 
Pennsylvania, in 1794, being the son of John Love, originally from Ire- 
land, who went to East Tennessee in an early day. The mother of John 
P. was formerly Susan Smith, of Tennessee. Her father was from Eng- 

69 



lOQO HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

land. Mrs. Love died in Tennesse June 15, 1861, and her husband died 
in 1874. They had seven children, of whom J. P. is the second child. 
He was reared on a farm, but his early school training was somewhat 
ne<:^lected, though by self-application he acquired a practical education 
and attained a prominent social position. In 1850 he moved to Chero- 
kee County, North Carolina, where he farmed three years. He then 
returned to Tennessee, and in the spring of 1858 came to Missouri atid 
settled in St. Clair County and improved a farm. In 1872 he was elected 
county judge. In 1876 he was elected probate judge. He was re-elected 
in 1878, 1880 and in 1882, a sufficient proof of his faithful services in 
that important office. Judge Love was married in 1848 to Miss Narcis- 
sus N. Niell, who was the daughter of John Niell, of Polk County, Ten- 
nessee. She died in 1853, leaving three children. Mr. L. married Miss 
Elizabeth N. Barker in 1855, daughter of Burrell Barker, of McMinn 
County, Tennessee. They have a family of twelve children. The judge 
in his political affiliations is a Democrat, and he is a member of the 
Masonic order. In June, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri State Guard 
and served eight months. He was in the- engagements at Carthage, 
Springfield, Dry Wood and Lexington: In 1862 he enlisted in the Six- 
teenth Missouri Infantry, Colonel Caldwell commanding, and was elected 
lieutenant and promoted to captain. He served during the war, sur- 
rendering at Shreveport. 

CHARLES HENDERSON LUCAS, 

editor and proprietor of the Osceola Sun, owes his nativity to Danville, 
Kentucky, having been born there May 27, 1854. He was a son of Wil- 
liam C. and Hannah F. Lucas. His grandfather (for whom he was 
named) was one of the first settlers, and among the first merchants in 
central Kentucky. It was after him that one of the finest female acad- 
emies in the southern states was named, Henderson (now Caldwell) 
Institute. Charles H. Lucas received a good education in youth, spend- 
ing one year in Centre College, but before graduating he removed to 
Roscoe, Missouri, in 1870. He subsequently came to Osceola, and has 
since principally made this his home with the exception of two or three 
years passed in seeing the world. Becoming desirous of familiarizing 
himself with the printers' trade, he entered the office of the Osceola 
Democrat, and later was occupied in working in the large job offices of 
St. Louis. He took editorial charge of the Osceola Democrat for the 
campaign of 1874, and in June of that year he was married to Miss Lillie 
J. Appier, whose parents reside in St. Louis, where her father owns a 
large printing establishment, he being editor of the National American 
and owner of the Personal Rights Advocate. In 1876, in connection 
with the Hon. Logan McKce, Mr. Lucas founded the Danville Tribune, 



! 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO9I 

which was pronounced the handsomest and most vigorous paper ir» 
Kentucky. Returning to Missouri he accepted the position of editor of 
the Sedalia Bazoo, with which he was so connected for eighteen months. 
In 1880 he purchased the Osceola Sun, and has since continued to man- 
age that paper with marked success. 

BEV. H. McILHENNY, 

was born in Bath County, Kentucky, July 2, 1828, and is the son of John 
C. Mcllhenny, of Charleston, South Carolina, whose father, James 
Mcllhenny, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was a graduate of the 
university there. He left Edinburgh on account of his republican 
principles, and came to the United States in 1774, settling in South Caro- 
lina. He enlisted in the war of the Revolution and was with General 
Marion for three years, was subsequently promoted to colonel, and then 
placed on the staff of Washington. After the close of the war he returned 
to South Carolina and engaged in farming. In 18 15 he moved to Ken- 
tucky, and died there in 1840. John Mcllhenny married Mary Young, 
of Virginia. Her mother, formerly Mary Brice, came originally from 
Scotland. Mr. Mcl.'s paternal grandmother was also born in Scotland, 
and was a sister of John C. Calhoun. They had twelve children, the 
subject of this sketch being the ninth. His father came to Jackson 
County, Missouri, in 1833, and returned to Kentucky in 1840, where he 
died. Bev. H. went back to Kentucky in 1845. In 1847 he enlisted in 
the Mexican war, and was interpreter to General Thomas Marshall. He 
received an honorable discharge and returned to Kentucky, and attended 
an academy for two years. Then he engaged in merchandising until 
1853. In 1854, he returned to Missouri and settled in Cass County and 
farmed for three years. He then clerked in a store in Harrisonville. In 
1858 he was elected justice of the peace and served until 1861, when he 
removed to Boonville and was again elected justice of the peace, hold- 
ing this position until 1866. Going to Sedalia he engaged in clerking; 
and remained there until 1870. He came thence to Roscoe, and in 1871 
to Osceola. He has served as justice of the peace in this city two or 
three terms. Mr. Mcllhenny, married Miss Mary Kincaid in 1853 in 
Nicholas County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Colonel Samuel 
B. Kincaid, of Kentucky, who settled in Cass County in 1854. They 
have eight children: Sarah A. (Mrs. George Monroe); Nancy B. (Mrs. 
Thomas Gordon), John Calhoun, Samuel B., Bev. H., Mattie A., Nellie 
Lee, and Addie (twins). 

WILLIAM O. MEAD, 

attorney at law, is a great grandson of William Mead, who was a native 
of England, and who came to America before the war of independence. 
He served as a soldier during the entire struggle. John Mead, his son, 



1092 llIsrOKY OK ST. CLAIR COUN'l'V. 

was a captain in the war of 1812. John G., the son of John Mead, and 
the father of William O., was born in Virginia. He married Elizabeth 
Pickel, of Virginia. She was of German and French descent. The sub- 
ject of this sketch is the oldest of thirteen children, eight sons and 
five daughters. He came to Missouri with the family in 1850, and set- 
tled in Polk County, where they still live. He attended the common 
schools for several years, and in 1859 he commenced a regular course in 
the Bolivar Academy. After two years of study he left the school to 
take part in the war. He joined the Fifteenth Missouri Infantry, (Union 
army) and after six months enlisted in the Eighth Missouri State Mili- 
tia, December 18, 1861, of which J. W. McClurg was colonel. He served 
as orderly sergeant until 1863, when he was promoted to a lieutenancy. 
In September, 1864, he again re-enlisted in the Thirteenth Missouri 
Cavalry, served as lieutenant until October 23, 1864, when he received a 
severe wound at the battle of Big Blue, which caused him to resign. He 
came from the army to this city in December, 1864. He had previously 
commenced the study of law, and now resumed the preparation for his 
life work. In 1866 he was elected county clerk. In the spring of 1867 
he was admitted to the bar, before B. H. Emerson, circuit judge, and in 
the spring of 1868 formed a partnership with E. J. Smith and S. S. Bur- 
dette. In 1872 Mr. M. commenced the banking business, but in 1877 
the bank closed its doors, though paying 95 cents on the dollar. In the 
winter of 1877 he moved to Texas, where he practiced law for two years. 
He then went to Dakota Territory for six months, and after returning 
to this city opened a law office, making the real estate law a specialty. 
In July, 188 1, George A Neal became a partner, and the firm name is 
now known as Mead & Neal. Mr. Mead married Miss Henrietta R. 
Dawson December 15, 1864. She was the daughter of John Dawson, of 
this city, and was born in Virginia. They have two children, Julia and 
Ethlyn. In politics he is a Republican, and religiously a Baptist. He 
is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and 
belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the A. O. U. W. He was inter- 
ested in the railroad enterprise in the county, and from 1872 till 1876 
was secretary of the same. 

LEVI AUGUSTUS MENTZER 

was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1840, being the 
son of John Mentzer, a native of the same state and grandson of Simeon 
Mentzer, originally of Maryland. Levi's mother was formerly Mary 
Curry, also of Pennsylvania. They had si.x children. Of the three liv- 
ing Levi A. is the second. When twelve years old his mother died and 
he went to live with an uncle in Lancaster Count}', in who.ie store he 
was employed at $3 per month. He remained there for ten years, with 



I 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO93 

but little increase of pay. He then entered the employ of Samuel Watts 
in Mifflin County and worked seven years at $12 per month. Mr. Ment- 
zer now feeling confidence in his own ability to start business for him- 
self, rented a room in Belleville, where he had clerked seven years, 
bought a small stock of goods, and during the three years in which he 
was engaged in business made his mark as a successful merchant. In 
1869 he came to Osceola and formed a partnership in business with 
Joseph Landes. They remained together until 1871, when Thomas B. 
Sutherland bought the interest of Mr. Landes, and the new partnership 
existed for three years. At this time Mr. Mentzer purchased the inter- 
est of Mr. S. March 8, 1874, and since that time he has been doing a 
large trade in general merchandise. He is a stockholder in the bank of 
this city and in 1882 was elected its president. In 1871 Mr. Mentzer 
was appointed postmaster of Osceola and has held the position since 
that period. In 1862 he joined the T3ist Pennsylvania Regiment 
Volunteer Infantry for nine months, participating in the battles of Fred- 
ericksburg December 13, 1862. Mr. M. married Miss Mary E. Goodhart 
January 1 1, 1865. She was the daughter of Joseph and Nancy Goodhart. 
They have two children, Bertie and Carrie. Mr. Mentzer is a Republi- 
can, and for eighteen years has been one of the prominent and leading 
members of the M. E. Church. He also belongs to the Masonic frater- 
nity. 

HENRY JOSEPH MORELLY 

was born January 18, 1852, in Kingwood, West Virginia. His father, 
Charles Morelly, was born in Hanover, Germany. He learned the stone 
mason and plasterers' trade in youth and also received the excellent 
schooling of the country. He married Christina Orderholt in Germany 
and they came to America in the fall of 185 1, settling in West Virginia, 
and bought a farm where Mr. M. worked at his trade. In 1864 he 
removed to Coles County, Illinois, remaining there for two years. In 
1866 he came to Henry County, Missouri, and located in Clinton, where 
he farmed and worked at his trade. He also opened a meat market 
which he conducted for several years. In 1870 he came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, purchased a farm and opened a market in Osceola. 
He now has two farms and lives on section 35. Mr. and Mrs. M. have 
seven children: Henry Joseph, Charles, Louisa (wife of Harmon 
Weber), Priscilla (now Mrs. William Hurst), David, Lowry and Emma. 
Henry J. Morelly, the subject of this sketch and oldest son of 
Charles, has worked with his father and learned the stone masons' trade 
and butchering business. After coming to this city he opened a market 
with his father. The latter giving up the business, the son has continued 
and he is doing a satisfactory business. Henry J. is a Baptist and 
belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 



I094 lllSTOKV OF ST. Cl.AlR COUNTY. 

DANIEL P. MORGAN, ^ 

countv recorder, was born in Sumner County, Middle Tennessee, Octo- 
ber 4, 1816, and was the son of Charles Mori^an, a i^rominent citizen of 
his count}', who held various offices of honor and trust, and who died in 
1S60. Mr. Morgan's mother, Sally (Parker) Morgan, was born in Tenn- 
essee. Daniel P., the subject of this sketch, was the oldest of a family 
of seven children. His early life was spent in his father's store, and in 
November, 1850, he came to Missouri, settling near Osceola, where he 
improved a farm. In 1852, he was appointed deputy sheriff, and served 
for two years. In 1854, he was elected sheriff, and was re-elected in 1856. 
In i860, he was elected county clerk, and was serving as such when the 
town was burned by Jim Lane. Mr. M. lived on his farm until 1874, 
when he was elected recorder. After a period of four years he was again 
elected recorder, in 1882. He married Miss Susan M. Thompson, in 1838. 
She was the daughter of William Thompson, of Ohio, who in an early 
day moved near Nashville, Tennessee. Her mother's maiden name was 
Polly Parker, a sister of D. P. Morgan's grandfather. They have five 
children: Charles, John, Daniel, Kittie and Susan. The two eldest child- 
ren are dead. Mary Jane married J. W. Barr, who died leaving two 
children, one since deceased, and Edward Lee, who now seventeen years 
old, lives with his grandfather. Mr. Morgan is a Democrat, is a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church South, and a Mason. He has been faithful in 
the discharge of his official duties and has served the people in a man- 
ner highly satisfactory to all. 

SCOTT NESBIT 

was born in Mt. Jackson, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1846. He received 
a common school education, and like many America^ boj's with that 
slight equipment started out to " paddle his own canoe" in the general 
race. He first entered business as a dealer in Canada pine lumber until 
a high protective duty being put on it virtually prohibited its importa- 
tion. A few months later he entered the dry goods business at Eden- 
burg, Pennsylvania, succeeding quite well until failing health compelled 
him to seek a different climate. In 1870 he removed to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, and opened a stock farm in Monegaw Township, continuing in 
that business until March, 1874, when he removed to Osceola, Missouri, 
to take the position of assistant cashier, a position he still occupies, in 
the St. Clair Count)' Bank, of which he was one of the original incor- 
porators. He is the third son of John C. and Harriett Nesbit, both of 
whom are still living in this count}'. The other brothers are Charles W. 
Nesbit, a farmer of St. Clair County, who is well known as one of the 
most advanced breeders of thoroughbred stock in Southwest Missouri, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IO95 

and the Hon. Frank C. Nesbit, who represented St. Clair County in the 
Missouri Legislature in 1876, and was also the Hancock elector for his 
district in 1880, and has for two terms held the position of secretary of 
the Missouri Senate. Mr. Nesbit has a natural talent for the banking 
business, and is looked upon as one of the best financiers in the state. 

GEORGE ALFRED NEAL 

was born December 17, 1856. His grandfather, James Neal, a native of 
Virginia emigrated to Kentucky at an early day. Moses W., the father 
of George, was born in Kentucky, October 7, 1825. He married Miss 
Lucretia A. King. He was for many years a popular hotel man in Ken- 
tucky. In 1858, he removed to Indiana. At the outbreak of the war he 
enlisted in the Thirty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was com- 
missioned first lieutenant on the 31st of December, 1862. He fell mor- 
tally wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro. The subject of this sketch 
is the oldest of three living children. He commenced attending the 
public schools of Indiana, when five years of age, and after his father's 
death he returned with his mother to Kentucky. At the age of fifteen 
he entered Smithfield College and remained there until twenty years 
old. He then entered the law office of Benjamin S. Robbins, and read 
law under his instruction for one year, soon returning to Smithfield Col- 
lege he resumed his legal studies in Louisville, Kentucky, until March, 
1881, when he was admitted to the bar. In April of that year he came 
to Osceola. He was married December 24, 1881, to Miss Lily Bell High, 
of Louisville, Kentucky. * 

RICHARD W. PERRIN 

was born January ii, 1842, in Osceola, Missouri, his lather being Daniel 
Perrin, who came to this county in 1835 from Ohio. He was a stone 
and brick mason by trade and he made the first brick in this county. 
He settled on Brush Creek, east of the city, and married Jane Clark- 
ston, of Cooper County. He died in 1879, his wife having preceded 
him in 1859. They had six sons: Richard W., James, Joseph N., Daniel^ 
(George W. died in 188 1) and John Wesley. Mr. Perrin married for his 
second wife, Mrs. Sally Redman, and they had one son, Andrew Wesley, 
Richard W. learned the mason's trade in youth and worked at it more 
or less through life. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in the Elev- 
enth Missouri Cavalry, under Colonel William D. Woods. They were 
in Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee and he took part in many 
hard fought battles and skirmishes. At the close of the war he returned 
home and in 1867, August 22, was married to Miss Nannie Bell. They 



1096 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

have five children: Ann E., Jane, Charles W., Jani«s E. and Estclla 
Mr. Perrin has the contract for carrying mail from this city to Appleton- 
and to Quincy and also to Humansville. 

JAMES M. PUGH, 

circuit clerk and abstractor of titles, was born near Columbus, Ohio, 
September 2, 1845. His father was Andrew J. Pugh, who came to Mis- 
souri in 1857, and settled in St. Clair County. He served in the Mexi- 
can war and was wounded at Cerro Gordo, but remained through the 
war with the regiment of mounted rifles from Ohio. In 1861 he took 
sides with the Union and became commander of Freemont's Scouts and 
Guides. After the army under Freemont were disbanded, Mr. Pugh 
joined the Sixtieth Regiment of Enrolled Missouri Militia, in which he 
received the commission of major in 1862. He served until the close of 
the war. He was soon after appointed sheriff of St. Clair County by 
Governor Gamble, but immediately resigned in favor of Mr. Roberts, 
In 1875, he moved to Cedar County where he now lives. Mrs. Pugh died 
in 1879. James M. received but limited advantages tor acquiring an 
education, but by self application he fitted himself for a teacher, and for 
several terms was so occupied. He was later engaged in clerking in the 
county offices, and in 1870, was appointed deputy clerk, and assisted in 
the circuit clerk's duties until 1874, when he was elected circuit clerk. 
In 1879 he was re-elected and again in 1882. In 1879 he purchased a half 
interest of the Shields Brothers in their abstract books. In October. 
1863 he joined the Second Kansas Cavalry, and was with General Steele 
in Arkansas for two years. Mr. Pugh married Miss Nannie Hicks, May 
28, 1871. She was the daughter of J. L. Hicks. They have three child- 
ren: Ruth, Addie and Bessie. Politically he is a Greenbacker. He 
belongs to the Christian Church, and is also a Mason, and a member of 
the I. 0.0. F. 

LOUIS M. REESE, 

dealer in lumber, etc., was born in Osceola, Missouri, in 1850, and was 
the son of Lewis M. Reese, originally from Tennessee. In 1866 Louis 
commenced working at the printing business, which he followed as com- 
positor, and editor and publisher until 1881, having been connected 
with the Herald at Osceola, the Courier at Appleton City, and the Sun 
in Osceola. In the winter of 1881 he embarked in the lumber trade, 
and he is now doing a successful business. He married Miss Emma J. 
Lewis in 1881, a daughter of Dr. L. Lewis, who was born in Virginia 
December 15, 18 13. Dr. Lewis was a son of Howell Lewis and a grand- 
son of Fielding Lewis, who married Bettie Washington, sister of George 
Washington. Dr. Lewis was a prominent physician. He came to 



BIOGRAPFIICAL. IO97 

Osceola in 1839, ^♦^^ ^^^ many years was county treasurer. Dr. Lewis- 
died December 20, 1878. He was twice married, first to Mary Ferguson 
February 8, 1843. She died December 24, 1845. His second marriage 
occurred March 14, 1853, to Mary E. Reynolds. Politically Mr. R. is a 
Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. 

JOHN SERVERS, 

physician and surgeon, was born in Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa, 
in 1843, his father being Alfred Seevers, a native of Coshocton County, 
Ohio, he having emigrated to Iowa in 1840. He was largely and most 
successfully engaged in the nursery and fruit business, and in an early 
day supplied trees for many adjoining counties. His fine collection of 
fruit at the Centennial was admired by many. The maiden name of 
John's mother was Maria Bryan, of Pennsylvania. His grandfather Seevers 
served through the war of 1812 and his grandfather Bryan came origin- 
ally from Ireland. His father is a near relative of Judge Seevers, of the 
supreme court of Iowa. Having determined when a boy to be a phy- 
sician, John bent all his energies in that direction. In 1862 he went to- 
Colorado and spent two years. On his return in 1864 he commenced 
the study of medicine. In 1865 he attended a course of lectures at the 
Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, where he graduated in 1876. His 
professional education was acquired by his own efforts, and he is deserv- 
ing the success that has attended his career here. He came to Osceola 
in 1881. Dr. Seevers married Miss Fidelia E. Freeborn in 1868, She 
was the daughter of Joseph Freeborn, of Winterset, Iowa, formerly from 
Ohio. They have four children: Iowa, Grace, Nellie and Roxy. The 
doctor is a prominent member and elder in the Presbyterian Church. 
He is a Mason and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. He has been a mem- 
ber of the city council and takes an active part in the improvements of 
the city. 

WADE W. SHAFFNER, 

attorney, was born in Harrison County, Virginia, September ii, 1848. 
He attended in youth the common schools, though the greater part of 
his education was obtained at home. In 1859 the family moved to Penn- 
sylvania, and in 1861 they went to Sangamon County, Illinois. In 1869 
Wade Shaffner came to Missouri, settling on a farm and divided his time 
between teaching school in winter and working on a farm in summer 
with his father. In 1874, he became editor of the Farmers' Friend, a 
paper published in Osceola in the interests of agriculture. He con- 
tinued teaching until March 9, 1878, when he entered the law office of 
the late John C. Ferguson, where, under his instruction, he was prepared 
for admission to the bar, September 11, 1879, before Judge John D. 



1098 HIstOR\ OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Parkinson. Mr. Shaffner married Miss Josephine O. Clevenger January 
1, 1880. She is the daughter of the late George Clevenger. They have 
lost one child Gertrude. Politically Mr. Shaffner is a Democrat. He 
belongs to the Piesbyterian Church and is a Mason. 

Isaac Shaffner, father of Wade W., is a farmer by occupation, and 
now lives in Chalk Level Township. He was born in Dauphin Count}-, 
Pennsylvania, June 17, 1823, and was the son of Frederick Shaffner. His 
mother was formerly Catharine Dihler, who died in i860. Isaac, the 
third of eleven children, early went to Virginia, residing there until 
1855. He then came to Illinois and remained until 1868, when he 
moved to this county and settled where he now lives. He married Mel- 
vina Leach, December 9, 1847, in Fauquier County, Virginia. She is 
the daughter of Thornton K. Leach, of Virginia, a soldier in the war of 
1812. They have four children: Wade W., Mary A. (now Mrs. John 
Warner), Jacob M. and Luther L. Politically he is a Democrat and his 
religious preferences Presbyterian. 

WESLEY G. SHEPHERD, 

was birn in Wells County, Indiana, December 29, 1853, ^^is father being 
Thomas Shepherd, originally from Ross County, Ohio, who was one of 
the first to settle in Bluffton, the county seat, he building the first house 
in the city. In 1857 ^'^^ went to Navoo, Illinois, remained for two years, 
and then came with a colony to Henry County. In 1874 they moved to 
this county and settled one mile from Osceola, on the old Cox farm. 
Wesley's mother was formerly Clarissa Gracey, of Ross County, Ohio. 
They have two children living: W. G. and Ellen. In 1870, Wesley went 
to the Indian Territory, and was one of the parties driven out by the 
order of the government, losing everything he had. He returned home 
and made a new start. He was then engaged in various occupations in 
different localities. In 1879 ^^ opened a restaurant, which has since 
grown into an hotel, and he is doing a successful business. He has held 
the office of city marshal. He married Miss C. Lyon, November 8, 1880. 
She was a daughter of Samuel Lyon. Her grandfather, Thomas Shep- 
pard served in the Federal army, and he was the guide of the hrst com- 
pany of United States soldiers in Henry County. 

JOHN S. SMITH. 

editor of The Voice of the People, is a native of Jay County, Indiana, 
and was born March 13, 1848. His father, Aaron Smith, was born in 
Ohio and his grandfather, Martin Smith, was a Virginian by birth. The 
mother of John S. was Mary Dillman, of Randolph County, Indiana, she 
being a daughter of William Dillman, whose father was robbed and 
murdered for his money in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1852. The 






BIOGRAPHICAL. IO99 

subject of this sketch is the oldest of eight children. His father removed 
to Dallas County, Iowa, while he was young, and there he was reared, 
improving his limited facilities for acquiring an education until he was 
qualified for teaching school. In 1 864 he enlisted in the Forty-sixth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, and after some months spent in the service he was 
discharged on account of disability. After his return he attended school 
for a time, and in 1867 went to St. Clair County, Missouri, and taught 
one term of school. He then returned to Iowa, and the succeeding ten 
years he was engaged in teaching, and succeeded in winning an enviable 
reputation as a painstaking, competent and faithful instructor. In 1877 
he returned to St. Clair County and took charge of a school at Johnson 
City. In 1879 he took charge of The Voice of the People, and con- 
ducted it for the company owning it until 1882, when he purchased it, 
and he has since associated Dr. A. C. Marquis with him, and they are 
publishing one of the most readable papers in Southwest Missouri. In 
1881, in the interest of the Greenback and Reform party, Mr. Smith was 
elected county school commissioner, an office he has proved himself 
amply qualified to fill. He was married October 21, 188 1, to Miss Annie 
B. Nalley, a daughter of William Nalley, of this county, originally from 
Pike County, Missouri. They have one son, Clyde S., born September 
I, 1882. 

JOSEPH H. URICH 

was born November 20, 1846, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, while 
his brother, Harry B., was born in Blair County of the same state. Their 
father, a carpenter by trade and also a farmer, was born December 21, 
1818, in York County, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Cook County, 
Illinois. He was married in 1844 to Miss Elizabeth Drawbaugh, of Cum- 
berland County, born September 18, 1818. Their family consisted of 
William, who died in infancy, John D., Joseph H., Harry B., Martha R. 
(now Mrs. E. C. McCloud), Edward O., and David, who also died while 
an infant. Mrs. Urich died March 21. 1877. Joseph H. (our subject) 
leaving his native state in August, 1865, settled in Grundy Count}', Illi- 
nois, where he remained for four years. In August, 1869, he came to 
this county. August 21, 1871, he married Miss Henrietta M. Peebly, 
daughter of Thomas A. and Margaret Ann Peebly. She died September 
27, 1882, leaving three children: Hamilton W., born March 10, 1872; 
Mattie E., born December 9, 1874, and Delia May, born August 23, 1877. 
Harry B. Urich, upon removing from Pennsylvania in April, 1863, went 
to Morris, Grundy County, Illinois, where he lived for fourteen years; 
then, on account of failing health, he visited Florida for eighteen months 
and returned north as far as St. Clair County, Missouri. In April, 1881, 
in connection with his brother, he erected a saw mill, and they are also 
associated toijether in farming and raising stock. Mrs. H. M. Urich was 



iioo iiisroKY or st. clair county. 

a member of the Christian Church. Joseph H. Urich is a Democrat, 
while his brother is Republican in politics. The former belongs to the 
A. F. & A. M. fraternity. 

Thomas Ashford Peebly was born December lO, 1811, in Knoxville, 
Tennessee, and in 1818 accompanied his parents to Howard County. 
Missouri. Moving to St. Clair County in 1834, he purchased land. He 
owned at his death 530 acres. December ii, 1839, he married Miss Mar- 
garet A. Hoover. Her mother, with five children, came to this county 
in 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Peebly had five children: Mary J., born July 20, 
1841, married Paris Brown July 1 1, 1861, and died June 10, 1862; Martha 
A., born April 4, 1843 (wife of David Tapping); James, born March 15, 
1845, died October ii following; Ellen, born October 28, 1847, died 
November 7, 1847, and Henrietta M., whose death is recorded above. 
Mr. P. died F'ebruary 14, 1876, and his widow now resides upon the old 
estate. 

SAMUEL ADAMS WARDEN, 

attorney at law, is the fourth of a family of nine children born to Sam- 
uel and Loretta (RichardsJ Warden, natives of Pennsylvania. Samuel 
was born in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1838. He received a 
practical education in youth and when seventeen years of age was 
employed as a clerk in a store, where he remained two years, and dur- 
ing his leisure hours read law. He subsequently took a commercial 
course in bookkeeping and was employed as a bookkeeper in Chicago 
and St. Louis, but the business being too confining he went to Cooper 
County, Missouri, in 1866. The following three years he was interested 
in agricultural pursuits. Having early formed a desire to become a 
lawyer, he resumed the study of law, and in 1869 was admitted to the 
bar by Judge Rice in Cooper County. In 1871 he opened an office in 
Sedalia and lived there ten years. In May, 1881, he removed to Osce- 
ola. Mr. W. was married June 4, 1862, in St. Louis to Miss Virginia E. 
Fisher, a daughter of W. P. Fisher, a native of Virginia. Mrs. Warden 
died December 22, 1882, leaving two children: William Fisher and 
Beverly S. Mr. W. is a prominent member of the Greenback party and 
he started the Labor Greenback Advocate in Sedalia, the first paper of 
its kind in the state. He has rendered his party efficient service as a 
forcible and effective speaker. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
the A. O. U. W. lodges. 

ELDER WILLIAM WILCOX WARREN 

was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, June 25, 1837, and was the son of 
Dr. William W. Warren, who was born in Kentucky, in 1808, he being of 
English ancestry. He received a liberal education, and was graduated 



BIOGRAl'HICAL. HOI 

at the Transylvania University of Kentucky. After practicing for some 
time he went to Mississippi, and in 1843 came to Missouri and settled 
in Lafayette County. He died in 1876. He married Miss Maria S. 
Speed, of Kentucky, who was of Scotch descent. They had nine child- 
ren, of whom William was the third. He received an academic educa- 
tion, and in 1859, he came to St. Clair County and taught school, and he 
has been engaged in this occupation for many years. In 1867 he com- 
menced preaching and in 1868, he was ordained by the Christian Church 
and since that date has been an active minister. He owns 700 acres of 
land and lives on section 14. Mr. W. married Miss Mary E. Coonce, in 
March, 1862. She was the daughter of Jacob Coonce, the first settler to 
make a home in St. Clair County in 183 1. They have five children: 
Bailey and Wirt (twins), Mary P., Willis K., and Henry Jacob. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat. He has held the ofifice of county school commis- 
sioner. He is a Mason and a member of the A. O. U. W. fraternity. 

H. WEBER, 

the son of Anton and Catherine G. Weber, natives of Baden, Germany, 
was born in Alsace, Germany, January 9, 1851. He received a good 
practical education in his youth, and learned the trade of shoemaking. 
In 1873 he emigrated to the United States and settled in St. Louis, 
working at his trade in that city three years. Then he went to Clinton, 
Henry County, from whence, after working two years, he removed to 
Osceola and opened a shop. He owns a good business building, carries 
a complete stock of goods and is doing a successful business. Mr. 
Weber married Miss Louisa Morelly March 10, 1878. She is the daugh- 
ter of. Charles Morelly. They have two children, Charles and Florence. 
He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Republican, and 
in his religious preferences a Catholic. 

JOHN CALVIN WHALEY, M. D., 

comes of old revolutionary stock. His great grandfather, James Wha- 
ley, born in Virginia, removed to Kentucky at an early day. He served 
in the revolutionary war, and furnished his hired man with a horse and 
paid him a salary for service in the same cause. Edward Whaley, the 
son of James, came to Kentucky with his father when thirteen years 
old. He married and settled in Bouibon County, Kentucky. In 1819 
he located lands in what is now Marion County, Missouri. He entered 
these lands at the first land sales in St. Louis in 1821. Albert Whaley, 
the father of John C, and Polly Bird were married December 21, 1826. 
The doctor's grandfather came to Missouri with his family and slaves in 
182 1 and improved the lands he had previously located. He was the 
first county surveyor of Marion County and a member of the first grand 



II02 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY, 

jury. The subject of this sketch was born in Marion County, Missouri, 
December i6, 1838, and was the seventh of a family of thirteen child- 
ren. He was reared on a farm, and received a good practical education 
at McGee and St. Paul Colleges. After leaving school he taught for 
seven years in Texas. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army at 
the call of Governor Jackson and was commissioned a first lieutenant. 
After the battle of Lexington he was appointed adjutant to Colonel 
Franklin with the rank of captain, and he served in that capacity until 
wounded and captured near Bragg's School House in Shelby County. 
He was confined at Palmyra, St. Louis and Alton and succeeded in mak- 
ing his escape. He rejoined Price's army in Mississippi and became a 
volunteer aid to General Green in the luka Springs expedition. He 
went to Texas on important duty, and after the surrender he went to 
New Mexico and the mountains. In 1866 he was at Waco, where he 
engaged in teaching school and pursuing his medical studies. He com- 
menced his professional career in Clernard County. In 1869 he removed 
to Arkansas, near Fayetteville, and practiced there until 1875. when he 
came to Osceola, where he has since been actively pursuing his chosen 
profession. In connection with Mr. G. W. O'Conner he is largely inter- 
ested in stock raising. Dr. W. was married in September, 1867, to Mrs. 
B. Deckerd, widow of B. Deckerd, who was killed in a battle in the Red 
River expedition. Mrs. W. has three children by her former marriage: 
Hugh, Ben and Bettie. Dr. and Mrs. W. have one son. Politically, the 
doctor in a Democrat, and he is also a Mason. 

I. M. WOODALL, 

county treasurer and one of the most worthy and popular officials of St. 
Clair County, was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, in May, 1845, and 
was the son of Christopher Woodall, of Virginia, who came to this state 
in 1840. The mother of I. M. was formerly Margaret Simms, who was 
born in Virginia, and died in 1847. ^Ii"- ^V. died in 1858. They left 
six children, of whom our subject is the youngest. He made the best 
use of his limited opportunities for acquiring an education in youth. 
He now owns a farm of 265 acres on section 21, in Collins Township. 
He was collector under the township organization, and has been a lead- 
ing citizen in the township and county for many years. In 1882 he was 
elected county treasurer, and entered upon the duties of his office Janu- 
ary I, 1883. He enlisted in the Fifteenth Missouri Cavalry, Company 
M. for two years, and was mustered out at Springfield, Missouri, July 
17, 1865. Mr. Woodall married Miss Minnie Fletcher in 1867. She was 
the daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Barnctt) Fletcher, of Georgia. They 
have four children: John D., William, Sarah Margaret and James F'ran- 
cis. Mr. W. is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II03 



APPLETO.N TOWNSHIP. 



1 5"SE\rS^>=«rzS^(> 



JOHN R. BAUGH, 

dealer in drugs and druggists' sundries, is a native of Tippecanoe County, 
Indiana, and was born October 23, 1841. He was reared on a farm and 
received his education in the schools of the county of his birth, being 
engaged in farming until October, 1866. He then came to Henry County, 
Missouri, and embarked in the drug business at Leesville where he 
remained until 1880, when he removed to Appleton City. In 1882 he 
again established himself in the drug business, having at that time built 
his present large brick business house. Mr. Baugh was married March 
I, 1865, to Miss Eliza J. Campbell, of Ohio. They have two children: 
Mary F. and Frederick P. Mr. B. is a member of the Masonic frater- 
nity. In 1882 he was one of the councilmen of Appleton City. 

ROBERT L. BOOTH, 

of the firm of Sutmiller & Co., dealers in hardware, etc., was born in 
Ann Arbor, Michigan, December 13, 1847. When nine years of age he 
removed with his family to Green County, Wisconsin, where he was 
brought up and educated. When eighteen years of age he began work- 
ing at the tinners' trade at Monroe, Wisconsin, and was so occupied till 
August, 1869, when he went to Ottawa, Kansas. Three months later 
he located in Decatur, Illinois, and after remaining there six weeks he 
came to Appleton City and entered the employ of Luchinger & Streifif^ 
with whom he continued till 1875. Then he became a partner in the 
firm of Butler & Booth, hardware dealers, this relation existing till 
October, 1876, when, with his present partner, he engaged in the hard- 
ware trade at Schell City, Missouri, in April, 1877. They carried on. 
business there until removing their stock to Appleton City in 1880. Mr. 
Booth was married September i, 1872, to Miss Maria J. Belt, of Missouri. 
They have one child, Henley C. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and 
A. O. U. W. fraternities. He also belongs to the Christian Church. 

JOHN BURNS, 

section 17, originally from Scotland, was born December 25, 1826. His 
father, James Burns, was a native of Banfshire, Scotland, and was a 



1104 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

descendant of the famil}- from which Robert Burns, the poet came. 
John's mother, formerly Isabella McKinzie, was also born in Scotland. 
They reared a family of ten children, of whom he was the >'oungest. 
James Burns died in 1833, and his widow's death occurred in 1834. John 
was thus left an orphan when in his ninth year. When but sixteen years 
of age he enlisted in the English army, and served three years and four 
months, during which time he was over a large portion of England, Ire- 
land and his native country.. After his service in the English army he 
returned to Scotland, and was engaged in tunnel mining till 1849, ^vhen 
he emigrated to America and located in DuPage County, Illinois, farming 
there till November, 1869. He then came to St. Clair County, Missouri, 
and settled on his present place which includes 214 acres of improved 
land. Mr. Burns was married December 7, 1848, to Miss Margaret 
Nesbit. also a native of Scotland. They have seven children: James, 
Robert, Jennie, William, Thomas, Carrie and Daisy. Three are deceased: 
Mary, Isabelle, and an infant. They are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

ABRAM BUSKIRK. 

P'ew men in this county are as prominently known in connection 
with the stock business and farming interests of this vicinity as the sub- 
ject (Tf this sketch. He is a native of Tompkins County, New York, 
and was born November 9, 1841. His parents, George and Anna (Bron- 
dyke) Buskirk, came originally from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. 
The father died in 1849 and his mother died in 1811. Abram, left an 
orphan at the age of ten years, was subsequently reared in the family of 
Moses Barker of that county, till fifteen years old, when he went to 
Kendall County, Illinois, there working at farming for two years. In 
1858 he too^: a trip to California, reaching that state in January, 1869, 
and was occupied in mining and logging till July, 1877. In November, 
1877, he came to Henry County, Missouri, and in December, following, 
settled in St. Clair County on his present place. His landed estate con- 
sists of 1,000 acres of land, 220 of which are the home place and upon it 
he has one of the finest brick residences in the county. March 7, 1878, 
Mr. Buskirk was united in marriage with Miss Flora Moore, a native of 
New York. They have five children. Anna. Etta, Nellie, Ethel and 
Frank. 

PAUL E. CALMES. M. D., 

was born in Clark County, Kentucky, May 7, 1841. His father, John 
W. Calmes, a native of Woodford County, Kentucky, married Miss Ann 
Evans, originally of Clark County. They reared five children, Paul E. 
being the oldest. When he was sixteen \-ears old the famih- moved to 
Lexington, Missouri, and in the fall of 1S59 ^t.' began the stud\- of medi- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IIO5 

cine with Dr. Alexander ot that city. This he continued until the sprinq- 
of 1861, when he enlisted in Captain Wilson's company of Missouri 
State Guard. He served until the disbandment of the company, and 
then he returned to Lexington and resumed his studies under Dr. Wil- 
liam Ruffin until the fall of 1864, when he went south as a soldier under 
General Price. In the winters of 1866-7 and 1867-8 he attended lec- 
tures at Louisville, and was graduated in the latter year. After prac- 
ticing in Jackson, Lafayette and Bates Counties until December, 1869, 
he came to Appleton City, where he has since been a prominent and 
successful practitioner. Dr. Calmes was married October 24, 1872, to 
Miss Fannie Churchill, of Kentucky. He is a member of the L O. O. F. 
fraternity. The doctor attended the Louisville Medical College during 
terms of 1877-8, and received a diploma from this institution in the 
spring of 1878. 

WILLIAM W. CHAPEL, 

attorney at law and notary public, is a native of Chenango County, New 
York, and was born September i, 1839. He was reared in the county of 
his birth, and was educated at the academy of Cincinnatus, New York. 
In 1859 hs attended a term of the law school of Albany, New York, and 
in September, 1861, he enlisted in the late war in Company C, 157th 
New York Volunteer Regiment, remaining in the service till mustered 
out at Charleston, North Carolina, July 10, 1865. . Returning home he 
was engaged in farming till November, 1867, when he moved to Hamil- 
ton, Caldwell County, Missouri, and embarked in the real estate business 
and the practice of law, being admitted to the bar of that county in 
February, 1868. In March, 1882, he came to Appleton City and has 
since been successfully occupied in the practice of law. Mr. Chapel was 
married December 13, 1865, to Miss Alice G. Pritchard, a native of New 
York. They had four children: Minnie, Mary, William and Frank. 
He was again married March 4, 1875, to Miss Alice Penny, of Missouri. 
Mr. C. is a member of the I. O. O. F. 

WILLIAM D. CLARK 

was born February, 18, i8z:i4, in DuPage County, Illinois. His father, David 
K. Clark came from New York when a boy, .and his father built the first 
frame house erected in Chicago. His mother's maiden name was Mary 
Jarvis, born in Rochester, New York. William was third in a family of 
five children. At the age of fourteen he went to Wausekea, Minnesota, 
where he remained three years. Returning, he enlisted in February, 
1862, in Company F, Fifty-third Illinois Volunteers, and in the battle of 
Jackson, Mississippi, October 5, 1863 he was wounded in the lower 
limb and for some time was in hospital at Vicksburg, and afterwards in 



II06 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Chicago. As soon as able he was assigned duty at Camp Douglass, 
where he remained till 1865, when he was discharged. In 1867, Mr. Clark- 
came to Missouri, and engaged in farming in St. Clair County. In 1874 he 
embarked in the grocery business at Appleton City, which he has since 
continued, now enjoying about the finest trade in the city. He was married 
November 8, 1870, to Miss Matilda Walker, a native of Madison County, 
Indiana. They have two children living : Ora M., and Ethel E. Mr. 
Clark has been entrusted with some official position nearly all the time 
since living in the town. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. fraternity 
and is connected with the Presbyterian Church. 

JOSEPH CLARK. 

section 24, was born November 30, 1848, in Macoupin County, Illinois, 
his parents being Randall and Lucy Gray) Clark. The former was a 
native of South Carolina and the latter was a Virginian by birth. They 
moved to Macoupin County, Illinois, in an early day and there reared 
thirteen children, of whom Joseph was the si.xth. He grew up on a 
farm at his birth place, and there remained until October. 1871, when he 
settled in St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he now owns a farm of 24O 
acres of land. Mr. Clark was married August 9, 1871, to Miss Jane 
Walker, a native of Illinois. To them have been born seven children: 
Edgar F., Theodore E., Bertha, Branton L., Ethel O., Valentine and 
Katie. 

MORRIS S. DAVIS 

was born in Yates County, New York, January 16, 18 16. His father, 
Malachi Davis, was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his 
mother, formerly Catherine Kress, was born in the same state. They 
reared eight children, Morris being the second. When he was eight 
years old the family removed to Allegany County, New York, where he 
grew up, and from his fifteenth j^ear he was engaged at the trade of 
cabinet maker, which he continued three years. For the following three 
years he worked at the millwright trade, and then gave his attention to 
carpentering and farming till 1869. Moving to Bates County, Missouri, 
remained till October, 1870, then coming to Appleton City, where he 
embarked in the hardware, business, opening the first store of the kind 
in this city. He received the first bill of goods which entered the place, 
obtaining them before the town was named. After two years of mer- 
cantile life he disposed of his stock. In 1872 he was appointed justice 
of the peace, and in 1873 was elected to the same position, and served 
by re-election nine years. During that time he was a notary public and 
still holds this position. He is now a member of the city council. Mr. 
Davis was married June 16. 1839, to Miss Hester Ketchum, of Allegany 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I lOf 

County, New York. They have three children: Freeman I., Latanius 
M. and Lavina M., the latter two being twins. 

JAMES DITTY, 

section 35. Prominent among- the pioneer settlers of this county is 
James Ditty, who was born June 27, 18 17, in Wythe County, West Vir- 
ginia. His parents were Abraham and Jennie (Ferguson) Ditty and 
while he was yet in his infancy they removed to Tennessee and settled 
in what is now Putnam County. In 1839 James Ditty came to St. Clair 
County and settled where he now resides. He has been married three 
times, first to Miss Charlotte Fergus, December 8, 1842. She died in 
the following November and April 14, 1850, he married Miss Elizabeth 
Burke, who died October 26. 1862, leaving four children: John B., Samuel 
H., Frances J. and James A. His present wife was Miss Susan Sproul, 
a native of Missouri. They were married November 5, 1864, and have 
five children: Francis R., Pike M., Dilly A., Nora and Elizabeth. Mn 
Ditty has a farm of 33s acres, 300 of which are well improved. He is 
one of the leading farmers of his section of the county and has done 
much in developing the interests of St. Clair County. 

ABRAM C. DITTY, 

section 26. One of the oldest settlers of St. Clair County, is he whose 
name heads this sketch. Mr. Ditty has lived in this county nearly half 
a century, having been brought here in 1838, when but one j^ear old. 
He was born in the adjoining county of Henry on November 3, 1837, 
his father subsequently settling on the farm, upon which the son now 
lives. The senior Ditty dying in 1847, the remainder of the family 
returned to Tennessee, where Abram lived with his grandfather until 
sixteen years old, when he again came to St. Clair County. In 1862 he 
served a short time in Company E, Sixteenth Regim-ent, and in 1864 in 
Company A, Wood's Battalion of Price's army, and was with the forces 
at the surrender at Shreveport in May, 1865. Spending a few months in 
Saline County, he then came back to St. Clair in August of the same 
year, and on the 22d of the following February was married to Miss 
Fannie Yonce, daughter of Andrew Yonce. She was born in St. Clair 
County October ii, 1840. Seven children have been born to them: Wil- 
liam F., Robert E., James iVf., OUie N., Charles A., Wade H. and Edna 
E. Mr. Ditty's farm contains 140 acres, well improved, upon which, at 
a cost of several hundred dollars, he has built a commodious house. He 
is prominent in the educational matters of this district. 



U08 IlISTORV OK ST. CLAIR COUN'IY. 

JOSIAM DODGE 

was born in Wasliington County, Tennessee, November 19. 1827. lie 
was there reared till seventeen years of age, when he settled in Pulaski 
County, Missouri, engaging in farming. In 184C he enlisted in the Mexi- 
can war under Captain Stein at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served 
in Company D., First Dragoons of Kentucky, till September 28, 1848. 
During his service he was wounded with a lance in the thigh, and at 
Tucker's Bayou was thrown from his horse, which disabled him for some 
time. In 1848 he returned to Pulaski County, Missouri, where he 
remained till i8;)0. Emigrating to California, he mined and dealt in 
stock till September, 1879. when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. 
He has a fine farm of 200 acres under cultivation. Mr. Dodge was mar- 
ried September 8, 1853, to Miss Lucy Willoughby. They had six child- 
ren, four of whom are living: Ellen, Charles, Jefferson and William. 
Mrs. Dodge's death occurred in January, 1863. He was again married 
January 18, 1864, to Miss Margaret Underwood, of Jackson County, Mis- 
souri-. They had one child, Josiah B. His second wife died in August, 
1866, and he was subsequently married to Elizabeth Fames September 
28. 1868. His present wife was formerly Betty Kirby, a native of Ten- 
nessee. They have had five children: Kirby, Lydia, Lucy, Jeriel and 
Jessie. 

FREDOLIN EGGER, 

was born June 5, 1827, in canton of Glarus, Switzerland, being the oldest 
of five children, born to John B. P^gger and his wife, formerh' Anna 
Elmer. During the persecution of the followers of Martin Luther in 
1530, the Egger family emigrated from Austria to Switzerland, where 
for many years they occupied a prominent position in the history of that 
country. Fredolin Egger, grandfather of Fredolin was a leading citizen 
of the canton of Glarus, one of the first manufacturers of Switzerland, 
and very prominent in the state until his accidental death in 18 17 in the 
fifty-sixth year of his age. His son, John Balthasar Egger was born June 
5, 1794, in the canton of Glarus, where he was a manufacturer of paper. 
He died in 1870. The maternal grandfather of Fredolin was John Henry 
Elmer, a well known politician of Switzerland, and at one time ambass- 
ador to Sardinia, and representative of his canton in the Swiss Congress. 
His son, Jacob Elmer also represented the canton of Glarus in council. 
Fredolin Egger attended the high schools of his canton until sixteen 
years old, when he was sent to the university of Lausanne, Switzerland. 
On leaving college he traveled for one year through France. Returning 
home he became salesman and traveling agent for his father, and was 
thus engaged until 1850. In that jear he came to America, traveled 
through the Mississippi valley, and located in the Swiss colony of New 



^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IIO9 

Glarus, Wisconsin. At that place he was occupied in merchandising 
until 1853, when he returned to Switzerland. In the spring of 1854, 
having been appointed agent for the colony he returned to Wisconsin 
and for two years performed duties pertaining to his position. He 
received high commendation from his employers in the form of a written 
certificate, as follows : 

The undersigned emigrant committee certify by these presents that 
Messrs, Fredolin Egger and Frederick Streiff, of New Glarus, Wiscon- 
sin, appointed by power of attorney, dated 1854. as our representatives, 
have as such affected a complete liquidation of the interests of our 
society in the colony of New Glarus, to our entire satisfaction, and that 
we have found their accounts with us in perfect conformity, as well as 
duly received the ultimate balance in favor of this society. 

The undersigned regard it further as their duty to testify their sin- 
cere thanks to said Messrs. Egger and Streiff, for the intelligent and 
energetic manner in which they have conducted our affairs in the colony, 
relieving them herewith of all and every responsibility in this matter. 

At the same time, and in conclusion, the undersigned cannot help 
expressing their deep regret at the ungrateful behavior on the part of 
our former countrymen who have enjoyed our protection have blamed 
themselves by the continual vexation of ourselves and of our said rep- 
resentatives. 

Done in Schwanden, Canton of Glarus, Switzerland. 

To the President of the Emigration Committee. 

[SEAL] PETER JENNY, 

Counselor and Member of Government. 

Mr. E. acted as agent for the colony for two years and at the end of 
that time started in the mercantile and private banking business. He 
also served as postmaster and justice of the peace until 1874 when not 
being suited with the condition of the country and wishing to change 
his business he settled at Appleton City, St. Claii County, Missouri, and 
engaged in the banking business. He is a member of the Swiss Reformed 
Church and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He was married April 
22, 1854, to Miss Anna Streiff, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Elmer) 
Streiff, of the Canton of Glarus, of Switzerland. They had eleven child- 
ren, six of whom are living: John B., Thomas, Fredolin, Catherine, 
Fannie and Anna. Mrs. Egger died December 21, 1865, and Mr. E. 
was married June 10, 1866, to his second wife, Mrs. Catharine (Zweife) 

Walcher. 

JACOB J. EYE, 

section 4, is a native of Pendleton County, West Virginia, and was born 
October 20, 1840, He was brought up in the occupation of farming, and 
continued it at his birthplace till March, 1870, when he came to Missouri, 
locating in Henry County, near the St. Clair County line. In 1872, he 
settled on his present farm. He has a fine tract of 282 acres, well 
improved. Mr. Eye was married May 10, 1862, to Miss T. Davis, who 



mo HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

came originally from West Virginia. They have eight children: Mar\- 
r., Floyd D., Ulra C, Jacob F., Robert L., James V., Gertie M., and an 
infant. Mr. E. was a soldier in Company K, Twenty-fifth Virginia Reg- 
iment, and served through the war. 

WALTER R. FARNHAM 

was born in Genesee County, New York, June 24, 1835. In 1842 his 
father's family removed to Erie County, New York, where thej- resided 
till 1850, in that year going to Winnebago County, Illinois. Here Wal- 
ter farmed till May, i86g, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, 
locating on a farm near where Appleton City now stands. Since his 
arrival in this county he has improved several farms and has done more 
than his share toward the improvement of this township. He settled 
on his present place, which consists of 250 acres, 200 being in one bod\', 
in the spring of 1883. Mr. Farnham was married February 10, 1861, to 
Miss Clara A. Mann, a native of Canada, born August ii, 1832. They 
have three children living: Etta A., Helen M. and Eunice F. 

THOMAS F. GEORGE, 

section 7, a native of Logan County, Ohio, was born August 23, 1833. 
When four years of age he accompanied the family to Madison Count}-, 
Indiana, where he was reared on his father's farm, there receiving his 
education. In 1863 he enlisted in Company B, 134th Indiana Regiment, 
serving till October, 1865, and in that year he moved to Jackson County. 
Missouri. After residing there three years he came to St. Clair Count}-, 
settling where he now resides in the spring of 1869. His farm consists 
of eighty-two acres. Mr. George was married March 4, 1S54, to Miss 
Prudence Cumins, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Francis. 
They are members of the M. E. Church. 

HARRY M. GRANTLEY, 

attorney and notary public, a leading and enterprising man of Apple- 
ton City, was born at Oxford, England, July lO, 'iSSO, and is the seventh 
of ten children of an old established English family. At the age of 
seventeen years he came to New York, where he remained until 1S71, 
when, moving further west, he located at Hloomington, Illinois. October 
2, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Dimmitt, daughter of 
William Dimmitt, a prominent citizen of Bloomington. In the spring 
of 1874, Mr. Grantley came to Missouri and located at Butler where he 
lived a short time, then choosing Appleton Cit}- as a more desirable 
point to enter into the jiractice of his profession. He was soon after 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IIII 

admitted to the bar of St. Clair County and has since been engaged in 
the practice of law. He has shown a commendable public spiritedness 
in promoting the interests of the town, and is the spring of 1881 erected, 
at a cost of $17,000, the Durley Opera House. He is identified with the 
I. O. O. F. and is a Knight Templar. Mr. Grantley and wife have five 
children: Edith M., Alice S., Arthur W., Harry W. and Grace E. 

JOHN D. HEDRICK, 

dealer in clothing and gent's furnishing goods, is a native of Bates 
County, Missouri, and was born January 10, 1847. He was reared on 
his father's farm till thirteen years of age, when he left home, and was 
engaged in farm work till June, 1862, then enlisting in Company D, Ninth 
Kansas Cavalry, and serving till July, 1865. Going to St. Clair County, 
Illinois, he remained three months, then returned to Bates County, Mis- 
souri, where he farmed two years. In 1872, he came to Appleton City 
with a team of mules and a wagon, which he traded for a small stock of 
groceries, giving in addition his note for seventy-five dollars. By hon- 
esty, perseverance and energy, he has attained the well merited position 
of being recognized as one of the successful and solid merchants of this 
city. In 1875, he added a general stock of goods, and the following year 
his brother, C. O. Hedrick, became a member of the firm, which was 
known as Hedrick Brothers, till August, 1882. Then John Hedrick took 
charge of the clothing department, and has since continued the same. 
He carries a large stock of goods, and is doing a prosperous business. 
Mr. H. was married, November 19, 1875, to Miss Mary M. Compton, of 
Bates County, Missouri. They have five children: Frank D., Charlie, 
Roy C, Lulu and Otto. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. 
O. U. W. fraternities. 

CHARLES HILTON 

is the popular editor of the Appleton City Journal. The subject of this 
sketch came originally from Washington County, Virginia, where he 
was born May 11, 1856. He resided in that vicinity till 1868, when the 
family removed to Marion, Illinois. There he began learning the print- 
ing trade in 1870, which he continued till 1878. Coming to Appleton 
City, he held a position on the Voice of the People for two years, and 
worked on the cases of the Advocate at Clinton, Missouri, for six 
months. Going to Osceola he resumed his connection with the Voice 
of the People, being its local editor, for ten months, when he accepted 
the foremanship of the Journal office in this city. In November, 1882, 
he became its editor and publisher. Mr. Hilton was married January 
22, 1882, to Miss Anna Barnes, a native of Osceola, Missouri. Mr. H, 
deserves great credit for the success which he has made in his profes- 



I I 12 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

sion. He was left an orphan at an early age, and his efforts to rise in 
life were made under many difficulties, and, though enemies assailed him 
on every point, he has risen»steadily and received a well merited posi- 
tion. He publishes one of the best papers in the county, and his repu- 
tation as an honest, upright man is well known. 

ELIAS HINKLEY, 

section 23, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, May 8, 1830. 
When he was ten years of age his father removed to Richland County, 
Ohio, and four years after to Noble County, Indiana. About 1856 Elias 
spent one year in Wisconsin, but returned to Indiana, where he resided 
until 1866. From that time until 1879, when he came to Missouri, he 
was engaged in milling in Michigan in the counties of Eaton and Mont- 
calm. Since coming to this state Mr. Hinkley has been farming, and 
now has a well improved farm of eighty acres. He was married Octo- 
ber 20, 1855, to Miss Mary J. Warner, a native of Ohio. They have 
seven children: Corydon D., Ada, Leora, Cassias M., Harry B., C. C. 
and Bertie E. 

JAMES HODKINS 

was born November 14, 1830, in Brown County, Ohio, being the fifth of 
seven children and the only one now living. His father, also named 
James, a native of Kentucky, was born near Lexington in 1795. His 
mother's maiden name was Sarah Cross, born about the same time as 
her husband in Brown County, Ohio. Their lives were spent in Ohio, 
both dying some twenty years ago. Young Hodkins was reared on the 
home farm, and in his eighteenth year he began to teach school, which 
he followed for several years. He had taken a course in vocal music at 
the Musical Academy of Decatur, Ohio, and employed some of his time 
as instructor of music. In 1855 he began a mercantile business at Hig- 
ginsport, Ohio, which he followed until 1869, when he located at Hud- 
son, Missouri, and in 1870 came to Appleton City, opening the first store 
at that place. After remaining here three years he went to the Osage 
Iron Works, where he managed the company's store for some months. 
He then returned and for three years had charge of the Galena House, 
now Appleton House. For about seven years Mr. Hodkins has been 
bookkeeper for Wyckoff & McFarlane and has repeatedly held the office 
of justice of the peace, and being a prominent school man, has been 
placed upon the school board, where he has done much to advance the 
interests of the public school of this city. He was married October 14, 
1S56, to Miss Henrietta Bryan, a native of the same state as himself. 
Her death occurred October i, 1876, she leaving four children: Sallie 1^., 
Charles E., living, and Olive H. and Clarence M., now dead. Mr. H. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. III3 

was again married April 21, 1880, to Miss Mary E. Bryrus, also of Ohio. 
They have one child, Mary C. Mr. Hodkins has been a Mason for nearly 
thirty years. 

JOHN R. HOPKINS, 

attorney, dealer in real estate and collecting agent, was born in Clinton 
County Kentucky, February 12, 1843. He lived there till 1850, when 
the family removed to St. Clair County, Missouri, and here John was 
principally reared, following the occupation of farming. In August, 
1862, he enlisted in Company B., Sixteenth Missouri Regiment, Confed- 
erate States Army, and served till parolled at Shreveport, Louisiana, 
June 8, 1865. He then went to Paris Texas, where he remained till 
November, 1865, when he returned to this county. In the spring of 
1866 he made a trip to Montana Territory. After his return he resumed 
•farming until 1868, when he embarked in the business at Chalk Level, 
there continuing till September, 1870. The succeeding two years he 
was in business in Lowry City, Missouri. In 1872 he removed to Osce- 
ola and edited the St. Clair County Democrat for three years. Coming 
to Appleton City, Missouri, he engaged in the drug business under the 
firm name of F. McCrary & Co., and afterwards W. G. Browning & Co., 
which in one year was changed to Hopkins & Woodberry. They sold 
out in June, 1881. Mr. H. then, with his former partner, embarked in 
the wholesale cigar and tobacco business in Kansas City, and he is still 
interested in this business. In May, 1882, he returned to this city and 
has since been occupied in his present calling. He was married Octo- 
ber 31, 1867, to Miss Martha J. Browning, a native of Missouri. They 
have four children: Susan A., Emma, Frank and Lizzie. During 1866 
and 1867 he held the position of deputy sheriff. Mr. H. is a member of 
the Masonic fraternity and also of the A. O. U. W. 

GEORGE W. JOHN, 

of the firm of G. W. John & Co., grain dealers, owes his nativity to 
Delaware County, Indiana, where he was born March 24, 1833. From 
his fourteenth year he was reared in Wayne County, Indiana, where he 
also received his education, having made farming his occupation from 
his youth. In October, 1868, he emigrated to Missouri, and settled near 
Roscoe, St. Clair County, and was there engaged in farming till the fall 
of 1872. Locating on a farm on Ohio Prairie he followed agricultural 
pursuits till June, 1878. He then came to Appleton City and embarked 
in the grain business. Mr. John was married May 18, 1853, to Miss 
Lucy Goetel, of Pennsylvania. They have five children: Curtis E., 
Mary V., Lincoln, Hudson B. and Elmer E. Mr. J. is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. fraternity. He belongs to the M. E. Church. 



1114 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

THOiMAi^W. JUDY, 

farmer, section 5, a native of Montgomery County, Kentuck)-, was born 
August 13, 1842, his parents being Jeremiah V. and Lucelia (Allen) 
Judy. Kentuckians by birth. The former died in April, 1862. In 1843. 
the family removed to Cooper County, Missouri, where Thomas grew up 
on a farm. In 1859, he emigrated to California, and was there engaged 
in freighting and mining. In the fall of 1869. he returned to Cooper 
County, Missouri, and the following spring again visited California, 
embarking in mercantile pursuits at Wheatland. In 1879. ^^ retraced 
his steps to Missouri, settling in St. Clair County. He now has a fine 
farm of 1 50 acres. Mr. Judy was married June 28, 1874, to Miss Nettie 
Kesner, originally from Pennsylvania. They have four children: Maud> 
Fred, Murray and Harry. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternit\'. 

MOSES B. KINCHELOE, M. D. 

Among the well known professional men of St. Clair Count)' may 
be mentioned the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Spencer 
County, Kentucky, and was born October 6, 1S45. His father, Almanj'or 
Kincheloe, was also born in that county P'ebruary 6, 1816, and his grand- 
father, Jesse, an eminent physician, was a native of Virginia. The 
mother of Moses, formerly Elvira Buckner, was born in Spencer County 
July 4, 182 1. She was a daughter of Moses V. Buckner, who was born 
in that county April 12, 1799. Moses B. was the second child ot a fam- 
ily of five children. His mother's death occurred in October, 1856, and 
his early life was spent in acquiring his primary education and working 
on a farm. In 1868 he took a literary course at the Georgetown College 
ot Kentucky. In 1869 he taught school and passed his leisure hours in 
reading medicine under Dr. H. D. Rodman. He attended the Medical 
University of Louisville, Kentucky, and afterward settled in Bullitt 
County, Kentucky. In 1873 he attended another course of lectures and 
was graduated in the spring of 1874. In 1879 he came to Appleton Cit\'. 
Missouri, and opened an office. In the spring of 1S80 he formed a part- 
nership with Dr. W. E. Shelton, this relation existing till January, 1881, 
since which time he has been alone. Dr. K. was united in marriage 
July 7, 188 1, to Mrs. Nannie Neeley, whose maiden name was Royce, a 
native of Richmond, Kentuck\-. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity. 

RICHARD T. KING. 

section 2, was born in Washington County. Tennessee, November 28, 
1817. He was reared in his native count}' till twenty years of age. His 
parents, James and Lydia (Tilton) King, were of Scotch-English descent. 



J 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II 15 

The death of the former occurred in March, 1856, his widow dying in 
June, 1859. When twenty years old James, with the family, removed to 
McDonough County, Illinois, where he resided twelve years. Going to 
Warren County, Illinois, he was prominently occupied in farming, and 
there he still owns land. In September, 1879, he came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, and in February, 1879, bought and settled where he 
now resides. He has 160 acres of well irriproved farm land and is one 
of our substantial farmers. Mr. King was married November 28, 1839, 
to Miss Martha A. Holden, a native of Ohio. They have eight children: 
Phoebe, William, James M., Jonathan H., Mirah H., Isabel L., Franklin 
T. and Charles W. While a resident of Wan en County, Illinois, Mr. 
K. was supervisor of Pleasant Township and a justice of the peace for 
twelve years. 

EDWARD M. KING. 

dealer in books, stationery, confectionery, toys, etc., was born in Brown 
County, Ohio, February' 7, 1846. He was reared to manhood in his native 
county and in 1861-2 he attended the Antioch College, of Yellow Springs, 
Ohio. During the terms of 1862-3-4, he was a student at the Miami 
University at Oxford, Ohio, and in 1864-5 he took a commercial course 
at Bryant & Stratton's College, of Cleveland. In January, 1865, he went 
to Thibodaux, Louisiana, where he was engaged in the grocery and pro- 
vision business until the spring of 1868. Returning to Ohio, he remained 
at home until the fall of that year. He then came to Missouri, settling 
in Hudson, Bates County, where he was occupied in trade, till the fall of 
1869, when he moved his stock of goods to Appleton City. The firm 
was at that time known as King & Hcdkins. They erected one of the 
first buildings in the place and were occupied in the grocery trade till 
the spring of 1872. In the spring of 1873, Mr. King embarked in his 
present business, which he has made a great success. He was united in 
marriage January 28, 1880, with Jennie M. Burton, a native of Randolph 
County, Missouri. They have one child, an infant. He is a member of 
the Masonic order, and of the Presbyterian church. 

JOSEPH KLEIN, 

of the firm of Klein Bros., merchants at Appleton City, is a native of 
Austria, and was born April 18, 1848. When he was nine years old the 
family emigrated to America and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where 
he was educated in the common schools of that city. When eighteen 
years of age he began to learn the confectionery trade and was so 
engaged for four years. P^or eighteen months thereafcer he was occu- 
pied in the rope works in New St. Louis. There he was employed as 
salesman for different firms until 1870 when he engaged in the clothing 



IIl6 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

business. In 1S73 he came to this city and clerked for S. Klein & Bros. 
In 1876 he became a member of the firm. Mr. K. was married April 
II, 1880, to Miss Helen Wolman, a native of Germany. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to Queen City Lod<^e, No. 258, I. 
O. H. R., of Scdalia, Missouri. 

PHILIP KLEIN, 

of the well known establishment of Klein Bros., came originally from 
Austria, where he was born February 27, 1850. When he was about 
seven years old the family came to America and settled in St. Louis, 
Missouri. When sixteen years old he became engaged in the trade of 
baker in St. Louis, working for thirteen months. Then for two and a 
half years he was occupied with his father in the pottery business. After 
being employed as a clerk in a clothing store until 1863, he started in 
the clothing business with his brothers in St. Louis. In 1867 he went to 
Vicksburg, Mississippi. In March, 1870, he came to Appleton City, and 
with his brother, S. Klein, established himself in business. Mr. K. was 
married April 6, 188 1, to Miss Sarah Sicher, of St. Louis. He is a mem- 
ber of Queen City Lodge, No. 258, I. O. B. B. 

ELIJAH S. KNOWLES, 

section 16, is a native of Gibson County, Indiana, and was born Decem- 
ber 18, 1834. When three years old he was brought by the family to 
Logan County, Illinois, where they resided till 1844. They then removed 
to Menard County, Illinois, and there our subject was engaged in farm- 
ing with his father till the spring of 1856. Going to McClennan Count\\ 
Texas, he resided in that locality till 1864, when visited Mexico. He 
traveled extensively through that country, and in November, 1864, 
returned to Menard County, Illinois, where he remained till February, 
1866. Coming thence to Butler County, Missouri, he farmed till the fall 
of 1868, and then, after a short residence in Iron County, Missouri, set- 
tled in Washington County, Missouri. November 13, 1872, he came to 
St. Clair County, and in the spring of 1873 located on his farm, which 
consists of 120 acres. Mr. K. is a class leader in the M. E. Church, and 
a well known Sunday School worker. He is also a member of the I. O. 
O. F. fraternity. He was married November 21, 1858, to Miss Mary J. 
Taylor, of Illinois. They have eight children: Charles E., Robert S., 
Albert D., James T., Mary E., Adam, Virgil W. and Gracie. 

JOHN W. LQUGH, 

section 12, a native of West Virginia, was born in "Pendleton County 
May 12, 1835. His parents, Michael and Phcebe H. Lough, were natives 



BIOGRAPHICAL. HI/ 

of that county, as was also John Lough, the grandfather of John W. 
Michael Lough died in 1852. Our subject was reared and educated at 
his birthplace, and when seventeen years old began working at the car- 
pentering trade, which he continued until July, 1862. Then he enlisted 
in Company K., Sixty-second West Virginia Infantry, Confederate ser- 
vice. In 1865 he returned home and remained until October, 1869, when 
he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. His farm is one of the best in 
the county and contains 480 acres Mr. Lough is a stock feeder and 
dealer of considerable prominence. He was married November 7, i860, 
to Miss Jane Waggoner, of West Virginia, by whom he had two child- 
ren, Robert D. and Albert L. She died September 7, 1867. He was 
again married April 23, 1875, to Miss Julia Stubbs, of Illinois. They 
have one child, Effie L. Mr. L. is a member of the A. O. U. W. frater- 
nity and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. 

WILLIAM B. McNEMAR, 

of the firm of J. F. Boyd & Co., extensive dealers in lumber, was born 
in Hardy County, West Virginia, October 27, 1844. His father, Elias 
McNemar, was a native of Virginia as also was his mother, formerly 
Katherine Hilky. They reared eight children, of whom William B. was 
the seventh. At the age of eighteen years he emigrated to McLean 
County, Illinois, and there farmed till 1870. He was then engaged in 
clerical work at Lexington, Illinois, one year, after which he became an 
employee of Chasey, Mayham & Co., grain dealers at that point, with 
whom he remained till the fall of 1876. Coming to Appleton City he 
again gave his attention to the grain business here and at Montrose till 
1878 when he became manager of Wyatt & Boyd's lumber business. In 
February, 1882, he entered as managing partner into the firm which is 
now known as J. F. Boyd & Co. Mr. McNemar was married July 3, 
1881, to Miss Emma McCorkle, a native of Iowa. They have one child, 
Mary E. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity and is a Good 
Templar. He also belongs to the Christian Church. 

GEORGE MARKEY, 

real estate, loan, and insurance agent, is a native of Tuscarawas County, 
Ohio, and was born December 6, 1847. His father, James Markey, was 
born in Ohio about the year 18 11, and his mother, formerly Sarah E. 
Norris, was also a native of the same state. When George was three 
years old, the family removed to Noble County, Ohio, where he was 
reared and received a common school education. In February, 1864, 
he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and 
served till mustered out August 7, 1865. Returning to Ohio, he settled 



IIl8 niSTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

in Monroe County, and attended school for eic^hteen months. He then 
entered the employ of a prominent stock dealer, with whom he remained 
till the spring of 1870, when he came to Pettis County, Missouri, and 
lived there until the fall of 1873. ^^e was engaged in the grocery busi- 
ness at Dresden, Missouri, until May, 1874, and for the following two 
years he sold goods at Ridge Prairie, Saline County. Thence in Novem- 
ber, 1876, h • went to Hughsville, Pettis County, Missouri, where he was 
occupied in trade till December, 1877. He then came to Appleton 
City and in the spring of 1878, he engaged in his present business. 
Mr. M. was married July 4, 1868, to Miss Mary J. Hartline, a native of 
Ohio They had six children: Etta S., Beulah J., George W., Gracie H., 
Mary D., William T. J. His wife's death occurred January 21, 1883. He 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the A. O. U. W. and belongs 
to the M. E. Church. 

CHARLES MOORE, 

section 28, was born in Troy, New York, June 15, 1829. When four 
years of age he was taken to Richland County, Ohio, where he grew to 
manhood, there being educated in the common schools. He was engaged 
in farming and stock dealing in Ohio until 1859, when he removed to 
Detroit, Michigan, where his attention was given to the lumber business 
for two years. In 1861 he went to Chicago and enlisted in Company C, 
Twenty-third Illinois, in the famous Milligan's brigade. He was dis- 
charged at New Creek, West Virginia, June 15, 1864. He then enlisted 
in Company A. Nineteenth Regiment, Regular army, and was discharged 
at Fort Arbuckle, Indian Territory, in July, 1867. After this he went to 
Fort Smith, Arkansas, and then came to Sedalia with a drove of cattle. 
Returning to Ohio he remained until September, 1873, when he located 
in St. Clair County, Missouri. He has since been engaged in farming, 
and now owns a fine farm of 420 acres. Mr. Moore was married Novem- 
ber 19, 1871, to Miss Catherine Miller. They have four children: Wil- 
liam C, Katie, John H. and Laura R. 

JOHN A. J. MOORE, 

of the well known firm of Moore Bros., proprietors of planing mill and 
contractors and builders, owes his nativity to Rutland County, Vermont, 
where he was born March 24, 1848. He remained there till sixteen years 
of age, when he went to Wayne County, Michigan, where he lived till_ 
1866. Going thence to Wisconsin, he worked at the carpenter's trade. 
In June, 1869, he came to Henry County, Missouri, where he engaged in 
contracting and building. In 1871 he went to Osceola, and in April, 
1872, became occupied in mining in Colorado. After three years he was 
in San Francisco, California, and Port Gamble, Washington Territory, 



BIOCxRAPHICAL. III9 

until December, 1876, when he returned to Henry County, Missouri. In 
May, 1877, he came to this city and commenced contracting. From 
188 1 to 1882 he was in Butler, Missouri, managing a planing mill. In 
March, 1882, he returned and erected his present mill. Mr. Moore was 
married January 2, 1881, to Miss Lillie Childres, of Missouri. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity and is also a Good Templar. 

ANDREW J. MOORE, 

also a member of the firm of Moore Brothers, came originally from Rut- 
land County, Vermont, having been born there June 6, 1846. He was 
reared in that locality, and from his youth followed the carpenter's trade. 
In September, 1868, he moved to Dunn County, Wisconsin, where he 
remained till June, 1869, then coming to Benton County, Missouri, where 
he resided one year. In December, 1870, he removed to Osceola, Mis- 
souri, and engaged in contracting and building till 1878, when he came 
to Appleton City. In the fall of 1880 he went to Butler, Missouri, and 
conducted a planing mill till March, 18S2, when he returned to Appleton 
City. Here he and his brother have since been occupied in their present 
business. Mr. Moore was married May 12, 1869, to Miss Joanna Ryan, 
of Connecticut. They have three children, Mattie V., Callie A. and 
Alman. 

GEORGE MOODY, 

proprietor of the Appleton City Marble Works, was born in Boston, 
Massachusetts, March 28, 1853, and was a son of Joseph and Johanna 
(Drummond) Moody, who were natives of Scotland. George remained 
in his native city till seventeen years of age, when he went to Fort Scott, 
Kansas, there engaging in the marble business. He remained till 1876; 
then came to Appleton and established his present business, which is 
perhaps the largest in his line in Southwest Missouri. He has a branch 
house at Lamar, Missouri. Mr. Moody was married August 23, 1874, to 
Miss Ida Manning, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. They have three 
children: Albert, Mabel J. and an infant. He is a member of the I. O. 
O. F. fraternity. 

ANDREW NAYLOR 

was born in Highland County, Ohio, November 19, 1852. His father,. 
James H. Naylor, was a native of that county and was born in 1818. 
His mother, formerly Jane Kincaid, came originally from the same state. 
They had seven children, Andrew being the youngest. When seven 
years of age the family moved to Brown County, Ohio, and lived there 
until 1867, when they settled in Henry County, Missouri, near Windsor. 
From December, 1867, to the spring of 1868 he attended school at Clin- 



1 120 IIISTOKV OK ST. CLAIR COUNTV. 

ton, Missouri. In 1868 he was engaged at tiie trade of carriage paint- 
ing, which he continued two years. Going to Hutler, Missouri, he worked 
at that trade till September, 1872, when he came to Appleton City and 
clerked with different firms until January, 1883. He then established 
himself in the grocery trade. Mr. Naylor was married Januarj' 18, 187S, 
to Miss Sarah B. Hodkins, of Ohio, a daughter of James Hodkins. They 
have one child, Charles A. He is a member of the Masonic order. 

JOHN B. PAYNE, 

of the firm of Payne & Son, proprietors of livery and feed stable, was 
born in Upshire County, West Virginia, November 2, 1856. He 
remained in the vicinity of his birthplace until ten years of age, when, 
with the family, he came to Henry County, Missouri. He was brought 
up there and received his education, living in that county until, with his 
father, he established his present business, in November, 1881. The 
building which they occupy is 140x30 feet, two stories in height and 
contains a good stock of horses, buggies, etc. Mr. Payne is a-member 
of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and is also a Good Templar. 

JAMES CHRISTOPHER PHILLIPS, 

presiding judge of St. Clair County, was born in Simpson County, Ken- 
tucky, September 12, 1849, being the son of James Phillips, of Georgia. 
His mother, formerly Margaret F. Black, was a Kentuckian by birth. 
James Phillips had four children by his first marriage and si'x by the last. 
Of these the subject of this sketch is the third child. His mother died 
in 1879 while on a visit to this county. His father is still living in Ken- 
tucky at the advanced age of almost eighty-two years. James C. came 
to Missouri in 1872 and settled in Henry Count}-, remaining there five 
years. He then removed to Appleton Township, this county, where he 
owns a farm of 240 acres on section 4. He is one of the progressive 
men of this county, keeping well apace with all the improvements of 
the day. With the exception of a small sum received from his father, 
he has been the architect of his own fortune. His education was 
obtained at the common schools yet he had an enquiring mind, and by 
reading and study has acquired such knowledge as has qualified him for 
important positions in life. He married Miss Mary L. Harris in 1869. 
She was the daughter of Eli R. Harris, of Simpson County, Kentucky. 
Her mother was Lucinda Bland, daughter of Milton Bland, of Kentucky. 
Mr. Phillips is a Democrat and belongs to the Christian Church. He 
was elected presiding judge of the county court in November, 1882. 

JOHN R. PICKER ILL 

is a native of Ripley, Brown Count}', Ohio, was born Jul}- 26, 1843. He 
was brought up upon his father's farm and followed that occupation till 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I 121 

the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in September, 1861, in 
Company M, Fifth Ohio Cavalry Regiment, serving three years and 
three months. After this he returned home and in February, 1865, 
came to Henry County, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. In 1870 
he came to Appleton City, and embarked in the grocery business, con- 
tinuing the same for two years. In January, iS/r, he was appointed 
postmaster and held that position four years, being the first postmaster 
appointed at Appleton. In 1875 he established himself in the livery 
and stock business, the former of which he now continues. Mr. Pickerill 
was married in August, 1874, to Miss Allie McCorkle, a native of Indi- 
ana. His first marriage, however, occurred to Miss Hannah Rice, Octo- 
ber 27, 1865. They had two children: George R., and Willie S. Mr. P. 
was mayor of Appleton City, from April, 1880, to April, 1882. 

RANSOM M. RAYMOND, 

of the Appleton City Carriage Works, came originally from Orleans 
County, New York, where he was born April 30, 1838. When four years 
old he was taken by the family to Benton County, Missouri, where he 
was reared on his father's farm. In 1858 he moved to Quincy, Hickory 
County. In 1861 he enlisted in Compahy A, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, 
and served until discharged, January 25, 1865. Returning to Quincy, he 
worked at the blacksmith trade until 1868. when he went to Greenfield, 
Dade County, where he lived until 1876. Then he established his pres- 
ent business in Appleton City. Mr. Raymond was married June i, 1865, 
to Miss Harriet B. J. Long, of Dade County, Missouri. Thej^ have six 
children: Lulu, Ottie, Helen, Frank, Alice and Robert. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. 

ABRAM W. ROBINSON, 

was born in Peoria County, Illinois, October, 18, 1841. His father, William 
Robinson, was born in Jefferson County, Virginia, November 27, 18015. 
He came to Peoria County, Illinois, in 1827, and remained there until his 
death, which occurred at his home in Medina Township, September 14, 
1881. He was married in 1833 to Catharine Wiedman who was born in 
Champaign County, Ohio. They had a family of six children, four sons 
and two daughters. The subject of this sketch was the third son and 
was brought up on his father's farm, receiving his education at the com- 
mon schools during the winter. He lost his mother at the age of eight 
years. With the outburst of the civil strife in i86[, he responded to 
the nation's call for troops and enlisted in the three months' service, 
returning at the expiration of that time. For several years after that 
he was employed by the government in buying cattle and shipping them 



I 122 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

to the armies in the South, until ill health obliged him to discontinue 
the business. After the war he spent about a year in St. Louis and in 
traveling. He then returned to Macoupin County, Illinois, and worked 
as a farm hand. He then rented a farm for awhile, and in October, 1871, 
with what he had accumulated, he came to St. Clair County and bought 
160 acres in section 15. The 14th day of January, 1872, he commenced 
its improvement, and by hard labor, toiling in a way utterly detrimental 
to his health, earned and built up a home. (October 22. 1873, he married 
Miss Cora H. Clark, who was born in DuPage County, Illinois, October 
9, 1848. Her father, David H. Clark, was struck dead by lightning 
March 17, 1850. (Mr. Robinson's mother died the next day, the iSth of 
March, 1850). He was born in Ohio and was one of the first settlers in 
Illinois. He married Mary Jarvis, who was born in New York. Her 
parents were among the first settlers in Illinois and her father built the 
first frame house in Chicago. She died in St. Clair County, Missouri, 
May 2, 1872. Mr. Robinson bought in 1875, 160 acres of land in section 
23. In 1878 he purchased eighty acres more, and in 1879, five acres in 
section i, also owning forty acres in section 16. He was a great worker 
and a warm friend to the poor and those in need of assistance. He was 
the father of three children: Frank C, born April 19, 1875; Roy D., 
born June 25, 1876, and Harry R., born July 13, 1879. The summer of 
1 88 1 he bought a steam threshing machine and went with that part of 
the summer and fall. November 5 he was injured by slipping from the 
step of a wagon box and this terminated in pneumonia fever. He died 
December i, 1881. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity 
for twelve years and his burial was conducted by them the following 
Sunday. A large concourse of friends followed him to his last resting 
place — the Appleton cemetery. 

WILLIAM E. SHELTON, M. D. 

was born in Spartanburg District, South Carolina, August 5, 1838. His 
father, Michael Shelton, was a native of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, 
but was reared in South Carolina. His mother, Delila (Keller) Shelton, 
was born in South Carolina. Their family consisted of six children, our 
subject being the youngest. In 1845 they removed to Lexington, Mis- 
souri, where Mrs. S. died in 1857, and Mr. S. in 1863. In 1858 William 
removed to Warrenton, Warren County, Missouri, and the fall following 
(1859) began the study of medicine under Dr. C. D. Strother, with whom 
he remained as a student until 1S61. In i86i-2 he attended the St. 
Louis Medical College. In March, 1863, he enlisted in Company D. 
First Mississippi Regiment, Light Artillery, C. S. A., and was taken 
prisoner in the rear of Vicksburg, and held at Camp Morton, Indian- 
apolis, Indiana, till February, 1865. The succeeding three months he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II 23 

spent in Mississippi. About June, 1865, he returned to Warren County, 
Missouri, and October 10, 1865, came to St. Clair County, and was act- 
ively engaged in the practice of medicine near Johnson City till 1870. 
In that year he went to Papinville, Bates County, Missouri, and devoted 
his attention to his profession for three months. Going back to Johnson 
City he resided there till October, 1872, when he came to Appleton City, 
Since his arrival here he has been a prominent practitioner. During the 
term of 188 1-2 he attended the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of 
New York, and graduated from that institution at the expiration of that 
term. He is a member of the Masonic order and has attained to the 
Templar degrees. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is a prominent 
member of the Good Templars. Dr. Shelton was mayor of this city in 
1873-4-5. and has been chairman of the school board for the past eight 
years. He was united in marriage in April, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth 
Dodgson, a native of this county. They have three children, Mitchell 
C, John D. and Theodocia H. 

CHRISTOPHER SHOE, 

proprietor of the Apipleton City Mills, came originally from Germany, 
where he was born July 23, 1831. When he was two and a half years old 
thefamilyemigrated to America, locating in Richland County, Ohio, which 
was their home for six years. Moving thence to Rock Island County, Illi- 
nois, they lived there one year, and then farmed in Scott County, Iowa, 
until 184.9. For five years they gave their attention to saw milling and 
after this farmed and operated a saw mill alternately each for three years. 
Going to Union County of the same state, Mr. Shoe ran a saw mill ami 
carding factory, which was destroyed by fire. As a result he erected a 
large grist and saw mill, conducting it for five years. In 1869 he came 
to St. Clair County and engaged in farming. In September, 1877, he 
erected his present large mills. He is also a prominent farmer of the 
county, owning one of the finest farms in this section. Mr. Shoe was 
married September 22, 1847, to Miss Nancy Forgey, a native of Indiana. 
They have nine children : Margaret, David, Esther, Mary, John W., 
Christopher L., Sarah E., William E., and Nancy L. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. In 1873, he was one of the county commis- 
sioners. 

WILLIAM B. STOUT, 

of the firm of Stout & Co., is a native of Harrison County, West Vir- 
ginia, and was born July 3, 1854. His father, also originally of that 
state, was born November 4, 1818. His mother, whose maiden name 
was Amanda Blake, was born in West Virginia August 5, 18 16. They 
had eight children, William being the sixth child. His father died Sep- 



1 124 HISTORY OF ST. CI.AIK COUNTY. 

tember 24, 1876. He resided in the county of his birth until sixteen 
years old, when the family came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and here 
he farmed for three years. Then he eni^a^ed in school teachinL,^ which 
he continued until April, 1881, when he embarked in his present busi- 
ness. He is a megiber of the Baptist Church. 

SAMUKL C. STURTEVANT, 

a descendant of the old Puritan stock, traces his lineage back to the 
Allerton family, who were on board the Mayflower, and also to the Cush- 
mans, who, as the agents of the Pilgrims in England, chartered the vessel 
for the first voyage. Samuel's father, Carleton Sturtevant, was a native 
of Litchfield County, Connecticut, and in 1823 emigrated to Ruggles. 
then of Huron, now of Ashland County, Ohio. Our subject was born 
on July 24, 1838. His primary education was received in the common 
schools, but this he supplemented with an attendance at Huron Insti- 
tute, Milan, Ohio. In October, i860, he married Adelaide E. Taylor, a 
most estimable lady. Emigrating to Bates County, Missouri, Mr. S. set- 
tled in Deepwater Township in the winter of 1867-68, and devoted his 
attention to farming and school teaching. He was*R prominent citizen 
of that county until the summer of 1S82. when he removed to Appleton 
City. St. Clair County. He has five children: Carleton VV. (now in the 
class of civil engineers at the State University, Columbia, Missouri), 
Cora Allerton, Marion Cushman, Adelaide K. and Winfield E. 

RUDOLPH SUTMILLER. 

a member of the extensive establishment of Sutmiller & Co., dealers in 
hardware, stoves, tinware, furniture, etc., is a native of Hanover. Ger- 
many, and was born July 20, 1840. He was reared in that country, and 
when fourteen years of age was apprenticed to the cabinet maker's trade, 
at which he served a term of four years. Emigrating to America, he 
landed at New Orleans, and there worked six weeks, when he went to 
St. Louis, Missouri. He followed his trade in that city and vicinity till 
June, 1862, then enlisting in the United States army, and serving one 
year. He soon came to Warren County, Missouri, and was engaged in 
contracting and building six years. He made his home in Clinton for 
eif^hteen months, after which he came to Appleton City and continued 
contracting and building, and erected many of the best buildings in the 
city. In April, 1877, he with his present partner, R. L. Booth, embarked 
in the hardware business at Schcll City, Missouri, where they had a good 
trade till 1880. They then removed their business to Appleton City, and 
now carry a large stock in this line, and are enjoying a lucrative patron- 
age. Mr. Sutmiller was married June i, 1SS3, to Miss Frances C. Haw- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II?5 

kins, a native of Illinois. They have two children : Mary E. and Eliza 
M. They are members of the Lutheran Church. 

SALATHIAL TALBOT, 

sections 4 and 5, originally from Barber County, West Virginia, was 
born October 3, 1832. His parents Robert and Mary (Woodford) Tal- 
bot, were both natives of that connty, and were there reared and mar- 
ried. They had a family of thirteen children, of whom our subject was 
the seventh child. He was brought up on his father's farm, and when 
nineteen years of age began school teaching, which profession he con- 
tinued six years. In the fall of 1865 he moved to Henry County, Mis- 
souri, and resided there till 1872, then returning home. In 1875 he again 
came to Missouri and located in St. Clair County on his present place. 
His farm contains 320 acres of choice land in excellent cultivation. Mr. 
Talbot was married March i, 1854, to Miss Rachel Dickison, of West 
Virginia. They have had eleven children, eight of whom are now liv- 
ing: Jasper M., L. D. M., Demetrias W., Salathial S., Mary B., Harriet 
L. Rosa G. and Myrtle A. They are members of the Baptist Church. 
During the war Mr. T. enlisted, in 1862, in Company E, Sixty-second 
Virginia Regiment, and was acting quartermaster of the same toward 
the close of the war, and at the surrender of General Lee he was com- 
misary of the Twentieth Virginia Regiment. 

, ' WILLIAM L. THOMAS 

(deceased) was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, August 9, 1809. 
He was there brought up, following farming till 1850, when he came to 
Saline County, Missouri. Here he was engaged in farming and stock 
dealing till 1865. Going to St. Charles County, Missouri, he continued 
to reside in that locality till 1871, in which year he came to St. Clair 
County, and at that time had some 1,000 acres of choice land. Mr. 
Thomas was married May 16, 1866, to Miss Lizzie McFadden, a daugh- 
ter of John McFadden, of Henry County, Kentucky. Mr. Thomas' 
death occurred May 8, 1880. He was through life an honest, upright 
and enterprising man, and his liberality, kindness and benevolence were 
well known. Almost the last act of this man was a generous one. Mrs. 
Thomas, since her husband's death, has successfully managed the most 
of his estate. She is beloved and respected by all who know her. 

CHARLES M. WHITE, 

of the firm of White Bros., druggists, is a native of Cedar County, Mis- 
souri, and was born April 15, 1855. When he was four years old the 
family removed to Morgan County, Missouri, where he was reared to 



1126 IIISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

manhood there also receiving his education. When seventeen years 
old he engaged in the drug business as clerk at Versailles, Missouri, 
where he remained one year. Then he held a like position at Ottcr- 
ville, Missouri, for two years. He subsequently went to Bonham, Texas, 
and after residing there one year, returned to Missouri and for two 
years made his home at Pilot Grove. Then he embarked in the drug 
trade at Houstonia, where he carried on business two years. The fol- 
lowing }"ear he spent as a commercial traveler for a Sedalia house. He 
removed to Colorado and was engaged in mining from the spring of 
1879 to the spring of 1881, when he came to Appleton City, and with 
his brother purchased their present stock of drugs. The)- are now doing 
an excellent business. 

JOSEPH YANCE, 

a member of the well known establishment of Stout & Co., was born in 
St. Clair County, Missouri, November 11, 1842. His parents were among 
the first settlers of Taber Township. He was reared to manhood on his 
father's farm and obtained his education in the common school.-;. In 
August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Colonel Shelby's battalion, serv- 
ing until paroled at Fort Scott, Kansas, in June, 1865. He then farmed 
in Vernon County, Missouri, for eight months, and later went to Platte 
Count}', Missouri. In the fall of 1866 he returned to St. Clair County 
and lived here until 1873, when he took a trip to California. After one 
year he came back here and farmed until 1881. Then he became iden- 
tified with the firm of Stout & Co. Mr. Yance was married November 
19. 1868, to Miss Mary Ketcham, of Indiana. The)' have four children: 
Bertha B., Nona K. L., Tamer B, and Louis A. 



MONEGAW TOWNSHIP. 



J. M. ALLEN, 

section 24, is a native af P'ayette County, Ohio, and was born October 
3, i835.» His father, James F. Allen, originally from Pennsylvania, mar- 
ried Miss Jane DeWitt, of Ohio. He settled in Ohio in an earl)- da)-, 
and subsequently removed to Cedar Count)', Iowa, and lived there rhrec 
years, then returning to Ohio. J. M. Allen grew to maturity in his 
native count)', and was married at Fairvicw, Randolph County, Indiana, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1127 

February 19, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth J. Cleveland, a daughter of M. H. 
Cleveland. She was born in that county. They have ten children: 
William H., Charles E., Francis M., Albert S.. Elmer E., Alton H., Jen- 
nie, Millie J.. Anna E. and Daisy D. After living for three years in 
Fayette County Mr. Allen moved to Randolph County, where he resided 
three years, and then returned to Fayette County. In the fall of 1865 
he located in St. Clair County, Missouri, coming upon his present farm 
of 160 acres in 1869. 

WILSON ARNOLD, 

section 4, was born in Gwinnett County, Georgia, June 29, 1840, and was 
the son of Colonel Henry J. Arnold, a native of Virginia, and Mary 
Frances (Watley) Arnold, of Georgia. Wilson spent his youth until 
about eighteen years old on a farm at his birthplace. In 1856 he came 
to Missouri with his parents and located within three miles of Kansas 
City, but shortly after went to Kansas. They soon removed to Bates 
County, Missouri, on account of the Kansas troubles. Wilson Arnold 
took a trip to Texas in 1859 ^^^ spent two years in that state. Return- 
ing to Missouri in 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate service in June 
of that year under Colonel Payton, but was afterward transferred to 
Shelby's First Missouri Cavalry and served till the close of the war, 
when he surrendered at Shreveport. He participated in the fights of 
Lone Jack, Wilson's Creek, Missouri; Prairie Grove, Helena, Jenkins' 
Ferry, Arkansas, and Cape Girardeau. He was wounded at Lexington 
and also at Wilson's Creek. After the final surrender he returned to 
his family, who had removed to Benton County, where he farmed for 
two years. In 1867 he went to Henry County and resided there ten 
years. In March, 1877, Mr. Arnold came to St. Clair County, locating 
on his present farm in March, 1882. He has 160 acres, all improved. 
Mr. Arnold was married in this county April 2, 1862, to Miss Hannah 
F. Hinkle, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of D. M. Hinkle, who 
was one of the pioneer settlers of St. Clair County. They have five 
children: James W., Henry J., George W., Ollie Octavia and Joseph M. 
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are members of the M. E. Church, South. 

WILLIAM C. BEACH, 

section 5. was born in Ashland County, Ohio, November 8, 1827, his 
parents being Daniel and Lorana Beach nee Sackett, both natives of 
Connecticut. The former, born in 1785, was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and his father was killed in the Revolutionary war, eight balls having 
been shot through him. Daniel Beach died May 21, 1862. William C, 
the youngest of a family of seven children, grew to manhood in his 
native county on a farm, receiving a good common school education, 



II2S HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

supplemented with two years' attendance at the Ashland Academy. 
After finishing his studies he engaged in farming. In 1852 he went to 
California and spent two years in the gold mines, and upon returning 
worked the home farm in connection with his brother. Before settling in 
Missouri in 1869 he traveled extensively in Iowa, Illinoi^ Wisconsin and 
Texas, but believing that Missouri had advantages over those states for 
farming and stock raising, he located where he now resides. Mr. Beach 
owns about 800 acres of land, all under fence and mostly with good 
hedge of which he has over twelve miles, and the farm is all in culti- 
vation and pasture. He was married in Ashland County, Ohio, Decem- 
ber 15, 1868, to Miss Marietta Long, a native of Pennsylvania, but reared 
and educated in Ohio, and a daughter of Abram P. Long. They have 
a family of four children: Emma C, Daniel B., Maud L. and Ettie L- 

MARTIN S. BOOTS, 

section 24, a substantial farmer and stock feeder of this county was born 
in Randolph County, Indiana, January 31, 1841, being the son of Martin 
and Susanna (Shoemaker) Boots, both natives of Virginia. The former, 
a blacksmith by trade, removed to Missouri in 1853, and located in St. 
Clair County. Martin S. spent his youth on a farm in the county, and 
in the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service under Gen- 
eral Rice, and served six months in the mounted infantry, when he was 
discharged. He re-enlisted in July, 1862, in the Union army, in Com- 
pany H., Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and served till discharged in the 
spring of 1865. He was taken prisoner at Corinth, July 7, 1863, and 
held as such for eight months and exchanged. While in the Confederate 
service he participated in the fights of Carthage, Springfield and Lex- 
ington, Missouri, and others. After the close of the war he returned to 
Iowa, where he spent one season, and in the fall of 1865, he again came 
to St. Clair County, where he has since been engaged in farming and the 
raising and feeding of stock. He has 729 acres of land mostly fenced, 
divided into three farms, upon which are three residences. He handles 
about 140 head of cattle annually, and the past season fed five carloads of 
cattle and one of hogs. He is one of the most successful citizens in this 
vicinity. Mr. Boots was married in the winter of 1861, to Miss Sarah 
Ann Lewellen, a daughter of Felix Lewellen. She is a native of Indi- 
ana, but was reared and educated in St. Clair County. They have a 
family of six children: Mary, Julia, Margaret, Marion P., Ollie and Sam- 
uel. Mr. and Mrs. Boots are members of the M. E. Church, South. 

THOMAS CAMPBELL, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 19, was born in Blount County, Tennes- 
see, April 18. 181 1. William Campbell, his father, was a Virginian by 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II 29 

birth, while his mother, formerly Margaret Biddell, was born in Ten- 
nessee. William Campbell early removed to Tennessee with his parents 
and was one of the first settlers of Blount County. Thomas passed his 
youth on a farm, receiving his education at the subscription schools. He 
was married in Humphreys County May 10, 1832, to Miss Frances 
Prince, of that county, and who was born July 17. 1813. She is a daughter 
of William Prince, Esq., a pioneer settler of Humphreys County. They 
have nine children. Eliza, (wife of Harvey Douglas), Isabelle, (wife of 
Bevley Hall), Minerva, (wife of James Moore), Caroline, (wife of John 
Horner), Margaret, (wife of J. M. DeHart), Cornelia, (wife of Joseph 
Hodgins), Albert and Mary, (wife of William Yonce). Mr. Campbell 
removed to Illinois in 1837 and located in Pike County. In the spring 
of 1855 he settled in Adair County, Missouri, where he resided eight 
years, going thence, in t863, to Davis County, lawa, where he lived 
six years. In 1869 he returned to Missouri and located where he now 
resides. He has 120 acres of land, with eighty acres in cultivation and 
improved. He is a Mason. 

JOHN W. CARROLL, 

section 30, originally from Roane County, Tennessee, was born Decem- 
ber 9, 1845, being a son of Alfred and Barshaba (Miller) Carroll, natives 
of South Carolina. In 1859 ^^e family removed to Missouri and settled 
in St. Clair County. John W., the fourth son of a family of nine child- 
ren, grew to maturity in this county upon a farm. He was married 
December 9, 1872, to Mrs. Tamar Richey, a widow of James Richey and 
a daughter of Thomas Coulthard. She emigrated to the United States 
with her parents in 1829 and settled in Virginia, where she was married 
the following year to Mr. Richey, who came to Missouri in 1838 or 1840, 
Mrs. Carroll has one daughter by her former marriage, Mrs. Hannah 
Slaws, widow of John F. Slaws. Mr. C. owns 1,200 acres of land, with 
916 acres in his home farm under cultivation. He feeds quite a number 
of cattle and hogs annually. He belongs to both the A. F. & A. M. and 
I. O. O. F. fraternities and is a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
while his wife is connected with the M. E. Church, South. 

JAMES G. COFFIN, 

a well known and prominent citizen of Monegaw Township, was born in 
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1848. J. G. Coffin, his father, 
a native of Massachusetts, was born in 1816, and married Miss Isabella 
C. Anderson, a Virginian by birth. James G., the eldest son of a family 
of seven children, grew to maturity in his native county, his primary 
education having been given him by a private tutor. After a prepara- 



1130 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COu'NTV. 

tory course he attended and graduated at the Western University in 
1867. Upon completing his studies he was engaged in clerking in the 
banking house of William H. Williams & Co., in Pittsburg, one year. 
He then was employed in the office of his father, who was the general 
western agent of the Franklin Fire Insurance Company. Coming west 
in 1869. he purchased land in St. Clair County and engaged in handling 
stock. In November, 1871, he returned to Pennsylvania and worked in 
the office with his father three years. In 1875 he again came to St. 
Clair County and commenced farming and the stock business. In 1878 
he was interested in the mercantile business at Appleton City. Mr. 
Coffin was married in this county November 4, 1879, to Miss M. Virginia 
Wilson, daughter, of J. W. Wilson. Mr. C. has 200 acres of land with 
forty acres in cultivation. He was appointed a justice of the peace of 
his township in 1881. He is identified with the Republican party and is 
well posted on the political issues of the day. He was nominated by 
his party and elected justice at the election of 1882. Mr. Coffin has 
been a delegate to numerous county and state conventions. 

SAMUEL G. CRAIG, 

merchant and postmaster at Ohio post office, was born in Lawrence 
County, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1853. his parents being Joseph and 
Eliza (Kennedy) Craig, both natives of Ireland. They emigrated to the 
United States in 1840 and located in Pittsburg, Pennsj'lvania. Samuel 
G., the youngest son and sixth child of a family of seven children, spent 
his youth on a farm in his native county and received a good common 
school education, supplemented with a course at Copp's Commercial 
College at Paynesville, Ohio. After completing his studies he engaged 
in farming two years. In January, 1877, he went to Oregon, spent one 
year and in the fall of the same year returned and located in St. Clair 
County, Missouri. He was occupied in farming about four years, and in 
1882, he embarked in the mercantile business at his present place. He 
carries a good stock of general merchandise, and is doing a fair business. 
Mr. Craig was appointed postmaster of the Ohio post office in October, 
1882. He was married February 26, 1879, to Miss Emma M. Holden, a 
daughter of Henry Holden. She is a native of and was reared and edu- 
cated in Illinois. They have three children: Joseph D., PIttie T. and 
Charles H. Mr. and Mrs. Craig are members of the Presbyterian Church. 

CHARLES C. DISNEY. 

a prominent contractor and builder at Johnson City, was born in Ander- 
son County, Tennessee, November 3, 185 i, and is a son of Judge Elias 
and Tabitha (Lovely) Disney, also natives of Tennessee. In 1856 the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II3I 

family moved to Missouri and located in Gasconade County, where they 
resided about two years, coming- thence to St. Clair County in the spring 
of 1859. Elias Disney has since been elected and served as county 
judge. He was also a lieutenant of a militia company during the late 
war. Charles C. was the third child of a family of three sons and one 
daughter. He spent his youth on a farm and received a good education 
in the English branches, and after completing his studies he engaged in 
teaching in the public schools, and now ranks as one of the best instruct- 
ors in the county. He has taught the last three years in Johnson City. 
He has also learned the carpenter's trade, and when not occupied in 
teaching follows the business of contractor and builder. He has worked 
at this during the summer seasons for the last four years. Mr. Disney 
was married December 22, 1872, to Miss Macy Herndon, of Ozark 
County, Missouri, and a daughter of Henry \V. and Martha A. C. Hern- 
don. They have four children: Walter Eugene, Estella Rose, Elva Eve- 
line and Edgar E. They lost one child, Minnie Belle, who died in Feb- 
ruary, 1879. 

CAPTAIN DANIEL GILLSON, 

section 10, owes his nativity to Marion County, Ohio, where he was born 
July 26, 1834. His parents were D. and Elizabeth (Stilwell) Gillson, 
natives of Orange County, New York. The family removed to Ohio in 
about 18 16, and were among the pioneer settlers of Delaware County, 
but shortly after went to Marion County. Daniel grew to manhood on 
his father's farm, and received a good education at the public schools, 
supplemented with a course at a commercial college. After completing 
his studies he was engaged in the mercantile business about four years. 
In 1856 he came west and traveled through a number of the western 
states. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Company D, I2ist Ohio Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served till discharged, in June 1865. He enlisted 
as a private and filled the position of sergeant and second and first lieu- 
tenant, and afterward was promoted to captain. He participated in 
some fifteen important engagements, among which were Perryville, 
Chickamaugua, Atlanta, Jonesborough, etc. He was taken prisoner at 
Perryville and held as such for four months, when he was paroled. After 
the close of the war Mr. Gillson returned to Ohio and resided two years 
in Clinton County. He came to St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1868 and 
farmed about two years, and in 1870 he was occupied in conducting a 
flouring mill at Osceola, continuing it for two years. Li 1873 he removed 
to Appleton City and carried on the mercantile business about five years, 
when he sold out and removed to his present farm in the spring of 1878, 
He has 143 acres in cultivation and well improved. He devotes some 
attention to the breeding and raising of thoroughbred and high 
craded cattle and Berkshire hogs. Mr. Gillson was married in Lewis- 



I 131' HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. <, 

burg. Ohio, March i8, 1866, to Miss Emma A. Martin, a daughter of j 

John Martin. They have one daughter, Millie M. He and his wife are i 

members of the Presbyterian Church. ; 

MICHAEL GORE. j 

section 18, was born in Trigg County, Kentucky, April 28, 1829. His ' 
father, M. Gore, was a native of Virginia, and his mother, whose maiden ' 
name was Elizabeth Mitchell, was a Kentuckian by birth. Michael . 
spent his youth on a farm in Trigg County and in 1849 ^^ removed to j 
Illinois and located in Macoupin County, wherehe purchased land and i 
engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1881 he came to Missouri and ^ 
settled where he now resides. He owns 170 acres of land well improved. , 
Mr. Gore held several local offices during his residence in Illinois. He ' 
was commissioner of highways and bridges for three years in Macoupin 1 
County and was then re-elected. He was married while there, October i, 
1849, to Miss Mouen Maxwell, a daughter of Ered Maxwell. She was 
born in Sangamon County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs Gore have four chil- 
dren: Eliza (wife of John Allen), James, E. V. and Ezra A. He and j 
his wife are members of the United Baptist Church, and he belongs to j 
the Masonic fraternity. 

JAMES D. GORE, ; 

i 
farmer and stock raiser, section 19, owes his nativity to Macoupin 

County, Illinois, where he was born March 25, 1853, being the son of 

Michael and Mouen (Maxwell) Gore. James passed his boyhood on his 

father's farm and received a fair education at the public schools. He , 

was married in his native county, April 3, 1873, to Miss Margaret New, | 

a daughter of Charles New. She was born in Scott County, Illinois. , 

They have one daughter, Lily May, who was born May 8, 1879. Mr. : 

Gore farmed in Illinois until the fall of 188 1 when he removed to Mis- j 

souri, locating where he now resides. He has a farm of seventy acres, ' 

all in cultivation. Mrs. Gore is a member of the Baptist Church. ' 

GEORGE GRAHAM, . 

j 

section I, a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, was born in Octo- ^ 
ber, 1822, his parents being Thomas and Mary CAlexander) Graham. 

George grew to manhood in Pennsylvania on a farm, and he married ' 
Miss Maria Moore, also of Pennsylvania. Some four years after this he 
removed to Kentucky and from there to Ohio, locating in Noble County 

where he resided until 1S62. Then he went to Coles County, Illinois, 1 

and farmed about fourteen years. In March, 1876, he located in St. ' 
Clair County, Missouri. Mrs. Graham died January 18, 188 1, leaving 
three children: Susanna (wife of L. L. Shafner), J. G., and T. P. who was 



BIOGRAPillCAL. I 1 33 

married December 15, 1881, to Miss L. B. Leonard, and they have one 
child, Anna May. Mr. Graham lost two sons, one W. M. died in 1869 
at the age of twenty-five years, and G. W. died in childhood. Mr. G. is 
a member of the Presbyterian Church and of the Masonic fraternity. 
J. G. Graham, the oldest son of the subject of this sketch, now owns the 
home faim which consists of 220 acres under good cultivation and 
improvement. 

WESLEY GRIFFITH, 

section i, a prominent farmer and stock man of this county, was born in 
Macon County, Illinois, January 22, 1841. His father, B. Griffith, was a 
native of Ross County, Pennsylvania, and his mother, formerly Leah 
Deafenbaugh, of Hawkins County, same state. The former was one of 
the pioneer settlers of Macon County, Illinois. In 1851 he removed to 
DeWitt County, where he is now a leading farmer and stock raiser. 
Wesley spent his youth on his father's farm, enjoying good common 
school advantages. He came to Missouri in 1869 and located in St. Clair 
County, settling on the farm where he now resides. He has 860 acres 
of land, with 320 in cultivation. He makes a specialty of feeding cattle 
and feeds on an average three car loads of steers and about fifty hogs 
annually. Mr. Griffith was married in Henry County February 18, 1876, 
to Miss Sarah E. Kirk, a daughter of James A. Kirk. She came origin- 
ally from Rowan County. Kentucky. They have two children, Maud M. 
and Ida. They lost one child in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Griffith are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. 

J. P. HASTAIN, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 10, was born in White County, Tennes- 
see, January 24, 183 1. His father, D. M. Hastain was a native of the 
same state, and his mother's maiden name was Anna Green. In 1834. 
the family removed to Missouri, and first located in Henry County, 
being among the pioneer settlers there. J. P. Hastain was reared as a 
farmer's boy and in 1850, when in his nineteenth year, he went to Cali- 
fornia, and worked in the gold mines for fifteen years, returning to Mis- 
souri in 1865. He was married in Henry County, March 21, 1867, to 
Miss Octavia Hinkle, a daughter of M. D. Hinkle. She is a Kentuckian 
by birth, but removed to Missouri with her parents and was reared and 
educated in Henry County. They have a family of four children: 
Cecelia, Eddie, Jennie G. and William J. Three children died in infancy, 
Mary F., Lena May, and T. J. After farming in Henry County for six 
years, Mr. Hastain removed to California in 1873, and spent one season, 
the following year returning to Henry County, Missouri, where he 
farmed about eight years. In March, 1880, he came to St. Clair County 



I I 34 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

and settled on the farm where he now reside<>. He has i6o acres of land 
all under cultivation. He and his wife are members of the M. H. Church, 
South. 

FREDERICK HOFFSTROM, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 23, is a native of Sweden, and was born 
Auj^ust 26, 1829, his parents being Niles F. and Sophia (Hardorph) 
Hoffstrom, also originally from Sweden. The former was an officer in 
the army of Sweden, which position he held at his death in 1846 or 1847. 
Fred Hoffstrom grew to manhood and received a good education in the 
country of his birth, there learning the trade of dyer and finisher. He 
emigrated to the United States in 1849 and worked at his trade at dif- 
ferent places in Illinois for three years. Moving thence to Niagara 
Falls he worked one and one-half years and afterward went to Fredonia, 
Chautauqua County, where he engaged in business for himself. In the 
spring of 1853 he took a trip to California by way of the Isthmus, and 
after spending three years returned in the winter of 1856. He then pur- 
chased land in Washington County, Iowa, and farmed three years. In 
the spring of 1869 he returned to California, going from there to Nevada, 
where he engaged in mining at Virginia City. In nearly four years he 
retraced his steps to his family in the summer of 1863, bringing with 
him a herd of California horses. He farmed until 1865 when he sold out 
and came to Missouri, locating in St. Clair County, where he purchased 
land and improved the farm which he now occupies. Mr. Hoffstrom 
owns 400 acres and he is one of the most successful farmers and stock 
raisers in the county. He was married in Aurora, Illinois, February 9, 
1 85 1, to Miss Almina Elizabeth Morgan, a native of New York, and a 
daughter of C. B. Morgan. They have three children: Clara S. (wife of 
Wilson Hartzell), Frank H. and Lilly Belle. Mrs. Hoffstrom is a mem- 
ber of the Christian Church. Mr. H. is a Mason. 

JAMES A. KIRK, 

section i, was born in Morgan County, Kentucky, September 25, 1830, 
and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Nickell) Kirk, both Kentuck- 
ians by birth. James A. passed his youth on a farm, and was married 
in Rowan County, in October, 1855. to Miss Telitha Clark, a native of 
Fleming County, and a daughter of Dixon Clark. After his marriage 
Mr. Kirk resided in Rowan County about eight years and in 1863 
removed to Missouri and located first in Linn County, residing there 
some nine years. Selling out he went to Texas, spent one season then 
returned to Missouri and settled in St. Clair County. He came on his 
present farm in the spring of 1881 and now has 160 acres all in cultiva- 
tion. He makes a specialty of feeding cattle for the market. Mr. and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II35 

Mrs. Kirk have seven children: Sarah E. (wife of Wesley Griffith), 
Adella F., Philip, Dixon, Emma, Herbert, and Walter. Mr. Kirk is one 
of the substantial men of this locality. He and his wife are members 
of the Christian Church. 

J. McH. LEDBETTER, 

section 24, a native of Sumner County, Tennessee, was born December 
18, 1831. His father, Ira Ledbetter, came originally from Alabama, and 
his mother, whose maiden name was Lucy Brown, was born in Ten- 
nessee. The former removed with his parents to Tennessee when a 
}-outh and there grew to manhood. In 1841 he located in St. Clair 
County, Missouri, and was among the early settlers here. He purchased 
a large tract of land, was a substantial man of the county, and owned a 
large number of slaves. J. McH. Ledbetter passed his youth on his 
father's farm. He was married in August, 1852, to Miss Mary Henley, a 
daughter of T. N. Henley. She was also born in Tennessee. They 
have a family of three children: Sarah L. (wife of John Shoemaker), 
Thomas Ira, and Robert M. Mr. L. now owns 386 acres of land. 280 
acres being under fence and mostly in cultivation. He went to Califor- 
nia in 1850, in company with Captain Ball and others and spent about 
eighteen months in the gold mines, returning to Missouri in 1852. He 
enlisted in 1862 in General Price's Infantry and served till the close of 
the war, participating in a. number of important engagements, among 
which were Cornith, Grand Gulf, Baker's Creek and Vicksburg. After 
the latter fight he was in the western department and was in nearly all 
of the engagements of Price's army. He received five wounds, one 
through the knee and one through the foot being the most serious. He 
returned home after the surrender and has since been engaged in farm- 
ing and the stock business. Mr. and Mrs. Ledbetter are members of 
the M. E. Church, South. He was a justice of the peace for ten consec- 
utive years, and has filled other local ofifices being at present clerk of 
the school board. He is a Mason. 

FELIX LEWELLEN, 

section 34, is a Virginian by birth and was born November 5, 1822. His 
parents were Samuel and Elizabeth Lewellen, nee Gough, also natives of 
Virginia. About the year 1834 the family removed to Indiana and set- 
tled in Delaware County, being among the early settlers there. They 
had twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the young- 
est. He grew to maturity in his native county, and was married in the 
spring of 1840 to Miss Margaret Tharp, a daughter of Alexander Tharp. 
They had five children: William M., ot Osceola, Elizabeth (wife of Mr. 
Lillard), Beersheba (wife of William Hodgins), Sarah (wife of Mart. 



I 136 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Boots), and Thomas. Mrs. L. died in Indiana in the summer of 1849. 
Mr. Lewellen was subsequently married to Miss Susanna Hamilton. 
There are six children b}- this union: Rebecca, Samuel. Margaret, Jack- 
son, Timothy and Drusilla. Mr. Lewellen lost his second wife, who died 
in St. Clair County January 16, 1862. He was married to his present 
wife, then Mrs. Nancy Ann VVeddle, and a dauijhter of Jacob Beaver, in 
the sprin^^ of 186^. After his fir.-.t marriai^e he resided in Indiana about 
fifteen years. In the fall of 1855 he came to Missouri and located on 
the farm where he now resides, he having at this time 460 acres. Mr. 
Lewellen is a thrifty and successful farmer and one of the leading citi- 
zens of the county. 

THOMAS LEWELLEN. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Delaware County, Indiana. 
December 22, 1848, being a son of Felix and Margaret (Tharp) Lewel- 
len. In 1855, the family removed to Missouri and located in St. Clair 
County. Thomas grew up on his father's farm and was married August 
4. 1872, to Miss Sarah Berry, a daughter of Enoch Berry. She is a native 
of Moultrie County. Illinois. They had three children: Verna, Wil- 
liam A. and Homer. After his marriage Mr. Lewellen settled on a 
farm in this township, coming on his present place in section 14, in 
August 1878, and he now has 560 acres. Mr. L. devotes considerable 
attention to the feeding of cattle. 

SAMUEL D. LEWELLEN, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 21. The subject of this sketch owes 
his nativit}' to Delaware County, Indiana, where he was born Januar\- 
19* ^853. His father, Felix Lewellen, married Miss Susanna Hamilton 
in Delaware County, Indiana. Samuel removed to Missouri with his 
parents in 1855 and here his youthful days were passed in filling the 
soil. He was married in this county June 4, 1875, to Miss Mable Wed- 
dle, a daughter of Alexander Weddle. She is a native of Bates Count>-, 
but was reared in St. Clair. Mr. Lewellen has a family of three child- 
ren: Elmer Lee, Claud E. and Maud. His farm contains 320 acres of 
land, all fenced, with 180 acres in cultivation. He feeds about two car 
loads of steers yearly and about fifty hogs. 

JOHN E. PAGE, 

section 10, was born October 17, 1844, in Livingston County, New York, 
and was a son of Albert and Abigal Page, both natives of the same 
state. John E. was reared upon a farm, receiving his education at the 
common schools and at the Nunda Academ}-. Coming west in 1866, ht 
located first in Bates County, Missouri, where he resided about three 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 1 37 

years. He removed to St. Clair County in February, 1869, and came on 
his present farm in the fall of 1870. This consists of 300 acres, with 240 
in his home place and sixty acres of timber. Mr. Page devotes some 
attention to stock feeding. He was married in this county in February, 
1871, to Miss Virginia Corbly, a native of Iowa (where she was reared 
and educated), and a daughter of William Corbly. They have two child- 
ren, Mary Octavia and Jessie M. 

B. N. FRIER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 24, a native of Edgar County, Illinois, 
was born April 25, 1840, and is a son of Edward H. and Narcissia 
(Lowry) Frier. The family early removed to Illinois, and were among 
the first settlers ot Edgar County. In 1854, they located in Clark 
County, Iowa, coming thence to Missouri in 1870. B. N. Frier spent his 
youth on the home farm, and was married in Clark County, Iowa, in Jan- 
uary, 1862, to Miss Agnes Landies, a daughter of Samuel Landies, and 
a native of Greene County, Indiana. They have four children : Maggie, 
(wife of William Frazee), Samuel E., Frank L.,and Maud After residing 
in Clark County about eleven years, Mr. P., in March, 1873, came to 
Missouri and located in St. Clair County. He now has 240 acres of 
land, with 200 acres in cultivation. In June, 1862, he enlisted in Com- 
pany D, Eighteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served till discharged 
in February, 1863. He participated in the fight at Springfield, Missouri, 
and a number of others. 

GEORGE Y. PYEATT, 

farmer and stock feeder, section 10, was born in Richland County, Ohio, 
on March 6, 1834. Jacob Pyeatt, his father, also a native of Ohio, was 
born in 1802, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth 
Stewart, came originally from Vermont. In 1838 the family removed to 
Illinois and were among the early settlers of Perry County. George Y. 
passed his youth on the farm in that county, and was married there 
February 14, 1856, to Miss Teresa Wells, a daughter of Lewis Wells, of 
the same locality. Mr. P. after his marriage was engaged in farming in 
Perry County about twenty-one years. In 1877 he came to Missouri 
and located in St. Clair County, moving on his present farm in 1880. He 
has 120 acres of land, all improved, and upon it feeds considerable stock 
for the market. Mr. and Mrs. Pyeatt have six children: Virgil W., 
Philena F., (wife of Cyrus H. Hinkle), Alverta E., (wife of Harley A. 
Hinkle), Alfred G., Sabra W., (wife of Edward J. Allenson) and Her- 
schel S. Two are deceased, Emma F,, died in 1874, at the age of four- 
teen years and Alice A., died in infancy. Mr. Pyeatt and his wife are 



I 1 38 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. i 

members of the Christian Church. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge 
at Osceola. I 

JOHN T. RIDGWAY, ' 

section 17, is a native of Howard County, Missouri, and was born Janu- > 
ary ii, 1838. his parents being Jesse and Anna (Wiley) Ridgway, Ken- 
tuckians by birth. The former came to Missouri in 18 19 with his par- 
ents who were among the pioneer settlers of Howiird County. Jesse 
Ridgway removed to St. Clair County, in 1840. John F. spent his 
youth on the farm in this county, and was married October 16, 1866, to 
Miss Ophelia Catherine Thompson, a daughter of John F. Thompson. 
She was born in this county and was here reared. She died June 2, 
1875, leaving three children: Mattie Ann Lee, Robert F. and Ettie F. j 
Mr. Ridgway was then married August 15, 1875, to Mrs. Ann Mains,] 
widow of James Mains. She had two children by her former marriage; 
William T. and George H. Mains. There are three children by this lat- 
ter union: James H. H., John Ed. and Mary Ann. Mr. R. now owns 
240 acres of land, of which 150 are in good cultivation. He also owns 
160 acres in another tract. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D., General 
Coffey's Regiment, Missouri State Guards, and served about six months, 
then re-enlisting in the regular Confederate service, under General 1 
Cockerel. He served three months in this regiment and was transferred 
to Young's Cavalry Battalion and served about one year. He partici- ! 
pated in the fights of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Springfield, Missouri, and j 
others. He received a wound below the knee at Springfield and was 
disabled about two months. He was taken a prisoner at this time and 
held thirteen months, then escaping. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. 

EDWARD D. SAYLES, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 12, was born in Summit County, Ohio, 
August 8, 1856. His father, Dr. Dwight Sayles, married Miss Estella 
Wright, and they were also both natives of Ohio. The former died July , 
24, 1862. Edward D. was raised a farmer and received a good educa- 1 
tion at the common schools and the Talmage High School. After com- ' 
pleting his studies he was foreman in a fire brick establishment for one 
year. In 1871 he came to Missouri and purchased the land where he 
now resides. After living there one summer he returned to Ohio. In 
1876 he came back to his farm in St. Clair County. He went to Colo- 
rado in the spring of 1880 and spent the summer, returning to his farm 
in the fall. He has eighty acres of good land, and is devoting some 
attention to the breeding and raising of fine stock. He has a flock of 
120 graded Cotswold sheep and a herd of eight head of thoroughbred 
shorthorn cattle. Mr. Sa}'les was married February 23, 1882, to Miss 



BlOGRAPIllCAL. 1 1 39 

Barbara Warner, a daughter of Abraham Warner. She is a native of 
and was reared and educated in Washtenaw County, Michigan. 

J. B. SCOTT, 

far'mer, section 7, was born in Bucyrus, Ohio. June 26, 1849, being a son 
of T. W. and Susan (Kintnei) Scott. The former was born in Pennsyl- 
vania, and the latter in Indiana. T. W. Scott early went to Ohio with 
his parents, who were among the first settlers of Richland and Crawford 
Counties. He removed to DeKalb County, Indiana, in i86r, where the 
subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He was educated in the com- 
mon and higher schools, and after completing his studies was engaged 
in teaching and taught for six years in the public schools of Michigan 
and Indiana. He has made the study of phrenology a speciality, and 
delivers an able lecture on this subject. Mr. Scott was married in 
DeKalb County, November 5, 1874, to Miss Emeline A. Clark, a daugh- 
ter of O. C. Clark. She died in 1877. He was again married in DeKalb 
County, December 30, 1880, to Miss Minnie Wagner, a daughter of 
Jacob Wagner. She is a native of Michigan but was reared and educated 
in DeKalb County. Mr. Scott came to Missouri in the spring of 1882, 
and located on land which he had previously purchased in this county. 
He has 160 acres, but at present resides on a tract of eighty acres 
belonging to his father, which he is farming. 

GEORGE W. SHORT, 

a native of Kentucky, was born June 18, 181 1, his parents being George 
and Catharine (Monical) Short. George W. was the second son of six 
sons and five daughters. In 1813 the family removed to Indiana and 
located in Washington County, where they were among the pioneer set- 
tlers. Our subject grew to manhood in Washington County, and was 
married October 13, 1831, to Easter Carleton, of that county. There 
were nine children by this marriage: Elizabeth (deceased), Nancy C, 
William L., Hannah (wife of C. Minns), George F. (deceased), Samuel 
R., Margaret (wife of John Lewellen, Easter Ann (deceased) and David 
W. Mrs. Short died in the fall of 1862. Mr. S. was married in Putnam 
County, Indiana, January 24, 1865, to Mrs. Cynthia Ann Hines. a widow 
of John Hines and a daughter of Thomas Read. She was a Kentuckian 
by birth. She has one son by her former marriage, Franklin Hines. 
There are two children by this last union. General Alonzo Sherman and 
Ama Cynthia. Mr. Short removed from Indiana to Missouri in 1839 and 
first located in Howard County, but in the fall of 1840 came to this 
county and settled on his present farm. He now owns 235 acres of land, 
but has owned 800 acres, of which he has given the larger portion to his 



II40 IIISTOUV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

children. lie enlisted in March, 1862, in Company E of the Seventh; 
Missouri Cavalry and served till discharged in thespring of 1863. After 
this he returned home, and re-enlisted and served in the Home Guards 
until the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Short are members of the M. 
E. Church. 

ISAAC SLUDER. 

farmer and stock raiser, section 4, was born in Hendricks County, Indi- 
ana, August 30, 1839. ^^^ father, Henry Sluder, was a native of the, 
same state, and his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Lockhart, 
came originally from West Virginia. The family early removed to Owen 
County, and from there to Washington and then to Sullivan County, 
where Henry Sluder died in 1864. Isaac grew to maturity in Indiana, 
and after removing to Sullivan County he learned the shoemakers trade, 
working at the business about twenty years. He was married in Sulli-] 
van County April 20, 1859, to Miss Nancy Chestnut, a daughter of James i 
Chestnut. They had four children: Martha E., (wife of Walter Ken- 
nett), Mary F., (wife of Martin Anderson), Ollie O. and Emma. Mrs. 
Sluder died in St. Clair County February 16, 1881. Mr. S. was marriedi 
in this county June 2, 1881, to Mrs. Eliza Parker, widow of Elias Parker. 
She was born in Ohio. but moved west after her marriage and settled in 
St. Clair County. She has three children by her first husband, Estella 
Ann, Frank C. and Alice J. Parker. Mr. and Mrs. Sluder have one child. 
John Edward. Mr. S. removed to Missouri in 1880, settling on the farm 
where he now resides in 1881. There are 400 acres of excellent land in 
his place. 

HON. M. B. STRICKLAND. 

Among the prominent men of St. Clair County is the subject of this; 
sketch, who was born in Franklin County, Missouri, August 8, 1835. His 
father, E. B. Strickland, was a native of Georgia, and his mother, for- 
merly Sarah K. Caldwell, was a Kentuckian by birth. E. B. Strickland 
was one of the early settlers and leading men of Franklin County. M. 
B. grew to manhood at his birth place on a farm, receiving a good com- 
mon school education. He was married in St. Louis County, May 5,^ 
1857, to Miss Mary Conway, a daughter of Samuel Conway. She is a 
native of St. Louis County. After this event Mr. S. resided in Franklin 
County until 1877, and in March of that year came to St. Clair County' 
and purchased the farm where he now resides. He has 480 acres, 
improved, and makes a business of raising and feeding cattle, fattening! 
annually about two car loads of steers. He takes a prominent part in! 
the political issues of the day, and was nominated and elected to repre- 
sent his county in the legislature at the general election of 1882. This! 
position he filled with honorable distinction. Mr. and Mrs. Strickland 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1141 

have a family of five children: Virgil C, Mary, Virginia S., Ada L. 

and James L. Himself, wife and oldest daughter are members of the 

Presbvterian Church. 

PHILIP WARNER, 

section ii, a native of Washtenaw County, Michigan, was born Febru- 
ary 28, 1858, and is a son of Abraham and Barbara (Layer) Warner, who 
were natives of Germany. Philip spent his youth on the farm at his 
birthplace, receiving a common school education. In the fall of 1870 he 
came to Missouri and bought land and settled in St. Clair County. Here 
he has a farm of eighty acres. Mr. Warner was married in this county 
September 17, 1878, to Mrs. Mollie Ruebush, a widow of Joseph Rue- 
bush, and a daughter of Henry R. Holden. She has one child by her 
former marriage, Thomas Ruebush. Mr. and Mrs. W. have two children, 
Hirdie B. and Harry T. He and his wife are members of the Presbyter- 
ian Church. 

DR. J. W. WHEELER, 

merchant at Johnson City, was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, Sep- 
tember 7, 1844, his parents being Captain Piercy and Jerusha Ann 
(Holiday) Wheeler. In July, 1862, when in his eighteenth year, J. W. 
enlisted in the Ninety-first Indiana volunteer infantry, and after nine 
months service he re-enlisted in the 105th regiment. After four months 
in this regiment he again re-enlisted in the 147th, and served till dis- 
charged in June, 1865. After his discharge he returned home and 
attended school at Moors' Hill College for two years and received a 
good education in the English branches. In the fall and winter of 1867 
and 1868 he took a course of lectures at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical 
College. Coming to Missouri in the spring of 1868, he commenced 
the practice of his profession at Hudson, Bates County. The fol- 
lowing year he came to St. Clair County and located at Johnson 
City, and has since continued in the practice at this place. The Doctor 
has built up a large patronage and is accounted one of the most success- 
ful physicians in the county. He engaged in the drug business in 1S70, 
and in 1878 he added a complete stock of general merchandise. He is 
identified with the Republican party; was elected township collector 
and collected the tax for two years. He owns about 1,300 acres of land 
in St. Clair County, about 600 acres of which are improved, besides con- 
siderable town property and land in Cedar County. He is extensively 
occupied in feeding cattle and hogs for the market. The doctor is a 
man of good business habits and qualifications, and has made what prop- 
erty he owns since coming to the county. He was married here Decem- 
ber 8, 1870, to Miss Ariadnah Isabelle Peck, a daughter of John W, 
Peck, of Greencastle, Indiana. They have two children: Glennie F. 
and Harry P. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. 



1 142 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. | 

JOSEPHUS WINCHESTER, 

section 4, was born Auc^ust 4, 18 15, in Guilford County. North Carolina. I 
his parents being William and Margaret (Witt)') Winchester, natives of 
the same state. In 1830 the family removed to Kentucky and located ■ 
in Callaway County. Josephus, the second son of five sons and seven I 
daughters, spent his youth on a farm in that county, and was married 
May 14. 1839, to Miss Nancy Ann Rayburn. a daughter of John Ray- 
burn. She was a native of Stewart County, Tennessee, but removed to 
Kentucky when a child and there grew to maturity. Mr. Winchester, 
after his marriage, resided in Kentucky about eleven years, coming to 
Missouri in 1850, and locating in St. Clair County. Here he bought 
land and improved the farm where he now resides, it containing 300 , 
acres with about IQO under fence. He has nine children: Newton L., 
VAlza J. (widow of S. Hoover). Melinda (wife of C. Weir), Emily (wife j 
of Lee Carroll , Rebecca (wife of D. L. HerndonJ, James J.. Margaret 
(wife of C. S. Reding). William W. and E. C. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester I 
are members of the Baptist Church. The former belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity. 



■■« U- (<d — f ^ e ^ 'I — e> - vj >• 



CHALK LEVEL TOWNSHIP. 



^S :~~^ f 



REV. C. J. BARR, 

minister and farmer, section 34, was born in Simpson County, Kentuck}', 
January 8, 1819, being a son of Silas and Sarah (Headelston) Barr, 
natives of North Carolina. C. J. grew to manhood on his father's farm, 
and was educated in Withe College, Tennessee. He was ordained a 
minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1845, and then was 
engaged in preaching and school teaching in that state until 1856, when 
he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he has since been occu- 
pied in the ministry and farming. His farm contains 245 acres, 2CXD of 
which are in a high state of cultivation. May ii, 1848, Mr. Barr was 
married to Miss Martha A. Scobey, of Tennessee. They have two 
children, Robert F. and Alice J. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II43 

SAMUEL BRAMNAN, 

blacksmith at Chalk Level, was born in Tennessee July 25, 1850, his par- 
ents being Samuel and Phebe (Killian) Bramnan, natives of Tennessee. 
When our subject was an infant the family moved to Arkansas, where 
he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools. 
He worked in his father's blacksmith shop until the death of the senior 
Bramnan, which occurred in 1852. Since that time Samuel has followed 
his trade in Arkansas, Texas, Iowa and Missouri. In 1878 he moved to 
Chalk Level, where he now has a good shop and is doing a fair business. 
Mr. B. was married December 29, 1879, to Miss Hannah White, of Illi- 
nois. They have two children, Claud Lee and Sterling. 

DAVID W. COONCE, 

only son of Jacob Coonce, was born in Washington Township, this 
county, January 2, 1850. He received a limited education at home, but 
in 1867, went to the Notre Dame College, Indiana, and took a commer- 
cial course of two years. He married Miss Mary Clevenger, of St. Clair 
County, in 1880. They have two children: James Elmer and an infant. 
Jacob Coonce, the first man to settle in the county, was born in St. 
Charles County, Missouri Territory, February 6, 1806. His father, Jacob 
Coonce was born in Pennsylvania, and was a miller by trade, and also a 
farmer. Young Jacob left home when fourteen years of age and made 
his way alone from that time. The first money he ever earned was a 
silver dollar, which he kept as long as he lived, and now it is the 
property of Elder W. W. Warren, his son-in-law. He was in the Black 
Hawk war with General Dodge in 1833, and in the Mexican War under 
Colonel Doniphan. He married Mrs. Lovina Wamsley in 1839, a daugh- 
ter of Jedediah Waldo, of Harrison County, Virginia. They had three 
children: Mary E., now Mrs. W. W. Warren, Elizabeth O., who married 
Thomas Dudley, and died in 187 1, and David W. Mr. Coonce came to 
this county in 1827, and selected a site for a home near a large spring in 
the township of Washington, some fourteen miles south of Osceola. In 
183 1, he returned to this county, and afterwards made his home near 
this spring during life. He died in 1878. His claim embraced 720 
acres. Mrs. Coonce died in 1868. Mr. C. was a great hunter, and spent 
much of his time in an early day in roving o'er hills and dales. In an 
Indian battle he received a severe wound on the head by a tomahawk, 
five in his party capturing sixteen Indians. Mention of this pioneer is 
made elsewhere in this work. 

M. L. COOPER, 

farmer, section 5, was born in Greene County, Tennessee, July 21, 1840, 
and was a son of John A. and Sarah (Law) Cooper, both natives of Ten- 



I 144 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

nessee. When M. L. was five years of age his parents moved to West 
Virginia, and in two years to Clinton County, Missouri, where he became 
grown. March 17, 1864, he was married to Miss Lucy A. Estes, a native 
of Missouri. He followed farming in Clinton County, Missouri, till 1867, 
when he moved to Ray Countx', and in 1870 came to St. Clair County 
where he now has a fine farm of 250 acres. During the war he held a 
commission as captain in Slack's Division, and participated in many 
important battles. He has been constable of his township for six years. 
He is now a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and also 
belongs to the Grange. Mr. C. is the father of eight children: Sarah E., 
George W., John B., Albert L., Charles B., Elmer M., Archibald and 
Ann C. 

WILLIAM M. COX, 

section 28, was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, May 22, 1833. His 
father, Howell B. Cox, originally from North Carolina, was a son of 
Samuel Cox, of Richmond, Virginia, whose father early came from Eng- 
land. William's mother, formerly Henrietta Steen, of Hopkins County, 
Kentucky, was a daughter of Nathan Steen, a Kentuckian by birth, and 
a friend and companion of Daniel Boone. Howell Cox was for many 
years engaged as pilot on the Mississippi River, and was also interested 
in a successful business in which he became very wealthy. But serious 
reverses overtook him and he lost his property. He died in Kentucky 
in 1849, his wife having preceded him in 1835. In 1853 William M., the 
only surviving son of his parents, went to California and was occupied 
in mining a portion of the time, also having an interest in the Pilot 
Creek Canal and being agent for the company. He remained there for 
three years with satisfactory results; then returned to Kentucky and 
and attended school for a time, when he came to Missouri, settling in 
St. Clair County. Purchasing a farm, he commenced its improvement, 
and has since been largely interested in raising, handling and shipping 
stock. In 1868, the political parties being in an unorganized condition, 
he took an active part in bringing the Democratic party back to its for- 
mer status, and received the nomination for probate judge. In 1876 he 
was elected county sheriff, and in 1878 was elected clerk of the county, 
serving for four years. Mr. Cox now has a fine farm of 785 acres in this 
township. He is a member of the M. E. Church South, is a Royal Arch 
Mason and belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. fraternities. 
He married Miss Phebe H. Cox February 12, 1856. She v/as the daugh- 
ter of William M. Cox, of Tennessee, and she died November 5, 
1873, leaving three children: Howell S., Cargill C, and Phebe T., since 
deceased. His second wife was Mrs. Mary E. Palmer Clark. They have 
two children, Eudora and Agnes. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II45 

REV. THOMAS B. FREEMAN, 

minister and farmer, section 19, is a native of Roane County, Tennessee, 
and was born November 8, 1825. His father, John Freeman, was a son of 
James Freeman, originally from England and a revolutionary soldier. 
The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Susan Davis, was 
born in North Carolina. Thomas B. grew to manhood on the farm at 
his birthplace and received his education in the common schools. He 
was engaged in trading in stock in Tennessee until 1847, when he 
enlisted in the Mexican war, remaining in service until its close. Then 
he returned to Tennessee, and in 1851 moved to Greene County, Mis- 
souri, where he followed farming and dealing in stock until 1865, at that 
time going to Howard County. In 1868 he came to St. Clair County. 
Mr. F.'s landed estate consists of 500 acres, well improved. He was 
ordained a minister of the Baptist Church in 1864, and since that time 
has been occupied in the ministry at different places. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Freeman was married March 20, 1849, 
to Miss Martha Alexander, also of Tennessee. She died September 
2. 1877, leaving seven children: Sarah E., Lulu H., Samuel H,, Mary 
E., George B., Marion M. and Margaret D. He was again married June 
27, 1878, to Mrs. Mary A. McBride, a daughter of Joseph H. Green. She 
was born in Tennessee November 20, 1826. She was first married to 
James Carlisle in April, 1848. He died in 1854. They had one child, 
David W. She was again married August 26, i860, to Phillip McBride, 
who died July 3, 1864. They had one child, Arminta J. 
>. 

E. H. FRENCH, 

physician and surgeon at Chalk Level, was born in Belmont County, 
Ohio, August 30, 1825, and was a son of William and Mary (Bunda) 
French, the former of Maryland and the latter of North Carolina He 
grew to manhood on his- father's farm in Ohio, receiving a collegiate 
education in the colleges of Barnesville and Delaware. At the age of 
twenty-two he began the study of medicine with Dr. John Young, 
remaining with him two years. In 1846 he went to Illinois and con- 
tinued his studies till 1848, when he entered the Ohio Medical College, 
of Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in 1849. Then 
he located in Bloomington, Illinois, where he was engaged in the prac- 
tice of his profession for several years, and afterwards in Story County, 
Iowa. In 1859 he settled in Neosho, Newton County, Missouri. From 
1863 till 1865 he was surgeon in the United States army. In 1865 he 
located in Austin, Cass County, and in 1867 he went to McDonald 
County. In 1872 he came to his present residence, where he has enjoyed 
a lucrative practice, having here met with much success. While in 



I 146 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

McDonald Count}' he was county surveyor for five years, and also held 
other minor offices. August 9, i860. Mr. French was married to Miss 
Mary J. Mason, of Greene County, Missouri. She died May 15, 1865, 
leaving one child, Eliza J. He was again married September 6, 1868, 
to Miss Elizabeth Bailey, of Indiana. They have six children: Charles, 
William, Rosa, Ella, Albert and Franklin. 

DR. R. W. GARNETT. 

ph/sician and farmer, section 33. was born in Barren County, Kentucky, 
June 3, 1828, his parents being William I. and Emily (Willis) Garnett, 
natives of Virginia. R. W. was the third of a family of five children. 
He grew to manhood in Kentuck}-, receiving his education in the 
schools of that state and at the age of seventeen began the study of 
medicine with Dr. John Green of Barren County. He read with him 
about three years after which he began practicing in that county where 
he remained until 1855. Then he, came to St. Clair County, Missouri, 
where he has since practiced his profession and followed farming. His 
farm contains 200 acres and will average with any in this section. He 
is a member of the Baptist Church and belongs to the Masonic frater- 
nity. August 2, i860. Dr. G. was married to Miss Julia A. Ledbetter. 
She was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, September 9, 1842. They 
have eight children: William I., Lucy Lee, Ed., Docia, Ermine, Bettie, 
Josia, and Dick. 

NICHOLAS B. GREEN 

was born in Lafayette County, Missouri, March 29. 1838. and was a son 
of Joseph and Jane G. Green, natives of Tennessee. In 185 i his par- 
ents moved to St. Clair County, Missouri. He was reared upon his 
father's farm and received an education in the common schools of Mis- 
souri. Mr. G. is now one of the leading farmers in his township and 
owns a farm containing 605 acres, well improved. Two hundred acres 
are under fence and in a high state of cultivation. He is at present 
feeding eighty-two head of cattle. He received a wound at the battle 
of Lone Jack during the war. May 2, 1861, Mr. Green was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Browning, a native of Virginia. They have six children: 
Susan. Permela, Isabelle, Joseph H., Robert L., and Bessie. They have 
lost five children. He is a member of the Grange. 

DANIEL B. KIDD. 

farmer and stock raiser, section 16. one of the representative citizens of 
St. Clair Count}-, was born in Madison County, Kentucky, August 22, 
1833. His parents were Allen and Mildred (Gorland) Kidd, both natives 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 1 47 

of Virginia. When Daniel B. was about one year old they moved to 
Columbia, Boone County, Missouri, and in 1840 to Pettis County. In 
1841 Johnson Count}' became their home, they going thence in 1843 to 
Lexington, Lafayette County. In 1848 they located in Henry County, 
Missouri. Allen Kidd was an excellent carpenter and worked in these 
various points on public buildings. Daniel B., having learned the trade 
of wool carding in Henry County, located at Osceola, St. Clair County, 
in 1853 and was engaged in following that business for four years. The 
succeeding two years he was occupied in farming, and then for one 
year gave his attention to wool carding at Taberville and then in Seda- 
Ha, where he was engaged in manufacturing wagons and speculating. 
In 1867 he returned to St. Clair County and here has since been inter- 
ested in farming and raising stock. His landed estate consists of 3,600 
acres, his home farm being well improved. He is feeding 123 head of 
beef cattle and 200 head of stock cattle. He also makes a specialty of 
fine blooded stock, having a superior herd of short horns. He is a 
member of the Christian Church and belongs to the I. O. O. F. Novem- 
ber 6, 1856, Mr. Kidd was married to Miss Mary Ledbetter, a native of 
Tennessee. She was born December 29, 1836. They have five chil- 
dren: Christopher C, Daniel B., Jr., Charles B., Marion and Logan C. 

GEORGE H. LYONS, 

farmer, section 7, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, October 9, 
1826, his father being Jacob Lyons, a native of Pennsylvania. He was a 
son of William Lyons, who came originallj' from Germany. The mother 
of George, formerly Ann Hertzog, was born in Germany. The subject 
of this sketch was reared and educated at his birthplace, there learning 
the trade of carpenter, which he followed in his native state till 1855. 
Then he moved to Linn County, Iowa, and worked at his chosen calling 
till 1867, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. He now owns a 
farm of 240 acres of excellent land. December 27, i860, Mr. Lyon mar- 
ried Miss Sarah A. Bolton, of Indiana. They have nine children: Jacob 
C, William B., Margaret R., John E., Mary A., Jennie E., Anna B., 
Abraham W. and Bertha. 

P. A. MOTTLEY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 20, was born December 13, 1823, in Pitt- 
sylvania County, Virginia, his parents being David and Gibia 
(Nichols) Mottley, Virginians by birth P. A. remained in his native 
county until fifteen years old when he went to Tennessee, there follow- 
ing farming until 1846. Coming to St. Clair County, Missouri, he settled 
on the farm which he now occupies. He has since lived in this county, 
excepting from 1848 to 1855, which time he spent in California and Mex- 



II4S HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

ico. His farm contains i.ioo acres, 300 of which are in cultivation. Mr. 
M. was a soldier in the Mexican war. He was treasurer of his township 
during the township organization. January 8, 1863, he was married to 
Miss Zilia Parks, a native of Missouri. They have a family of seven 
children: Margaret J. and James D., twins, Francis A., George L., Mer- 
ritt r>., Wade H. and Sarah. 

JOHN VV. PIERCE, 

farmer and insurance agent, section 22, was born in Washington Count}', 
New York, January 20, i<S29, and was a son of Samuel and Emily (Whit- 
ney) Pierce, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. 
When our subject was about seven years old his parents moved to Ohio, 
where he grew to manhood and received his education. At the age of 
nineteen he engaged in the patent right business, which he tollowed for 
two years, afterward becoming occupied in manufacturing linseed oil for 
three years. In 1848 he went to Illinois and farmed until 1859, after 
which he was again in the patent right business for four years. In 1867 
he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and now owns a farm of 160 
acres, all well improved. He is also agent for some of the leading 
insurance companies, and H. H. Dix' marble works. Mr. P. is a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church. In September, 1846, he married Miss Casinda 
Bird, a native of Pennsylvania. They have six children: William B., 
Maria C, Leander M., Harriett A., Julia D. and Baxter R. They lost 
three. 

N. L. RICKMAN 

is the son of Joshua Rickman, who was born in the state of Tennessee, 
August 9, 1801. He came to St. Clair County. Missouri, in 1840, and 
located in Chalk Level Township, where he was married to Miss Mary 
B. Terry in 1844. She was born in Tennessee November 4, 18 19. Joshua 
Rickman died April 28, 1879. N. L. was born in St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri, January 21, 1850, and has since lived here. He learned the black- 
smiths' trade with his father, which he followed till 1878, since which 
time he has been occupied in farming. The landed estate of the Rick- 
man family consists of 240 acres. Mr. R. is considered to be one of the 
most respected citizens of Chalk Level and was township clerk one 
term. He is a member of the Christian Church. 

WILLIAM T. ROBINSON, 

postmaster and merchant at Chalk Level, was born in Lawrence County, 
Illinois, October i, 1839. His parents were Alexander and Mary A. 
(Gibbon) Robinson, both natives of Kentucky. W. T. was reared in 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 149 

the county of his birth, and in 1855 came to St. Clair County, Missouri, 
where he followed farming till 1881. Then he began his present busi- 
ness, in which he has met with good success. He was married January 
3, 1868, to Miss Elsie J. Landon. They have one child, Edmond Lan- 
don, and have lost two: Ida and Eddie. Mr. and Mrs. R. are active 
members of the Christian Church. 

THEODORIC SNUFFER, 

deceased, a pioneer in southwest Missouri, was born in Henry County, 
Virginia, July 15, 1799, and traces his paternal ancestry to Germany, his 
grandfather, Jacob Snuffer, and his wife, Sally, having emigrated to the 
United States in 1760. He served as a soldier in the revolutionary war, 
and participated in the battle of Brandywine Station. After the close of 
the war he settled on a farm east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Vir- 
ginia, where he spent his remaining days, attaining the remarkable age 
of no years. He left a large family widely scattered, and among these 
remaining in Virginia was George, the father of the subject of this sketch, 
who was born in Virginia and in 1797 married Miss P. Janiet, of Vir- 
ginia. By this union there were four sons and six daughters. Mr. Snuf- 
fer died in the service of his country in the war of 1812. Theodoric 
Snuffer was married in 1834 to Miss Margaret Baker, a native of Mont- 
gomery County, Virginia, and a daughter of Colonel Josiah Baker, an 
officer in the war of 1776. He married Miss Sallie Patton in 1793. In 
1836 Mr. Snuffer came to Missouri and settled in Henry County near 
the present site of Calhoun, living in this county until the spring of 
1838, when he removed to what is now St. Clair County, on the Osage 
River. His first building was a cabin ten feet square, and in this build- 
ing he resided until July, 1839. Then he built, with the assistance of 
neighbors, a log house eighteen feet square. This building still remains 
on the old homestead. Mr. S. was, at this time, in the prime of vigor- 
ous manhood. He commenced farming by clearing and planting a few 
acres in Indian corn, and each year clearing and breaking a few more 
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Snuffer had five sons and one daughter born to 
them. Of these the daughter died in infancy, the third son died when 
four years of age; Cyrus R., the fourth son, was murdered in the Choc- 
taw Nation by a band of outlaws, the leader of which was afterward 
hanged in Texas; Josiah, the eldest son, died in 1863 at Little Rock, 
Arkansas, while a soldier under General Price. Owen M. was an officer 
in the confederate army, and now resides on the old homestead. He 
was born on the 14th day of February, 1837, in Henry County, Missouri. 
In 1864 he married Mrs. Susan Tunstall, widow of Captain E. B. Tun- 
stall, who fell at the battle of Elk Horn, in Arkansas, under General 
Price. By this union there are now living two daughters, Sallie and 



II50 lIIsrORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTV. 

PZsie. Mrs. Snuffer died in Arkansas in 1876. Mr. Owen Snuffer, to 
whom we are indebted for this sketch, has written several articles for 
the press, and amoni^ these contributions are " The Early Settlers of the 
County" and "The Sacking and Burning of Osceola by Jim Lane." 
" The Battle of Lone Jack," written by him, is acknowledged to be a fair 
and impartial history. He also assisted A. C. Appier in writing the 
only true life ever written of the Younger Brothers. 

S. C. AND R. B. THOMAS, 

farmers, section 33, are among the prominent citizens and early settlers 
of St. Clair County. S. C. was born on section 33 of this (Chalk Level) 
township February 11, 1846. His father, Elisha Thomas, was a native 
of North Carolina and came to St. Clair County in 1839. The mother 
of our subjects, whose maiden name was Jane W. Goff, came originally 
from Tennessee. S. C. was the eighth of a family of twelve children. 
He went to Henry County, Missouri, in 1864, where he followed farming 
for some time, then returning to St. Clair County. R. B. Thomas was 
born June 21, 1848. His youth was spent, like that of his brother, on 
the farm in this county. They own 185 acres of farm land, 100 acres of 
which are in cultivation. The senior Thomas died May 9, 1862, and his 
widow October 5, 1873. 

ROBERTSON WHITE, 

farmer and stock dealer and the the owner of 500 acres of land, was born 
in Sussex County, New Jersey, June 13. 1813. He was the son of John 
White, of New Jersey, and his grandfather was born in Scotland. His 
mother was formerly Jane Robertson, daughter of Robert Robertson, of 
New Jersey. John White was in the war of 18 12. He had a family of 
twelve children, of whom four sons and two daughters are now living. 
In 18 1 5 the family moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, and thence to 
Muskingum County, where they remained for many years. In 1836 
Robertson went to Knox County, Illinois, entered a farm and improved 
160 acres. In 1850 he took a trip to California, working in the mines 
while there. In 1861 he moved to California with his family, and after 
remaining two years, the climate not agreeing with his wife's health, he 
sold out and returned by way of New York, arriving in Knox County 
May I, 1864. In 1866 Mrs. W. died, leaving five children: Aaron, Henry, 
George, Francis and Hattie. In 1867 he married Charlotte Ramboe, of 
Pennsylvania, a daughter of George Ramboe. By this union they have 
five children: John, Stella, Elizabeth, Theodore and Stephen A. Douglas. 
Politically he is a Democrat. Mrs. White is a Presbyterian. He is a 
Mason. He now resides on section 32. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II51 

JOHN S. WILSON, 

dealer in general merchandise at Chalk Level, was born in Warsaw^ 
Benton County, Missouri, January 26, 1848, and was a son of Dr. Joel Y. 
Wilson, a native of Kentucky, whose father, John D. Wilson, was a Vir- 
ginian by birth and of Irish ancestry. The mother of John S. was for- 
merly Mary Burch, a native of Virginia. John S. was the eldest of a 
family of six children. He grew to manhood in his native county and 
was there educated, being for many years engaged as clerk in differ- 
ent localities. He was for three years conductor on the Louisville & 
Nashville Railroad. In 1880 he located in Chalk Level, having pre- 
viously been engaged in business at Appleton City for two years. 
He now carries a stock of drugs and other articles of merchandise and 
is doing a good business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Wilson 
was first married to Miss Fannie Campbell, a native of Missouri, who- 
died August 4, 1870, leaving two children: Annie and William Y. He 
was again married February 8, 1873, to Miss Annie Van Allen, origi- 
nallv from New York. 



JACKSON TOWNSHIP. 



HENRY G. BOLLINGER 

was born March 26, 1836, in Camden County, Missouri, and was the son- 
of Henry and Lucy J. Bollinger, nee Evans, the former a native of North 
Carolina, born in 1788, and the latter born May 2, 1800, in East Tennes- 
see. They were married in 182 1 and were the parents of eight children, 
all now deceased except Henry and Julia A., born February 16, 1839, 
wife of James B. Slavens, of Camden County, Missouri. In 1830, the 
family leaving Tennessee, moved to Camden County, Missouri, Mr. B. 
remaining there until his death, April 7, 1845, his widow dying October 
3, 1861. Henry G. Bollinger married Miss Mary E. Eccleston, of the 
same county as himself, and to them were born eleven children, six of 
whom are living: Lucy J., born April 30, 1864; William A., born Jan- 
uary 15, 1867; Julia M., born October 3, 1871; Mary A., born February 
19, 1880; John Grant and Eleanor V., twins, born March 28, 1883. In 
March, 1880, Mr. Bollinger settled in this township and purchased 144. 
acres of land on section 6, having come from Camden County, where he 



IK2 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

had held the office of sheriff and collector for four years. He was also 
county judge there for a term of four years. During the war he held a 
commission as captain. He is very unassuming in his manner, but 
is a most successful farmer. Politically, he is a Republican. Himself 
and wife arc members of the Baptist Church, Wright's Creek. 

georgp: w. brown 

was born April 21, 1853, in Jackson Township, St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri. His father, Benjamin Brown, a farmer by occupation, was born 
July 31. 18 19, in Kentucky, and was married in 1847 to Miss Margaret 
Borland. They had ten children: George W.; John W., born December 
16, 18S4; Susan J. born December 11, 1856; Mary B. and Minerva (twins) 
born May 12, i860, the latter died May 25, i860; Myra, born July 29, 
1862, died February i, 1873; Benjamin, born May 20, 1866; James and 
Samuel (twins), born February 8, 1870; and Parker, born November ii, 
187 1. Mr. Benjamin Brown, Sr., died January 7, 1872, and his widow 
departed this life February 7, 1873. The subject of this sketch was 
married January 13, 1876, to Miss Margaret A. Green. By this union 
there are two children, a son and a daughter: Wilson, born April 20, 
1877; and Florence, born December 27, 1879. ^r. Brown now owns 106 
acres of excellent farming land, constituting a portion of his father's 
estate. He resides upon section 13. In his political preferences he is 
Democratic. Both himself and wife are identified with the Mt. Zion 
M. E. Church, South. 

THOMAS COPENHAVER, 

was born in Kentucky, August 2, 18 15. His father, a Virginian by birth, 
emigrated to Kentucky in an early da3^ and after being married removed 
to Alabama. His wife was formerly Miss Hannah Barrier. They had a 
family of nine children, of whom Thomas is one of four and the only 
son now living. The senior Copenhaver died February 17, 1836, and his 
widow in 1855. Our subject was married February 2, 1835, to Miss 
Nancy Looney, daughter of Isaac and Anna Looney, of Jackson 
County, Alabama. Their family consists of fourteen children, eleven 
of whom still survive. Peggy was married to Jacob Harper, John 
was married to Miss Eliza Copenhaver, of Lincoln County, Missouri. 
Sally A. is the wife of Benjamin Hall; Samuel married Nancy Thomp- 
son; Hannah is now Mrs. Pleasant A. Jones, of Kansas; Benjamin mar- 
ried Mary A. Hudson; Isam married Louisa Thompson; Nancy J. mar- 
ried Thomas Wilkerson; Mary E.; Thomas married Cynthia Green, 
and Caruthers B. married Mary Brown. In 1842, Mr. Copenhaven came 
to Missouri and settled in this county ^nd township. Though in declin- 
ing years, Mr. C. has the satisfaction of knowing that his life has has not 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 1 53 

been a failure, and he has acquired a comfortable competency. His 
son, Thomas N., is a blacksmith and farmer by occupation, and was born 
in this county March 29, 1856. His wife was a daughter of Granville and 
Martha Green, of this county, to whom he was married September 21, 
1877. They have three children: Armetta, Thomas G. and Delsia M. 
Mr. T. N. Copenhaver now has a farm of 160 acres on section 26. He 
does some work at his trade, but attends principally to his farming- 
interests. He and his father are Democrats. They belong to the Bap- 
tist Church. 

JOSEPH F. JOHNSON 

was born October 3, 1849, in Middle Tennessee, and was the son of 
William D. Johnson, who was born July 2, 1826. He married about the 
year 1840, to Miss Lucinda Carrington, born September i, 18 12. They had 
five children: James A., born May 27, 1842, died December 8, 1868; 
William W., born May 20, 1844, died during the war; Henry J., born 
February 15, 1847; Lucinda C, born April 6, 1852, and Joseph. In 1857, 
emigrating to St. Clair County, Missouri, Mr. Johnson purchased a tract 
of land, upon which he settled and lived till his death, April 13, 1859. 
Mrs. J. died at Springfield, Missouri, May i, 1863. Joseph F. commenced 
life for himself at the age of thirteen years as a cattle driver, but in a 
few months became employed by the government as post teamster, fol- 
lowing this business about two years. Then with his brother, (James) 
and sister, he removed to Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas, and after six 
months he and his brother, with others, started over the plains to New 
Mexico. On account of a severe snow storm, they were compelled to 
abandon the enterprise. Returning to Kansas, he was engaged in farm- 
ing for four years, when he went to Howard County, which was his home 
for two years. In 1871 he came to this county. Mr. Johnson was mar- 
ried September 14, 1873, to Miss L. Zada J. Rippetoe, of St. Clair 
County. They have had four children: William E. C, born June i, 
1874, died July 4, 1881; Charles A., born December 30, 1875; Amy R., 
born February 2, 1878, and Etta D., born October 18, 1882. His place 
contains 166 acres of valuable land, well adapted for grazing. He is 
Democratic in his political views. Himself and wife are connected with 
the M. E. Church South. 

JOSEPHUS W. KNIGHT, 

a Kentuckian by birth, was born October 11, 1836, his parents being 
William and Eglentine (Winchester) Knight, the former born in 1814 in 
North Carolina, and the latter, a native of Kentucky, born in 1818. 
They were married in 1835, and of their family of four sons and three 
daughters, all survive but two sons. In 1850 the}^ emigrated from Ken- 

73 



I 1 54 HISTORY OF ST. CT.AIR COUNTY. 

tucky to this county, settling in Chalk Level Township, where Mr. 
Knight still resides, his wife having died in January, 1851. Four j-ears 
later he married Miss Mary Boots, of St. Clair County, and to them 
have been born five sons and six daughters. When twenty years of age 
Josephus W. took the overland trip to California, remaining there for 
three years. July 2, i860, he was married to Miss Mary M. Short, of 
this county and they had three children: Emma J., born July 27, 1870; 
Jennie Lee, February 16, 1872; and Eva E., born December 21, 1874. 
Mrs. Knight died December 20, 1875, and Mr. K. was again married 
March 22, 1877, to Mrs. Servia Sherman, widow of John H. Sherman, 
also of St. Clair County. She had by a former marriage three sons and 
three daughters, of whom two sons and two daughters survive. In 1862 
he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Regiment Volunteer Infantry as a 
private and served until the close of the war, when he was discharged 
in Camden County, Arkansas. After the war he settled in Saline 
County, Missouri, and four years later came to this county. He subse- 
quently took a trip to Texas, but upon returning settled on his present 
place of 86 acres. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. fraternity and 
in politics a Democrat. Himself and wife are connected with the M. E. 
Church, South. 

ELDER WILLIAM McAMIS LOVE, 

pastor of Prairie Grove Church, was born in McMinn County, Tennes- 
se«e, in 1845, receiving the greater part of his primary education prior to 
his fifteenth year. His father was a farmer by occupation, and though 
the son worked upon the home farm to some extent, his mind was 
in a great degree bent upon his books and the means for obtaining 
an education. When only eighteen years old he was called upon to 
join the Confederate army, but his principles being for the side of the 
Union, he traveled ten nights to join the Union army, enlisting in 
December, 1863, in the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry. He participated in 
the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, and many others of 
less note, enduring many hardships and privations until the close of the 
war, when he was honorably discharged. Returning home, he pursued 
his studies and working upon the farm and teaching school until 1869, 
when he came to Missouri, settling in this county. Purchasing a farm, 
he commenced its improvement, and now has a valuable place. In the 
fall of 1865 he united with the Baptist Church. After this he worked on 
on the farm in summer and taught during the winter months as hereto- 
fore, being at the same time himself a diligent student. In 1876 he was 
ordained a minister of the Baptist Church, and has been pastor of the 
Prairie Grove Church since 1876, having also preached in Benton, Henry 
and Hickory Counties. In 1882 he traveled 2,000 miles to fill his appoint- 
ments. Soon after coming to Missouri Mr. Love commenced bee cul- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



II5S 



ture and has been unusually successful in the undertaking, having at 
present perhaps the largest apiary in the county, and few men m the 
state are better informed than he upon the subject of bee culture. In 
1875 believing that sworn secret societies among men were contrary 
to the spirit of God and of Christianity, he began writing notices for 
the press and giving public lectures against such orders, especially 
against Masonry. In 1876 he received the nomination for lieutenant 
cTovernor on the ticket of the American party. January i, 1882, he 
started the publication of the " Banner of Truth" in the interests of 
prohibition and anti-secrecy. This is a neat, interesting sheet, and is 
well patronized. Mr. L. married in 1867 Miss Sarah J. Pickens daugh- 
ter of Captain C. A. Pickens, of McMinn County, Tennessee. She died 
in January, 1879, leaving six children: Robert Grant, James B. Alice 
[ane Charles Pickens, Cassie Keturah and Ettie Eugenia. June 2, 1881, he 
married Clara A. Stewart, of Springfield, Missouri, her father. Dr. Stew- 
art having come from Indiana. They have one child, William Stewart. 
Mr'. L. is thoroughly honest in his convictions, and in his pulpit duties 
eloquent and impressive. 

BAZZEL MYERS, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born October 16, 1841. in Auglaize County, 
Ohio His father, Jacob Myers, a farmer by occupation, was born Novem- 
ber 8, 1808, in Greene County, Tennessee, and in May, 1832 married 
Miss Sarah Day, who was born December 22, 1818, in Maryland. They 
had five children. William, Bazzel. Addison, Elizabeth and Jacob. Two 
of these are deceased. Mrs. M. died May 10, 185 1, and Mr. M. departed 
this life August 16. 1866. The subject of this sketch commenced life for 
himself when eleven years old. He lived with J. H. Dawson, of 
Au-laize County. Ohio, until of age and then enlisted in Company C 
Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. S. R. Mott, captain. He served 
through the war, receiving an honorable discharge at Indianapolis, Indi- 
ana October i^ 1864. Mr. Myers returned to Ohio and engaged in 
farming and was married to Miss Mary I. Huntley, May 4, i865, m 
Waynesfield. that state. By this union they had nine children eight of 
whom are now living: Ida L., Joseph W. (died May 13, 1870). EsteUe 
M Jacob C, Nora A., Alfred S., James Eddison, Kmsy L. and Martha 
J ' In 1875 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, buying 240 acres ot 
land in Jackson, Township, on section 10. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. fraternity and Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Baptist 
Church. Politically he is a Democrat. 

JOHN F. TALLY, 

farmer and miller, was born in St. Clair County. Missouri, November 
15, 1851, and was the son of George W. Tally, who was born December 



1156 msroK\ OK ST. claik county. 

30, 1824, in Virginia. His mother, formerly Miss Amanda Kincade, was 
born January 21, 1829, and was also a Virginian b}- birth. They were 
married in 1846. in St. Clair County, Missouri, and are the parents of 
nine children, five now living. Mr. T. came to Pike County, Missouri, 
in an early day, and soon after moved to St. Clair County with his 
parents, his father-in-law, Mr. Kincade, also being one of the earl\- 
settlers of the county. John F. Tally matried Miss Laura J. Wheeler, 
of this county, August 7, 1873. They have two children living: Thirza 
H. and John A. George W. was born May i, 1874, and died December 
7, 1874. Mr. T. erected his steam saw mill in 1882, and is now doing a 
good business. There is attached to it a run of stone for grinding corn, 
which is well patronized. Politiclally he is a Democrat and together 
with his wife, belongs to the J^aptist Church of Wright's Creek. 

REV. WILLIAM P. WRIGHT, 

pastor of the Wright Creek Baptist Church, was born in Lincoln 
County, Missouri December 15, 1830, his parents being William Wright, 
originally of Washington County, Kentucky, born in 1808, and Ann 
(Thomas) Wright, also a Kentuckian by birth, born in 18 12. They were 
•married in 1830, and have seven children living: William P., Elizabeth 
P., Morgan, Martin V., Nancy J., Milton F., and Henry F. One son, 
Thomas J., died in June, 1875. Coming to Missouri the senior Wright 
settled in Lincoln County in 1830, and after remaining there four years 
moved to this county (then Rives) and located in Jackson Township, 
where he entered eighty acres of land from the government. In 1840 
selling out he bought 160 acres in Butler Township, but disposed of this 
in 1849 ^^^ purchased eighty acres in this township, where he 
remained until his death, February 15, 1854. Mrs. W^right, after being 
a widow for two years, married James Addington, of this county, and 
died in 1867. The subject of this sketch when a bo)' had limited advan- 
tages for acquiring an education, and being a great lover of books he 
was determined to prepare himself for a life of usefulness. While 
applying his mind to mathematics and somewhat to the sciences, he 
took a deep interest in the study of the Bible, and later became well 
versed in its truths and doctrines, which he at once put in practice. He 
was licensed to preach in 1854, and in 1855 was ordained a Baptist 
preacher by Revs. Peter Brown and James Cole, of this county. Since 
his ordination he has been pastor of different churches, and has been 
occupied in missionary work, in the old path association. His farm in 
section 8 contains 160 acres. He is actively engaged in farming and 
has done much surveying, being well learned in the principles of that 
science. His wife and five of his children are members of Wright Creek 
Church. Mr. W. married Miss Elizabeth Crabtrce, of Benton Count}', 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 1 57 

December i8, 1850. They have eight children living: Columbus born 
October 24, 185 1, and died August 31, 1852, Missouri A., Andrew E., 
W. L. D., Mary C, Almeta A., Rebecca E , Tatum A. and Centennial V. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also belongs to the Pat- 
rons of Husbandry. In his political views he is a Democrat. 

DR. JOHN W. WRIGHT, 

was born December 20, 1836, in Washington County, Kentucky. His 
father, Nathaniel Wright, was born October 14, 1806, and on October 
II, 183 1, married Miss Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Richard and Eliz- 
abeth Parker, she was born October ii, 1813, in Culpeper County, Vir- 
ginia. John W., the second child and oldest son in the family, 
received a good education in youth, attending the Georgetown College 
at Georgetown, Kentucky, where he graduated in the class of 1861. 
Entering the Medical College of Kentucky at Louisville, he graduated 
in 1863, and in 1864 was a graduate from the Louisville University, hav- 
ing been a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of that 
institution. He first commenced the practice of his profession at Loui&s 
ville, but after remaining there one year, went to High Grove in i8fey 
where he had an extensive patronage for four years. April i, 1868, bl, 
married Miss Amanda Rouse, a daughter of William A. and Amandc/ 
Rouse, of Bullitt County, Kentucky, and they have two daughterss 
Nancy A., born April 19, 1869, and Matilda B., born August 28, 1875. 
In 1870 Dr. W. purchased a tract of eighty acres of land in Jackson 
Township, St. Clair County, Missouri, and devoted some attention to 
agricultural pursuits and the raising of stock. He added, from time to 
time to his original purchase until he is now the owner of 1,200 acres of 
excellent land, several hundred acres of which are under fence and well 
adapted for fine stock raising to which he is giving considerable interest. 
In 1880 he represented this county in the state legislature and since his 
return has resumed his practice, which is very extensive and constantly 
on the increase. The doctor is a man well versed in his profession, kind 
and gentle to the sick and affable in his manners. He belongs to both 
the A. F. &.A. M. and A. O. U. W. fraternities. Politically he is Dem- 
ocratic. 

. C. W. WRIGHT, 

merchant at Iconium, is a native of Washington County, Kentucky, and 
was born August 14, 185 1, being the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth 
Wright, who were married October ir, 1831. The former was born 
October 14, 1806, and the latter October 11, 1813, and they were the 
parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom all but 
one son are living. C. W. Wright attended the State Normal Institu- 



I15S HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

tion at WarrciisburL[, Jt)hMson County, Missouri, where he received a 
good education, and after leavini^ the school was engaged in teaching 
for a few terms. In 1877 he accepted a situation as salesman at Lo^vry 
City, the st}'le of the firm being J. V. Wright & Co., in which capacity 
he served for three years. Being desirous of engaging in business on 
his own account, he selected a site, and for eighteen months has been 
enjoying a fine general merchandise trade, in the southern part of this 
township. His present place of business was opened January 6, 1882. 
His stock is a complete one, and he richU' merits the success which has 
thus far attended his career. He is acting as magistrate and is very 
popular in this community. 



POLK TOWNSHIP. 



THOMAS J. AMLIN 

vas born November 17, i84i,in Franklin County, Tennessee, his parents 
being John M. and Mary A. (Childs) Amlin, the former of Ohio, born 
July 4, 1811, and the latter of Tennessee, born July 25, 1812. They were 
married in 1827 and had a family of nine children, four of whom sur- 
vive. In 1842 Mr. Amlin emigrated to St. Clair Count}-. Missouri, pur- 
chased 160 acres and was a resident of the county until his death, Octo- 
ber 23, 1867. His widow has lived here for forty-one years. In 1861 
Thomas J. enlisted in the Confederate service for a few months, when 
he returned home. He was married to Miss Mar\' C. Lawson, of Ben- 
ton County, Missouri, and to them have been born seven children: Delia 
A., born May 9, 1864; John T., born August 7, 1866; James, born Octo- 
ber 2, 1868, now deceased; Mary E., born September 6, 1869; Nancy J., 
born October 15, 1873, died October 25, 1875; Missouri A., born June 5, 
1875, and Martha M., born May 31, 1880. In 1871 Mr. Amlin purchased 
the old homestead, upon which he lived for three years, when, selling it, 
he bought 1 1 1 acres in Jackson Township. This was his home for seven 
years, and then he disposed of it and again bought 160 acres in this 
township. Roland C. Amlin, his brother, was born April I, 1844, in 
Jackson Township, this county, and was the fifth son and seventh child 
of the family. He was married April 20, 1871, to Miss Paulina Payne, 
of St. Clair County, and they have five children: Mahala J., born Decem- 
ber 21, 1872; John W., born December 29, 1874; James T., born P'ebru- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II 59 

ary 14, 1877; Francis C, born December 23, 1878, and Martha H., born 
August 26, 1 88 1. In 1874 Mr. A. purchased the principal part of the 
homestead property, which he still owns. These brothers are progressive 
farmers and quite extensive stock raisers. Politically, they are Demo- 
cratic. Thomas J. Amlin and wife are members of the Baptist Church 
at Hopewell, while Roland C. and his mother are connected with the 
M. E. Church South. 

THOMAS A. COCK, 

section 6, was born October 5, 1846, in Warsaw, Benton County, Mis- 
souri. His father has been twice married, first to Miss Mary Bradley, 
who subsequently died, leaving thirteen chileren, nine of whom are liv- 
ing: Elizabeth, George C, William H., Martha, Mary, John F., Susan, 
Francis R. and Thomas A. In February, i860. Miss Sarah Effinger, of 
Hickory County, became his second wife. In 1864 they removed to 
Osceola Township, St. Clair County, Mr. C. here purchasing 500 acres 
of land, on which he remained for about fifteen years. Selling it, he 
located in Clinton, where he has since resided. His second wife is 
deceased and he now makes his home with his son, William H. Thomas 
A. Cock was married October 25, 1876, to Miss Melissa Rice, and they 
are the parents of three children: Lena, born September 23, 1877; Paul, 
born November 3, 1880, and William Archie, born May 27, 1882. In 1877 
Mr. C. settled upon his present farm, where he has since devoted his 
attention to agricultural pursuits and the raising of stock. His religious 
preferences are with the Methodist denomination, to which church his 
wife belongs. In politics he is a Democrat. 

JAMES FLETCHER CORBIN, 

one of the earliest settlers of St. Clair County, was born December 31, 
183 I. His father, David Corbin, a Virginian by birth, born in 1790, was 
married in 1813, to Miss Annie Erwin, originally of Kentucky. Their 
family consisted of eleven children, of whom James was the youngest. 
In 1839 the senior Corbin removed with his family to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, they being among the pioneers here. In the fall following his 
arrival (1839), he erected his first dwelling of round logs, it being just 
fourteen feet square, and in this house of one room, fifteen persons ate 
and slept for seven months. The next spring an addition was placed 
upon it, which when completed, measured 20x18 feet. During this time 
the meat used by them was procured with the rifle. Mr. Corbin and his 
sons built the first frame house erected in Osceola. This structure was 
constructed of \vhipsawed lumber, sawed by them, and after being fin- 
ished it was occupied by a Frenchman as a tailor shop. This was located 
near the present site of the Upper Osceola Mill. James F. Corbin 



Il6o HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

resided with his father until 1853, when he was married to Miss Nancy 
O. Beckley of this county, and a daughter of John W. Beckley. They 
have eleven children: Anna L., David F., Susan M., John H., James W. 
Nancy B., Carolina B., Joseph P., William T., Leona M., and Mary J. 
Mr. C, through his own industry and good management, has accumu- 
lated a good competency, now owning a farm of 200 acres. 

WASHINGTON LP:E GILBERT, 

a native of Lincoln County. Kentucky, was born December 14, 1837, 
being the son of John C. Gilbert, a stone mason by occupation, who was 
born in Amherst County, Virginia, in 1784. When eighteen years of 
age, or in 1802, he removed to Lincoln County, Kentucky, where he was 
married February 14, 1835, to Elizabeth Huston, of that county. They 
had four children, two of whom are living: Sarah A. and Washington L. 
Walter H., who was born February 3, 1836, died September 9, 1862, hav- 
ing been murdered while plowing, and William A., born December 10, 
1839, died October 8, 1857. Mrs. Gilbert died July 22, 1846. In March, 
1854, Mr. G. removed to Johnson County, Missouri, and that year 
entered 120 acres of land, subsequently locating 120 acres more, with 
land warrants granted him for service in the war of 18 12. He died Sep- 
tember 10, 1868, after a residence of fourteen years in Johnson County. 
The subject of this sketch was married May 26, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth 
J. Helms, and they have been blessed with six children: Ann E., born 
May 3, 1862, (wife of Thomas L. Harris, of Johnson County); Patsey G., 
born April 24, 1866; John H., born July i, 1867; Clay W., born Novem- 
ber 23, 18G8; Susan B., born October, 5, 1870, and Sally L., born May 9, 
1872. August I, 1862, Mr. Gilbert enlisted as a private in Co. D, Six- 
teenth Missouri infantry, second brigade, under Captain David Baker 
for three years, his company surrendering about that time at Shreve- 
port, Louisana. He reached home in June, 1865, resumed agricultural 
pursuits, and remained upon a portion of the homestead until March 5, 
1881, when selling the property, he came to this county, settling in Polk 
Township, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock rais- 
ing. Mrs. Gilbert and her eldest daughter are connected with the Chris- 
tian Church, of Bear Creek. He is a Democrat. 

HARVEY G. HARPER 

was born January 28, 1822, in East Tennessee, being the son of John M. 
and Nancy (Williams) Harper, who were married in 1818. The former 
a farmer and blacksmith by occupation, was born FebrAiary 28, 1794, in 
Christian County, Kentucky, and the latter, originally from Tennessee, 
was born February 10,'' 1798. Of a family of seven sons and two daughters, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. ^^^' 



6ve sons and one daughter grew to years of n,atur,ty. Leaving Ten- 
nessee in 1827, they moved westward, locating .n Cooper County, from 
whence after two years, they went to Pike County. Here the sen.or 
Harner purchased 160 acres of land, farmed it for seven years, when 
selling it in 1835, he settled in Benton County, but bought land just over 
the lit-.e in St. Clair County. His death occurred April 5, 839. his 
widow surviving until the 30th of March, .869, when she a so departed 
this life The subject of this sketch first started in l.fe for h.mself, when 
eighteen years old, as a farm laborer. December 4, 1840, he married 
mL Hannah Cover, of St. Clair County, and they had four daughters. 
Martha A., born October 36, ,84., died in 1858 Nancy D., bo- Dece™. 
ber 4 1845 (wife of A. McKinzie, of this county); Sarah K., born Decern 
be 1'. .82 (now Mrs. James Childs. of this county), and Mary L., born 
December^;, ,858, died in October, 188.. Mrs. Harper's death occurred 
in Seotember 1875. Mr. H. was again married December 12, 1877. to 
Mi!s SLcy G. Walker, of Hickory County. They have had t^wo ch, d 
ren: Bertha M., born January ., .878, and Laura G., born Apr.l .6. >88, 
died April 16, 1882. Mr. H. settled upon his present farm in 1842, and 
has resfded in the county since that time. He devotes much time and 
attention to stock raising. He is a member of the Primitive Baptist 
Church, organized in 1836. In politics he is a Greenbacker. 

JAMES RILEY JOHNSTON 

was born in Warren County, Missouri, October 2^.823, -^ -^ *e^on 
of Joseph Johnston, a Virginian by birth, born F'^bruary 16 .784, who 
in 805 married Miss Rebecca Bryan. She was onginaly from Clark 
County, Kentucky, and was born April 8. 17^. They had nirteen child- 
ren, of whom only four are now living. In .843 'l^^f^""' ^ "Zcl .2 
St Clair County, Missouri, and here the senior Johnston died March 12, 
,850, his widow surviving until April 5, .875. when she a so passed away^ 
JaLs R. came into possession of the homestead ^^f" the death o his 
father, but in ,877 exchanged this property for a farm of '^o^'cresin 
Polk Township, moving upon it in the spring of «hat year. In 872 he 
was elected sheriff of this county and re-elected in >874, and during his 
term of office he resided in Osceola. Mr. J. was married September 5. 

856. to Miss Harriet Gist, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Gist of 
this ounty. To them were born eight children: Joseph Emmett (died 
luly 24 1865), Ellen, William T., John H. (died in infancy), Andrew B, 
Eva O Fannie and Rebecca M. Mr. J. followed farming as his chief 
!ccupa ion, but at times tau.ht school. In .880 he was appomted ce - 
sus enumerator for Polk and Dallas Townships, but - -ou^;/ 
health was obliged to give it up. He died on June '■ '8«°' ^^'^ =^" '^'^ 

ness of nineteen days, and having been a member of the Masonic lod.e 



Il6? HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

at Osceola, was buried by that order in the familj' cemeter)' in Jackson 
Township. He was a zealous member of the Christian Church, and 
during his life was a man honored and respected by all for his uniform 
kindness and upright daily walk. 

WILLIAM PAYNE. 

originall}' from Greene County, Tennessee, was born July 14, 1830, his 
parents being Eleazer and Elizabeth (Looney) Payne, both natives of 
Hawkins County, Tennessee, the former born in 1808, and the latter in 
1809. Their marriage occurred in 1827, and to them were born ten 
children, of whom but two daughters and one son are living. Emigrat- 
ing to St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1842, they remained there for three 
years, then returning to Tennessee. Mr. Payne died September 18, 1845, 
and his widow now resides with her only son, William, in this township. 
In 1855 our subject purchased 120 acres of land in Polk Township, this 
county, upon which he has since lived. November 12, 1848, he married 
Miss Mahala Suiter, also a Tennesseean by birth. They were the par- 
ents of six sons and five daughters, all of whom survive save one 
daughter. Mrs. Payne died in 1873. About four years thereafter Mr. 
P. married Mrs. Mary A., widow of John W. Ellis, of this county. They 
have had three children, two daughters and one son. Mrs. Payne has 
three daughters by her former marriage. Mi. P. is one of the most 
enterprising agriculturists in the township in which he resides. In poli- 
tics he is a Greenbacker. Himself and wife are identified with the 
Methodist Protestant Church. 

JOHN POLING 

was born in Randolph Count)', Virginia, September 8, 1816, his parents, 
John and Margaret Poling, nee Gainer, also being natives of the same 
county. The former, born in 1796, died while our subject was an infant, 
and the latter was born in 1799. Their marriage occurred in 18 14. One 
year after the death of her husband, Mrs. Poling married Abner Schoon- 
over, of the same county, and with him emigrated to Macon County, 
Missouri. They had nine children, and of these three daughters only 
are living. Mr. S. died March i, 1862. He was a celebrated fifer, and 
was fife-major of the Eleventh regiment, Missouri State militia. His 
widow also died in 1862. John Poling, the only child in his father's 
family, was brought up by his stepfather, and was married to Miss Emily 
Palon, of Barbour County, Virginia. To them were born three children: 
Edith M., Arch E. and Luther G. Mrs. P. died August 9, 1874. He 
was afterwards married to Mrs. Sarah Bernard, w^dow of James Bernard, 
of St. Clair County, who has five children living, and all residents of this 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I163 

county. Mr. Poling now resides on section 9, of this township, where he 
owns 160 acres. He also owns a farm in the central portion of the town- 
ship, upon which is a celebrated spring, known as the Poling Spring. 
He has been very successful in the cultivation and raising of wheat, and 
one year from three bushels of seed sown on less than three acres of land 
realized 105 bushels, an average of nearly thirty-five bushels per acre. 
He also raises considerable corn. He is a member of the Baptist Church, 
and politically is Democratic. 

ALEXANDER M. RICE 

is a native of Sumner County, Tennessee, and was born July 30, 1845. 
His parents, William and Lena Rice, nee Cotton, were born in the same 
county, and they had a family of six daughters and four sons, of whom 
there are now living Henry S., Mary M., Sassandre Alice, and Alexan- 
der M. Rice. The latter was married in 1865 to Miss Ellen Hooper, 
daughter of Claybourne and Mary Hooper, of this county. They have 
had eight children, but only five survive: James A., Mary M., Anna, 
William E. and Estella. Mr. Rice commenced life for himself at the age 
of eighteen years, and in 1880 he purchased his first farm, of lOO acres, 
located on section 8 of this township, about eight or nine miles north- 
east of Osceola. Since that time he has been improving this place. 
He is very industrious and energetic, and is rapidly assuming a place 
among the enterprising agriculturists of the vicinity. His farm is well 
adapted for stock raising. Mr. Rice and his wife are identified with the 
M. E. Church, which meets at Sheldon's school house, this township. 
His political views are Democratic. 

ALBERT B. SHELDON 

was born December 27, 18 16, near Hartford, Connecticut, his parents 
being Pardon and Nancy Sheldon, ncc Mann, both of whom were born 
near Providence, Rhode Island, in the year 1780. They had three sons 
and three daughters. Pardon died June 18, 1822, in Connecticut, and 
his widow departed this life in 1836 in Rhode Island. In 1837, leaving 
the state of his birth, Albert B. Sheldon went to St. Louis, Missouri, and 
was occupied for a time in traveling through Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas 
and the Cherokee Nation in the interest of a clock business. Subse- 
quently, with Nicholas Campbell, he purchased a stock of general mer- 
chandise and took it as far as Boonville, then going in search of a suita- 
ble location. Upon reaching Fairfield, in Benton County, they opened 
up a business in a log structure erected for the purpose on August 20, 
1837. In December of that year Mr. S. received an appointment as 
postmaster. He continued this trade for three years, and on December 



I 164 IITSTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

25, 1839, Miss Eliza Gardner, of St. Clair County, who was born Sep- 
tember 10, 1822. in Marion County, Missouri, became his wife. Her 
father, James Gardner, was among the oldest pioneers of this county. 
He was originally from Georgia, but emigrated to Tennessee in an early 
day, going thence to Marion County, Missouri, and later to this county 
in 1833, before it was organized. He, together with Crow and Crutch- 
field, located the town of Osceola, erecting the first store above the gov- 
ernment trading post, conducted by Bishop and Hogle. Mr. and Mrs, 
Sheldon have had nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom 
there are living: William P., married a Miss Seaby, of Osceola; Luther 
W., married Anna White, of Monroe City; Thomas J., born September 
15, 1853, ^^^ Marietta, born December 15, 1855, (wife of Dr. Nathaniel 
Wright, of this county. After his marriage Mr. S. purchased eighty 
acres of land on King's Prairie, but eight years later sold it and bought 
120 acres in Polk Township. He has since then been a large land owner, 
but now has only 160 acres, upon which he resides. He and his wife 
have been members of the Christian Church for thirty-five years. His 
political views are Democratic and he has served as magistrate in this 
township. 

LUTHER W. SHELDON 

was born January 23, 1845, in St. Clair County, Missouri, and was the 
son of Albert B. and Eliza (Gardner) Sheldon, who had been married 
December 25, 1839. The former was born near Hartford, Connecticut, 
December 27, 18 16, and the latter was born December 10, 1822, and of 
the original family of nine chidren — six sons and three daughters — four 
children survive: William P., Thomas J., Marietta and Luther W. The 
last named son married Miss Anna E. White, of Marion County, Mis- 
souri and they have had five children. William Albert, born September 
9. 1871; Shelby W., born January 9, 1873; Bessie and Byron (twins), born 
September 2, 1877, (both died in early infancy); and Hattie May, born 
May 14, 1879. I" 1868 M^"- Sheldon purchased seventy-five acres of 
land on section 8, of this township, and subsequently bought eighty 
acres adjoining. He has since been actively engaged in farming and 
stock raising and is one of the model farmers of Polk Township. He is 
a member of the L O. O. F. fraternity at Osceola and is also connected 
with the M. E. Church, South, while his wife belongs to the Missionary 
Baptist Church, at Osceola. Politically he is a Democrat. 

JOHN A. WISNER 

was born May 3, 1837, and was a native of Canton Basel, Switzerland, 
where his parents, Adam and Catharine Wisner, were also born, the 
former in October, 181 1, and the latter March 23, 18 17. They were mar- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II65 

ried April 6, 1836, and had seven sons and six daughters, and of this 
number two sons and three daughters have died. Emigrating to America 
in 1843, they first settled in Virginia, purchasing lOO acres of land and 
remaining upon it for four years. In 1847 Mr. W. sold this property, 
went to Sciota County, Ohio, and three years la+^er removed to Van 
Buren County, Iowa, where he bought a forty acre tract. After resid- 
ing in Iowa about six years, he came to Cooper County, Missouri, in the 
spring of 1859, ^"^ '^^ 1S60 to St. Clair County. He bought 160 acres of 
land in this township, but in two years exchanging places, secured one 
ol 170 acres in Osceola Township, where he lived until his death, July 
30, 1871. His widow now resides with one of her sons in this township. 
John A. Wisner, our subject, was married April i, i860, to Miss Lora 
Clark, of Van Buren County, Iowa. They have eight children: Joseph, 
born January 29, 1861; Sarah, born September i, 1862, (wife of George 
W. Garrison, of this county); Martha A., born March 20, 1864; Laura 
and Lora, (twins) born April 29, 1867; Jessie, born December 17, 1869; 
Jeremiah, born May 16, 1872, and Adam Clark, born January 30, 1875. 
In 1866 Mr. Wisner purchased a farm of eighty-two acres in Polk Town- 
ship, upon which he still resides. In 1876 he was nominated and elected 
to the position of magistrate, and was re-elected in 1878 and again in 
1880, still holding that office. Mrs. W. and five children are members 
of the M. E. Church. He is a Democrat. 

NATHANIEL P. WRIGHT, M. D., 

a native of Washington County, Kentucky, was born May i, 1849, and 
was the son of Nathaniel Wright of the same county, born October 14, 
1806, who on October 11, 1831, married Miss Elizabeth Parker, who was 
born in Culpeper County, Virginia, October ii, 1813. Of their original 
family of twelve children eleven are now living: Elizabeth V., John W., 
Amanda P., Missouri, James K. P., Kitty H., C. W., Alice A., Anna E., 
Albert S., and of this number the subject of this sketch was the fifth son 
and eighth child. One son, Thomas J., a graduate of the medical col- 
lege at Louisville, died in his native state. Nathaniel P., was educated 
at his birthplace, and also an attended the medical college at Louisville, 
where he graduated in the class of 1875-76. In 1868 the senior Wright, 
with his family, emigrated to St. Clair County, Missouri, settling first in 
Jackson and later in Polk Township. The Doctor was married Novem- 
ber I, 1876, to Marietta Sheldon, daughter of Albert B. and Eliza 
CGardner) Sheldon, of this township, They have three children: Leo 
S., born December 6, 1877; Julia, born August 27, 1879; and Ethel, born 
January 9, 1882. Though commencing his practice against a strong and 
well established competition, Dr. Wright has met with flattering success, 
and to a patronage which he richly deserves, it extending beyond the 



Il66 fllSrOKV OF ST. CLAIR COUN TV. 

limits of St. Clair County, into Hickory and Benton. The first mill in 
this locality was erected on a part of his present farm. He owns 350 
acres of land and has had great success in the raising of wheat. He is 
a member of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Henry County, and also 
belongs to the A. F. & A. M., and A. O. U. W. fraternities. Politically 
he is a Democrat. His wife is connected with the M. E. Church, South, 
of Bear Creek. 



DALLAS TOWNSHIP. 



MILLARD FILLMORE ALLEN. 

a native of Allen County, Kentucky, was born in 1850, and was the son 
of Lee Allen, a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1825, who, in 1848, was 
married to Elizabeth Russell, of the same state. In 1853, the family 
leaving the state of their birth, went to Arkansas, from whence, after 
living there three years, they came to St. Clair County, Missouri, locat- 
ing where Millard F. now resides. In 1872 he was married to Miss 
Samantha Myers, a daughter of Daniel Myers, of this county. They 
have had five children: Loge, Bird, Nola, Bert and Delia. Four of these 
are living. Mr. Allen is the owner of a beautiful tarm of 240 acres, sit- 
uated in a valley on one of the confluences of Weaubleau Creek, and 
for agricultural purposes this is unsurpassed in the township. Politically 
he is a Democrat. 

GEORGE W. BAZZILL, 

originally from Delaware County, Indiana, was born August 3, 1S37. 
His father, Ezekiel Bazzill, was born in 1792 in Virginia, and in that 
state learned his trade of boot and shoe makinr. After following that 
occupation some time he married during the s immer of 1816, Miss 
Tamor Massie, and to them were born eleven children, of whom George 
W. is the seventh. While he was a small boy his father removed to 
Cooper County, Missouri, thence to Johnson County, and finally to Col- 
orado in 1859. Returning from that state Mr. B. stopped at Platte City, 
and until about the year 1865 was engaged in car building. In 1861 he 
was married to Miss lona Buck, who subsequently died, leaving one 
child, Mary lona. His second marriage occurred in 1869 to Miss Mary 
M. Nolan, and by this union there arc two children now living: Sidney 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I167 

C. and Tamor E. She also died and Mr. B. was again married in 1880, 
the maiden name of his third wife being Malinda L. Duegan. They 
have one child, Lexey May. He is the owner of 160 acres of excellent 
land in section 5. and also a farm of eighty acres on section 6, of this 
township. His residence is situated on an elevation commanding an 
extensive view ot the surrounding country. Mr. Brazzill is a member of 
Long Ridge Church. 

MITCHELL Y. CAUTHON 

was born on the 21st of December. 185 1, in St. Clair County, Missouri. 
James Cauthon, his father, a carpenter by trade and a native of Mis- 
souri, was born in 1824, and in 1849 married Miss Eliza Burse, of this 
county and a daughter of Zach. Burse, Esq. To them were born thir- 
teen children, of whom Mitchell Y. was the second child. He resided 
on the home place until his marriage, in 1867, to Miss Penelope Dodson, 
and they have had four children: James E., William R., George M. and 
Izona. Politically, Mr. C. is a staunch Republican and always has been 
such. He owns eighty acres of land, and besides farming is interested 
in stock raising to some extent. 

JAMES R. CARR, 

a prominent young farmer of this township, was born in Monroe County, 
Illinois, in 1857. His parents, Jonathan and Maria (Parker) Carr, were 
both natives of Illinois, the former having been born in 1833. They 
were married in 1854. James R. remained at home until 1874, when he 
came to Missouri and commenced work as a farm hand. In 1877 he was 
married to Miss Harriet Renfro, daughter of Markis Renfro, of Dallas 
Township. They have two bright children, Bertie and William K. 

JOHN T. CARVER 

was born in Carter County, Kentucky, on November 4, 1830, his parents 
being Morgan and Harriet Carver, nee Pierce. The former was born in 
Albermarle County, Virginia, in 1755, and was a farmer by occupation. 
Shortly after his marriage he emigrated to Kentucky in 1828, and ir* 
1863 died in Carter County at the advanced age of 108 years. John T. 
was the fourth child of a family of fourteen. In i860 he was united in 
marriage with Miss Ameseta Peters, of Virginia birth. Just previous to 
the late civil war he came to this county, and during that conflict, on 
account of his party principles, which were Democratic, he was twice 
threatened with lynch law. Mr. and Mrs. Carver have had sixteen 
children: Alice Gertrude, Fannie Belle, George, Ella, John Morgan, 
Emma Dora, William Worth, James T., Emma Sarah, Charles Edward, 



Il68 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COaNTV. 

Laura Elizabeth, Harry, Sylva, Thomas F., Joseph D. and Ameseta. 
Two of these died while \-ouni^. Mr. C. is a member of the United 
Brethern Church, of Mt. Carmel. He owns i68 acres of land on King's 
Prairie, and is extensively engage in the raising of stock. 

WILLIAM COWIN, 

farmer, came originally from East Tennessee, where he was born in 1833. 
His parents were George and Lydia (Thornton) Cowin, the former born 
in July, 1800, and the latter on the first day of the first year of the nine- 
teenth century. Their m arriage occurred in 1823, and to them were 
born eight children, of whom William was the youngest. He lived in 
his native state until 1836, when he accompanied his father to Missouri, 
settling in Saline County. There he was reared upon a farm and enjoy- 
ed the advantages of attending the schools of the locality, gladly avail- 
ing himself of such opportunities. In 1870 he was married to Miss 
Elizabeth Fizer, of Saline County, a daughter of Henry Fizer, Mr. 
Cowin now owns a fine farm of 200 acres. Politically he is a Democrat. 
He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. 

JAMES MADISON DELOZIER 

owes his nativity to South Carolina, where he was born in 1813. Edward 
H. Delozier, his father, born in Maryland in 1779, was married in 1812 
to Miss Frances Dyre, a Virginian by birth, who was born in 1784. 
James M. Delozier is recognized as being one of the earliest settlers of 
this county, having come here while it was in its unimproved state, and 
after years of toil and privations, encountering many difficulties, has 
succeeded in securing a landed estate of 140 acres on King's Prairie, 
situated out of the line of bluffs bordering Weaubleau Creek. In 1847 
he was married to Melissa Jane Todd, daughter of John B. Todd, of this 
county. They have had fourteen children: George W.., Joseph J., Mary 
C, James E., William J., Martha J., Rebecca F., John A., Francis M., 
Henry, Robert, John W., Margaret and Lucy A. Politically, he is a 
Republican of the strongest type. During the late war he served in the 
Eighth Missouri under Colonel McClurg. 

JAMES W. AND JOHN C. GREEN 

are sons of Elziphaniah Green, who was born in Bath Count}', Kentucky, 
December 15, 1815. In 1840, while in Nicholas County, he met Miss 
Sarah J. Bell, to whom he was united in marriage the following spring. 
They had a family of ten children, James being the oldest and John C. 
the sixth child. The former was born in Nicholas County in 1842, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 169 

in 1858 accompanied his parents to Missouri, they settling in Cooper 
County. In 1877 J, W. Green was married to Miss Martha A. Hatfield, 
and to them were born three children: John W., Peter E. and Joseph 
Francis. The oldest son is dead. John C. Green was born in 1858, and 
•continued to reside with the family on the old homestead until 1876, 
when he married Miss Lucy J. Wyatt, daughter of George Wyatt. They 
have had two children, Elizabeth A. and Ella S. These brothers now 
own and reside upon the land formerly occupied by their father, consist- 
ing of 254 acres, in section 3. They are farmers possessed with a most 
energetic will. 

JAMES R. STILES 

was born in Johnson County, Missouri, in 1847, and was the son of Dennis 
Stiles, a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1818, who, in 1838, emigrated to 
Johnson County, being one of the first settlers there. He was married 
twice, the second time in 1845, to Miss Tamson Bazzill, daughter of 
Ezekiel Bazzill. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters, 
James being the eldest child. In 1866 the senior Stiles leaving Johnson 
County, came to St. Clair County. A few years later, or in August, 1870, 
James R. was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Jackson. They 
had five children, four of whom are living: James Henry, Lizzie S., 
Clara B. and Rolla J. The eldest son, Johnny Lewis, died August 18, 
1881. Mr. Stiles is the owner of a farm of lOO acres, located in section 
7. He is much interested in stock matters and gives considerable atten- 
tion to fine stock, having some excellent animals. Formerly he was 
politically a Democrat, but later began to be found in the ranks of the 
Greenback party. He is a member of the Baptist Church at Macedonia 
and also belongs to the Grange, Concord lodge. Mr. S.'s mother, a 
native of Virginia, born in 1807, is now living and in the enjoyment of 
good health. 

THOMAS TERRY, 

the son of James and Nancy P. Terry, was born in King William County, 
Virginia, on the 25th of December, 1817. His father, a native of the 
same county, was born in 1778, and died there. In 1797 his marriage 
occurred, his wife also being a Virginian by birth, and they had a family 
often children, of whom Thomas was the ninth child. In 1842, leaving 
the state of his birth, he emigrated to St. Louis County, Missouri, and 
after living there for eight years, moved to St. Clair County, which has 
since been his home. About the year 1845, he was married in Cole 
County, Missouri, to Miss Mary J. Walser, a daughter of Squire P. Wal- 
ser. They have had ten children: Elizabeth A., Squire Walser, Elvira, 
Cass, John S., Eliza, Daniel Elias, Magoon, Stanton, and Albert G. In 
politics, Mr, Terry is a Republican, though never having taken any active 



I I/O HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

part in political matters. He is connected with the Baptist denomina- 
tion. 

WILLIAM TUCKER. 

a twin brother of Elizabeth Tucker, was born in Lincoln County, Ken- 
tucky, in 1828, the eldest of a family of eight children, seven of whom 
grew to maturity. Early Tucker, his father, who was also born in Lin- 
coln County in 1802, remained there occupied in farming and trapping 
until 1832, when he emigrated to Johnson (at that period Lafayette) 
County, bringing his entire possessions in an ox-cart, while the family, 
who were large enough to do so, walked by the way. After his arrival 
here in order to build a cabin he was compelled (as elsewhere stated) to 
send fourteen miles for help to raise the structure. Previous to this, in 
1827, he had married Miss Lucretia Owsley, of Lincoln County, Ken- 
tucky, and a niece of Governor Owsley. William was brought up in 
this vicinity upon a farm, and while school was held attended the ses- 
sions, though compelled to travel a distance of four miles through a 
trackless forest to the school house. On January ii, 1846, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Amanda Bazzill, daughter of Ezekiel Bazzill. To them 
were born six children: Mary P., born in 185 i; Samuel H., born in 1853; 
James M., born in 1855; Melvin J., born 1856; John F., born in i860; and 
William P., born in 1866. Mr. Tucker was brought up a Whig, afterwards 
voted the Democratic ticket and is now a Greenbacker. He is a mem- 
ber of the M. E. Church, South, belongs to the Grange and also to the 
Masonic fraternity. He is the owner of a most excellent farm in section 
7, and upon it raises considerable stock, the quality and purity of which 
is surpassed by none, and in numbers but few are in advance of him. In 
1850 Mr. Tucker's brother Henry, together with William Smith and a 
man named Moore, left Johnson County for the gold fields of California. 
Within three years Smith and Moore died, and Henry Tucker, having 
amassed quite a fortune, began to make preparations for his return. 
Starting he got as far as Boonville, where, overtaken by robbers, he was 
poisoned, stripped of even his clothes, robbed of his hard earned money, 
and placed upon the stage in an unconscious condition for Georgetown, 
where he arrived but he never knew his own father, who met him at 
that point. William Tucker now has in his posession the purse tiiat 
contained the money of his murdered brother. 

JOHN T. TUCKER 

is a native of Gasconade County, Missouri, and was born in 1853, being 
the son of Thomas and Jane (Miller) Tucker, both origin all\- from Ten- 
nessee, the former having been born in 1830. They were married in 
1852. In 1866 John T., still a small boy, came to this township, and lias 



BIOGRAPHICAL. liyt 

since continued to reside here. In 1874 he was married to Miss Mary 
Walters, a daughter of William Walters, and by this marriage there 
were four children, three of whom survive: William C, Nellie F. and 
Efifie. One died in infancy. Mr. T. is by occupation a farmer, but occa- 
sionally follows the trade of blacksmith, in which he is quite an adept. 

JOHN J. C. WOOLF 

was born in Caldwell County, Kentucky, on the 20th of June, 18 17, his 
father being Alfred Woolf, of the same county, born July 26, 1784. He 
was married in i8i2, his wife, a Kentuckian by birth, having been born 
in 1786. John J. C. Woolf was united in marriage in 1836 Jto Miss Ellen 
Bigs, a daughter of Elisha Bigs, of the same county as himself. Soon 
after, emigrating to Missouri, he located near Warsaw, Benton County, 
and upon living there for two or three years, in 1840 came to St. Clair 
County and settled, where he now resides, upon Weaubleau Creek. By 
his first marriage he had one child, a son, Henry Clay, now living in 
Livingston County. He was married a second time, in St. Clair County, 
to Miss Elizabeth Stealy, daughter of Jack Stealy, July 20, 1840. His 
third wife was Sealy M. Wade, to whom he was married in 1876. In 
1856 Mr. Woolf purchased a mill on Weaubleau, known as Woolf's Mill, 
and successfully operated it during the war and after for twenty years. 
During the course of the civil war he remained neutral, taking no part 
on either side, and by his uniform courtesy and gentlemanly bearing 
was unmolested. He is now the owner of 1,080 acres of very fine land 
situated in the bottoms of Weaubleau. 



COLLINS TOWNSHIP. 

JOSEPH P. BUTCHER, 

a prominent member of the Greenback party in St. Clair County and an 
influential citizen of this township, was born in Murray County, Tennes- 
see, May 16, 1823. His father, Isaac Butcher, who was born in 1784 in 
Loudoun County, Virginia, embraced the faith of Alexander Campbell 
and became a minister in the Christian Church. In 1806 he married 
Miss Rebecca Renfro, daughter of Peter Renfro, well known in the early 
history of Kentucky. To them were born thirteen children, of whom' 



II72 FIISTORV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Joseph P. was the tenth in number. He remained in his native state 
until six years old, when (1829) he went to Illinois, making it his home 
until 1869. At that time he came to this county. While residing in 
Illinois he took a prospecting tour to California in 1851, and returned 
with most satisfactory success in one }'car. In 1S53 Mr. Butcher was 
married to Miss Emeline Wood, of Macoupin County, Illinois, a daughter 
of Abraham Wood and granddaughter of Edman Wood. They have 
had seven children: Mary E., A. W., Clara E., Francis L., Charles F., 
(who died August 25, 1863) Cora B. and Francis H. These children are 
well educated and possess a natural fondness for study. Mr. B. is a pow- 
erful advocate of the Greenback doctrine and a most agreeable conversa- 
tionalist, while his hospitality is exceeded by few. He has repeatedly^ 
been offered the position of judge and twice has been asked to represent 
his county in the state legislature. His early education was obtained 
through his own efforts at night by the light of the tallow candle, and he 
afterwards fitted himself for entrance into the medical fraternity and 
studied medicine. This he discontinued and engaged in farming and 
stock raising. Mr. B. owns 280 acres of land in Coon Creek Valley, 
upon which he has a fine residence. 

FRANKLIN CHOICE, 

farmer and stock raiser, is a Virginian by birth, and was born in 1820. 
His father, John Choice, who was also born in Virginia, was married to 
Miss Jane Haygood in 18 13, and they had five children, of whom Frank- 
lin was the youngest. He resided with his parents until 1842, and in 
that year was married to Miss Martha E. Copeland, of Cumberland 
County, Virginia. To them were born eight children: William F., Mary, 
Laura V., Augusta M., Charles, Mattie J., Louisa and Anna. In 1859 
Mr. Choice, leaving his native state, emigrated to Missouri and settled 
in St. Clair County, on the place which he now occupies. He has eighty 
acres in his farm, it being very productive land, and upon it is a good 
residence. He is most thorough in his transactions, and this is the 
cause of his success. In politics he is a Republican. He was a mem- 
ber of the militia under Captain Cook during the late war. 

JUDGE WILLIAM COLLINS, 

a well known citizen of this county was born in Pulaski County. Ken- 
tucky, May 17, 1819, and is the second son of William and Sarah Collins, 
nee Porterfield, both natives of Washington Count}', Virginia. The for- 
mer was born in 1784, and the latter in 1790, they having been married 
in 1 8 10. Young William remained at home until eleven }-ears of age, 
■when he went to Adair Count}-, Kentuck}', to live with an uncle. Here 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I 1 73 

he received his education, and spent the rest of his time in working upon 
farms there, until 1854, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, set- 
tling in what is now known as Collins Township (then Washington). In 
the )'ear 1847, he was married in Russell County, Kentucky, to Miss 
Anna L. Miller, a daughter of the late Nathaniel Miller. To them were 
born eight children: Nathaniel J. Charles P., Martha M., William S., 
Milly A., John S., Sallie J., and Mary E. Politically, Mr. Collins is a 
Republican, and in 1866, was nominated by that party for judge of the 
county court. After am exciting campaign, in which the Democrats 
exerted themselves nobly, he was elected and served faithfully and well, 
winning the approbation of all. During his administration, the act 
known as "The New Township Act," was passed, and in accordance 
with its provisions, Washington Township was divided, one part retain- 
ing the name of Washington. It becoming necessary to name the terri- 
tory thus taken off, the name of him who had served so well and had 
discharged his official duties with such good judgment, was proposed 
and so thereafter called. Judge Collins has now retired from political 
life, and is devoting his attention to the cultivation of his larm at the 
same time filling the position of postmaster of Collins. He owns i6g 
acres of land. 

JOSIAII J. CONN, 

farmer, section 21, is the son of Josiah Conn, originally from Tennessee, 
who in 1837 feft that state, emigrating to Cooper County, Missouri. After 
living there some time he removed first to Camden County and thence 
to Dallas, where he died in 1863. The subject of this sketch was mar- 
ried in 1850 to Miss Evaline Stockton, daughter of Josiah Stockton. She 
died, leaving one child, Elizabeth. In 1854 Mr. C. was again married; 
this time to Miss Amanda Hendricks, of Dallas County and a daughter 
of Mark Hendricks. They have been blessed with a family of ten child- 
ren: John A., Felix S., James L., William H., Columbus T., Mary I., Vir- 
ginia T., Dorothy C , George F. and Minnie E. Two of these are 
deceased. During the late war Mr. Conn served in Company G, Chit- 
wood's command of the Missouri State Volunteers, in the capacity of 
corporal. He is a Master Mason and belongs to Modern Lodge, No. 
144, of Humansville, Polk County. His farm embraces 200 acres of land. 
He was formerly occupied in the stock business, but on account of fail- 
ing health was obliged to give it up. 

ALFRED L. GASH, 

a native of Marion County, Missouri, was born September 20, 1823, his 
parents, William and Elizabeth Gash, having been among the earliest 
settlers of St. Clair County. The former was born in East Tennessee 



1174 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

and in 1820, was married in Marion Count)-, Missouri, to which locality 
he had moved in 1S18. In 1835 the family came to this county, locating 
al)out one mile from the present residence of Alfred L. Here William 
Gash died in 1847, his wife departing this life in 1858. In 1848 the sub- 
ject of this sketch was married to Miss Lucinda Phillips, a daughter of 
Gomer Phillips, an old resident of this county. They have seven child- 
ren living: Jane E., Mary C, William G., Martha L., John T., James G. 
and Lucinda L. Mr. Gash is at present living upon and conducting the 
farm of a brother who is in California. , 

GEORGE G. HUNT, 

originally from Devonshire, England, was born in September, 1853. His 
father, Nicholas Hunt, was a prominent stock breeder of that country. 
His mother's maiden name was Jane Gill, and they were married in 
1843. To them were born eight children, of whom George G. was the 
fifth child. Leaving his native country in 1871 he emigrated to Amer- 
ica and located in West Virginia. In the fall of 1873 he removed to 
Lafayette County, Missouri, and after making his home there for eight 
years came to his present place of residence. He is the owner of a good 
farm of 160 acres, and is acknowledged to be one of the leaders in the 
stock industry in Henry County. His flock of sheep number 480 head, 
and other stock in proportion. He is possessed of great thrift and energy 
and is one of the most enterprising agriculturists in this vicinity. While 
in England Mr. Hunt was a Conservative and is now a Democrat. 

WILLIAM O. MARTIN, 

a son of one of the oldest inhabitants of St. Clair Count}- and a pioneer 
of great ability, was born in Henry County, Virginia, earh' in the spring 
of 1837. Samuel H. Martin, his father, a Virginian by birth, was born 
February 20, 1813, and in 1834 v/as married to Miss Doroth)- B. Allen, of 
Henry County, that state, and a daughter of WMUiam Allen. She was 
born June 4, 18 17, and at this time is still living though in feeble health. 
In 1837, Samuel Martin, together with his family, removed to Missouri, 
and upon looking around for a location finally settled in Collins Town- 
ship, St. Clair County. Many were the hardships which they endured, 
and in the erection of a cabin, Mrs. M. kept off the savages while her 
husband built the structure. In the spring of 1839 a son, John, was born, 
and finally the family numbered nine children: Joseph H.. twins (not 
named), Jane E. and Letha. After living upon Brush Creek one year 
Mr. M. moved to the place now occupied by his widow, and wliile living 
entered here over i.ooo acres of land. William O. Martin was married 
January 21, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Thompson, a daughter of Enos and 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II75 

Elizabeth Thompson. They had five children: Letha, Remus, William 
R.. Alice F. and an infant. Of these two only are living. Mr. M. owns 
283 acres of excellent land in Doyal Township but is now living with 
his mother and conducting the affairs of her estate. His wife is deceased. 
During the late war he served in the militia. He is a member of the 
I. O. O. F. and belongs to lodge No. 310 at Humansville, Polk County. 

SAMUEL D. MINKS, 

blacksmith and wagon maker, is a Kentuckian by birth, and was born 
on April 14, 1842, his parents being Gillson and Susan Minks, nee Car- 
penter, the former also a native of Kentucky. Samuel remained at 
home and attended school until the breaking out of the civil war, when, 
fired with patriotism, he left the parental roof and in 1863 enlisted in 
Company D, First Arkansas infantry. After serving for two years and 
seven months he was honorably discharged. Upon the close of this 
struggle Mr. M. came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and was married 
here in 1868 to Miss Melvina Burcuett. They had five children: John 
W.. Silas P., William H., Cora and Richard G. His second marriage 
occurred in 1879, ^o Miss Martha Cox. Mr. Minks is the owner of 320 
acres of land in this township, with a good orchard, residence, etc. 
Upon it is also a blacksmith shop, where he follows his trade. 

RILEY OVERTON, 

farmer and stock raiser, was born in Vego County, Indiana, in 1837. 
His father, Matthias Overton, was a native of Scotland, but left that 
country when he was ten years of age, coming to the United States and 
locating in Switzerland County, North Carolina. After residing there a 
few years he moved to Indiana. In 1822 he married Miss Nancy Whaley, 
of North Carolina, and to them were born eight children. When Riley 
was but four years old his father died, and he continued to live with his 
mother until he was thirteen, then binding himself out to work until his 
seventeenth year. This contract expiring, he worked at different places 
for a time, and was then married to Miss Leona Wright Gunn, a daugh- 
ter of John Gunn, of Vego County, Indiana, They have had three sons 
and three daughters: Mary E., Ella F., Edgar R., William R., Harriet 
C, and Arthur H., politically Mr. Overton is a Republican. Me is one 
of the prominent farmers of this township, and now owns 319 acres of 
valuable land, under fence and well improved, upon which is a good 
vineyard, residence and outbuildings. 

JAMES B. OWEN, 

section 29, a representative citizen of this township, is the son of Josiah 
and Sarah Owen, iiee Butcher, and was born in Gasconade County, Mis- 



I 176 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

souri, in 1833. His father was born in South Carolina in 1801, and in 
1824 was married, his wife having come originally from Calhoun, Ten- 
nessee. They had twelve children. James being the hfth child. Previous 
to his birth the senior Owen had moved to Gasconade County, Missouri, 
but when nine years old the subject of this sketch, leaving that vicinity, 
went to Camden County in 1842, to Dade County in 1843, Hickory in 
1848, Cooper in i860, and finally settled in St. Clair County in 1869. In 
1855 Mr. Owen was married in Hickory County to Lucy A. Dickinson, 
and they are the parents of eleven children: Marion J., William, Med- 
ford. Louisa C, James M., Mary S., Sarah M., Nancy R., Mattie D., 
Charlie J. and John F. Mr. O. is a leading member of the Democratic 
party, and has been a delegate to conventions at Osceola every year 
since in the county. He took an active part in the rebellion, and was 
engaged in forty-two battles, first serving as lieutenant and then as 
quartermaster general. He received three severe wounds, and had three 
horses shot from under him. His landed estate embraces 240 acres. 

JOHN W. PLUMBLEE 

was born in White County, Tennessee, March 15, 1835, his father bein^ 
William Plumblee, a Virginian by birth, born in August, 1800, who, 
while young, left that state and accompanied his father to Tennessee. 
In 1826, he was married there to Miss Sarah Lewellen, a daughter of 
Jacob Lewellen, of Tennessee. John W. was the fourth child in a family 
often children. When yet a small boy (three years old), he accom- 
panied the family to Newton County, Missouri, but a short time after- 
wards removed to Berryville, Arkansas, at which time this place was 
made up of one house and a stable owne^ by the senior Plumblee. Leav- 
ing there in 1858, he emigrated to Texas, but in i860, returned to 
Arkansas, where he was residing at the breaking out of the civil war. 
In 1862, Mr. P. entered the United States service as a volunteer in Com- 
pany E, First Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, serving as such till June t,0, 
1863, when he was transferred to the Fourth Arkansas Cavalry Regiment, 
and mustered in as a lieutenant. He was discharged at the close of' the 
war. In 1864. in accordance with a proclamation of President Lincoln, 
made to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives of the state of 
Arkansas, he was elected a representative and served until its adjourn- 
ment in 1865. In 1863 his family had removed to Greene County, Mis- 
souri, and here he joined them in 1865, soon after locating on his present 
farm. In 1872 he was elected a judge of the county court of St. Clair, 
and subsequently served as collector of Collins Township for about 
three years. In 1855 he was married to Sarah P. Hayter, daughter of 
Thomas B. Hayter, of Carroll County, Arkansas. They have had ten 
children: Francis J., Elizabeth C, Mary C, William T. (died in 1869), 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II77 

John B., Martha A., Sarah M., Paulina E. (died in 1870), James M. and 
Anna M. Mr. Plumblee is now actively engaged in farming and stock- 
raising and owns a fine farm of 210 acres in section 29. 

JOHN R. SINK 

is a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and was born in 1826. John Sink, 
his father, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, was married on the 
14th day of July, 1822, to Miss Sallie A. Peterson, of Wilmington, and 
by this union there were three children, of whom John R. was the 
youngest. He accompanied his father to Kentucky while young, and 
lived there until seventeen years of age, when he emigrated to Green 
County, Illinois, living there until 1880. Then he came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, and has here gained for himself an enviable reputation 
as a progressive agriculturist and citizen. In 1848 he married Miss Mary 
M. Story, a daughter of Vincent Si:ory, Esq., and a resident of Morgan 
County, Illinois. They have had a family of twelve children: John Vin- 
cent, George W., James J., Lydia A., Sallie J., Mary J., Nancy H., 
Charles M., Martha E., Harry A., Ida E. and Eugene. Two of these 
are deceased. Mr. S. first came to this county during the fall of 1873, 
purchasing the land which he now occupies, consisting of 288 acres. 
Politically he is a Democrat. He is master of the Grange at Mitchell, 
Greene County, Illinois. 

WILLIAM H. TILLERY 

owes his nativity to Knox County, Tennessee, having been born there 
September 20, 1840. His parents, Sampson and Catharine (Yoast) Til- 
lery, both of Knox County, were married December 23, 1840. The for- 
mer was born January 17, 1791. William H. was the twelfth of a family 
of thirteen children. In August, 1859, he was united in marriage with 
Miss Martha E. Parker, of Knox County, Tennessee. In October fol- 
lowing, leaving his native county, he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, 
and settled on the farm now owned by J. P. Butcher in this township. 
In i860 their eldest child, Mary L., was born, and since then they have 
had nine children: Sampson M., Emily T., Catharine E., C. L., William 
M., James J., John A., Frederick M. and Lulu G. The family has never 
experienced a day of sickness, and with one exception, when the arm of 
Emily was broken, never has a physician been in the house for the pur- 
pose of administering medical relief. Mr. T. was formerly a very exten- 
sive dealer in mules, and was the acknowledged leader of this industry 
in this vicinity. In 1880, on account of failing health, he discontinued 
the business, and now devotes his attention to the cultivation of his 
farm, one of the finest in the township, situated on Coon Creek, and 



J 1/8 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

vunder <^ood improvemeiit.s. PoliticalU', he is a staunch Republican. He 
is a Master Mason and a prominent member of the Grange in this town- 
ship. Mr. Tillery once had a narrow escape from death, tlie circum- 
stances of which were as follows: " Having been deputized, in August, 
1880, to serve a warrant of arrest on a horse thief who had previously 
•stolen a horse in that district, he started after the criminal, overtook 
and arrested him, and while returning to Osceola, his attention being 
•directed to other parties coming down the toad, the thief with great 
rapidity drew his revolver and fired at Mr. T., the ball entering his 
neck just back of the jugular vein on the right side, and passing 
behind the throttle, came out on the left side; it then entered the shoul- 
der, and glancing back from the blade, fell into his vest pocket." 

JOHN S. WINGFIELD. 

•was born in March, 18 16, in Virginia, his parents being Christopher and 
Nancy (Stockton) Wingfield, also Virginians b\' birth, who were married 
in 1814. The former was born in 1788. and the latter in 1793. John S. 
the eldest of ten children, was brought up in the county of his birth, 
and lived at home principally until his marriage, in 1847, to Miss Har- 
riet M. Bondurant. They have had ten children: Mary F", Christopher 
T., Millard P., Nancy J., Sarah E., Susan L., Charles P., Harriet M.. and 
James M., and of this number three have died. In 1859 Mr. W. came to 
St. Clair County, locating in Collins Township, where he has since 
lived, gaining for himself an enviable reputation. The Republican 
party, recognizing his ability, nominated him for the position of county 
judge, but the Democratic party being in the majority, he failed to be 
elected. Mr. Wingfield's farm, one of the best to be found in the east- 
•ern part of the county, consists of 210 acres on the Weaubleau Creek. 

FRANCIS YOAST. 

farmer and stock dealer, section 16, is the son of John Yoast, who was 
born in Germany in 1794, emigrating to the United States in 1808 with 
his father — a cooper by trade, he having come to this country to follow 
that occupation. He first located in Virginia, and after living there one 
3'ear went to Ohio, and in 18 10 emigrated to Knoxville, Tennessee. In 
1812 John Yoast was married to Miss Elizabeth Ware, of Blount County, 
Tennessee. From this marriage there was born on the 23d day of Decem- 
ber, 1814, a son, Francis. The senior Yoast, together with his family, 
came to Missouri in 1836, locating in Collins Township, of this county, 
and our subject has done much toward its improvement since his resi- 
dence here. At that time this county was known as Rives, and he has 
often visited Osceola when it contained but one store. In 1838 one of 



BIOGRAPHICAL. - II79 

the first, if not the first marriage ceremonies, was solemnized in Collins 
Township. During the late war Mr. Yoast was actively engaged in the 
cause of the union. He is a member of the Methodist Church and polit- 
ically a Greenbacker, though formerly a Republican. He owns 265 acres 
of land. 

BUTLER TOWNSHIP. 

WILLIAM BARNETT, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 26, was born in Lafayette County, Mis- 
souri, May 15, 1828, his parents being Hugh and Mary (Cummins) Bar- 
rett, natives of North Carolina. In 1839 they came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, and settled on section 23, in Butler Township. William here 
grew to manhood, receiving the advantages of a common school educa- 
tion. In 1850 he went to California where he followed mining two 
years, then returning to St. Clair County. He owns 240 acres of good 
land, well improved. In January, 1862. he enlisted in Company E, 
Fourth Missouri Infantry, was first lieutenant and participated in a num- 
ber of important battles, among which were Pea Ridge, Port Hudson, 
and Corinth. At the latter battle he was wounded in the shoulder. In 
1872 he was elected one of the judges of the county court and held the 
office until 1877. February 10, 1853, Mr. Barnett married Miss Eliza- 
beth Ledbetter, a native of Tennessee. They have a family of ten 
children: Lucy, Ira J., William L., James, Mattie, Cora, Agnes, Bettie, 
Johnnie and Richard. They have lost one son, Hugh. 

W. G. BROWNING. 

druggist at Lowry City, was born in St. Clair County, Missouri, April 3, 
185 I, and is a son of C. G. and Susan (Barnett) Browning, the former a 
native of Tennessee and the latter of Missouri. They were among the 
early pioneers of this county. W. G. has been reared and educated in 
the county of his birth, making farming his occupation till 1876, when 
he began in the drug business at Appleton City. There he continued 
that business till 1878, when he located in Lowry City. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. February 22, 1876, Mr. Browning married 
Sarah E. McCrary, a native of Indiana. She died July 28, 1880. He was 
again married November 12, 1882, to Miss Flora King, of Illinois. 



IlSo HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

P. H. clp:ar 

is the son of Philip Clear, who was a native of Pennsylvania, his father, 
Jacob Clear, also having been born in that state. Parmelia Clapp was 
the maiden name of the mother of P. H. The subject of this sketch was 
born in Randolph County, Indiana, July 25, 1841. He grew to manhood 
in his native county and there received the advantages of the public 
schools. August 9, 1862, he enlisted in the Sixty ninth Indiana Volun- 
teers and at the battle of Port Gibson he received a wound which caused 
the amputation of one of his lower limbs. He was discharged July 5. 
1865. Returning to Indiana he followed farming in the summer and 
teaching during the winter months. In 1869 he moved to Ohio, but in 
1872 retraced his steps to Indiana where he taught school until 1876. 
At that time he came to St. Clair County and was occupied in teaching 
until 1882 when he became manager of the Lowry City Association. 
They carry a general stock of goods and are doing a good business. 
Mr. C. owns one of the best improved farms in this township. He is 
a member of the Christian Church and also belongs to the I. O. O. F. 
fraternity. January 19, 1867, Mr. Clear married Miss Sarah A. Fisher, a 
native of Indiana. They have seven children: Arthur B., George W., 
Luther E., Oscar, Henry D., Grace and Blanch. 

B. VV. COCK, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 23, is a son of Robert P. Cock, who was 
born in Virginia September 26, 18 14. His father was Benjamin Cock. 
November 16, 1833, Robert was married to Miss Mary Pulliam, a Vir- 
ginian. B. W. was born in Hanover County, Virginia, January 16, 1837. 
When only two years old his parents moved to St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri, where he grew up on his father's farm, receiving a common school 
education. He has followed farming through life, and now owns a landed 
estate of 520 acres. June i, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army 
and was captain of Company B, Sixteenth Missouri Infantry, afterwards 
being promoted to major. He was in many important battles. May i, 
1861, Mr. Cock married Miss Mary Barnett, of St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri. They have a family of five children: Mattie, Ida, Stella, Delia and 
Blanche. They have lost three: Lemuel, Robert and Hugh. 

NEWTON DOWERS, 

section 17, was born in Riple)- Count}-, Indiana, December 29, 1843, ^^'s 
parents being Alexander and Kisiah (Lacock) Dowers, natives of 
Indiana. Newton was reared in his native county, and was there edu- 
cated in the common schools. About the year 1861 he went to Edgar 
County, Illinois, where he was employed in farming until 1878. Then he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II81 

came to St. Clair County, Missouri. He owns a farm of eighty acres. 
Mr. D. is a member of the M. E. Church, and also belongs to the I. O. 
O. F. order. December 22, 1864, he married Miss Caroline Gilkey, a 
native of Illinois. She died February 13. 1878, leaving five children: 
Allen A., John O., Erie A., Emma and Ira B. August 21, 1879, he was 
again married to Mrs. Katie Penrodd, of Texas. They have three chil- 
dren: George W., Nellie and Charles W. 

D. N. EDWARDS, 

section 3, was born in Casey County, Kentucky, March 10, 1837, being 
the son of William and Maria (Bledsoe) Edwards. When D. N. was 
about six years old his father moved to Johnson County Missouri, where 
the family remained four years. After this they went to Benton County, 
where our subject was reared and educated. In 1854 he settled in Henry 
County, and was engaged in farming until i860, when he came to St. 
Clair County. His farm contains 400 acres of as good land as there is 
in the township. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Missouri State 
Militia, and served until the close of the war. Mr. E. is a member of 
the Christian Church. December 3, 1859, he married Miss Mary Roth- 
gib, a native of Ohio. They have six children: Carrie E., William B., 
Lewis, Laura E., Elsa and Cora. 

S. M. EVANS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 3, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, 
December 11, 1834. His father, James Evans, a native of Pennsylvania, 
married Miss Hulda Morris, who was born in New Jersey. When S. M. 
was two years old his parents moved to Hancock County, Illinois, where 
he was brought up and educated. He followed farming there until 1857, 
when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. His present farm contains 
1 10 acres. In 1874 Mr. E. was elected justice of the peace. He is a 
member of the Christian Church, October 21, 1859, he married Miss 
Margaret Hilliges, a native of Ohio. They have six children: Sarah P., 
David W., Joseph H., Michael H., Christina and Ella May. 

JAMES D. FLETCHER, 

farmer, section 28, is the son of Oliver Fletcher, a native of Kentucky, 
who was there married to Miss Jane Harvey, of the same state. They 
came to Cole County, Missouri, in 1843, where James D. was born 
December 28, 1849. I" 1854 the family came to St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri, and here our subject was reared and attended school. He has since 
followed farming in this county except from 1869 to 1874, which time he 



IlS2 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Spent in Texas, the Indian Nation and Arkansas. He owns a farm of 
l6o acres. August 3, 1S79, Mr. Fletcher married Miss S. Lyons, a native 
of Indiana. They have one chihl, Walter S. 

S. M. GRACY, 

farmer, section 17, was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 17, 1844. 
His parents were Samuel and Rachel (Snively) Gracy, the former a 
native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania. When S. M was five 
years old they moved to Wells County, Indiana, where he grew to man- 
hood and received his education. Mr. G. was employed in farming and 
school teaching in Indiana until 1872, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. Here he has since followed teaching and farming. His farm 
now contains 100 acres. In 1875 he was elected a justice of the peace, 
and has since held that position. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity and of the Grange. March 30, 1871, he was married to Miss 
Mary Scoffter, of Indiana. They have four children: Jennie, Louisa, 
Ettie and Charles. They have lost two: Alfred and Harriet. 

T. A. HAWKINS. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Crawford County, Missouri, 
June 9, 1842. His parents were P. E. and Joannah (Music) Hawkins, the 
former a native of Virginia and the latter of Missouri. T. A. grew up 
in Maries County, Missouri, and was there educated in the common 
schools. He was engaged in farming and milling in that locality until 
1876, when he came to St. Clair County. His farm is situated in section 
17 of Chalk Level Township and contains 120 acres. Mr. H. is consta- 
ble of Butler Township. He is a member of the Baptist Church. March 
20, 1863, he married Miss Emma Blockham, a native of Missouri. They 
have seven children: Eliza C, William T., James M., Joseph M., Mattie 
J., Emily and Charles L. 

WILLIAM H. HILLEGAS, 

section 9, was born May 22, 1844, in Montgomery County, Ohio. His 
father, Joseph Hillegas, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1805, and 
subsequently accompanied his parents to Ohio, where, in 1830 he mar- 
ried Miss Hannah Reed, who was also born in Pennsylvania in 1810. 
Upon leaving Ohio, he removed to Indiana, thence to Illinois, and later, 
in the fall of 1857, to Henry County, Missouri. He still resides there, 
having served two terms as county judge. Through the failure of the 
railroad company he became a heavy loser. October 24, 1868, William 
H. Hillegas (one of a family of eight children) married Miss Huldah A. 
daughter of J. W. and Mary Pattison, of Jasper County, Missouri. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 1 85 

They have five children: Charles E., born July 9, 1869; Effie M,, borrj 
August 3, 1874; Gertrude, born October 20, 1877; Joseph William, born 
August 22, 1880; and Michael E., born December 8, 1883. Mr. H. 
became a resident of Henry County in 1857, and March 7, 1862, he 
enlisted in Company C, Seventh Missouri State Militia, Cavalry, as a 
private. He thus served two years, was then made corporal and served 
until mustered out, March 7, 1865. In 1868 he purchased 160 acres of 
his present farm and in the fall of 1882 120 acres adjoining, and here he 
noiv has a well improved place. He raises cattle to some extent. Mr. 
and Mrs. H. are members of the M. E. Church at Lowry City. Politi- 
cally he is a Republican. 

F. J. HUBBARD, 

farmer, section 8, was born in Arkansas August 31, 1846, his parents 
being Henry and Mariette E. (Henry) Hubbard, the former a native of 
New York and the latter of Louisiana. F. J. was the eldest of a family 
of six children. When he was about one year old his parents moved to 
Illinois where they remained a short time, then coming to Missouri and 
locating in Benton County. There he was reared and educated. In 
1865 he came to Henry County and was engaged in farming until 1871, 
at that period moving to Clinton where he remained one year. After 
that he settled in St. Clair County, Missouri, where he has been engaged 
in farming. He owns a farm of 120 acres. Mr. H. is a member of the 
M. E, Church. In October, 1871, he was married to Miss Eliza Briden- 
stine, a native of Ohio. 

C. F. HUEBNER, 

manufacturer and dealer in boots, shoes and harness, was born in Perry- 
County, Ohio, August 16, 1847, '^"d is a son of Charles and Mary (Gre- 
mer) Huebner, natives of Germany. He grew to manhood in Somerset,. 
Ohio, where he was educated. His father being a shoe maker by trade, 
the son also worked with him till grown. In 1869 he went to Clinton,. 
Henry County, Missouri, where he was employed by Captain Fike as 
clerk till 1872, when he came to St. Clair County. Then he began farm- 
ing and continued it till 1880, when he embarked in business at Lowry- 
City. He also owns a farm of eighty acres. Mr. Huebner is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. June 6, 1871, he was married to Miss 
Jennie S. Christman, a native of Pennsylvania. They have a family of 
five children: Minnie, Rosa, Docia, Carrie and an infant. 

JAMES R. KELLY, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 16, was born in Cooper County, Missouri, 
and was the son of William J. Kelly, one of the first settlers of that 



I 184 ' HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

county. The maiden name of his mother was Martha Mocklin. When 
James was six years old his parents moved to Cole County, where they 
resided for about eight years, afterwards locating in Benton County, 
where James was reared to manhood. In 1857 he went to California 
and followed teaming until 1861, when he returned to Benton County 
and farmed until 1865. Then he moved to Kentucky and was engaged 
in farming until 1868, when he settled in St. Clair County, Missouri. 
He owns a farm of 100 acres, well improved. Mr. K. was in the Mis- 
souri State militia during the late war. September 3, 1865, he was mar- 
ried to Mrs. J. D. Townsland, a native of Missouri. They have six chil- 
dren: Matilda B., William J., Maud, Caroline, Maggie E. and Ore L. 

J. A. MANNERING, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 5. was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, 
March 12, 1839, ^"d was the son of John and Julia A. (Garwood) Man- 
nering, the former a native of Delaware and the latter of Ohio. When J. 
A. was about eight years old, his parents moved to South Bend, where 
they remained one year, going thence to Hancock County, Illinois. 
There our subject grew to manhood and received his education. He fol- 
lowed farming and stock raising in Iowa from 1856 to 1 866, when he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri. He now owns a farm of 200 acres, making 
one of the best improved farms in the township. Mr. M. has held the 
office of township assessor. He is a member of the Christian Church. 
February ii, 1864, he married Miss Sussa P. Evans, a native of Illinois. 
They have seven children: Zella O., J. Frank, William H., Maggie, 
Christina. Samuel E., and James A. 

JAMES A. MEE, 

physician and surgeon, was born in Erie Count}', Pennsylvania, Septem- 
ber 17, 1858. His father, Joseph Mee, was a native of Pennsj-lvania and 
a son of William Mee, who came originally from England. The mother 
of James M., whose maiden name was Amanda Anderson, was also born 
in Pennsylvania. When our subject was twelve years of age his parents 
moved to Osage County, Missouri, where he was reared and educated. 
At the age of nineteen he began the study of medicine with Dr. N. B. 
Jones, of Maries County, Missouri, and June 28, 1881, he was graduated 
from the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville. Then he located 
at Lowry City, where he has met with excellent success. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. March 26, 1882, Dr. Mee was married to 
Miss Ella Stovern, a native of Missouri. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II85 

FRANK M. MILLER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 6, was born in Benton County, Missouri, 
November 8, 1838. His father, William Miller, was a Kentuckian by 
birth, and a son of Henry Miller, a native of North Carolina. The 
maiden name of his mother was Levina Williams, of Georgia. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was reared in Benton County and there received a 
common school education. He followed school teaching in that county 
for about five years and then engaged in merchandising at Warsaw for 
five years. In 1873 he came to St. Clair County and now owns a farm 
containing 165 acres, all well improved. In 1862 he enlisted in the 
Enrolled Missouri Militia, and was discharged in 1864. Mr. M. held the 
office of deputy United States Assessoj, for the counties of Hickory, 
Benton and Camden for some time. He was also postmaster at War- 
saw under Lincoln. He is a member of the Christian Church. Novem- 
ber 8, i860, Mr. Miller was married to Miss C. Gilley, a native of Ten- 
nessee. They have nine children: Alice C, Ida M., Walter S., Francis 
M., Willis H., Nellie C, Clarence A. and Clara M. (twins) and Alma M. 

DAVID SNYDER, 

farmer, section 16, came originally from Darke County, Ohio, where he 
was born in 1845. His parents, Pearson and Susan (Hidley) Snyder, 
moved to St. Clair County, Missouri, in 1857, where David was reared 
and educated. He now owns a fine farm, which contains 165 acres, and 
it is a good stock farm. He was married in 1867 to Miss Milliard W^oolry, 
a jiative of Missouri. They have three children living: Pearson, Charley 
and John. 

JAMES P. SNYDER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 17, is a native of Ohio and was born in 
Darke County, May 28, 1847, being the son of Pearson and Susan 
Snyder, nee Hidley, natives of New Jersey and Ohio respectively. James 
P. was the third of a family of six children. When ten years old his 
parents came to St Clair County, Missouri, where he was brought up, 
attending for a time the common schools. He owns a farm of 300 acres, 
most of which is under fence and well improved. May 9, 1867, Mr. S. 
married Miss Frances Bunch, of this county. They have two children, 
Birdie A. and Arvel. 

H. H. SNYDER, 

farmer, section 28, was born in Darke County, Ohio, November 6, 1842* 

His father, Pearson Snyder, a native of New Jeysey, died in this county 

March 13, 1862. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was 

Susan Hidley, originally from Ohio. She died in November, 1850. H. 

75 



Il86 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

H. came to St. Clair County with his parents in 1857. He received his 
education in the schools of Ohio and Missouri. He has followed farm- 
ing in this county since his arrival at manhood. In March, 18G3, he 
enlisted in Company B, Eleventh Missouri Cavalry, and was discharged 
August II, 1865. Mr. S. held the office of township constable six years. 
September 6, 1866, he married Miss Hannah J. McKinsley. a native of 
Kentucky. They have four children: Ida B., James W., Effie M., Eliz- 
abeth T. They lost one son, David E. 

JAMES W. TITUS, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 18, was born in Loudoun County, Vir- 
ginia, February 22, 1839, his parents, Jeremiah and Susan (Goodheart) 
Titus having been Virginians by birth, James W. was the oldest of a 
family of six children. When sixteen years old he was taken by his 
father to Muskingum County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He 
farmed in Ohio until i860, when he moved to Coles County, Illinois, con- 
tinuing his former occupation until 1868, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. He owns a farm of 183 acres, well improved. Mr. T. has worked 
at the carpentering business for the last twenty years. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-ninth Illinois Volunteers, and was 
discharged December 15, 1863. He is a member of the M. E. Church, 
and belongs to both the Masonic fraternity and the Grange. February 
23, i860, he married Miss Caroline Roberts, of Ohio. They have seven 
children: S. A., Martha S., Lydia, Thomas J., James F. John H. and Ira 
N. They lost two children. 

JOHN H. TRISSEL, 

postmaster at Lowry City, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Feb- 
ruary 28, 1846, being the son of Joseph and Rachael (Garwood) Trissel. 
His youth was spent in Ohio and he was educated in the common 
schools, following engineering in that state until 1889, when he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he manufactured brick for one year, 
after which he gave his attention to farming and carpentering until 
1873. Returning to Ohio he was employed as engineer until 1878, when 
he again came to St. Clair County. August i, 1881, he was appointed 
postmaster, which position he now fills. In June, 1862, he enlisted in 
Company K, First Ohio Heavy Artillery and was discharged July 25, 
1865. He is a member of the M. E. Church and belongs to the I. O. O. 
F. fraternity. August 25, 1868, Mr. Trissel married Miss Elizabeth J. 
Houk, a daughter of George W. and Caroline (Simmon) Hauk, the for- 
mer a native of Ohio and the latter of Maryland. Mr. and Mrs. T. have 
a family of six children. Harvey L., Lucy A., Garlie, Callie, George 
and Bessie. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I187 

JOHN WALKER, 

farmer, section 21, was born in Miami County, Ohio, May 12, 1834. His 
father, Alexander Walker, a native of West Virginia, was a son of James 
Walker, a Virginian by birth and a soldier in the war of 18 12. The 
maiden name of John's mother was Catherine Sheppard, originally from 
Maryland. John was reared in Ohio and was educated in the common 
schools. In 1856 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, where he has 
since followed farming, now owning eighty acres of good land, well 
watered, etc. Mr. W. has held a number of township offices, among 
which are those of trustee and constable. September 18, 1856, he was 
married to Miss Mary Riegel, a native of Ohio. They have nine chil- 
dren: Sarah A., Jacob A., Nehemian, Lydia, John L., James M., Oliver 
S., Rudolph and Nellie1V[. 

DAVID WALKER, 

farmer, section 17, a native of Darke County, Ohio, was born January 7, 
1842, being the son of Alexander and Catherine (Sheppard) Walker, 
natives of Virginia. David was the fourth child of a family of ten child- 
ren. In 1856 his parents moved to St. Clair County, Missouri, where he 
arrived at manhood, engaging in farming and stock raising. His farm 
is well improved and coiitains 120 acres. His fine residence was built 
in 188 1. Mr. W. was in the Missouri State Militia during the late war. 
February 23, 1864, he married Miss Frances Kellerinan, who was born 
in Indiana May 9, 1842. They have seven children: William, Anna B., 
James P., Mary E., Charles, Minnie A. and Cora. 

T. E. WILKINSON, 

farmer, section 11, was born in Warren County, Tennessee, February 28. 
1836. His parents, Charles and Malissa (Cantrell) Wilkinson, were 
natives of South Carolina, and his great grandfather was a general in 
the Revolutionary war. When T. E. was about two years old the 
family moved to Missouri and located in Crawford County where they 
resided until he was sixteen years old, then going to Gasconade County. 
There he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common 
schools. He followed farming in that county until 1870, when he came 
to St. Clair County. His present farm contains 170 acres of land. Mr. 
W. is a member of the Baptist Church and also belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity. November 25, i860, he was married to Miss Sarah Walton, 
a native of Missouri. They have five children: Elizabeth M., George 
W., Mary M., Eliza B. and John T. They have lost two children. 



#l88 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

ALONZO C. WINTERS, 

plasterer at Lowry City, was born in Pike County, Illinois, March 20, 
1858, and was the son of Benjamin H. and Emeline (Cobbj Winters, the 
former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York. Alonzo was reared 
in his native state and was there educated. His father was a plasterer 
by trade and the son worked with him in Illinois until 1877, when he 
eame to St. Clair County, Missouri, He is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
fraternity. March 13, 1881. Mr. Winters was married to Miss LulaGracy, 
a native of Indiana. They have one child, Irving B. Mr. and Mrs. Win- 
ters belong to the M. E. Church. 

GEORGE W. WRIGHT, 

merchant at Lowry City, is a native of Washington Count}-, Kentucky, 
and was born July 4, 1844, being the son of Morgan Wright, a Ken- 
tuckian by birth, whose father, William P. Wright, was one of the pio- 
neers of Kentucky, and a revolutionary soldier. The mother of George 
W., formerly Elizabeth Hickerson, was also born in Kentucky. The 
subject of this sketch was the sixth of a family of nine children. He 
grew to manhood on his father's farm, and was educated in the common 
schools. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Morgan's company, and was 
rn the service until 1863. After this he returned to Kentucky and fol- 
Towed farming until 1865, when he began the study of medicine with 
Dr. J. W. Wright. He read with him one year, and then attended one 
course of lectures at Miami Medical College at Cincinnati. Returning 
to Kentucky he remained until 1870, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. In 187 1 he built the first business house in Lowry City, and 
engaged in trade. He carries a full stock of drugs, groceries, etc., and 
is doing a good business. He is also proprietor of the Wright House, 
an excellent hotel. Mr. W. was township clerk six years. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. November 21, 1872, he married Miss 
Jennie G. Shinn. of this county. They have three children, Lillia, Min- 
•oie M. and Franklin P. 

JAMES POLK WRIGHT, M. D., 

was born in Washington County, Kentucky, December 23, 1844. His 
parents were Nathaniel and Matilda (Moore) Wright, natives of Vir- 
ginia. James Polk grew to manhood in his native county and there 
received the advantages of the common schools. He was engaged in 
farming till 1866, when he embarked in merchandising in High Grove, 
Kentucky, and at the same time was occupied in reading medicine with 
his brother, Dr. J. W. Wright. After this he was graduated from the 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II89 

medical department of the University of Louisville, Kentucky. In iS/i 
he located at Lowry City, where he has since been interested in the 
practice of his profession, and he is recognized as being one of the lead- 
ing citizens of that vicinity. He is also the senior member of the firm of 
J. P. Wright & Co., merchants of Lowry City. He belongs to the Bap- 
tist Church, and also to the Masonic fraternity. December 14, 1879, Dr. 
W. was married to Miss Emma Hubner, a native of Ohio. They have 
one child: Walter E. 



DOYAL TOWNSHIP. 



DR. PLEASANT M. COX. 

No man in St. Clair County is better or more familiarly known than 
Dr. P. M. Cox, and no name is more of a household word than his, he 
being the first physician in the county. He was born in Daviess 
County, Kentucky, November 12, 1809, and was the son of Meredith 
Cox, a Virginian by birth, whose father, Samuel Cox, came originally 
from Ireland. Meredith Cox married Miss Margaret McFarland, who 
was also born in Virginia. Pleasant, the fourth of five sons, accompa- 
nied his father to Missouri when nine years old, the senior Cox settling 
in Lincoln County, where he died, in 1835. In the fall of 1836 our sub- 
ject moved to Osceola, this county, with his mother, who died in the 
following year. Pleasant M. was deprived in early life of such educa- 
tional advantages as he desired but still devoted his entire energies to 
the study of medicine. He read under the instruction of Dr. Eastern, 
of Pike County, and also with Dr. Nash, and after a thorough prepara- 
tion, attended lectures at the Transylvania University, at Lexington, 
Kentucky, in 1830-31. He subsequently practiced his profession in 
Lincoln County, Missouri, until 1836, when he came to this county, prac- 
ticing for some twenty years. In 1839 Dr. L. Lewis settled in Osceola 
and formed a partnership with Dr. Cox, which relation existed for sev- 
eral years. The latter entered portions of section 17, 20, 21 and 22 in 
this township, became a large land owner and a prominent citizen in 
southwest Missouri. Building a residence and store he was in company 
with Z. Lilley and others occupied in trade, and at the outbreak of the 
war was one of the wealthiest men in the county. In 1858 he was 



IigO IIISTOUV OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

elected a member of the state legislature. During the war he was in 
Texas, and in 1865 went to Fayette, Arkansas, where he opened a drug 
store, sending the children of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Harris, to school. 
In 1875 he returned to Osceola, but at jjresent resides on his farm known 
as the Dr. Harris' place, which is managed by his son, Pleasant M., who 
is a large stock raiser and dealer. The Doctor was married in October, 
1833, to Miss Elizabeth M. McClannahan, daughter of Elijah McClanna- 
han, of Virginia. They have two children living: Margaret A., widow 
of Dr. E. E. Harris, and Pleasant Madison. Edwin Eugene Harris, M. 
D., was born in Albermarle County, Virginia, March 30, 1828, his par- 
ents being Major Samuel W. and Sarah Miller (Ward) Harris, of Vir- 
ginia. He attended school for ten years and in 1840 came to Osceola, 
Missouri, and subsequently studied medicine with Dr. L. Lewis. He 
attended medical lectures at Louisville and graduated with honor in 
1850. October 6, 1853, he married Miss Margaret Cox, daughter of Dr. 
P. M. Cox, and to them were born three daughters: Bettie Virginia, 
Sarah Eugenia and Agnes M. During the war Dr. Harris entered the 
military service of the Confederate army as surgeon in General Clark's 
Cavalry Division in the Trans-Mississippi department and was one of 
the most faithful and capable of surgeons. He died in Arkansas before 
the war closed. 

JOHN DAWSON, 

owes his nativity to Patrick County, Virginia, where he was born March 
30, 1822. His father, P.lijah Dawson, originally from Maryland, married 
Miss Henrietta Coble, of North Carolina, and a niece of the Hon. Howell 
Coble, of Georgia. They came to Missouri in 1832, and settled in Craw- 
ford County. They reared a family of seven children, of whom John 
was the third in number. His education was obtained at home and he 
taught school and also clerked in a store for several years, coming to this 
county in 1848. He afterwards taught at Pierce City for eight months. 
Mr. D. early made claims of land lying on Weaubleau Creek, and 
after improving it sold the property and bought elsewhere, and in this 
he was very successful. Finally selling out he came to Roscoe and 
engaged in clerking. In 1861 he enlisted in the six months' service 
under Captain J. J. Tulley's Twenty-seventh Missouri Mounted Infantry, 
and on December 18, 1861, he entered Company A, Eighth Regiment, 
Missouri State Militia Cavalry, Captain David Stockton, commanding. 
On May 7, 1863, he was honorabl)' discharged to accept the appointment 
of county clerk for St. Clair County, and this position he held for one 
\'ear, then resigning. In November, 1864. he was appointed county 
treasurer, and served as such by appointment and re-election for six 
years. During his official term he was also occupied in selling goods, 
haviuiT the office ot treasurer in his store. Purchasing a farm he still 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 119! 

continued business in the city, but in 1876 moved upon this place, which 
is in section 3, containing 350 acres of excellent land. Mr. Dawson was 
married December 22, 1848, to Miss Edna Cole, of this county, who died 
October 11, 1866, leaving one child, Henrietta Ruth, now the wife of W. 
O. Mead. His second wife was Miss Narcissus E. Devin, to whom he 
was married February 24, 1867. Her father was Judge W. R. Devin, of 
Polk County, Virginia, and also of Tennessee. There is one child liv- 
ing by this marriage, Vista Lucetta, born January 4, 1872. One son, 
Thomas W. died August 26, 1871. This wife died August 30, 1874. Mr, 
D. was married the third time May 17, 1875, to Mary Ann Josephine 
George, of Polk County. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity. In all positions of life, Mr. Dawson has 
proven himself a competent and honest man, both in and out of official 
positions. 

WILLIAM DUDLEY, 

a native of Lancaster County, Virginia, was born February 2, 1811, 
being the son of Landron and Mary Dudley, nee Rivier, also Virginians 
by birth, and the former served in the war of 18 12, and was killed in 
service. They had six children, three of whom are living, two sons and 
one daughter. Mrs. D. died in 1813 in Virginia. Leaving the state of 
his birth at the age of eighteen years, William Dudley moved to Lin- 
coln County, Missouri, purchased eighty acres of land and remained 
upon it for one year. In 1833 he married Miss Almeda Jemmerson, of 
Lincoln County, who died there, leaving one son, David L. He died 
during the late war. His second marriage occurred to Miss Nancy 
Stevens, also of Lincoln County. To them were born three sons and 
two daughters of whom only Almeda (wife of William J. Horn of this 
township) and Mary A. (wife of Samuel J. Hurst, of Cedar County) are 
living. In 1848, Mr. Dudley came to St. Clair County and has since 
lived in Doyal Township. He first purchased a half section of land and 
in 1861 owned 1,000 acres, but after dividing much among his children 
only has now 440 acres. He deals quite extensively in cattle and other 
stock and his farm is among the best in the township. Mr. D. was one 
of the constituent members of the Christian Church at Pleasant Hill, 
this county, and has been connected with the Christian Church for half 
a century. His wife and three daughters belong to the same church. 
In his political views he is a Greenbacker. 

J. J. ELGAN, 

farmer, section 15, was born in Greene County, Indiana, September 10, 
1855, and is the son of James M. and Leah (Guthrie) Elgan. The sub- 
ject of this sketch came to this county in 1876 and now owns a farm of 



I 192 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

300 acres. He married Miss Rebecca J. Doyal in 1878. They have a 
family of three children. Mrs. Elgan's father was H. L. M. Doyal, a 
native of Illinois, who moved to this county in 1866, and he became one 
of the large farmers of St. Clair County. In 1882 he moved to Texas, 
where he now resides. He married a Miss L. Copeland, of Tennessee. 
To them were born seven children. 

JAMES ELLIOTT, 

who for a period of twenty-five years has been a resident of St. Clair 
County, owes his nativity to Ireland, from which country he emigrated 
at an early day and settled in Carroll County, Ohio. In 1855 he removed 
to Linn County, Iowa, and lived there until 1858, when he came to this 
county. During the late war he served three years in the state militia. 
He owns nearly 1,500 acres of land and is one of the large tax payers of 
the county. His homestead on section 22 is noted as being the place 
where the first county court was held, it then being in the possession of 
Ebenezer Gash. Mr. Elliott holds the office of justice of the peace. He 
was married in 1855 to Miss Mary Scott, of Linn County, Iowa. By this 
union there are eleven children living: Jane, John, Josey, James, Abra- 
ham L., Sarah, Richard, Scott, Millie, Celia and Rebecca. Three are 
deceased. 

JAMES D. GARDNER, 

one cf the substantial and prosperous farmers of Doyal Township, was 
born in Campbell County, Tennessee, April 15, 1820. His father, John 
Gardner, was a native of Scotland, but was reared within four miles of 
London, England. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Finch. 
The subject of this sketch accompanied his father to Virginia, where he 
lived until 1841, and in the spring of 1842 came to Missouri. After a 
residence here of five years, he returned to Virginia, where he lived one 
year and then once more came to this county, which has since been his 
home. November 13, 1865, he came to where he now lives. He mar- 
ried Miss Charlotte T. Allen February 24, 1853. She was born in Henry 
County, Virginia, but came with her parents to this county in 1838. 
Their family consists of two children: Harriet J., (now Mrs. T. Wheeden) 
and W. F. They have lost two: Martha E. and Mary E. Mr. Gardner 
is known as a man of excellent judgment, cautious in all business trans- 
actions, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and merits the esteem 
in which he is held by the community. 

EDWARD A. HARE 

was born in Hampshire County, West Virginia, February 28, 1845, and 
was the son of Matthew and Martha (Ruckman) Hare, of the same 



BIOGRAPHICAL. IIQJ 

county, the former born March 9, 1800, and the latter October 28, 1809, 
They were married February 24, 1842, and of the original family of six 
sons and one daughter three sons and the daughter only survive. In 
187 1 Mr. Hare, Sr., leaving his native state, emigrated to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, settling in this township. He and his sons, E. A. and 
Paran, purchased 287 acres and located upon it the same year. This 
land was divided in 1876, Edward retaining 165 acres on section 25, ta 
which in 1880 he added twenty-nine acres. To his share of 122 acres 
Paran has added sixteen acres. These constitute excellent farms and 
are well improved. In November, 1880, Matthew Hare died, after a 
short illness, in his eighty-first year. His widow still resides with her 
son, Edward. Mr. H. was a church member for over half a century, and 
Mrs. Hare and her two sons are also connected with the Christian' 
Church. Paran Hare belongs to the A. F. & A. M. fraternity. 

GEORGE W. HARPER 

was born in Crawford County, Ohio, March 9, 1836, his father being 
Samuel J. Harper, born in 1805 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. 
He lived there until 1820, and then removed to Crawford County, Ohio, 
going thence to Lee County, Iowa, in 1840. After living there until 
1875 he came with his son George W. to Doyal Township, St. Clair 
County, Missouri, where he now resides. In 1872 the subject of this 
sketch was married to Miss Arlena Morgan, of Polk County, Missouri, 
and by this union there were born three children, Edgar, Olive E. and 
Elmer M., making a most interesting and attractive family. In 1857" 
Mr. Harper went to California and remained there, occupied in minings 
for some time, during which' period he was quite successful, and he is 
now recognized as being one of the solid financial men of this county. 
He owns 150 acres of land on Coon Creek, and his beautiful residence is 
situated on section 36, of this township. He has never taken an active 
part in politics, preferring the quiet of home life to the turmoil of strife 
attendant upon a life of publicity. 

W. J. HORN, 

farmer and stock raiser, sec<"ion 25, was born in Wilson County, Tennes- 
see, February 29, 1840. His father, Dr. S. W. Horn, was a native of 
Virginia and a practicing physician. He came to Cedar County at an 
early period of the county's history and had a large and successful prac- 
tice in Cedar and adjoining counties, and though now well advanced in 
years, is still able to respond to the calls of many of his old friends. 
His wife was formerly Margaret Tyree, also of Virginia. W. J. received 
a good practical English education. His early life was spent on a farm,. 



I 194 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COJNTV. 

and he has principally followed this calling, excepting for four years, 
while railroading. His farm consists of i6o acres of choice land, well 
improved. In educational matters he has taken an active interest, and 
has repeatedly served as school director. Mr. Home married Miss A. 
Dudley September i6, 1866. She was born in 1844 and is a daughter of 
William and Nancy (Stevens) Dudley, natives of Virginia. They have 
a family of eight children: Mary L., Cora, Maggie, Ettie F., James \V., 
Martha Virginia, Lemuel and Samuel \V. Mr. H. is a member of the 
Masonic order and the I. O. O. F. 

JOHN MELOY 

is one of the prosperous farmers of this township. He was born in Har- 
rison County, Virginia, December 14, 1826, and was reared there on a 
farm. After living for two years in Ohio, in 1855 he removed to Clark 
County, Illinois, and resided there until 1862 when he came to Henry 
County, Missouri, and after five years in the southern part of that 
county settled in St. Clair County. He owns 520 acres of land and his 
dwelling, which is built of variegated stone, taken from the quarries on 
his farm, is one of the most substantial in the township. He married 
Miss Nancy Smith in 1855. She was born in Virginia. They have three 
children: Mary, Sarah and Alvin. 

THOMAS ROBERTS 

was born in Rutherford County, Tennessee, in 1841, and was the son of 
Jesse Roberts, originally of South Carolina, born in 1778. About the 
year 1798 he was married, but his wife subsequently dying, he removed 
to Tennessee, where in 1833 (or thereabouts) he married for his second 
wife Miss Rachel McChristian, a Tennesseean by birth. They had seven 
children, of whom our subject was the fifth child. Four years after the 
birth of Thomas his father, leaving Rutherford County, emigrated to 
Kentucky, and four years later, or in 1849, came to Missouri and settled 
in Benton County, about ten miles above Warsaw on the Osage River. 
In the spring of 1854 he brought his family to St. Clair County, locating 
at Tyler's Bend. A few years later he died, leaving the tamih' in 
straightened circum.stances. His widow dying soon afterwards, the care 
and support of the family fell upon Thomas and his brother Joseph. 
They were equal to the emergency, however, and being possessed of an 
indomitable will and energy, succeeded admirably in their undertaking. 
After encountering many obstacles and privations brought about by the 
late civil war they now own 250 acres of as valuable rolling land as is 
in the county, it being located in section 13. On September 6, 1866, 
Thomas Roberts was married to Miss Martha I. Graham, and they 



BIOGRAriilCAL. I 1 95 

have two sons and three daughters: William, Mary E., Lucy Belle, 
Marian F. and Emily Lucretia. Joseph Roberts was born February 15, 
1842, in Rutherford County Tennessee, and also accompanied his father 
to this county. The education of these brothers has been obtained 
entirely through their own efforts and by the light of the fire at night, 
no one having taught them even the alphabet. They are both identified 
with the Greenback movement and are numbered among the prominent 
citizens of this county. 

WILLIAM F. THOMPSON 

was born January 10, 1836, in Simpson County, Kentucky, and was the 
son of Tillman Thompson, who was also born in Kentucky in 181 1. He 
lived in that state until 1840, when he came to this county, Lcating 
where the subject of this sketch now resides. In 1834 he married Miss 
Adaline Earnest, daughter of Jacob and Lucinda Earnest. They had 
twelve children: William F., Jacob, Monroe, Carrol, Ed\\in, Matilda, 
Perry, Ellen, Paulina, George, Cornelius and Lomba. William F. 
remained at home until 1858, and on March 24th of that year was 
united in marriage with Miss Leah Culbertson, of St. Clair County, and 
a daughter of Isaac Culbertson, mention of whom is made elsewhere in 
our history. To them eleven children were born: Paulina, born in 1S61; 
Adaline, born in 1863; Harriet, born in 1865; one unnamed, born in 
1867; Julia, born in 1868; Sherman, born in 1870; Flora, born in 1872; 
Logan, born in 1874; Delia, born in 1876; Lulu, born in 1879; "^^d Gene- 
via, born in 1882. Of these only five are now living. Mr. Thompson is 
the owner of 150 acres of excellent land, and to some extent is engaged 
in the stock business. Politically he is a Republican. 

JOHN RYLAND TUCKER, 

•a native of Johnson County, Missouri, was born in 1842, being the 
youngest child in a family of four sons and four daughters. Early 
Tucker, his father, was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky. February 4, 
1802, and followed farming there until 1832, when he removed to Lafay- 
ette (now Johnson) County, Missouri. Soon after his settlement there 
he built a cabin, having to send fourteen miles for men to assist in rais- 
ing it. About the year 1827 he was married to Lucretia Owsley, a niece 
of George Owsley and a native of Lincoln County, Kentucky. John R. 
remained upon the farm of his father, in Johnson County, until Febru- 
ary 9, 1862, when he was married to Jane Richardson, of that county. 
To them were born six children, but three only survive: Logan M., Lulu 
Belle and Lilly May. Mr. T. was at one time a Republican in his polit- 
ical views, but is now connected with the "National" party. His wife 
is a member of the M. E. Church, South. 



I 196 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

JAMES B. VAUGHAN, 

a native of Coffee County, Tennessee, was born in 1840, his par- 
ents being Obediah and Nancy Vaughan. The former was born in Cul- 
peper County, Virginia, in 1821, and early emigrating to Tennessee, was 
married there in 1839. He continued to live in that state until James 
was two years old, when, in 1842, he came with the family to St. Clair 
County, Missouri. He was a hardy pioneer, and endured many hard- 
ships in his new home. Being a great trapper and hunter, he found 
ample time here to engage in this sport. Young Vaughan spent his early 
life in this county, tilling the soil in summer and hunting during the 
winter months, and he well remembers when the hide of the deer, wolf, 
etc., was the currency of the day. In 1858 he married Miss Martha Lord,' 
daughter of James Lord, one of the oldest settlers of St. Clair County. 
To them were born nine children, eight of whom are living: Nancy E., 
Sarah, Mary, Maudy, Daisy, Emma and Eddy. Sarah F. died when two 
years old. Mr. V. i^ a Republican in his political preferences, and he is 
a member of the Baptist Church at Bear Creek. 



WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. 



.» • Bj 



FRANCIS M. BRANSON, 

farmer, was born in 1844, and was the eldest of a family of nine child- 
ren born to John and Julia Ann (Davenport) Branson. Francis M. was 
married in 1863 to Miss Nancy Hughes. They had six children: John, 
George W., Francis M., Martin, Anna, Julia Ann and William A. In 
1877 Mr. B. was married a second time to Miss Lizzie Woody. They 
have one child, Sidney Margaret. He first came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, in 1867, but has also been leading rather an unsettled life, hav- 
ing lived in Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky during this time. 

PERRY MILLSAPS 

was born in Wayne County, Kentucky, on the 30th of August, 1828, 
being the son of H. Millsaps, Esq., who was also born there in 1802. In 
1824 he married Miss Rebecca Hoofacre, of the same county. Em>grat- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. II97 

iiigto the sparsely settled territory of Missouri in 1829, the senior Mill- 
saps located in Lincoln County, and in 1838 his wife died. His second 
marriage occurred in 1840 to Miss Ellen Parsons. Perry lived with his 
father until 1854 when he was married to Miss Elizabeth Capps, of Lin- 
coln County. They had ten children: Barton, Clara A., Mary, Rebecca, 
David, Timothy, Washington, Katie, Walter and Josephine. Mr. and 
Mrs. M. are members of the Christian Church, and also belong to the 
Missouri State Grange. During the Mexican war of 1845-46 he served 
as aid-de-camp, and in the civil war he enlisted in Henderson's Brigade, 
September 4, 1861, serving until the close of the war, and being promo- 
ted from private to orderly sergeant. Politically he was formerly a 
Republican. 

JUDGE R. R. MOORE, 

a prominent citizen of St, Clair County, was born in Kentucky, October 
15, 1825, his parents being Jonathan and L. T. (Turpin) Moore, both 
Kentuckians by birth. The former was born April 20, 1879, and died 
in May, 1855, while the latter, who was born May 18, 1783, died in 1873. 
They were married in 1814. R. R. Moore, the sixth child of a family of 
eight children, was an early settler in this county, having come in 1845, 
and remained here since. In 1858 he was married to Miss T. E. David- 
son, and they have had five children: John M., Rukins R., Mary E., 
Martha J. and William T. Mr. Moore served in the capacity of county 
judge very acceptably for five years. He is now one of the largest land 
owners in this county. 

JOHN R. PACE, 

a native of Pitt County, Virginia, was born in 183 1. His father, Francis 
Pace, originally of Goochland County, Virginia, was born in 1798, and 
first married Miss Lucy Davis. His second marriage occurred in 1830, 
to Miss Maria Griggs, also of Virginia. By this union there were eight 
children, John R. being the eldest. In 1854 he was married to Miss 
Mary Burton, and they are the parents of three children: James F., Wil- 
liam P. and Martha E. Mr. Pace came to this county in 1855, immedi- 
ately after his marriage, and now owns 320 acres of valuable land. In 
his political preferences he is a Democrat. 

ROBERT D. SHEEKS 

was born in Obion County, Tennessee, in 1830, and was the son of Jesse 
Sheeks, a Kentuckian, by birth, who after his marriage in that state, 
removed to Tennessee. After his death his widow married again, and 
in 1845 Robert D. accompanied his step-father to St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri He was married in 1858 to Miss Nancy Deshazo, of Collins 



IIQS history of ST. CI.AIR COUNTY. 

Township, this county, and a dau.c^hter of Robert and Elizabeth Deshazo. 
The\- have eight children: Rufus P., Martha J.. William R., Cornelius, 
Benjamin F., Mary E., Lucy and Cora. Mr. Sheeks is the owner of a 
good farm of 415 acres. 

P. B. WONACOTT, 

school teacher, was born in Cass County, Illinois, in 1853, and was the 
son of K. B. Wonacott, who was married in 1841 to Margaret Bell, of 
Virginia. They were the parents of eight children, of whom the sub- 
ject of this sketch was the eighth in number. He remained at home until 
at the age of twenty-three years, when he entered school at Weaubleau 
Institute, remaining there for two years, and then left thoroughly pre- 
pared for the duties of teaching. On May 9, 1848, Mr. W. married Miss 
Nannie J. McConnell, daughter'of Joseph McConnell. They have two 
children, Maggie and Lawson. He is a Greenbacker in his political faith 
and a member of the M. E. Church. He is at present teaching school 
in this township. 



^t^©-^.=^T^2^=-l-^3-^^^- 



ROSCOE TOWNSHIP. 



JOSEPH E. ADDAMS, 

miller, vvas born in Gallia, County, Ohio, April 6, 1855, his parents, Rich- 
ard and Nancy (Nicenhouser) Addams, having been Virginians by birth. 
Joseph E., the youngest of a family of three children, remained in Ohio 
until sixteen years old, when he came to Polk County, Missouri, there 
being reared. He was engaged in farming in that county until 1877, 
when he was employed in a mill at Humansville. After remaining until 
1881, he became occupied in the milling business at Roscoe, with Mr. 
Roddy. He is a member of the Christian Church. August 24, 1879, 
Mr. Addams vvas married to Miss Rebecca Roddy, a native of Tennes- 
see. They have two children: Nanty R. and an infant. 

THOMAS ANDERSON. M. D., 

a native of Morgan County, Indiana, was born August 7, 1839, ^"^ is a 
son of Joel P. Anderson, a V^irginian by birth, whose father, Eli Ander- 
son, was a son of Joshua, of Puritan blood. Thomas' mother, forn'kerly 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I I99 

Lydia Vass, was born in North Carolina. In 1848 the family emigrated to 
Iowa, where he was reared, receiving his education at the Ashland Sem- 
inary. He followed farming till 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, 
Twenty-second Iowa regiment, serving till discharged, July 5. 1865. At 
the battle of Winchester he was taken prisoner and confined in the Libby 
Prison twenty days, then being exchanged. After his discharge he 
returned to Iowa and engaged in the practice of medicine, having in 
18^8 and 1859 attended the Keokuk (Iowa) Medical College. He 
remained there till 1870, when he removed to Polk County, Missouri, 
where he resided till 1875. Going to Lawrence County, Missouri, he 
practiced till 1877, in v/hich year he came to Roscoe. In 1880 he was 
elected coroner of this county, serving one term. He is a member of 
the M. E. Church. Dr. Anderson was united in marriage October 13, 
1859, to Miss Sarah Foster, of Iowa. They have nine children: Joel P., 
Anna J., John T., Mary, N. F. B., Minnie, William H. and Thomas E. 
Joel P. has obtained an excellent education by his own exertion. 

M. G. BABB, 

carpenter, was born in Keokuk County, Iowa, January 2, 1849, ^^^ was 
the son of James and Mary (Hefling) Babb, natives of Kentucky. M. 
G. was reared at his birthplace, and was there educated in the common 
schools. He was engaged in farming until 1866, when he came to 
Macon County, Missouri, and after following farming one year he worked 
at carpentering in Grundy County until 1869. Then he came to Roscoe. 
In November, 1882 he was elected justice of the peace. He is a member 
of the M. E. Church and belongs to the I. O. G, T. May 6, 1869, Mr. 
Babb was married to Miss M. Royce. His piesent wife's maiden name 
was Martha Dunkle, whom he married May 2, 1876. They have three 
children, Herbert, Rufus E. and Charles. 

RALPH C. BOWLES, 

county surveyor, was born April 30, 1827, in the southern part of Maine. 
His father, John C. Bowles, was born January i, 1800, and received an 
academic education. He early united with the Baptist Church and 
about the year 1820 commenced preaching. His ministerial duties call- 
ing him into New York state, he there met Miss Phoebe Wilson, to whom 
ho was married September 4, 1825. She was a daughter of Captain 
Wilson, of revolutionary fame, a well known man who died at the Bat- 
tle of Bridgewater, while in defense of his country. During the next 
year Mr. Bowles was actively engaged in preaching the gospel and in 
the following spring his son, Ralph, was born. It was the father's wish 
that his boy should become a minister and with that end in view Ralph 



I?00 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

was placed first in the public schools and later in Springdale Academy, 
and having: durinp; the meantime gone to Michigan, he entered the State 
University at Ann Arbor. Tiring of so close application he left that 
institution, but subsequently again became a student therein, this time 
for the purpose of qualifying himself for a civil engineer and land sur- 
veyor. By great perseverance and hard study he made rapid progress, 
graduating in June, 1847, first in his class though but a little over twenty 
years old. He soon entered the employ of the government as a 
survp"'or, and under this engagement visited Green Bay, Forts Sullivan 
and iikato, and other points on the Upper Mississippi. He continued 
this tciiling until the year 1859 then locating in this count\'. In i860 
Mr. B. was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Brashears, widow of Waymack 
Brashears, and daughter of Gilbert Deer. To them have been born five 
children: John C., Anna F., Jessie A., Ervin T. and R. E. During the 
war Mr. Bowles enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Missouri Volunteers, 
Colonel McClurg commanding, and was soon transferred to the position 
of topographical engineer. In 1872 he was nominated by his party and 
elected to the position of county surveyor. Politicalh- he is a Demo- 
crat. He resides on section 18. 

GEORGE P. BROWN, 

farmer and stock dealer and proprietor of Hoffman's Ferry, was born in 
Carroll County, Maryland, January 3, 1854. His parents were Lewis H. 
and Susan (Hudson) Brown, natives of Maryland. George was the 
youngest of a family of six children. In 1868 he came to Missouri, but 
the next year returned to Maryland, where he was employed in a com- 
mission house for two years and in the grocery business for one year. 
In 1872 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. In March of the same 
year he \vent to Dallas, Texas, where he was interested in the queens- 
ware business one year. He was then emploj'ed as bookkeeper in a 
wholesale drug house for four years. In 1877 he returned to St. Clair 
■County, Missouri, and in March of 1878 embarked in general merchan- 
dising at Roscoe. In January, 1879, he sold out and commenced deal- 
ing in stock. In June, 1881, he became proprietor of Hoffman's Ferry, 
one of the best on the river. He owns a farm of ninety-two acres, well 
improved. Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic fraternity. January 
18, 1882, he was married to Miss Lucy M. Baker, a native of St. Clair 
County, Missouri. They have one child, an infant.' 

THOMAS BURCH, 

of the firm of Metcalf and Burch, merchants, is a native of St. Clair 
Count}-, Missouri, and was born January 13, 1861, being a son of Benja- 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I20I 

-min Burch, an old settler of this county, mention of whom is found 
elsewhere in this work. Thomas was reared on his father's farm and 
received his education from the schools of this county. In 1882 he 
became engaged in business with his present partner at Roscoe. 

JUDGE MAYFIELD HOSHAW, 

farmer, section 9, is a native of Ross County, Ohio, and was born June 
.29, 1820. His parents were Jacob and Jane (Cox) Hoshaw, the former a 
Virginian by birth, and the latter originally from North Carolina,/ lay- 
field was the fourth child of a family of eleven children. Whenr..-. was 
ten years old the family moved to Indiana, where he grew to manhood 
and was educated. In 1839 he emigrated to Missouri, locating in Law- 
rence County, and was engaged in farming and stock raising in that and 
Jasper Counties, until going overland to California. In 185 1 he returned 
to Lawrence County, Missouri, and in 1861, moved to Jasper County 
where he remained until 1864, then coming to St. Clair County. He 
now owns a farm of 240 acres. In 1882 he was elected judge of the 
county court of St. Clair County. He is a member of the Christian 
Church. January 17, 1841, Mr. Hoshaw was married to Miss Frances 
Hopkins, who died in January, 1848, leaving two children: Jane and 
Perry. In October, 185 1, he was again married to Miss Millie Brown. 
Her death occurred in January, 1855, she leaving one child: Samuel. 
He was afterwards married in November, 1855, to Betsie A. Nichols. 
She died in September, 1858, leaving two children: Angelina and Eliza. 
August II, 1859, Mr. H. was married to his present wife, whose maiden 
name was Frances Moore. They have six children: William, Lounta, 
Thomas, Lucy, Amos, and George W. 

THOMAS HUSTON, 

manufacturer of and dealer in harness and saddles, was born in Fulton, 
Callaway County, Missouri, April 9, 1837. His father, William Huston, 
a saddler by trade, was a Virginian by birth and one of the pioneers of 
Missouri, having come to this state in 1828. He married Rebecca C. 
Huttsell, of Kentucky. When Thomas was eight years old the family 
removed to Clinton Count3^ Missouri, and after a short residence there 
removed to Kansas City. In i8t;o he began learning the trade he now 
so successfully follows, working in that city for three years. Going to 
Richmond, Missouri, he worked four years, then returned to Kansas 
City and remained one year. Thence to Ft. Scott, Kansas, where he 
engaged in the harness business. In 1870 he came to Roscoe. Mr. 
Huston was married August 2, 1862, to Miss Martha Dickey, whose 
death occurred October 30, 1865, she leaving one child, Harry. He 



1202 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

was again married October 6, 1868, to Miss Elmirah Burch, of this 
county. They have three children: Effie, Dottie and Grace. 

W. W. MALLORY 

was born in Monroe County, Missouri, May 20, 1849, ^"^ ^^as a son of J. 
R. and Lucecia (Wilson) Mallory, natives of Kentucky. The subject of 
this sketch spent his youth in his native county, where he was afterward 
engaged in farming until 1871, then moving to Hickory County. He 
has been occupied in teaching in different parts of St. Clair County for 
nine years. He owns a farm of eighty acres of land, well improved, in 
section 20. Mr. M. is a member of the Christian Church, and also 
belongs to the Masonic fraternity. July 25, 1877, he was married to Miss 
Florence Dolly, of Missouri. They have two children, P>astus E. and 
Maggie. 

A. C. MARQUIS, M. D., 

is a native of Darke County, Ohio, and was born September 7, 1832, his 
parents being James and Mary (Casner) Marquis, Virginians by birth. 
The former died in Cedar County, Missouri, March 31, 18S1. A. C. was 
the second of a family of eleven children. When he was about three 
and a half years old the family moved to Jay County, Indiana, where he 
grew to manhood, there receiving his education. At the age of twenty- 
one years he began the study of medicine with his father, who was an 
old and experienced physician. In 1855 he graduated from the Miami 
Medical College. Locating in Adams County, Indiana, he practiced for 
a few months, but his health being poor, he traveled for about one year 
in Virginia. He then returned to Indiana and engaged with his father 
in practicing. In 1858 he came to Missouri, where he was occupied in 
different occupations until i860, when he settled in Cedar County, Mis- 
souri. In 1 86 1 he was appointed post physician and in 1863 he was 
appointed assistant surgeon at Clinton. In 1863 he located one mile 
from Osceola, where he practiced until 1872, when he moved to Roscoe. 
Here he has since resided. The doctor is a large land owner, his landed 
estate containing over 700 acres. He is a member of the Christian 
Church and is connected with the I. O. O. F. fraternity. He has been 
twice married, first to Miss Sarah E. Westfall, of Ohio, December 22, 
1863. She died October 18, 1873, leaving four children: James, Adeniga, 
Mary and Thomas. He was afterwards married to Miss Adosa Eller. of 
Indiana, June 30, 1871. They have four children: Elson, Maude, Claud 

and Myrtle. 

REV. JOHN T. METCALF, 

merchant at Roscoe, was born in F"auquier County, Virginia, March 15, 
1827. His father, Lewis Metcalf, a native of Virginia, having been a 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1205 

son of Asa Metcalf, who was originally of Scotland. Susan St. Clair, 
the mother of John T., was also a Virginian by birth. The subject of 
this sketch was the oldest of five children. When he was sixteen years 
of age he accompanied the family to Howard County, Missouri, where he 
resided till 1850, then going to California, where he was engaged in min- 
ing and merchandising till 1853. In 1854 he located in St. Clair County, 
Missouri, and commenced farming. He now has a fine farm of 320 acres 
of land in section 30, and for the past five years he has been a promi- 
nent merchant of Roscoe. In 1856 he was elected assessor of the county,.- 
serving one term. In 1874 he was elected representative of the county 
and served in the legislature one term. July 19, 1834, Mr. Metcalf was 
united in marriage with Miss Susan C. Marshall, a native of Virginia. 
They have six children: Lewis H., Martha A., Mary S., William T.,. 
Laura and Luther. Mr. M. is a member of the Masonic order. He 
has been connected with the Baptist Church for over thirty years, and 
has been a minister of that faith since his ordination in January, i860. 

L. W. MILLS, 

manager of F. Egger's mercantile house at Roscoe, is a native of 
Washington County, Arkansas, and was born April 3, 1840. He is a son 
of Aaron and Millie (Samuels) Mills, natives of Indiana. When he was 
but an infant the family removed to Dade County, Missouri, there 
remaining till he was nine years of age, when they returned to Arkan- 
sas, settling at Fayetteville. In 1861 L. W. went to Texas, there resid- 
ing till 1868, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and belongs to the M. E. Church. He 
was married in August, 1859, to Miss Sarah E. Edmondson, a native of 
Missouri. They have one child living, Lewis A., born October 4, 1875. 

WILLIAM M. MOORE, 

farmer, section 10, was born in Roscoe Township, St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri, March i, 1848. His father, William Moore, and his mother,. 
Fanny Moore, were natives of Virginia. They were among the first 
settlers of this county. William was the fifth of a family of nine chil- 
dren. He spent his youth here and received his education in the com- 
mon schools. His present farm contains 160 acres, well improved, upon 
which is a good orchard, etc. Mr. M. is a member of the Christian 
Church, September 19, 1876, he was married to Miss Eliza Hoshaw. 
They have three children: Ida May, Lulu E. and Laura. 

BENJ. F. PEPPER, 

wagon maker, a native of Hampshire County, West Virginia, was born- 
July 13, 1833, his parents being James and Catherine (Wise) Pepper, 



I204 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

originally from Virginia. Benjamin F. was the eldest of a family of 
seven children. He was reared on his father's farm in Virginia and 
there obtained his education, remaining at home until 1857, when he 
emigrated to Hancock County, Illinois. There he followed farming tor 
eighteen months. Going to Alton he was employed as salesman for J. 

D. Freeman for three years when he acted as a guard in the prison at 
that {)lace for a number of years, after which he worked at carpentering 
and wagon making in different parts of Illinois until 1871. Then he 
came to St. Clair County, Missouri, and farmed two years, soon settling 
in Roscoe. He has since been occupied in the manufacture of wagons, 
etc., and also owns a farm of 180 acres. In December, 1858, Mr. Pepper, 
married Miss Sarah Johnson, a native of New Jersey. They have two 
children: Douglas L. and Florence. 

J. H. PILES, 

farmer, section 10, a native of Hampshire County, West Virginia, 
was born August 27, 1832, and was a son of John and PLlizabeth (Buck- 
man) Piles, Virginians by birth. J. H. was reared on his father's farm in 
Virginia, and was educated in the common schools. He followed farm- 
ing there until 1870, when he emigrated to Missouri and located in St. 
Clair County. Here he owns a farm of 310 acres, which will average 
with any in the township. He is also a large stock raiser, now having 
about 120 head of cattle. At the breaking out of the late war he was 
appointed captain of the 114th regiment, Virginia State Militia. In 1862 
he enlisted in Stonewall Jackson's Brigade, and at the battle of Marion 
Hill he was wounded and afterwards was unable for infantry service. 
He was then made captain of Company K, Forty-seventh Virginia Cav- 
alry, and served until the close of the war. He is a member of the M. 

E. Church, South. January 17, 1856. Mr. Piles was married to Miss 
Jane Robinson, of Virginia. They have ten children: William T., Mary 
E., Martha E., Dora A., John R., Rebecca S., Richard J., Robert Lee, Ida 
May and Estella. 

ALONZO RAY, 

merchant, was born in Portage County, Ohio, May 10, 1823. His parents 
•were John and Palmira (Root) Ray, the former a native of West Virginia, 
and the latter of Vermont. They reared six children, of whom Alonzo 
was the second child. He was brought up and educated in his native 
state, and in 1843 he went to Chicago, where he worked two years at 
the harness trade. He then located at Lafayette, Indiana, and was 
occupied at his chosen calling two years, and also at various places till 
1849, when he emigrated to California. There he was interested in min- 
ing till 185 1. Returning to Illinois he remained till i860, when he went 



BIOGRAPHICAL. . 1205 

to Kansas, where he was engaged in farming till 1867. Then he came 
to Roscoe and has since been engaged in merchandising. He has held 
the office of justice of the peace for some years, and he was postmaster 
of this place for seven years. Mr. Ray has been three times married, 
first to Miss Fannie Eyemer, of New York, November 26, 1853. Her 
death occurred June 14, 1855. He was again married February 5, 1856, 
to Mrs. Caroline Kinyon, a daughter of James Lee. She died August 
23, 1876. He was married to his present wife January 8, 1878, her name 
being Mrs. Mary L. Barr. He has two children by his second wife, 
Restory and Willis H. 

ERVIN THOMAS, 

farmer, section 10, was born in Grayson County, Virginia, June 16, 1812. 
His father, Nathan Thomas, born in North Carolina, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war under General Green, and was at the battle of Guil- 
ford court house. North Carolina. Ervin's grandparents were originally 
from Wales. His mother, formerly, Rebecca Pool, (of English parent- 
age) came from North Carolna. He was the ninth of ten children. 
After the war his father moved into Virginia, when he bought a farm. 
Young Ervin remained at home for several years, and for a time was in 
Florida. In 1839 ^^ came to Missouri and settled in Roscoe Township, 
near where he now lives. In 1849 he went to California with William 
Walters and others and remained three years. He now has a finely 
improved farm of 120 acres. During the late war General Lyon's army 
destroyed nearly all his property while on their raid after Price's army, 
and then Mr. Thomas joined Price for protection. He was out six 
months. He married Nancy Crider, November 17, 1833, i^'' Grayson 
County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Henry Crider, of Virginia. 
They have four children living: Margaret Ann (now Mrs. Thomas 
Hackett, of Kansas City), Jane (Mrs. Thomas J. Sherley, who died in 
188 1), Sarah (now Mrs. H. Gest), Susan (wife of Charles Bidell), and 
Edwin E., now in Colorado. Politically he is a Democrat. He belongs 
to the Christian Church, and is a member of the Masonic order. 

ANDREW WAYMIRE, 

blacksmith at Roscoe, is a native of Warren County, Indiana, and was 
born October 29, 1828. He is a son of Isaac and Rachel Waymire, who 
were natives of Ohio. Andrew was the fourth of a family of nine child- 
ren. When ten years of age he accompanied his parents to Buchanan 
County, Missouri, where he was reared to manhood, and he was engaged 
in farming in Missouri and Iowa till 1859. Then he worked at the gun- 
smith's trade in Iowa till 1868, when he removed to Arkansas, becoming 
occupied at the trade of blacksmith for three years. He worked in Law- 



f206 HISTORY OK ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

rcnco County, Missouri, till 1874, when he came to Roscoe, and has since 
been interested in blacksmithing. Mr. Waymire was married Decem- 
ber I, 1S46, to Miss Malissa Barrow, of Kentuck}-. They have five child- 
ren living: Huldah, Maria, John, Charles and Albert. 

JOHN E. WELLS, 

hardware merchant at Roscoe, was born in Carroll Count)', Missouri, 
September 22, 1857. His parents were Daniel W. and Margaret (Cra- 
ven) Wells, the former a native of Illinois, and the latter of Missouri. 
When John E. was an infant he was taken by his "grandfather to Clay 
County, Missouri, where he was reared and educated. In 1875 he 
removed to Harrison County, Missouri, and clerked in a store there, and 
then in Gentry Count)- till 1878, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. Here he followed school teaching till the spring of 1883, 
when he engaged in the hardware business. He is a member of the M. 
E. Church, South, and belongs to the I. O. G. T. 



■.,^^^^,(^i^^ 



SPEEDWELL TOWNSHIP. 



B. F. BURCH, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 4, is a native of Hard)- Count)-, Vir- 
ginia, and was born July 4, 1833. His parents were Robert N. and 
Rebecca (Swisher) Burch, Virginians b)- birth. In 1S42 this family 
moved to St. Clair County, Missouri, where B. F. has since resided. He 
has made farming and dealing in stock his occupation during life, and 
now owns a landed estate of over 1,000 acres. His home farm contains 
a fine orchard and is well improved. In 1850 he went to California, 
where he was engaged in mining till the spring of 1855. In August, 
1856, Mr. Burch was married to Miss Martha A. Metcalf, originally from 
Virginia. The)- have eleven children: Emma, Lucy J.. Missouri A., John 
T., James O., Mary E., Francis, Edna, Frances M. and Eddie. 

OLIVER H. P. BURCH. 

farmer and stock raiser, section 10. was born in St. Clair Count)-. Mis- 
souri, December 17, 1839, ant! has made this his home during life. In 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 120/ 

1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service in which he remained till 
the close of the war. March 10, 1869, Mr. B. was married to Miss Ade- 
line McLain, a native of Tennessee. They have four children: Charles 
A., John P. Austin D.', and Robert H. 

S. G. DAVIS, 

farmer and plasterer, section 16, was born in Cole County, Missouri, 
July 20, 1842, and is a son of Peter E. and Catherine (McKinsey) DaviS; 
who were natives of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was reared 
to the occupation of farming and the trade of plastering, which his father 
also followed. In 1859 they moved to Benton County, Missouri, where 
S. G. followed his present business till 1875. He then went to Polk 
County, Missouri, and one year later came to St. Clair County, where he 
has since resided. He now has a farm of 160 acres. February i, i860, 
Mr. Davis was married to Miss Eliza J. Bowman, who was born in Ben- 
ton County, Missouri, September 16, 1843. She died June 19, 188 1, leav- 
ing six children: Eugenia, Peter, Jasper, Charley, Ella M,. and Preston. 
Mr. D. is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. 

WILLIAM HENRY DOOLEY, 

farmer and stock raiser, is the owner of 120 acres of land on section 20. 
He was born in Polk County, Missouri, in January, 1838, being a son of 
Henry E. Dooley, of Georgia, who was born in 1800. His mother's 
maiden name was Jane Cornelius, of South Carolina. They came to 
Missouri in 1830, and settled in Greene County, near Springfield, arriv- 
ing here before the Indian title became extinct. They were forced to 
return to the eastern part of the state, remaining there until 1832, when 
they again came back and once more located near Springfield. In 1836 
he moved to Polk County and settled in Bolivar, building the first house, 
which was afterwards used for a court house for some years. In 1843 
they went into Greene Township, Hickory County, where Mr. D. bought 
several hundred acres of land and made extensive improvements. He 
died in 1849. Mrs. Dooly is yet living in Hickory County, and is eighty- 
six years old. They had seven children, of whom Wm. H. was the young- 
est. He resided with the family in Hickory County until 1873, when he 
purchased a farm in Speedwell Township, where he now resides. He 
married Amanda E. Nance in 1869. She was the daughter of Saunders 
Nance, who came here in 1835, from Virginia. They have five children: 
John L., Leanna, Azalin, Henry Emmet, and Ezra. 

JAMES HARVEY McKlNLEY, 

farmer and stock raiser, is the owner of lOO acres of land on section 16. 
He was born in Russell County, Kentucky, in 1834, and was the son of 



I208 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

Solomon McKinley, who was originally from Kentucky. His grand- 
father, Michael McKinley, together with a younger brother, secreted 
themselves, when boys, in a vessel and left for America, unknown tc^ 
their parents. After arriving in this country, in due time he joined the 
army, and was with Washington through the revolution. In 1812 he 
was with General Jackson at New Orleans, and was killed on the cele- 
brated 8th of January. James' mother, formerly Ann Cane, was a 
daughter of Charles Cane, of Pennsylvania. Her grandfather was also 
in the revolution. They raised nine children, of whom James H. was 
the fifth. He learned the carpenter's trade in youth, and in 1853 came 
to Missouri and settled in St. Clair County, near where he now lives. 
He married Miss Sarah C. Todd in 1857. She was the daughter of 
Daniel P. Todd, of Kentucky. They have eight children: William Fil- 
more, James Daniel, Thomas Price, Rhoda Jane, Samuel Tilden, Peter,. 
Sarah Catharine and Edna. Three died in infancy. Politically he is a 
Democrat, and he has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty 
years. 

WILLIAM H. P0TTP:R, 

physician and surgeon at Tiffin, was born in Genesee County, New 
York, June 2, 1838, and is the son of John and Julia A. (Stillwellj Pot- 
ter, natives of New York. When William H. was about nine years of 
age his parents, with the family, moved to Washington County, Wis- 
consin, where he grew to manhood, his time being spent on a farm and 
in a store. In the spring of i860 he began the study of medicine with 
Dr. Hayes, of Boston. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in Company K, 
Second Wisconsin Infantry, and in the fall of the same year the com- 
pany was transferred and known as Company A., First Artillery. He 
remained in service three years, acting as hospital steward. After this 
he traveled till 1869 when he located in Saline County, Nebraska, there 
commencing the practice ot medicine. He continued it till 1879 when 
he located in Bates County. In 1882 he came to Taberville, St. Clair 
County and in the fall of the same year, took up his residence at Tiffin. 
The doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married 
October 11, 1868, to Miss Helen Hildreth, a native of Wisconsin. 

GIDEON PAPE. 

dealer in general merchandise at Tiffin, is a native of Germany, and was 
born July 21, 1846. He was reared and educated in his native country, 
and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits till 1865, when he emi- 
grated to America, landing at New York. After this he traveled until 
1871, when, coming to St. Clair County, Missouri, he located on the 
Osage, where he followed the milling business until 1876. Then he 



BIOGRAPHICAL. I209 

began in his present business, in which he has been very successful, and 
he is now one of the leading business men of the county. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. Mr. Pape was married October 2, 1873, 
to Miss Elizabeth M. Bogle, of Niagara County, New York. They have 
three children: Charlotta A., Stella A. and Edith E. 

BUCKNER RUSSELL, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 21, was born in Moniteau County, Mis- 
souri, May 13, 1837. His father, John Russell, was a native of Kentucky, 
and married Miss Nancy Alley, of the same state. They had nine chil- 
dren, the subject of this sketch being the fourth child. He was reared 
to manhood in his native county, and was there educated, also follow- 
ing farming in the locality till 1866, when he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. His landed estate consists of 600 acres. During the war the 
greater part of his time was occupied in the Confederate service. Mr. 
R. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. November 8, 1866, he was 
married to Miss Matilda Harriman, of Illinois. By this union they have 
four children: John W., Geneva, Elsie G. and Myrtie. 

T. F. TRUE, 

farmer, section 20, was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, October 4, 
1845, being a son of Nelson and Mary E. (Piles) True, also natives of 
Indiana. T. F. was reared and educated in the county of his birth, 
where he was engaged in farming till 1866. Then he came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, and now owns a farm of 220 acres. In 1861 he 
enlisted in Company G, Fifty-seventh Indiana, remaining in service till 
the dose of the war. Mr. True was married July 5, 1867, to Miss Fannie 
Tives, a native of Moniteau County, Missouri. They have four chil- 
dren: Nelson, William A., Laura J. and Charles F. 

GEORGE WAGNER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 17. The subject of this sketch is one of 
the prominent men of Speedwell Township and one worthy of men- 
tion in the history of this county. He is a native of Germany and 
was born January 28, 1826. When but four years old he was brought 
to ' America by his parents, who located at Petersburg, Virginia. 
George there received the benefits of the common schools, and in 
1842 he went back to Germany, where he entered the Heidelberg 
University of Baden-Baden There he took a thorough course in sur- 
veying, engineering and jurisprudence, learning the Greek, Latin and 
Hebrew languages. He was graduated from that institution in 1847, 
Returning to Petersburg, Virginia, he was engaged in ornamental gar 



12 10 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

deniiii^, at which he accumulated a large amount of wealth. This was 
all lost during the war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service 
and was made regimental quartermaster of Roger A. Pryor's regiment, 
and after a short time was promoted to brigade quartermaster, which 
position he filled for eight months. Alter that time he filled the posi- 
tion of first assistant chief quartermaster of General Longstreet's corps 
until the surrender of General Lee. After the close of the war he 
lemained in Petersburg, Virginia, for eighteen months, when he went to 
Kingman County, Kansas. He was occupied in farming and raising 
stock till 1878, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he 
now has 320 acres of land, eighty acres in Vernon County and 320 acres 
of good farming land in Kansas, and he is one of the most pratical 
farmers of this county. In 1874 he was elected probate judge of King- 
man County, Kansas, which office he held four years. Mr. W. is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. In February, 1849, he was married to 
Miss Caroline Bloom, a native of Virginia. She died in 1878, leaving 
five children: George, Herman, William, Caroline and Louisa. He was 
married again in July, 1881, to Mrs. Mary J. Price, of Ohio. Her maiden 
name was Russell. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Baptist Church. 

EDWIN WRIGHT, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 5, was born in Licking County. Ohio, 
June 10, 1840. His parents were William S. and Samantha (Stedman) 
Wright, natives of Massachusetts. A colony had emigrated from Gran- 
ville, Massachusetts, and located in Licking County, Ohio, when William 
Wright was about six years of age, hence the name of Granville, Ohio. 
Edwin was reared and educated in his native county, and there engaged 
in farming till 1859, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, where 
he resided till 1861, then returning to Ohio. He went from there with 
a number of men and enlisted in Company D, Thirteenth Missouri, 
which was afterward changed to the Twenty-second Ohio. He remained 
in service fourteen months, holding the position of corporal. In the 
fall of 1863 he went to Coles County, Illinois, and in the summer of 1865 
came to St. Clair County, Missouri, where he has since followed his 
present occupation, having a landed estate of 880 acres. His farm is 
one of the best improved in this vicinity, and upon it is located a com- 
modious and convenient residence, and one of the best barns in the 
county. On his farm is a number of medical springs, equal to those of 
Eldorado, his nearest trading point. He has also a very fine stone quary 
equal to any in the state. July 27, 1864, Mr. Wright was married to 
Miss Fannie Bartlett, a native of Indiana. She was born in Februar\-, 
1843, being a daughter of Charles and P^mcline Bartlett, the former of 
New Hampshire and the latter of Kentuck}-. The family of Mr. and 
Mrs. W. consists of three children, Charles E., Maud and George S. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 12 II 



TABER TOWNSHIP. 



-==3) r-CE^?=§>=J~: 



JOHN C. AMMONS, 

farmer, section 5, was born in Warren County, Ohio, April 23, 1833, and 
when eight years old, he moved with his parents to Henry County, and 
four years later to Hancock County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood, 
He was there engaged in farming until 1870, when he came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri, and here he has a farm of 200 acres. January 19, 1865. 
Mr. A. was married to Miss Julianna Eckles, a native of Ohio. They 
have five children: Florence V., Gilbert L., Ida B., Eddison S., and John 
R. William Ammons the father of John C. Ammons, was a son of Wil- 
liam and Teressa (Swindler) Ammons, both of whom were natives of 
Pennsylvania. William, junior, was born in Warren County, Ohio, 
December 16, 181 1. He was reared in his native county on a farm, and 
has followed farming through life. He was married in Ohio to Miss 
Mary Cassady, January 7, 1832. They have had nine children. In 1844 
they moved to Henry County, Indiana, and in 1848 to Hancock County, 
Illinois, and in 1867 to St. Clair County, Missouri. Mrs. Mary Ammons 
was born in Warren County, Ohio, February 4, 18 12. 

THOMAS V. BISHOP, 

farmer, section 35, the son of James and Rachael (Van Winkle) Bishop, 
natives of New Jersey, was born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, 
March 28, 1820. He was reared on his farm in his native county, and in 
1S50 he moved to Mercer County, Illinois, and in 1868 came to St. Clair 
County, Missouri. He has followed farming during life, and now has a 
farm of eighty-four acres. January 25, 1844, Mr. Bishop was married to 
]\Iiss Elizabeth A. Gallop, of New York. They have had eleven children, 
eight of whom are living: Mary M., Martha A., Ruby S., Martin H., 
Julia L., James R., Elizabeth A. and Lee J. Mr. and Mrs. B. are mem- 
bers of the Christian Church. 

S. H. BOTHWELL, 

stock dealer, section 22, is a native of Vinton County, Ohio, and was 
born on October 29, 1854, his parents being A. W. and Julia E. (Potter) 
Bothwell, the former of Ohio and the latter originally from Pennsylva- 
nia. When S. H. was ten years of age the family removed to Clay 
County, Illinois, where he grew to manhood. He received the advan- 



12 I 2 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

tages of the common schools of Illinois, after which he attended the 
normal school of Lebanon, Ohio. Mr. Bothwell has ever followed farm- 
ing and dealing in stock during life. In the spring of i88o he came to 
St. Clair County, Missouri. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. frater- 
nit)'. He was married February 27, 1S78, to Miss Bell West, of Clay 
County, Illinois. She was born June 22, 1857, her father, Joseph West, 
having been born in Pennsylvania. Her mother, formerly Mary Came- 
ron, was also a native of Pennsylvania. They have one child, Jessie. 

JACOB W. CARROLL, 

the owner of a farm consisting of 200 acres, located in section 19, is a 
native of Tennessee, and was born in Roane County, March 6, 1844. 
When he was about ten years of age he came to St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri, where he has since resided. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, 
Seventh Missouri Infantry, of the Confederate service, and remained in 
active service until the close of the war. January 16, 1873, Mr. Carroll 
married Miss Lizzie Ellis, a Kentuckian by birth. They have one child, 
Myrtie J. 

Z. T. CARROLL, 

farmer, section t,6, was born in Roane County, Tennessee, March 16, 
1849. H^ came to St. Clair County, ^Missouri, with his parents when but 
a child, and has since continued to make his home here. He now owns 
a farm of 100 acres. Mr. Carroll married August 25, 1870, Miss Mary J., 
a daughter of J. M. Hoover, and a native of Missouri. They have four 
children: Samantha Lee, Willard Gillmore, Georgia Ann and Dora 
Miller. 

H. P. COCKRELL, 

farmer, section 12, is the son of Peter B. Cockrell, a native of Bourbon 
County, Kentucky, who was married in Cooper County, Missouri, to 
Miss Elizabeth Sproul, originally of Virginia. H. P. was born in Cooper 
County, Missouri, May 23, 1839. About the year 1847 he came to St. 
Clair County, Missouri, where he now has a farm of eighty acres. In 
1863 he enlisted in the Missouri State Militia Cavalry, served two years, 
one month and two days and was mustered out as sergeant. In Decem- 
ber, 1869, Mr. C. was married to Miss Harriet J. Sproul, a native of St. 
Clair County, Missouri. They have had four children, three of whom 
are now living: Margaret G., Nellie S. and Mollie A. E. 

J. E. CORBIN, 

farmer, section 7, is a native of Ohio and was born in Licking County 
February 9, 1836, being a son of William and Sophia (Boyer) Corbin, 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 12 I 3 

both Virginians by birth. J. E. was the youngest in the family, which 
consisted of eight children. In 1844 he moved with his parents to Noble 
County, Indiana, where he grew to manhood, there completing his edu- 
cation. In 1856 hewent to LaPorte, of the same state, and in 1861 to 
Sangamon County, Illinois, where, from 1863 to 1867, he was employed 
as wood workman in the car shops of Springfield. In 1867 he moved to 
Missouri, locating in Bates County till 1869, when he came to St. Clair 
County, where he now has a farm of 240 acres, which, in regard to 
improvements, is surpassed by no farm in the county. December 30, 
1863, Mr. Corbin was married to Miss Sarah E. McKinney, by whom he 
has three children: Oliver E., William and Jennie B. Mrs. C. was born 
in Sangamon County, Illinois, September 3, 1844. She was reared and 
educated in that county, where she resided till her marriage. Mr. and 
Mrs. Corbin are members of the Christian Church. 

DR. A. C. DAVIDSON, 

a prominent physician and surgeon at Taberville. His father, Alfred 
Davidson, was a native of Kentucky, as was also his mother, whose 
maiden name was Mary J. Adams. A. C. was born in Warren County, 
Kentucky, October 22, 1848. In August, 1857, he moved with his par- 
ents to Shawnee County, Kansas, where they located on a farm and 
lived till the fall of 1865. Coming to Missouri they settled in Hickory 
County, and in 1874 our subject located in Taberville. In 1878 he began 
the study of medicine under Dr. J. H. Newman, and in 1874 commenced 
his practice, and has since been very successful. He was also engaged 
in the drug business from 1874 till September 28, 1882, when his store was 
burned. Since living in this county he has been county coroner several 
terms. Dr. Davidson was married November 12, 1876, to Miss Ida L. 
Baker, who was born in Cooper County, Missouri, March 18, 1861. He 
died August 19, 1880. He was married again April 9, 1882, to Miss 
Rosa Ayers, a native of Saline County, Missouri; born August 19, 1862. 
The doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. 

BIRD ESTES, 

farmer, section 10, was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, September 6, 
1 84 1. His father, Jackson Estes, was a Kentuckian by birth, while his 
mother, whose maiden name was Abigail Jackson, was a native of Illi- 
nois. When Bird was but a child his parents moved to Benton County, 
Missouri, where he grew to manhood, there being engaged in farming 
till 1867, when he went to Henry County. In 1869 he came to St. Clair 
County, and here has since resided. His farm contains 120 acres. In 
August, 1862, he joined the Enrolled Militia, and in December, 1863, 



12 14 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNIY. 

he re-enlisted in the state militia under Colonel Philips, being mus- 
tered out July II, 1865, as sergeant. September 3, 1865, he was married 
to Miss Lucy A. Bradley, of Henry County, Missouri, born December 
15, 1845- They have four children: Eugenie B., Nellie D., Agnes D., and 
Harry C. Mr. and Mrs. E. are members of the Baptist Church. 

ROBERT F. GUERRANT, 

farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Stephen and Sallie (Harris) Guer- 
rant, both natives of Virginia (the former of French descent) and was 
born in Buckingham County, Virginia, February 16, 1826. He was there 
reared and educated, and in 1849 he moved to Saline County, Missouri, 
and in 1878 came to St. Clair County. He has followed the occupation 
of farming during life and his farm now contains 176 acres, on which is 
located the best residence in Tabor Township. His other improve- 
ments are also above the average of those in the county. Mr. Guerrant 
is one of the stock holders in the First National Bank of Appleton City. 
He has been twice married. First March 17, 1853, to Miss Zerrilda Hill, 
of Saline County, who died November 30, 1874, leaving a family of five 
children: Walter, L., William T., Malinda A., Samuel and Ralph. Miss 
Susan M. Hudgen, of Buckingham County, Virginia, became his second 
wife, their marriage occurring February 20, 1878. By this union they 
have one child, Albert C. 

HENRY F. HAND, 

section 27, was born in Chittenden County, Vermont, May 27, 1845, being 
a son of Francis and T. (Smith) Hand, the former originally from Eng- 
land and the latter from Vermont. Henry received his education in the 
Brandon Seminary of Rutland County. He grew up on a farm and has 
principally followed that occupation during life. In the spring of 1S65 
he moved to Calhoun County, Michigan, and in 1866 to Jackson County, 
of the same state. In 1868 he accepted a position as station agent at 
Adrian, Michigan., for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, 
which he held for one year. In 1870 he came to St. Clair County, Mis- 
souri, and has resided here since, and during this period he has been 
the leading sheep dealer and raiser in the county. His farm contains 
640 acres, and this is mostly utilized in the raising of sheep and other 
stock. He has on an average from 1,000 to 1,600 head, and at other 
times has had between 1,900 and 2,000. Mr. Hand was married Feb- 
ruary 7, 1875, to Miss Charlotte Laskin, a native of Michigan. They 
have four children: Emma, Freddie, Mable and Frank. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 121 J 

MILTON HEATH, 

one of the prominent citizens of Taberville and owner of the Taberville 
Ferry, was born in Lawrence County, Illinois, November ii, 1847. He 
was there reared and educated, coming to St. Clair County in 1868. He 
has Followed farming principally during life, and has been owner of the 
Taberville ferry since 1874. His boat in present use was built in 1882. 
Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His father. Judge A. 
Heath, a son ot Ashel and Aylcy (Curens) Heath, natives of Virginia, 
was the twelfth child of a family of fourteen children, and was born in 
Sullivan County, Indiana, March 6, 1823. When he was an infant his 
parents removed to Lawrence County, Illinois, and there he grew to 
manhood and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he has 
since followed. In 1866, he went to Hancock County, and in 1868 came 
to St. Clair County, Missouri. In 1873 he purchased the Taberville 
Ferry. While in Lawrence County, Illinois, he served as one of the 
county commissioners three terms. In 1872 he was elected by the 
Democratic party as one of the county judges of St. Clair County, serv- 
ing four years. He is a member of Star Lodge, No. 419, A. F. &: A. M. 
Judge Heath was married August 19, 1844, to Miss Mary Wright and 
they have eight children living: Robert, Milton, Lafayette, William J. 
John S., Jennie, Holbert, and Sherman. Mrs. H. was born in Ripley 
County, Indiana, February 19, 1828. Her father Josiah Wright was a 
native of Kentucky, as also was her mother, whose maiden name was 
Martha Hamilton. 

GEORGE HILL, SR., 

section 32, son of John and Margaret (Schineltzer) Hill, natives of Penn- 
sylvania, was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, January 
23, 18 16. He was there brought up and educated and was considered 
one of the most practical farmers of that state. He followed this occu- 
pation in Northumberland and Lycoming Counties until 1880, except 
from 1849 to 1863, during which time he resided in St. Joseph County, 
Michigan. In 1S80 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. He and his 
sons now at home have a landed estate of nearly 600 acres. He was 
married February 24, 1840, to Miss Martha Brown. They have had ten 
children, nine of whom are living: Robert B., John, William B., Jane, 
George, Jr., Margaret, Martha B., Charles and Susan L. Mrs. Hill is the 
youngest of a family of twelve children, and was born in Lycoming 
County, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1816. Her father, William Brown, 
was a native of Ireland, and her mother, formerly Jane Brown, came 
originally from Pennsylvania. Jane Brown was a daughter of Mathew 
and Eleaner (Torbit) Brown, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of 
Scotland. The father of Mrs. Hill was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. 



I2l6 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY, 

JOHN HILL, 

justice of the peace, notary public and dealer in real estate, is a son of 
George Hill, and was born in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was 
reared in that county and there received an academic education. In 
the fall of 1864 he went to Salem, Marion County, Illinois, where he 
studied law with Judge Michael Schaeffer, remaining one 3'ear. Going 
south he located in Arkansas, where he was engaged in merchandising 
and raising cotton. In the spring of 1868 he came to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, and for the first two years taught school, and in 1870 he was 
elected county superintendent of schools, holding the office two years. 
Since that time he has been occupied in farming and dealing in stock, 
having at the present time a landed estate of about 1,500 acres. March 
26, 1879, he was commissioned notary public, and in December, 1882, 
was appointed justice of the peace of Taberville. Mr. Hill was married 
September 20, 1869, to Miss Mary J. Coulthard. of St. Clair County, 
Missouri, born October 28, 185 1. Her father, Joseph Coulthard, was a 
native of England, and her mother, formerly Catherine Truxiel, was 
born in Ohio. The family of Mr. and Mrs. H. consists of four children: 
George, Martha B., Katie M. and Josephine B. In 1863 he enlisted in 
the Pennsylvania Militia, and remained in service during the Gettysburg 
raid. 

WILLIAM BROWN HILL 

is proprietor of the Taberville Hotel, and is also a dealer in and feeder 
of stock. His father was George Hill, Esq. William was born in 
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1844. He was reared there, 
except three years spent in St. Joseph County, Michigan. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools of his native county and the Wyoming 
seminary of the Wyoming Valley. After following farming till 1870 he 
engaged in the grocery business at Williamsport City, which he contin- 
ued four years. In September, 1876, he went to Salt Lake City. Utah, 
where he accepted the position as deputy clerk of the United States 
district court of Utah. In July, 1877 he resigned his position and came 
to St. Clair County, where he has since been dealing in stock. His 
hotel has gained a good reputation and is a credit to the place. While 
in Pennsylvania Mr. H. was captain in the Twelfth Regiment of National 
Guards of Pennsylvania. Since coming to St. Clair County he acted as 
deputy sheriff under John P. Gordon. At the convention of the Green- 
back party, in September, 1882, he was nominated as their candidate for 
sheriff of the county. Mr. H. is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
and of the patriot order Sons of America, belonging to Camp 26, of 
Williamsport City, Pennsylvania. He was married the first time Sep- 
tember, 19, 1872, to Miss Josephine Good, who was born in May, 1858. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1217 

She died January 16, 1878, leaving two children: Laura G., born Octo- 
ber 19, 1873, and Josia G., born November 12, 1877, and who died 
August 12, 1878- He was again married January 3, 1882, to Miss Julia 
L. Bishop, of Rock Island County, Illinois, born May 14, 1859. Her 
father, Thomas V. Bishop was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother, 
Elizabeth Gallop, of the same state. 

J. M. HOOVER, Sr., 

farmer and stock dealer, section 32, was born in Lee County, Virginia, 
September i, 1823. He is a son of Alexander and Margaret E (Smith) 
Hoover, the former originally of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. They 
had a family of eight children, the subject of this sketch being the third 
child. In the fall of 1835 the Hoover family moved to St. Clair County, 
Missouri, and located near Osceola. Alexander Hoover died in July, 
1865, and his wife in October, 1880. J. M. has followed farming and deal- 
ing in stock in this county since he grew to manhood, and is now one of 
the leading and most respected citizens of his township. He has a 
landed estate of 388 acres. He served three years in the Missouri State 
militia. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. June 16, 1841, he 
was married to Mrs. Mary N. Hembre, a daughter of Hugh Allison. She 
was born in Warren County, Tennessee, December 12, 1837. Mr. and 
Mrs. H. have had eleven children, six of whom are now living: James 
M., William S., Josephine, Rebecca, Eliza H, and Lillie M. 

JAMES M. HOOVER, JR., 

is a farmer on section 31. His father was James M. Hoover, a sketch of 
whose life is elsewhere to be found. He has made farming his occupa- 
tion during life in this county, having been born here February 5, 1856. 
He was for sometime in different locations of Southwest Missouri, 
working in the lead mines. He was married February i, 1880, to Miss 
Sarah D. Suggs, a native of Moniteau County, Missouri, and a daughter 
of John and Mary A. (Wade) Suggs. Mrs. H. was born May 24, 1861. 
They have one child, Charles W. 

ALBERT HOYT, 

section 6. The paternal great-grandfather of Albert Hoyt, Benjamin 
Hoyt, was born in England June 7, 1702, and was killed in the battle of 
Ticonderoga during the French war. His son, Robert Hoyt, was born 
in England May 6, 1753, and was there married to Miss Jane Hall. Ben- 
jamin Hoyt, a son of Robert, was born in New Braintree, Massachusetts, 

March 13, 1785, and died in Illinois August 31, 1845, having been mar- 

77 



I2l8 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

ricd to Miss Dorothy Walker at Richmond, New York, December 31, 
1 8 10. She was born near the White Mountains of Vermont December 

17, 1792, and was a daughter of John W. Walker, a native of Vermont, 
and a descendant of an old and noted family of England. She died in 
Illinois February 4, 1873. The family of Benjamin and Dorothy Hoyt 
consists of eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom the 
subject of this sketch was the forth child. He was born in Middlebury, 
Genesee County, New York, January 14, 18 18. When he was an infant 
the family removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, but after the age of 
twelve years was reared in Portage County, learning the carpenter's 
trade with his father. He followed that occupation in Portage County 
until 1838, afterward working in different parts of Iowa and Missouri 
until 1840, when he returned to Lake County, Ohio. There he was mar- 
ried December 17, 1840, to Miss Calista Norris, who was born in Genesee 
County, New York, September 20, 1816. She died in Lake County June 

18, 1844, leaving two children, Julia and Albertus E. In 1845 Mr. H. 
went to Adams County, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until 
1856, then locating in Lewis County, Missouri. In 1874 he returned to 
Adams County, where he resided until 1877. Since that time he has 
been a resident of this county. December 23, 1848, Mr. Hoyt was mar- 
ried in Adams County to Miss Samantha Willard, who was born in 
Overton County, Tennessee, July 12, 1827, They have had seven child- 
ren, four of whom are living: Henrietta, Calista, Addison G. and James 
W. In May, 1847 he enlisted in the Mexican war, and was discharged 
November 7, 1848. 

JOHN B. JEFFRIES, 

farmer, section i, is a son of Elijah G. and Elizabeth P. (Winfrey) Jef- 
fries, natives of Kentucky, and was born in Carroll County, Missouri, 
December 5. i853- ^^^ i86s he moved, with his parents to McDonough 
County, Illinois, and in 1869 they settled in Bates County, coming to 
St. Clair County in 1875, where he has since resided. He was reared on 
a farm and has followed farming during life. His present place contains 
eighty-six acres and he also has forty acres of timber. Mr. Jeffries was 
married February 25, 1875, to Miss Sarrilda A. Pease. They have two 
children: Willie B. and Anna B. 

ELISHA LANDON, 

owner of a farm containing 200 acres, is a native of Canada, and was 
born November 19, 18 15. His parents were Heman and Lovica 
(Edwards) Landon, the former a native of New Haven and the latter of 
Vermont. The subject of this sketch was reared in the county of his 
birth, where he received a fair education. In 1845 he moved to Lee 



ferOGRAPHlCAL. iii9 

County, Iowa, and located in Nashville, where he was engaged in vari- 
ous occupations. In 1850 he settled in Hancock County, Illinois, and 
gave his attention to farming till 1869, then coming to St. Clair County, 
Missouri. In 1881 he moved to Shell City for the purpose of educating 
his children and there he has a fine property. He has held the offices 
of clerk and collector of Taber Township, and was treasurer of the inde- 
pendent district of Taberville for eight years. October 13, 1861, Mr. 
Landon was married to Mrs. Louisa Turner, whose maiden name was 
Chapman, a native of Indiana. They have two children: Asa C. and 
Theodocia L. Mr. and Mrs. L. are members of the Christian Church. 

ASA LANDON, 

farmer, section 5, was a son of Rev. Edmond Landon, a minister of the 
Christian Church, who was born in Canada, and who died in St. Clair 
County, Missouri, in September, 1876. He married Miss Orpha Clark, 
also of Canada, who now resides on section 6, Taber Township, this 
county. Asa was born near Toronto December 25, 1842. His parents 
moved to Adams County, Illinois, when he was but a child and two 
years later went to Nashville, Lee County, Iowa, where they resided 
two years. Returning to Illinois they located in Hancock County, and 
in the spring of 1857 moved to Bates County, Missouri. In the follow- 
ing spring they came to St. Clair County, where he now has a farm of 
190 acres. Mr. L., for the last thirteen years, has been engaged in 
growing hedge plants and cultivating hedges with very satisfactory 
results. Mr. Landon was married April 22, 1869, to Miss Maria Yonce. 
Seven children have been born to them: Morris F., Addie F., Mollie O., 
Agnes v., George L., Louisa W., and Lovica G. 

MERRITT LARKIN, 

farmer and stock dealer, section 26, is a son of Enos Larkin, who was 
born in Rensellaer County, New York, October 2, 1812. July 19, 1834, 
he was married to Miss Permelia P. Kemp. She was born near Lowell, 
Massachusetts, February 21, 1813. In August, 1835, they moved to 
Michigan, and in 1866 came to St. Clair County, Missouri, where Enos 
died March 29, 1875. Mrs. L. now resides with the subject of this sketch, 
who is one of a family of seven children. He was born in Lenaway 
County, Michigan, March 22, 1836. He was reared and educated in 
Calhoun County, and came to St. Clair County with his father, having in 
i860 gone to California, where he was engaged in farming and milling 
till 1865. He now has a farm of 360 acres. He is a member of the 
A. O. U. W., and of the A. F. & A. M. fraternities. Mr. Larkin was 
married June 15, 1867, to Miss Jennie Yonce, a native of Virginia. She 



1?20 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY. 

died in March, 1868. He was again married June 15, 1873, to Mrs. 
Sarah A. Bouland, a daughter of Calvin Parks. She was born in St- 
Clair County, Missouri, February 10, 1853. 

JOSEPH MOLLENKOPF, 

farmer, section 11, was born in Marion County, Indiana, October 20, 
1846. His father, John J. Mollenkopf, was a native of Germany, and his 
mother, formerly Julia A. Painter, came originally from Pennsylvania. 
Joseph was reared and educated in his native county, following the occu- 
pation of farming in Indiana until 1871, when he came to Missouri, 
locating in Johnson County. There he resided until 1876. Since that 
time he has been a citizen of St. Clair County, his tarm containing forty- 
six acres. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. Mr. M. was 
married December 9, 1873, to Miss Malissa E. Snell, of Stark County, 
Illinois.. She was born January 14, 1854. They have two children: 
Emanuel W. and Samuel F. 

MICHAEL MAJORS, 

farmer, section 14, is a grandson of John Majors, a native of Maryland, 
and son of Elisha Majors, who was born in Kentucky, and married Miss 
Catherine Hufaker, also of that state, she being a daughter of Christo- 
pher Hufaker. The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne County, 
Kentucky, July 18, 1824. In the fall of 1837, his parents moved to Clay 
County, Missouri, where he grew to manhood on a farm. He has made 
farming his principal occupation during life, yet has worked some at 
various trades. He is a natural mechanic, and was the architect of the 
buildings on his farm, which are above the average. His landed estate in 
this county consists of 200 acres. Mr. M. had but limited advantages to 
obtain an education in youth, but has improved his time in reading and 
has taken great interest in educational matters. During the late war he 
served in Gen. Joe Shelby's command for four months. In 1849, (under 
the gold excitement) he went to California, where he was engaged in 
mining and dealing in stock till the spring of 185 1. He has been a citi- 
zen of St. Clair County since 1871. He was married March 3, 1852, to 
• Miss Permeter Crowley. She was born in Clay County, Missouri, Feb- 
ruary 23, 1833. Her father, Samuel Crowley, was a native of Virginia, 
and her mother, Nancy (Lane) Crowley, of Kentucky. They have six 
children: Nancy C, Elisha W. R., Henry B., Martha A., Perry L. E. and 
George S. 

A. S. AND J. R. MASTERSON 

are sons of George W. and Eliza Masterson, who were natives of Ken- 
tucky. The two sons were born in Mason County, Kentucky, A. S. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 1 22 1 

September 25, 1841, and J. R. on August 20, 1843. They were reared 
and educated in Platte County, Missouri, where their mother now resides 
and where their father died. In 1862 A. S. Masterson enlisted in the 
Confederate service in which he served till the close of the war. After 
this he was engaged in various occupations in Texas till 1868, when he 
returned to Platte County, where he was engaged in farming till 1871. 
Then he came to St. Clair County. April 19, 1873, he was married to 
Miss Emma F. Wilson, a native of Illinois. They have four children: 
Cora M., Zulema F., Robert R. and George E. J. R. Masterson resided 
in Platte County, Missouri, till 1869, except during 1863-4, when he was 
freighting on the plains. In 1869 he came to St. Clair County, Missouri, 
where he has since been occupied in farming. In 1875-6 he was in 
Arkansas dealing in stock. Mr. M. was married November 30, 1873, to 
Miss M. F. Barnett, a native of Missouri. They have one child, George 
W. A. S. and J. R. Masterson are both members of the I. O. O. F. fra- 
ternity. 

J. A. PURINTON. 

The subject of this sketch is the leading merchant of Taberville, 
and among those prominent in St. Clair County. He carries a stock of 
goods equal to any firm in the county, and also has a store at Bain's 
Ferry. He is a son of John and Lois (Felch) Purinton, the former of 
Massachusetts and the latter of New Hampshire. J. A., the only child, 
was born in Meigs County, Ohio, August 20, 1825. At the age of five 
years he was left fatherless when he moved to Lynn, Massachusetts, 
making his home with his uncle. There he was educated in the acad- 
emy. His uncle being a manufacturer and wholesale dealer in shoes, 
J. A. was employed in the factory and store until 1848 when he went to 
Athens, Ohio, where he was engaged in merchandising for two years. 
He then followed the same business in St. Paris, Ohio, until 1861, when 
he enlisted in Company A., Sixty-sixth Ohio, being mustered in October 
of the same year, and assigned to the commissary department in which 
he served until the close of the war. The most of the time he was quarter- 
master. Going to Indianapolis, Indiana, he became buyer and general 
manager for Spousler & McCrery, wholesale dealers in house furnishing 
goods and queensware, remaining with them for two years, when he loca- 
ted in Warrensburg, Missouri, engaging in the furniture business. After 
three years he purchased and entered large tracts of land in Vernon and 
St. Clair Counties, since which time he has been interested in the stock 
business. He has been occupied in the mercantile business at Taber- 
ville since 1876. Mr. P., during life has taken great interest in educa- 
tional matters and is one of the men to whom Warrensburg is much 
indebted for having one of the finest schools of the state. He is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. P. was married November 3, 1850, 



12:^2 illStOKY OF St. CLAIR COUNTV. 

to Miss Lusetta Culver, a native of Madison County, Ohio. They have 
seven children. John, Frank A., James H., Charles A., Lucius L., Asa 
and Ella. 

JOHN W. SHOUP, 

farmer, section 30, is a son of Reason Shoup, a native of Adams County, 
Ohio, his parents having come originally from Pennsylvania. The 
mother of John W., whose maiden name was Elizabeth Foster, was also 
born in Adams County, Ohio. Her parents were Virginians by birth. 
The subject of this sketch, the third child in a family of six children, 
was born in Adams County, Ohio, August 9, 1839. When he was six 
years old his parents moved to Lee County, Iowa, where he grew to 
manhood, spending his boyhood days on a farm. He has made farming 
his occupation during life. August 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 
Thirteenth United States Infantry, and remained in service three years, 
participating in many important battles, among which were Chickasau, 
Bayou, Arkansas Post, sieges of Jackson and Vicksburg, and others. 
After being mustered out he went to Putnam County, Missouri, where 
he was married to Miss Mollie E. Price, after which he resided in Put- 
nam County till 1870. Then he came to his present location, where he 
has a farm of no acres. Mrs. S. was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, 
May 16, 1844. She was a daughter of Joseph and Mary A. (Puffenbar- 
ger) Price, who were natives of Ohio. The family of Mr. and Mrs. S. 
have numbered eight children, six of whom are living: Ostella F., Cora 
L., George T., Ef^e A., James M. and Fannie A, 

J. O. SMITH, 

farmer, section 5. The subject of this sketch was born in Crawford 
County, Illinois, October 15, 1836. He is a son of James W. and P!liza- 
beth (Watts) Smith, the former originally from Kentucky, and the latter 
of Illinois. When J. O. was two years old, his father moved to Wayne 
County, Kentucky, his mother having died in Illinois. Mr. Smith was 
reared in Wayne County and received an academic education. In i860, 
he went to Wayne County, Iowa, and in 1862, to Putnam County, Mis- 
souri, where he resided till 1867. Since that time he has been a citizen 
of St. Clair County. He has followed farming during life and now has a 
farm of ninety acres. Mr. S. was married in September, 1858, to Miss 
Sarah A. Huffaker, a native of Wayne County, Kentucky. By this union 
they have eight children: Henry S., James J., Maggie A., Rosa B., Wil- 
liam, Charles R., Walter and Lulu E. 

D. C. TREMAIN, M. D. 

section 3, is a son of Edwin Tremain, who was born in England in May, 
1803, and who was married in Ohio to Miss Sarah Hutsell, born in that 



iilOGRAl'UlCAL. 1223 

State in February, 1804. They now reside in Vinton County, Ohio. 
They had a family of four children, D. C. being the second child. He 
was born in Athens, (now Vinton County) Ohio, March 26, 1843. He 
was there reared and received the advantage of a common school edu- 
cation, after which he entered the Normal School of Lebanon. In June, 
1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Virginia of the Federal army, 
and remained in services four months, when he was mustered out as 
commissary of subsistence. Returning to Ohio he continued the study of 
medicine, which he had began previous to the war, and in 1836 was 
graduated from the Ohio Medical College. In 1877 he located in John- 
son County, Kansas, having received the appointment from the governor 
as physician and surgeon for the Shawnee Indians. He held that appoint- 
ment for two years, but continued the practice of medicine in that 
county until 1876, when he came to St. Clair County, Missouri. Here he 
is considered to be one of the most prominent in the profession. He is 
a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and the encampment. Dr. T. 
was married September 26, 1859, to Miss Lizzie Evans. She was born 
in Mason County, Kentucky, September 24, 1850. They have three 
children: Dema, Ralph and Mabel. 

GARLAND C. TURNER, 

farmer and stock raiser, section 17, was born in Simpson County, Ken- 
tucky, September 25, 1835. His father, John Turner, was a native of 
Kentucky as also was his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth 
Bluette. Garland was reared and educated in his native county, and 
there resided till 1870 when he moved to Henry County, Missouri, and 
in 188 1 he came to St. Clair County. He has made farming his occupa- 
tion during life and now has a well improved farm of 140 acres. During 
his residence in Henry County he was assessor for one term under the 
township organization. He has always taken great interest in educa- 
tional matters. Mr. Turner was married August 28, 1856, to Miss Sarah 
Breedlove who was born in Virginia, August 28, 1836. They have five 
children: John W., Sallie, Forrest E., Georgia and Bascar. Mr. and 
Mrs. F. are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

P. WALLACE, 

farmer, section 7, was born in Hancock County, Indiana, November 22, 
1850. His father, John J. Wallace, a native of North Carolina, was mar- 
ried to Miss Eliza Sergeant, of Indiana, who now lives in Bates County, 
her husband being deceased. The subject of this sketch was reared and 
educated in the county of his birth. When about seventeen years old 
he came to Missouri and located in Bates County, where he lived until 
1875, then coming to his present location. Here he now has a farm of 



1224 HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUN I'Y. 

i6o acres. He was married February 5, 1873, to Miss Naomi F. Fleemer, 
who was born in Monroe County, Indiana, July 30, 1853. She was a 
daughter of Samuel and Mary (Hendricks) Fleemer, the former of Indi- 
ana, and the latter of Kentucky. The family of Mr W. consists of two 
children, Minnie and Eva. They are members of the Christian Church. 

ANDREW YONCE, 

one of the pioneers of St. Clair County, who resides on section 12, of 
this township, is a son of John Yonce, a native of Virginia, and of Ger- 
man descent. Andrew was born in Wythe County, Virginia, April 3, 
18 10. He was there reared and educated in both English and German 
schools. November 10, 1830, he was married to Miss Esther Coulthard, 
and in 1838 they moved to St. Clair County, Missouri, locating on Big 
Monegaw, three miles northeast of where he now resides. He afterwards 
entered the land that comprises his present farm, which contains 160 
acres, a portion of which is underlaid with a rich vein of coal. When he 
first settled in this vicinity his nearest neighbor was five miles distant and 
the Indians were more numerous than the white men. His trading 
points were Osceola and Harmony Mission, his post ofifice being at the 
former place. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church and 
for some two years religious services were held at their residence. Mrs. 
Yonce was born in England, November 25, 1814. She was a daughter 
of Thomas and Ester (CraigJ Coulthard, who crossed the sea with nine 
children in 1829, and located in Wythe County, Virginia. Mrs. Y. was 
educated in England. Their family have numbered twelve children, 
nine of whom are living. Joseph T., born November ii, 1842, and mar- 
ried November 16, 1868, Miss Mary E. Ketcham, of Indiana ; Flarvious 
J., born May 4, 1844, married June 5, 1873, Miss Susanna Burke; William 
H., bor 1 July 4, 1846, married November 14, 1875, Miss Mary E. Camp- 
bell; JoJ n A., born September 10, 1849, and married July 19, 1875, Miss 
Rebecca Burke; Frances, born October 11, 1840, married February 22, 
1866, A. C. Ditty; Maria L., born December 12, 1847, and married April 
22, 1869, A. Lan-don; Henrietta E., born November 6, 1853, married 
March 13, 1873, John B. Ditty; Florence O., born August 31, 1856, mar- 
ried February 4, 1877, G. L. Woolsey; Ad'riana C, born June 21, 1858, 
married July 4, 1878, H. Landon. 



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